World Superbikes: Jonathan Rea seventh fastest on day one at Imola in Italy after afternoon crash

In an incident-hit afternoon session at the historic Italian circuit, Rea crashed unhurt on his Kawasaki at the final chicane, bringing out the red flags.

The session was halted three times in all, with Italy’s Gabriele Ruiu and Spaniard Tito Rabat also coming off in separate incidents.

Ulsterman Rea, fourth in the standings and 12 points behind Pata Yamaha’s Andrea Locatelli in third, was ninth in FP2 but seventh overall on the combined times courtesy of his fastest lap from the morning session.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Ducati) led the way with a best time of 1m 47.128s, which put him 0.151s ahead of Briton Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team), while American Garrett Gerloff was something of surprise package in third on the Bonovo Action BMW.

Axel Bassani slotted into fourth on the Motocorsa Racing Ducati ahead of Locatelli, whose Yamaha team-mate Toprak Razgatlioglu was next in sixth.

Championship leader Alvaro Bautista, who has won 16 of the 18 races held so far this season, was eighth on the Aruba.it Ducati behind Rea, half-a-second off Rinaldi’s best lap.

Scott Redding was 10th fastest on the factory ROKiT BMW with British Superbike contender Leon Haslam, deputising for the injured Tom Sykes, in 16th (ROKiT BMW). Sykes had been standing in for Dutchman Michael van der Mark when he was injured in a huge high-side last time out at Donington Park.

Six-time world champion Rea has won nine times at Imola and notched a double when the Italian venue last hosted a World Superbike round in 2019.

On that occasion, Rea halted Bautista’s 11-race unbeaten run and went on to secure his fifth title.

The 36-year-old has won an unparalleled 118 World Superbike races, although his last success was achieved during the final round of the 2022 series last November at Phillip Island in November.

Rea has claimed six podiums in six rounds this season but will be hoping to end his win drought in the second part of the season.

Qualifying takes place on Saturday ahead of race one (13:00 BST). On Sunday, the Superpole race is at 10:00 BST with race two at 13:00 BST.

After Imola, round eight will be held at Most in the Czech Republic before the summer break (July 28-30), with the championship returning at Magny-Cours in France from September (September 8-10).