Alvaro Bautista claims pole in Aragon as Jonathan Rea struggles

ByEurosport

Updated 06/04/2019 at 09:53 GMT

Alvaro Bautista continued his scorching pace at the start of the World Superbikes season by claiming pole in Aragon – but the real story of the day was the shock of seeing Jonathan Rea qualify well down in 10th.

Aruba It Racing Ducati rider Alvaro Bautista

Image credit: Getty Images

Watch the 2019 World Superbikes season live on Eurosport Player

Rea has won the past four world titles but the Kawasaki rider has been dominated by newcomer Bautista this season, with the Spaniard winning all six races so far in 2019.

Marco Melandri crashes in Aragon Superpole

Pirelli Catalunya Round

Bautista and Bulega complete Ducati one-two in Race 2 in Catalunya

00:03:00

24/03/2024 at 22:47

And it was the same story in Aragon in the Superpole as Bautsista, for Aruba Racing, set the pace with the fastest lap of 1:49.049. Sandro Cortese was second with a fastest lap of 1:49.414 and Tom Sykes joined them on the front row with a lap of 1:49.557.

But Rea was well off the pace down in 10th position with a 1:50.013, giving him a huge challenge in Race 1, which is live on Eurosport 2 and Eurosport Player at 1pm.

Bautista told Eurosport: "Today has been even more special, because racing here in home track is always special and today the conditions were a bit tricky because it was a bit cold.

"I’m so happy because our target is to get in the first lane of the grid."

Pirelli Catalunya Round