The Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in San Marino witnessed an intense Superpole session for the FIM Supersport World Championship on Friday afternoon. Can Oncuriding for Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racingset a stunning lap time of 1:36.755 on his Yamaha YZF-R9 equipped with Pirelli control tiressecuring the top spot on the grid for the upcoming race.
The session saw 34 riders battling for the best starting positions on the 2.63-mile (4.23 km) circuit. Albert Arenas from AS BLU CRU Racing Team and Valentin Debise of EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing completed the front row with lap times of 1:36.855 and 1:36.869respectively.
Oncu’s Path to Pole Position
Can Oncu has had a challenging season, particularly after a back-of-the-grid penalty in the previous round at Aragon. However, his performance at Misano marked a significant turnaround. With just under three minutes remaining in the session, Hector Garzoa debutant, crashed at the high-speed Turn 13, bringing out a red flag. This incident added a layer of drama to the session, as riders had limited time to improve their lap times after the restart. Despite the chaos, Oncu held onto his pole position, marking his third of the season and tying Andrea Locatelli for the 14th-most all-time in WorldSSP history.
Key Performances and Standout Moments
Albert Arenasthe current championship leader, had a solid session, moving from around P10 to secure the second position. His consistent performance throughout the season has kept him at the top of the standings. Valentin Debiseon the other hand, continues his impressive form, securing a front-row start for the third consecutive round. His aim will be to convert this strong qualifying performance into a podium finish, having secured two P8 finishes at Aragon.
Philipp Oettl from the Feel Racing WorldSSP Team led the morning’s free practice session and initially set the fastest time. However, he slipped to fourth place with a time of 1’37.022shis best of the season so far. Matteo Ferrari of WRP Racing and Alessandro Zaccone from the Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team rounded out the top six, with Zaccone looking to build on his surprise Race 1 win at Aragon.
Triumph’s Strong Showing
The Triumph bikes showed promising performance, with Tom Booth-Amos and Oli Bayliss from the PTR Triumph Factory Racing team securing P7 and P8 respectively. Booth-Amos, who had a strong showing at Aragon, will be looking to continue his momentum at Misano. Bayliss, meanwhile, is giving his teammate a run for his money in the quest to be the top Triumph rider.
Mattia Casadei of the D34G WorldSSP Racing Team and Jaume Masia from Orelac Racing VerdNatura completed the top ten. Casadei, riding his Ducati Panigale V2had a strong showing at his home round, while Masia made a miraculous late-session recovery to secure P10.
The Road Ahead
As the FIM Supersport World Championship reaches its halfway point, the competition is heating up. With Albert Arenas leading the championship, the upcoming races at Misano will be crucial in determining the title contenders. The historic Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli will host the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Roundwhere new faces and seasoned riders alike will vie for victory.
The championship has already seen six different winners this season, adding to the excitement and unpredictability of the race. As the riders prepare for the weekend’s races, all eyes will be on Can OncuAlbert Arenasand the other top contenders to see who will emerge victorious at this iconic circuit.
