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Herfoss scores Morgan Park podium in admittedly tough weekend

News 9 Jul 2019

Herfoss scores Morgan Park podium in admittedly tough weekend

Consistent scorecard grants defending champion third overall in Queensland.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Reigning champion Troy Herfoss says Morgan Park’s fourth stop of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) was one of his most difficult weekends in recent times, although he was able to breakthrough for a motivating podium result.

The Penrite Honda Racing challenger finished Friday practice in ninth position before setting the fourth fastest time in qualifying, going onto record a pair of consistent performances in Sunday’s two outings.

Herfoss’ 4-2 scorecard ultimately granted him third overall, allowing the Gold Coast-based contender to move within 15 points of newly appointed series leader Mike Jones (DesmoSport Ducati).

“It was a really good finish to the weekend, that second race,” stated Herfoss. “This was the hardest weekend I’d had in a long time, so I’m just so happy to close the gap to the championship leader down to 15 points.

“We’ve come out of here mistake-free, put it on the podium and are in a good position leading into Winton. I’m happy with where we’re at for the moment and we will keep working hard to get back on the top step.”

Team manager Shaun Clarke added: “This was a very tough round for us to begin with, but we chipped away all weekend and pretty much got on top of it towards the end there with Troy. His ride in the final race was really good. Troy’s in a strong position and is well and truly in the hunt, so we won’t be giving up.”

The Australian Superbike Championship now heads to Winton in Victoria on 6-8 September for round five of the series.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Staring pleased despite ‘contrasting’ Morgan Park weekend

News 9 Jul 2019

Staring pleased despite ‘contrasting’ Morgan Park weekend

Kawasaki BCperformance ace overcomes race one crash for sixth overall.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Western Australian Bryan Staring has described his weekend at Morgan Park’s fourth round of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) as ‘contrasting’ after crashing in race one, yet he put in one of his strongest performances at the Queensland venue.

The Kawasaki BCperformance rider, who controlled the points standings heading into the weekend, qualified in P5 before putting in a strong challenge for a podium finish in the opening outing, however his campaign for a top three finish came undone after losing the front end into a turn – he was able to remount and salvage 12th.

Bouncing back in race two, the former Australian champion engaged in a thrilling three-rider battle with Mike Jones (DesmoSport Ducati) and Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team), ultimately getting the better of the latter to finish in fourth for sixth overall.

“It was such a contrasting weekend, because I’m disappointed that I crashed in that first race, but the good thing was that I didn’t damage the bike and managed to salvage five points,” said Staring. “I was really in the zone in race one and got a sniff of the podium, so I was pushing for it!

“Race two was brilliant, actually. Following the crash earlier, I unfortunately had some dirt in the switch and couldn’t activate my launch control, so that put me way back off the start. I fought my way through from there and was again in the mix for a podium – fourth was good and we were really strong this weekend.”

Staring is now ranked third in the championship standings, eight points behind newly-appointed leader Jones.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Hesitation led to race-ending mistake admits Quartararo

News 9 Jul 2019

Hesitation led to race-ending mistake admits Quartararo

MotoGP rookies crashes out early at the Sachsenring.

Image: Supplied.

Following a run of impressive results, MotoGP rookie Fabio Quartararo admits hesitating while attempting a pass led to a race-ending mistake at the German grand prix on Sunday.

The youthful Frenchman started from the front row and looked set for yet another strong performance, although his campaign was cut short following the opening lap when he crashed out of the race at turn three.

“I made a small mistake – I was trying to overtake another rider and I hesitated a little about whether or not to do it and ended up going into the corner with too much speed and lean angle,” Quartararo explained.

“It’s the first mistake I’ve made in a race, and I’ll learn from it and come back stronger. The first half of the season has been really positive – we didn’t expect some poles and podiums. I’m happy with the balance of the year so far and really looking forward to the second half.”

The Petronas Yamaha SRT rider sits eighth in the championship rankings at the series heads into a month-long European summer break.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Rins crashes out of podium contention in Germany

Spaniard records second consecutive DNF at the Sachsenring.

