Yesterday afternoon’s FP2 saw Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team), the current leader of the eni FIM Superbike World championship leap to the top of the standings with his final lap in a close and exciting session that saw the combined classification change throughout. Rea ended the session ahead thanks to a 1.47.344s lap, despite strong opposition from team mate Tom Sykes who looked on course to move into first position until a small mistake at the final chicane on his final lap saw the former champion finish 2nd overall (+0.173s).

The Aruba.it Racing - Ducati SBK Team were close to the top once more, as Davide Giugliano made a dream return to the WorldSBK paddock by posting the 3rd fastest time of the weekend so far (+0.238s), fraction ahead of his team mate Chaz Davies who was 4th (+0.342s) after being fastest in this morning’s FP1.

Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils ) remained 5th, as he had been in the earlier morning session (+0.710s), the rider currently second in the overall points classification finished the first day more than half a second faster than Alex Lowes who powered his Voltcom Crescent Suzuki into 6th  (+1.316s).

Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia) improved his time but remained 7th ahead of David Salom (Team Pedercini), the much faster Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing) and reigning World Champion Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) who was 10th.

Michel Fabrizio (Althea Racing) finished 12th just behind team mate Matteo Baiocco but just ahead of Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team), Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who was the only rider to not improve their time this afternoon, and Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) who completed the top 15.

 All riders have one final chance to make it through into the Tissot-Superpole sessions, with the final FP3 session scheduled to run for a further 45 minutes on Saturday morning.