Federico Caricasulo topped FIM Supersport World Championship Superpole qualifying Friday at Cremona Circuit, in Italy. Riding his Motozoo ME air Racing MV Agusta F3 800 RR on Pirelli control tires, the Italian lapped the 2.34-mile (3.76 km) course in 1:31.728 to top the field of 33 riders and earn pole position.
Can Oncu was the best of the rest with a 1:31.768 on his BLU CRU Evan Bros Team Yamaha YZF R9, and Stefano Manzi earned the third and final spot on the front row with a lap time of 1:31.843 on his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing YZF R9.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise was 8th with a 1:32.297 on his Renzi Corse Ducati Panigale V2.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Caricasulo on pole at home at Cremona as he pips Oncu by 0.040s in WorldSSP Superpole.The grid for Race 1 tomorrow is set and will feature Federico Caricasulo on pole ahead of Yamaha duo Can Oncu and Stefano Manzi.
FIM Supersport World Championship actions kicked off at the Cremona Circuit as the Championship takes to Italy for the first time since September last year. In the Tissot Superpole session, A sequence of late fast laps shook up the order; when the dust settled, Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME Air Racing) emerged in P1, earning his 13th pole in WorldSSP. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) powered up the field to finish P2, and Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) in P3.
CARICASULO BACK ON TOP: First pole for the Italian in two seasons
Caricasulo earned his first pole since Imola 2023 on the back of his 1’31.728s lap; recovering well from his disappointing last two rounds. Oncu had a slow start to the session but put things together for a P2 finish and only four hundredths behind Caricasulo with a 1’31.768s. Manzi had an uncharacteristically slow day out at his home round, sat below the top five for most of the day before finding another gear and claiming P3 with minutes left in the event. His time of 1’31.843s was a tenth of a second faster than Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura), shuffling him down to P4.
BENDSNEYDER’S CREMONA GROWING PAINS: His first WorldSSP event here was slower than rounds past
Rookie Masia was the first rider to break the 1’31 mark, however a late push by other riders demoted his 1’31.853s time to P4 despite running in a provisional pole position. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) jumped up early to claim P1 from Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse), then subsequently lost it to Booth-Amos, sliding down the order and finished P5 with a time of 1’32.024s. Lucas Mahias’s (GMT94-YAMAHA)1’32.048s time earned him a spot on the second row in P6
BOOTH AMOS HOLDS ON: The British rider’s early time held on to qualify P7
Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) started the day strong, claiming P1 before he crashed out of the session on only his eighth lap, his time held and allowed him to claim a third-row spot in P7 for Saturday’s Race 1. Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) had a strong Superpole finish, earning P8 through his 1’32.297s time. Niccolo Antonelli (VFT Racing) rounded out the third row, his time of 1’32.334s earning him P9. Xavi Cardelus (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) put down a 1’32.354s lap and earned P10.
The top six from the WorldSSP Superpole Race, full results here!
1. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME air Racing) 1’31.728s
2. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +0.040s
3. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +0.115s
4. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +0.125s
5. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.296s
6. Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) +0.320s
Race action will continue in Cremona tomorrow at 11:00 am, (local time UTC +2) tune in live all weekend or on demand with the WorldSBK VideoPass!