Image: Supplied.

Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins crashed out of podium contention at the weekend’s ninth round of the 2019 MotoGP World Championship in Germany, marking his second consecutive DNF.

The youthful Spaniard quickly moved into second position, however with 11 laps to spare, he lost front-end on a high-speed right hand turn, forcing him out the race while being lucky escape without injury.

“I lost a podium today,” Rins admitted. “My feeling with the bike was really nice and I tried to get into second place as soon as possible because I felt that my rhythm was strong. Unfortunately, I lost the front on a fast right hander, I entered into it just a couple of kilometres per hour faster than usual, and that’s why I crashed.

“It’s a shame because it’s my second DNF in a row, but I still feel positive because my pace has been good recently and I know I can get good results again when we come back after the break.”

Rins has now been demoted to fourth in the standings as the series heads into an extended European summer break.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

‘What could’ve been’ reflects Jones after costly race two error

Image: Russell Colvin.

Earning pole position and dominating race one, Mike Jones was primed to take out his first overall victory of the season at Morgan Park’s fourth round of the 2019 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), although a costly mistake at the beginning of race two saw the former champion charge from outside the top 10 and into a podium position.

The DesmoSport Ducati rider led the field throughout the opening moments of the final encounter before making a rare error that forced him off the circuit and demoting him to the rear of the field.

In an inspiring ride, Jones sliced his way through the field in the 16-lap outing, crossing the line in P3 for second overall – just one point shy of victor Wayne Maxwell (Team Suzuki Ecstar Australia).

“I’m just really disappointed to make that mistake so early on in the race,” Jones stated. “It was such a small mistake, but it cost me dearly.

“I just gave it 110 percent and rode my way back to third position – I’m obviously very happy with that, but it’s obviously disappointing because I know what could’ve been if I didn’t make that small mistake at the beginning. Anyway, it what it is – overall, it was a really good weekend for us [with] good championship points.”

Despite missing out on victory, Jones obtained the points lead in Queensland, where he now holds a one-point advantage over Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team).

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Rea dominates Sunday’s races at Donington Park WorldSBK

News 8 Jul 2019

Rea dominates Sunday’s races at Donington Park WorldSBK

Cluzel reigns supreme in WorldSSP category at the British round.

Image: Supplied.

Four-time reigning champion Jonathan Rea claimed a stunning double-victory in Sunday’s races at Dongington Park’s eighth round of the 2019 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), making it three wins from three outings at the British venue.

The Kawasaki Racing Team ace defeated Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing) in the Superpole race, as Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team) locked out the top three. The first five was completed by Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing – Yamaha).

In race two, Rea put on an incredible display, notching up his third win of the weekend by beating home Razgatlioglu, who once again earned runner-up honours. Bautista crept onto the podium in third, followed by Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK) and Haslam.

It was yet another thrilling WorldSSP encounter, with Donington Park hosting more dramatic racing. It was fight that would come alive in the final quarter of the race, with Jules Cluzel (GMT94 YAMAHA) coming out on top ahead of Federico Caricasulo (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) and Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing).

In a drama-filled WorldSSP300 encounter, Kevin Sabatucci (Team Trasimeno Yamaha) ultimately claimed victory, joined on the podium by Andy Verdoia (BCD Yamaha MS Racing) and Nick Kalinin (Nutec – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki).

Australians Tom Bramich (Nutec – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) was 10th, as Tom Edwards (ParkinGo Team Kawasaki) recorded an unfortunate DNF. The Superbike World Championship now heads to Laguna Seca in the USA this weekend for round nine.

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Marquez storms to dominant Sachsenring MotoGP victory

Miller charges to sixth in three-rider Ducati battle.

Image: Supplied.

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) completed a decade of dominance at the Sachsenring in style, attacking early to take the lead into turn one and not looking back.

That makes it 10 wins in a row in Germany for the reigning champion, all from pole, with Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) completing the podium.

Marquez’ win for the seventh successive time in the premier class at the Sachsenring also equals Valentino Rossi’s record of premier class wins in a row at one venue, set in Mugello from 2002-2008.

