Jules Cluzel (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) secured his first pole position start of the 2017 WorldSSP season with a 1’37.683 lap in hot and steamy conditions at Chang International Circuit. He was almost half a second faster than the closest competition.
Local wildcards played a leading part for most of Superpole 2 but finally Cluzel got the best of them in some style. Chalermpol Polamai (Yamaha Thailand) finished second fastest, new R6 Yamaha rider Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) went third quickest and Thai favourite Decha Kraisart (Yamaha Thailand) was fourth.
In fifth place Malaysian rider Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) occupies the middle of the second row in readiness for Sunday’s race, while sixth fastest rider was Brit Kyle Smith (GEMAR Balloons – Team Lorini Honda).
Seventh quickest rider proved to be Superpole 1 rider Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team). Hikari Okubo (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda), Christian Gamarino (BARDHAL EVAN BROS. Honda Racing) and British rider Kyle Ryde (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) completed the top ten.
Patrick Jacobsen (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) just missed his chance to set one final fast lap and was 11th, while Gino Rea (Team GO ELEVEN Kawasaki) had a visor problem that stopped him taking to the track at a key time.
Aiden Wagner (GEMAR Balloons – Team Lorini Honda) was 16th and Lachlan Epis (Response RE Racing Kawasaki) 20th.
By Gordon Ritchie
Images GNG