Champion Rea keeps Tom at bay

JONATHAN REA just edged out team-mate Tom Sykes in free practice ahead of tomorrow’s World Superbikes showdown at Misano.

Sykes was the faster of the two Kawasaki riders in the morning, but Rea, who had missed the start of the session with bike problems, hit back strongly next time out.

The reigning champion powered in a scorcher early on, lapping in 1m 34.901secs to ease 0.030secs clear of Sykes, whose hopes of hitting back were dashed by a crash in the last minute.

Rea failed to improve on that mark and again spent time in the pits, with his crew working on the front end of the bike. He has a good record at the circuit, having taken his first win in the series there and enjoying a winning double last year, finishing ahead of Sykes on both occasions.

Rea, who won last time out at Donington Park, leads Sykes by 55 points in the title stakes with Ducati’s Chaz Davies, fourth fastest behind team-mate Marco Melandri, a further 20 points down.

Leon Camier was fifth fastest overall on the MV Agusta.