Despite a bad start Marquez kept it pinned into turn one, the last of the late brakers able to emerge in the lead as Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) slipped back from second to sixth at the start – Vinales, Jack Miller (Pramac Racing), Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Crutchlow all getting past the Frenchman.

The first shot of drama would come from the Frenchman too as Quartararo’s race suddenly ended at turn three on lap two, the rookie going to get back past Ducati Team’s Danilo Petrucci but the front washing away in his first ever premier class crash out of a race.

The battle at the front at that point was more a freight train, with Marquez conducting the pace from Vinales as Crutchlow and Rins demoted Miller down to fifth. The top four started to edge clear of the rest, but edging clear of everyone was King of the Ring Marquez as a 1m21.228s – a new lap record – on lap five saw his lead creep up to just under a second.

The man in second was Rins, and he was also stretching his advantage over Vinales and Crutchlow to the same distance, but Marquez was in the groove.

The seven-time champion showed exactly why the Sachsenring is his playground, not powering away at a rapid rate but instead eking out a tenth here and there, his lead gradually increasing until he suddenly put the hammer down. Lap 10 saw Marquez go 0.4s faster than Rins as the gap rose above the two-second barrier. From then on, there was no stopping the now 10-time Sachsenring winner.

The battle for the second and third steps on the podium was heating up, however. Crutchlow was shadowing Vinales, who in turn was sitting a second back from Rins, with the gap remaining constant between the trio as we passed the mid-stage of the race.

And the battle for fifth place was very much on as Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso and Petrucci were going head-to-head with fellow GP19 rider Miller, Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro in a close fight for big points.

Nearer the front though, disaster then struck at the top of ‘The Waterfall’ for Rins. 0.9s clear of Vinales and Crutchlow, the Suzuki man suddenly skitted out at Ralf Waldmann corner for his second consecutive DNF. With the man on the chase down and out, it left Marquez with an unassailable 4.9s lead.

The last 10 laps were just about controlling the gap for Marquez as he saw a 10th Sachsenring win appear ever closer, but who would finish second? Crutchlow had been attached to Vinales’ back wheel for some time to put the Spaniard under pressure and with two laps to go, the duo were separated by nothing.

But the number 35 then had a scare at turn 10 – a warning sign that saw Crutchlow running wide and subsequently keeping it calmer to give up the chase. Just ahead, Marquez crossed the line to win his fifth race of 2019, the seventh consecutive year he’s won five or more races in a premier class season – a record that sees him surpass MotoGP legend Giacomo Agostini and nine-time champion Rossi, both of whom managed to do it for six straight years.

Vinales crossed the line to take his second straight podium, with Crutchlow getting his equal best result of the year in third and his first rostrum since Qatar GP. The Brit’s ride was even more impressive as he battled a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a small fracture to the top of his tibia this weekend following a cycling mishap.

Behind the top trio, meanwhile, there were important points in the championship to be decided just down the road. Rossi had lost touch on the battle for fourth in the latter stages, and it was Mir vs the three Ducatis. With Marquez out in front, second in the championship Dovizioso needed to limit the damage as much as possible but Petrucci wasn’t going to let his teammate have it all his own way.

The Italians exchanged P4 at the bottom of ‘The Waterfall’ before Dovi went to get back past Petrucci into turn one with three to go and they both ran wide – Miller diving up the inside of both. Dovizioso was aggressive though and attacked the Australian as the battle between the Ducatis went down to the wire, Petrucci leading them onto the last lap. T

he Mugello winner would ultimately hold fourth as the chequered flag came out, a terrific performance after his big crash in Q2, with Dovizioso producing another fine fight back to take P5 from P13 on the grid. Miller was forced to settle for a solid sixth.

Mir picked up his third consecutive top ten in seventh, a great ride from the rookie, with Rossi ending his run of three-straight DNFs with a P8 at the Sachsenring. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) finished ninth in Germany, the first time he’d raced in the premier class at the track after missing out last year, with Jorge Lorenzo’s replacement Stefan Bradl (Repsol Honda Team) grabbing his second top ten of the season in front of his home fans.

Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) put in a stunner to take P11 from last on the grid, ahead of a tougher race for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pol Espargaro. Andrea Iannone (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was 13th and top Aprilia after a crash for teammate Aleix Espargaro, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) riding through the pain barrier to P14. Karel Abraham (Reale Avintia Racing) completed the points.

Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) took another authoritative Moto2 win in Germany, able to make his way through to the front and pull the pin to stamp some authority back on the standings after getting crashed out of the lead at Assen.

The number 73 now leads Tom Luthi by eight points into the summer break, and his pace will give many a rival something to think about before Brno. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took an impressive P2 from 17th on the grid, with home hero Marcel Schrotter (Dynavolt Intact GP) completing the podium in front of a partisan crowd. Australian Remy Gardner (SAG Racing Team) was 13th.

Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) has been the bridesmaid a number of times this season in Moto3, but in the Germany grand prix, the Italian finally took to the top step and became the eighth different winner in nine races, just 0.072s ahead of teammate Marcos Ramirez over the line.

Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) put in a stunning ride through the field from P22 on the grid to take third, losing the Championship lead but ending the day only two points down on Dalla Porta.

Niki Tuuli (Ajo MotoE) has taken the first ever win in the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup, converting the first E-Pole into victory as the Cup kicked off in style in Germany.

A red flag on the penultimate lap brought the race to an early end but it was a stunning spectacle throughout, with Bradley Smith (One Energy Racing) taking second and Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) completing the podium. Australian Josh Hook (Pramac Racing) was 15th.

The MotoGP World Championship now heads into an extended break, due to return on 4 August at Brno in Czech Republic.

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

ASBK race two thriller to resurgent Maxwell in Queensland

News 7 Jul 2019

ASBK race two thriller to resurgent Maxwell in Queensland

Perfect race-day for Toparis further builds upon Supersport points-lead.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Wayne Maxwell has won race two and the overall in the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) at Morgan Park Raceway in Queensland.

Maxwell didn’t put a wheel wrong on his GSX-R1000R to edge out number one plate-holder Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing) in a nail-biting 16 laps of the Kawasaki Superbikes.

Much of the attention was on DesmoSport Ducati’s race one winner Mike Jones after he ran off the circuit while leading on lap one, ultimately clawing his way back to a gritty third-place result from the rear of the field.

Out front the pace was set by Maxwell with arch-nemesis Herfoss in tow, slowly increasing a buffer over the chasing trio of Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team), Bryan Staring (Kawasaki BCperformance) and Josh Waters (Team Suzuki Ecstar).

But while Maxwell and Herfoss were battling out front, Jones was quickly climbing the order and posted the fastest lap of 1m12.737s. He would make it all the way to P3, however, it was Maxwell who crossed the line 0.375s ahead of Herfoss.

Behind the top three came Staring, who finally worked his way by Halliday in the latter portion, with Waters bringing the second Suzuki home in sixth. Positions seven through 10 were taken by Daniel Falzon (Yamaha Racing Team), lead privateer Arthur Sissis (Suzuki), Matt Walters (Kawasaki) and Alex Phillis (Team Suzuki Ecstar).

Maxwell picked up his first overall of 2019 from Jones and Herfoss, while in the championship it’s Jones a single point ahead of Halliday, followed by Staring in third. Herfoss, Maxwell and Waters remain in contention – the six riders split by just 27 markers following four of seven rounds.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Race two of the Motorsports TV Supersport category saw title favourite Tom Toparis (Yamaha) cruise to his second win in as many attempts for today, 3.087s ahead of the chasing pack.

Toparis made his way to the front on lap three when he moved by Reid Battye (Suzuki) and that’s where he would stay, victorious ahead of Callum Spriggs (Yamaha) on return and Oli Bayliss (Yamaha), who held Broc Pearson (Yamaha) at bay.

Experienced local Corey Turner (Honda) rode to fifth this afternoon ahead of Battye, who struck troubles while running second, as the top 10 included Chris Quinn (Yamaha), Nic Liminton (Yamaha) – who went off-track in the middle stages – Dallas Skeer (Suzuki) and Aidan Hayes (Yamaha).

