Mahias leads GRT Yamaha 1-2 in qualifying

Full Superpole qualifying results from Phillip Island

Defending World Supersport champion Lucas Mahias has produced a perfect start to his 2018 campaign with a dominant pole position at Phillip Island with GRT Yamaha teammate Federico Caricasulo completing a 1-2.

The French rider has been in control of the times at the Australian circuit all weekend and duly demonstrated that with a 1m 33.160s to take pole position by over three-tenths of a second from his GRT Yamaha teammate.

With Caricasulo second, five-time World Superbike champion Kenan Sofuoglu bounced back from a nasty crash in the Saturday morning final free practice session to secure a front row start on his Puccetti Kawasaki.

Former Moto3 world champion Sandro Cortese has impressed on his World Supersport debut by taking fourth in qualifying for Kallio Racing Yamaha ahead of local star Anthony West on his EAB Racing Kawasaki with Profile Triumph’s Luke Stapleford completing the second row.

Randy Krummenacher heads up row three on the Bardahl Evan Bros Yamaha and is joined by Raffaelle De Rosa (MV Agusta) and Jules Cluzel (NRT Yamaha). Ayrton Badovini, Kyle Smith and Hikari Okubo completed the top 12 Superpole 2 contenders.