[Supersport] Lucas Mahias dominates qualifying at Portimao

With just four races remaining, Sandro Cortese leads the overall standings in the Supersport World Championship. He arrives in uncharted territory this weekend as he makes his debut at Portimão. He is only five points ahead of Jules Cluzel who scored three podiums in Portimão including two victories (in 2012 on Honda and in 2015 on MV Agusta), as well as pole position in 2015.

Randy Krummenacher, third with 22 points, tested during the summer before what will be his first World Supersport race at this circuit. He precedes the two official Yamahas of Federico Caricasulo and Lucas Mahias by 12 and 13 points respectively. Héctor Barberá arrives in the discipline with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing. He drives a ZX-6R replacing Kenan Sofuoglu, briefly replaced at Assen by Sheridan Morais.

Cluzel shows the way

At the end of the two free sessions on Friday, Jules Cluzel (NRT) qualified directly for Superpole 2 alongside Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team), Sandro Cortese (Kallio Racing), Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team), Randy Krummenacher (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team), Luke Stapleford (Profile Racing), Kyle Smith (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda ), Hannes Soomer (Racedays), Ayrton Badovini (MV Agusta Reparto Corse by Vamag) and Corentin Perolari (GMT94 Yamaha). Héctor Barberà (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) finished his Friday in 23rd position, out of 29 participants, at 2.687.

Lucas Mahias takes pole position

During the Superpole, Luke Stapleford fell immediately after leaving the pits. The goal for everyone was the record set by Jules Cluzel in 2015 in 1'44.554 on MV Agusta. Luca Mahias set the best time at the start of the session in 1'45.170. Jules Cluzel followed him at 0.04 and Federico Caricasulo at 0.112.

After stopping to fit new tires, everyone set off again for the final attempt. Caricasulo took the lead with a time of 1'44.813. Then Mahias took command in 1'44.588, 0.03 from the record. He was ahead of his teammate Caricasulo, followed by Cortese, Cluzel, de Rosa and Krummenacher. Perolari set the eleventh time.

Qualification results:

Provisional ranking of the World Championship:

1 SANDRO CORTESE 138 points YAMAHA

2 JULES CLUZEL 133 YAMAHA

3 RANDY KRUMMENACHER 116 YAMAHA

4 FEDERICO CARICASULO 104 YAMAHA

5 LUCAS MAHIAS 103 YAMAHA

6 RAFFAELE DE ROSA 103 MV AGUSTA

7 ANTHONY WEST 51 KAWASAKI

8 LUKE STAPLEFORD 47 YAMAHA

9 THOMAS GRADINGER 40 YAMAHA

10 KYLE SMITH 39 HONDA

Supersport race time:

Sunday at 14:45 p.m. (French time)

Video below: Jules Cluzel this Friday after free practice:

Photos © Yamaha and worldsbk.com / Dorna