Toparis stood on the top step of the rostrum ahead of Spriggs and Pearson. In the standings, Toparis is a full 60 points ahead of Liminton, with rookie wonder Bayliss looming in third place.

The final YMI Supersport 300 race of the weekend was once again dominated by Senna Agius (Kawasaki) aboard his Ninja 400, riding away to an unstoppable 4.952s victory.

Behind him was where much of the action took place, however, eventually with Max Stauffer (Yamaha) finishing second and Harrison Voight (Yamaha) third, fending off Harry Khouri (Yamaha) and Hunter Ford (Yamaha) inside the top five.

Overall it was Agius who took the round with all three wins from second-placed Stauffer, who continues to lead the championship standings, with Ford rounding out the podium.

The 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) will resume at Winton Motor Raceway in Victoria between 6-8 September.

YMF R3 Cup, bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup and Superbike Masters reports/results to follow.

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Morgan Park ASBK opener dominated by Ducati’s Jones

News 7 Jul 2019

Morgan Park ASBK opener dominated by Ducati’s Jones

Supersport class championship leader Toparis extends with race one win.

Image: Russell Colvin.

DesmoSport Ducati’s Mike Jones was victorious in race one of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) at Morgan Park, closing to within one point of the series lead.

In a race that saw previous title-leader Bryan Staring (Kawasaki BCperformance) crash in the closing laps, Jones was masterful at the front of the Kawasaki Superbike pack.

Jones crossed the line following 16 laps with a 2.164s advantage over Wayne Maxwell (Team Suzuki Ecstar), who rebounded from being sixth at the end of the opening lap. Third place was enough for Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team) to return to the top of the championship tables.

After attacking Jones in initial stages, defending champion Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing) was a relatively lonely fourth in the end, clear of Josh Waters (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Aaron Morris (Maxima BMW), Alex Phillis (team Suzuki Ecstar), Matt Walters (Kawasaki), Arthur Sissis (Suzuki) and Lachlan Epis (Kawasaki BCperformance).

Staring remounted to salvage a bag of points in 12th place, while disappointment came for South Australian Daniel Falzon (Yamaha Racing Team) after he crashed out of fourth on lap three.

Image: Russell Colvin.

In Motorsports TV Supersport race one this morning there was no denying runaway points-leader Tom Toparis (Yamaha) the victory, extending his advantage in what was a drama-filled 14 laps.

Toparis won by 7.443s ahead of Queensland pair Callum Spriggs (Yamaha) and Broc Pearson (Yamaha), in a race that saw early leader Reid Battye (Suzuki) crash out and pole-setter Nic Liminton (Yamaha) also make an error – each in second at the time.

Fourth came Corey Turner (Honda) following contact with Oli Bayliss (Yamaha) in the battle for a podium, with Liminton managing to salvage fifth position. Sixth was Chris Quinn (Yamaha), from Bayliss, Dallas Skeer (Suzuki), Avalon Biddle (Yamaha) and Ty Lynch (Yamaha).

Race two of the YMI Supersport 300 class saw Senna Agius (Kawasaki) take his second victory of the weekend by 1.374s, leading Hunter Ford (Yamaha) and Zac Levy (Yamaha) across the line. It was Max Stauffer (Yamaha) and John Lytras (Yamaha) in fourth and fifth.

The YMF R3 Cup race this morning was another incredibly tight battle with Lytras edging Levy by only 0.012s and Harry Khouri a further tenth behind. Winning the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup by over five seconds was Angus Grenfell, topping Glenn Nelson and Max Gibbons.

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Rea takes charge in WorldSBK with opening Donington Park win

Another crash proves costly for previous points-leader Bautista.

Image: Supplied.

A wet race one proved to be dramatic in the British round of the 2019 Motul Superbike World Championship, as Donington Park hosted yet another thrilling encounter.

A frantic start saw Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) take the lead early on and never look back as he romped to a 76th career win to take the championship lead.

