Robin Anne, Jake Lewis and Kevin Manfredi were the early pace setters in the official qualifying practice ahead of tomorrow’s 4th round of the PATA European Junior Cup powered by Honda at Imola this afternoon but it was Frenchman Guillaume Raymond who stormed to his 3rd Pole Position in a row.
Despite weather conditions being considerably hotter than yesterday, the lap times went quicker and quicker.
Championship leader Michael Canducci (Italy) and his compatriot Kevin Manfredi both crashed at the final chicane with 13 minutes to go, both were unhurt.
Jake lewis put in the fastest lap of the weekend shortly after the half way point in the session but Raymond (who was in the same group of riders) bettered it with his next flying lap.
With several groups of riders spread around the twisty Imola circuit at times it looked like the race but as the chequered flag came out it was Raymond who clung on to take his 3rd pole position of the year ahead of Britain’s James Flitcroft who put in a late charge to grab 2nd position on the grid. Aragon race winner Jake Lewis claimed his first front start of the season in 3rd position.
The second row will be made up of Augusto Fernandez and Javier Orellana, both from Spain while Kevin Manfredi’s time earlier in the session was good enough to keep him in 6th position overall.
Hungarian Richard Bodis just edged Hannes Soomer from Estonia for 7th with Andrea Zanella completing the 3rd row with a last lap time that pushed Robin Anne (France) into 10th position.
Josh Harland will line up 11th and Peter Sebastyen will complete the 4th row of the grid.
Wildcard rider Alessandro Zaccone was 13th in his first ride aboard the CBR500ccR Honda which is used by all 32 riders in this year’s championship.
Tomorrow’s 9 lap race is scheduled to start at 1435 local time.
