SSP 600, Imola, J2: Superpole for Krummenacher and Cluzel third

During the two Friday sessions, Federico Caricasulo (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) won in 1'51.278 ahead of Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) in 1'51.583, Randy Krummenacher (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) in 1'51.811 , Ayrton Badovini (Team Pedercini Racing) in 1'52.003, Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in 1'52.058 and Thomas Gradinger (Kallio Racing) in 1'52.158. Corentin Perolari unfortunately suffered a broken collarbone during a fall.

Wildcard Massimo Roccoli (Team Rossa Corsa) set the seventh fastest time ahead of Raffaele De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), Hikari Okubo (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), Federico Fuligni (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Loris Cresson (Kallio Racing) while Jules Danilo (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) ended this Friday the 18th^e and that Gaëtan Matern (Flembbo Leader Team) finished 28th.

Pole for Randy Krummenacher and Yamaha

Randy Krummenacher set the benchmark performance in 1'51.610, 0.1 ahead of Thomas Gradinger and 0.5 ahead of Federico Caricasulo. The Swiss leader accelerated in 1'51.354, but Jules Cluzel was ahead of him 16 minutes from the checkered flag in 1'51.188. Krummenacher and Okubo were then 0.1 behind the Frenchman from the GMT94 team. Lucas Mahias was 8th and Jules Danilo 20th.

Here we go! 👊🏻

The green flag waves and #WorldSSP riders are already out!#ITAWorldSBK 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/vHSpVb5IeY

- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) May 11, 2019

Halfway through the session, Federico Caricasulo went on the attack, and from fifth to first place in 1'51.174, or 0.014 ahead of Cluzel. Then Caricasulo hit very hard in 1'50.671, 0.4 ahead of Krummenacher and 0.5 ahead of Jules Cluzel. Mahias went 8th and Danilo 17th. Sam Lowes' record set in 2013 on Yamaha in 1'50.404 was not beaten.

Less than 10 minutes to go and Caricasulo keeps improving his lap time! 😳#ITAWorldSBK 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/O1G8P6rhya

- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) May 11, 2019

In the very last minutes, Jules Cluzel fell while trying to improve his third position, fortunately without seriousness. Randy Krummenacher (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) set the best time in 1'50.239, a new circuit record in Supersport. He preceded his teammate Federico Caricasulo (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) and Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha). Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) ranked 7th, Jules Danilo (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) 19th and Gaëtan Matern (Flembbo Leader Team) last.

👊🏻 @Krummenator smashes the #WorldSSP Superpole with 1:50.239 at the final moment! #ITAWorldSBK 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/3VPlLGDRof

- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) May 11, 2019