Sofuoglu remains the pacesetter
Turkey’s Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) has maintained his position as the fastest world supersport rider at this weekend’s opening round of the championship at Phillip Island.
Ahead of the single qualifying session at 3:55pm this afternoon, Sofuoglu set the benchmark practice time of 1:33.145, with arch-rival and Dutch star Michael van der Mark (Honda, 1:33.156) right on his hammer.
The pair had a little bit to spare over American 20-year-old Patrick Jacobsen (Kawasaki, 1:33.476) and Briton Kev Coghlan (Yamaha, 1:33.590).
Of the Australia connection, Triumph’s Billy McConnell (1:34.556) has now upstaged Bryan Staring (1:34.586) as the fastest local, with the duo completing practice in 11th and 12th. Ryan Taylor (Yamaha) was 23rd after setting his fastest every lap around the grand prix circuit – 1:36.783.
The final practice session was cut short after Frenchman Florian Marino (Kawasaki) crashed heavily.
World Supersport FP3 Results
| 1 | 54 K.SOFUOGLU | TUR | KawasakiZX-6R | 1’33.145 |
| 2 | 60 M.VDMARK | NED | HondaCBR600RR | 1’33.156 |
| 3 | 99 P. JACOBSEN | USA | KawasakiZX-6R | 1’33.476 |
| 4 | 88 K.COGHLAN | GBR | YamahaYZFR6 | 1’33.590 |
| 5 | 14 R.WILAIROT | THA | HondaCBR600RR | 1’33.744 |
| 6 | 65 V. LEONOV | RUS | MVAgustaF3675 | 1’33.921 |
| 7 | 16 J. CLUZEL | FRA | MVAgustaF3675 | 1’33.954 |
| 8 | 35 R.DEROSA | ITA | HondaCBR600RR | 1’34.156 |
| 9 | 5 R.TAMBURINI | ITA | KawasakiZX-6R | 1’34.291 |
| 10 | 84 R.RUSSO | ITA | HondaCBR600RR | 1’34.319 |
| 11 | 81 G.GOWLAND | GBR | Triumph675R | 1’34.319 |
| 12 | 26 L. ZANETTI | ITA | HondaCBR600RR | 1’34.354 |
| 13 | 21 F. MARINO | FRA | KawasakiZX-6R | 1’34.392 |
| 14 | 3 B.MCCONNELL | AUS | Triumph675R | 1’34.556 |
| 15 | 67 B.STARING | AUS | HondaCBR600RR | 1’34.586 |
| 16 | 44 R.ROLFO | ITA | KawasakiZX-6R | 1’34.647 |
| 17 | 11 C.GAMARINO | ITA | KawasakiZX-6R | 1’34.694 |
| 18 | 19 K.WAHR | GER | YamahaYZFR6 | 1’34.831 |
| 19 | 61 F. MENGHI | ITA | YamahaYZFR6 | 1’35.134 |
| 20 | 24 M.BUSSOLOTTI | ITA | HondaCBR600RR | 1’35.328 |
| 21 | 9 T. COVEÑA | NED | KawasakiZX-6R | 1’35.553 |
| 22 | 7 N.CALERO | ESP | HondaCBR600RR | 1’35.847 |
| 23 | 52 R.TAYLOR | AUS | YamahaYZFR6 | 1’36.783 |
| 24 | 89 F. ROGERS | GBR | HondaCBR600RR | 1’37.001 |
| 25 | 161 A.IVANOV | RUS | YamahaYZFR6 | 1’37.518 |
