By Glenn LeSanto

Dienza Ducati rider Vitto Guareschi got the World Supersport action underway at the historic Donington Park race track in Derbyshire, England today in lap-record-breaking time. The Italian was fastest in the first qualifying sesson at 1:36.316. Guareschi’s Dienza Ducati Racing team is based in
Leeds, England.

James Whitham, who holds the outright racing lap record at Donington in the class was down in 11th.

Karl Muggeridge pushed Guareschi hard throughout the qualifying session on the Suzuki Alstare GSX-R600 to take a provisional second on the grid. Paolo Casoli, who narrowly missed out on a win at the last round at Monza, was third-fastest in the afternoon session, held in bright sunshine at the circuit.

Local wild card rider Karl Harris was fifth-fastest in the session. The times may prove important as there is a possibility of rain for the second qualifying session.

First World Supersport Qualifying Session

1. Vittoriano Guareschi, Italy, Ducati 1:36.316
2. Karl Muggeridge, Australia, Suzuki 1:36.553
3. Paolo Casoli, Italy, Ducati 1:36.726
4. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Italy, Yamaha 1:36.982
5. Karl Harris, GB ,Suzuki 1:37.069
6. Fabien Foret, France, Honda 1:37.075
7. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Japan, Suzuki 1:37.082
8. Fabrizio Pirovano, Italy, Suzuki 1:37.113
9. Pere Riba, Spain, Honda 1:37.262
10. Iain MacPherson, GB, Kawasaki 1:37.368