Jonathan Rea activated “Jonathan Rea mode” also in Superpole. The reigning World Superbike champion took his second pole position in 2018 after the one at Buriram and it looks like he really has something more than last two years’ “King of Imola” Chaz Davies, who ranked third after falling at the final chicane halfway the session.
After taking immediately the lead with a lap in 1’47.018, Rea went even faster at the second try, performed in 1’46.418. In the final stages he was overtaken by Marco Melandri (1’46.227) and his team-mate Tom Sykes (1’46.109), but just before the chequered flag he performed a great lap in 1’45.797 and so he was able to beat all his opponents and secure pole position for Race 1, starting today at 13:00 local time.
After the above-mentioned crash he had, Chaz Davies managed to rejoin the track for the final minutes of the session and in the end he went third with a lap in 1’46.162, time that took him to third place behind Sykes and in front of Melandri. Chaz Davies won both races at Imola in both 2016 and 2017, but this year it will be much harder, due to Jonathan Rea…
Behind Rea, Sykes, Davies and Melandri, Xavi Forés ranked fifth followed by Eugene Laverty (coming from Superpole 1 together with Alex Lowes). Jordi Torres, Michael Rinaldi and Lorenzo Savadori will start Race 1 from third row, while fourth row will is what Alex Lowes, special guest Leon Haslam and Michael van der Mark.
After ranking 8th in Superpole 1, Jason O’Halloran will start Race 1 from 18th position as Leon Camier’s replacement rider for Imola.
Photo Credit: Marco Lanfranchi
Race 1 Starting Grid
