Mahias bolts to World Supersport pole in Thailand

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Lucas Mahias has stormed to his second straight pole position of the 2018 World Supersport championship with a blitzing lap to beat Jules Cluzel as Yamaha riders locked out the top five spots on the grid in Thailand.

The defending World Supersport champion saw his grip on top spot of the times loosened by Cluzel in the final practice but fought back in qualifying to take pole position with a 1m 36.738s over two-tenths clear of Cluzel.

Mahias’ GRT Yamaha teammate Federico Caricasulo completes the front row for the Thailand race – almost half a second off his teammate – with former world champion Sandro Cortese once again impressing by heading up the second row for Kallio Racing Yamaha.

Randy Krummenacher was shuffled back to fifth place in qualifying despite battling inside the top three throughout practice for Bardahl Evan Bros Yamaha with Anthony West leading the Kawasaki charge in sixth place after five-time World Supersport champion Kenan Sofuoglu was ruled out of action with injury.

Thailand wildcard riders Ratthapong Wilairot (Thailand Yamaha) and Thitipong Warokorn (Thailand Kawasaki) head up the third row of the grid and are joined by Puccetti Kawasaki’s Hikari Okubo.

The British pair of Luke Stapleford (Profile Racing Triumph) and Kyle Smith (Team Lorini Honda) will start from the fourth row which is completed by Raffaele De Rosa on the MV Agusta.