After winning his second Superpole of 2017, KRT’s Jonathan Rea reached 10 career Superpole wins at Chang, matching veterans Carlos Checa and Pierfrancesco Chili. If he does it again — and he will — he will draw level with one-season championship-winning wonder Ben Spies.

Meanwhile, Jules Cluzel (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) posted his 19th WorldSSP pole, and by an impressive margin of almost half a second. The Frenchman now needs just three more poles to reach the impressive 22 of countryman Sebastien Charpentier.

Jonathan Rea takes pole, Thai WSBK 2017

The most successful pole man ever is Turkish rider Kenan Sofuoglu with 30, but the five-time world Supersport champion is still sidelined due to an off-season injury to his thumb and hand.

By Gordon Ritchie

Sykes, Jonathan Rea and Melandri, superpole, Thai WSBK 2017