Jonathan Rea fastest in fourth Magny Cours practice

Jonathan Rea was fastest in the fourth free practice session at Magny Cours as he attempts to seal a fourth successive World Superbikes title.

The Kawasaki rider took the top time of one minute 37.561 seconds to finish just over one-tenth of a second ahead of team-mate Tom Sykes, with Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) third and Barni Ducati’s Xavi Fores in fourth.

Northern Irishman Rea can seal his fourth title in a row in France, if he outscores fellow Briton Chaz Davies by nine points and concedes fewer than 12 points to Dutchman Michael van der Mark.

Aruba.it Racing Ducati Davies was fifth, while Van der Mark, of the PATA Yamaha team, was eighth.