WorldSBK Estoril: Record-breaking WorldSSP Superpole for Aegerter

Ten Kate Yamaha’s Dominique Aegerter secured the WorldSSP Superpole with a new circuit record at Estoril on Saturday morning.

The Swiss rider, fresh from his MotoE victory at Le Mans, dominated the Portuguese session from the outset before smashing the previous best with a 1’39.046. Aruba.it’s Nicolo Bulega held off the tight pack to claim second with EAB Racing’s Glenn van Straalen completing the front row ahead of the afternoon race.

A cloudy Estoril Circuit greeted the World Supersport field as Superpole fired up on Saturday morning. Ben Currie back in action with the Kawasaki following his recovery from injury with Tom Booth-Amos opting to sit out for the remainder of the weekend having tested the waters on his left ankle fracture during Friday practice.

Raffaele de Rosa’s Panigale V2 suffered a technical in the opening minutes with the Italian black flagged off track while Aegerter lead the way in the times as the first laps registered. A 1’40.242 the opening benchmark in the hunt for pole.

The reigning champion defended his position with an improved effort next time around as Jules Cluzel and Lorenzo Baldassarri battled for second on the GMT94 and Evan Bros Yamaha’s, Can Öncü the leading Kawasaki in fourth with Bulega representing Ducati from fifth.

The Bologna bullets were on the move with the next revolution as the former Moto2 rider promoted himself to second with Federico Caricasulo sitting fourth on the Althea as Aegerter advanced the pace with two lightning quick laps resulting in a new circuit record of 1’39.484.

Van Straalen was the next to improve on his way to fourth, seven-tenths adrift of the leading Swiss. The second GMT94 of Andy Verdoia, Puccetti of Yari Montella and MS Racing’s Ondrej Vostatek