A rain shower in the middle of the second WorldSSP free practice effectively put an end to any meaningful WorldSBK third free practice action at Misano this afternoon.
Only a handful of riders went out in the session - reigning champion Jonathan Rea didn’t even put his leathers on - and it means that Michael van der Mark will have to go through Superpole one tomorrow as he finished the second session in 12th place.
He will be joined by Jordi Torres, Michael Rinaldi and Topratz to fight for the two available places in Superpole two tomorrow morning.
This phoney war in FP3 saw Italian rider Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) impressively fastest of all on his RSV-4, with a 1’34.562 lap that was already under the existing lap record place on race tyres.
Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) made it an excellent Aprilia day, as the SMR duo finished first and second, with championship leader Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) third.
Misano was a strong Althea BMW track for a time last season, and on Friday after two sessions Loris Baz (GULF ALTHEA BMW Racing Team) finished up fourth.
Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK) went fifth fastest and Leon Camier (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) sixth.
Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was seventh, placing six different makes of machinery inside the top seven spots.
The Ducati riders huddled together in the timesheets, with Melandri followed by Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team Ducati) and Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). Last automatic qualifier into Saturday’s Superpole was Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), in tenth place.
