PTR Honda's Sam Lowes has booked himself a place on the World Supersport provisional front row this afternoon with a final run of laps that saw him take second place behind tiny South African Sheridan Morais.
Lowes was quickest in the first session this morning but had to give best to Morais, who has raced a Superstock 1000 around Imola in previous years, but the former British Supersport Champion was less than a tenth in arrears while Broc Parkes put his Ten Kate Honda in third, just less than three-tenths off the pace.
"Qualifying went very well for us. I'm feeling very good on the bike and with a small change to the front I know I can go faster tomorrow and improve; so I'm just looking forward to trying it out in the free practice in the morning and then the second qualifying in the afternoon. We're in good shape and our race pace looks good, the weather is nice, the track is great, so I just can't wait for tomorrow really," said Lowes.
Veteran Fabien Foret round bagged fourth place with Roberto Tamburini and Lowes' team-mate Jules Cluzel in fifth and six respectively. Vladimir Leonov continued his run of form from free practice, taking seventh with another PTR Honda, this time belonging to Ronan Quarmby, in eighth while Imre Toth and Vito Iannuzzo rounded out the top ten. Britain's Martin Jessopp was 24th.