Meanwhile, former leader Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) crashed out in dramatic fashion. It was a blistering opening lap from Rea, who leaped off the line and took the lead, opening up a lead of over a second on the first lap.

Pole-sitter Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) held second place, ahead of Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), with the Ten Kate Racing Yamaha of Loris Baz in fourth. Bautista was fifth in the early stages, but losing time to Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team).

As the race settled, Rea was setting a scorching pace, lapping two seconds a lap quicker than anybody else, as behind him, Baz got his way into the podium positions and ahead of Leon Haslam at the Melbourne Loop on lap two. One of the bigger losers off the start was Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing), who was down in ninth.

It was a bright start for Argentine rider Leandro Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura), who was up to eighth from 14th, one place behind replacement rider, Peter Hickman (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team).

On lap four, Bautista began to respond to Lowes, as the Spaniard pulled clear and steadied the tide. Further down the order, Alessandro Delbianco (Mie Althea Racing Team) was showing his wet weather skills once again, as he was coming through the order.

However, two laps later it was a colossal moment for the Italian at turn two with both legs off one side of his Honda, taking to the soaking wet grass at high-speed, yet somehow remaining upright.

Back at the front, Rea continued to pull away from the rest, although Sykes was beginning to match his former teammate’s lap times. After eight laps, Rea had a seven second lead, setting a supreme pace but needing to remain focussed. Sykes was second, Haslam was back in third and ahead of Baz.

Then, a succession of accidents as Jordi Torres crashed on wet grass on the exit of turn six, then Pata Yamaha’s Sandro Cortese crashed at the same corner on the same lap, with the entry of the corner being the only difference.

However, then there was huge drama, as Bautista crashed out in spectacular style at the same point of the track, suffering his first back-to-back crashes of the season. The championship pendulum had now swung to Rea, but with more than 10 laps left, he still had to remain upright.

As riders ahead fell, other riders took advantage, with Leandro Mercado now elevated into sixth place, Hickman seventh and Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in eighth. Behind them, Delbianco was on the move, up inside the top ten and wanting more, as he chased after those ahead of him.

Rea took a third career victory at Donington Park, his 76th in total. Sykes was back on the podium for a second round running and on a third manufacturer at home, as Haslam was third at his home venue. Once again proving his worth in the wet weather, Baz was fourth ahead of Lowes, who had a relatively quiet race.

A stunning ride for Mercado saw him take his joint-best result of his career and his best result of the 2019 season. Hickman took a career-best seventh as a replacement rider, whilst behind him was van der Mark, Delbianco and Chaz Davies on the second of the Ducatis.

The championship lead now changes for the first time in 2019, with Rea leading Bautista by nine points, with the Northern Irishman being 61 points behind at one point. This remarkable comeback promises to give thrilling battles on Sunday.

In what was a dramatic Superpole session for the World Supersport Championship, rain came halfway through the session which caused the grid to look a little bit different to how it has looked throughout most of the session. Federico Caricasulo (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) banked an early lap and took the pole position.

The Yamaha rider pushed ahead for a best time of 1m31.092s and, more than seven tenths back, Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) took a third-consecutive front row, while Raffaele De Rosa (MV AGUSTA Reparto Corse) completed the front row.

As the rain continued to drench the Donington Park circuit, the World Supersport 300 riders took to the track and put in strong lap times, combatting the weather in the best way possible.

It was a history-making two Superpole sessions, as Ton Kawakami (BCD Yamaha MS Racing) took his first pole position, becoming the first Brazilian rider to take a WorldSSP300 pole position and the first pole for a Brazilian rider in the entire WorldSBK paddock.

With Group A taking to the circuit first, Kawakami took advantage of the bad weather, starting ahead of Andy Verdoïa (BCD Yamaha MS Racing) and Galang Hendra Pratama (Semakin Di Depan Biblion Motoxracing). Australia’s Tom Edwards (Kawasaki ParkinGO Team) was 17th and Tom Bramich (Carl Cox-RT Motorsports by SKM- Kawasaki) 20th.

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au