Drama in qualifying as World Superbike champion-elect Jonathan Rea and title rival Scott Redding crash out at Estoril in Portugal

Kawasaki rider Rea, who is bidding to win the title for the sixth successive year in race one on Saturday (14:00 BST), went down moments after Redding was high-sided from his Aruba.it Ducati.

Redding – fastest in all three free practice sessions – was unable to post a time as a result of the damage to his machine and will have to start the first race from 23rd and last position at the back of the grid.

However, Rea did clock a time before his crash and will line up in 15th place on row five alongside fellow countryman Eugene Laverty, who was 14th fastest on the factory BMW.

Toprak Razgatlioglu claimed pole on the Pata Yamaha and is joined on the front row by Honda’s Leon Haslam and American rookie Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha).

A top-13 finish today will be enough for Rea to secure the title regardless of Redding’s result.

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