Cluzel tops World Supersport Friday

World supersport: Cluzel ends day one on top

Frenchman Jules Cluzel has taken his MV Agusta to the top of the timesheets after the opening day of practice in round one of the Supersport World Championship at Phillip Island.

The 26-year-old, last year’s Phillip Island winner and reigning world No. 2, edged out Kawasaki’s Kenan Sofuoglu by a scant 0.021 seconds, with the pair followed by Honda riders Gino Rea and Kyle Smith.

Lucas Mahias was fifth on his Kawasaki, with Aiden Wagner (Yamaha) the leading Australian in ninth position from the time he set in the morning session. Problems prevented the Queenslander from improving this afternoon.

Seventeen of the 24 riders set their best lap in the second 45-minute session, with Australian duo Alex Phillis (Honda) and Sam Lambert (Triumph) among them.

Phillis, the son of Aussie superbike legend Rob Phillis, was 20th fastest, Lambert 24th, and the fourth Aussie in action, Glenn Scott (Honda), completed day one in 18th. Scott also failed to improve from the time he set in the morning session.

Scott is competing in the world supersport title full-time, and his three compatriots are making one-off appearances.

Final practice is at 10:45am tomorrow, followed by the single qualifying session at 3:55pm.

World Supersport Friday Practice Combined Times