Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) has bounced back from a disappointing last race at Brno with the fastest time on Friday at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, as the FIM Supersport World Championship returns from a four-week break for the eighth round of the season.

The Italian’s Free Practice 1 time of 1’38.204 was enough to top the combined timesheets, as the rain which had been forecast for the early afternoon in Rimini finally made its appearance less than fifteen minutes into the second session. Only six riders of the 34 present at the Riviera di Rimini Round were able to better their morning times, with the ten Superpole 2 riders remaining unchanged.

Just one rider improved his position from one session to the other, with Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) making it a GRT one-two in Rimini, 0.259 seconds behind his teammate. He edges ahead of fellow Frenchman Jules Cluzel (NRT) in third, who is looking to score his fourth win in the last five races.

Raffaele De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse by Vamag) scored the fourth fastest time in Friday, again the best non-Yamaha bike out on track. Championship leader Sandro Cortese (Kallio Racing) finished the day in fifth position, slightly improving his best time in FP2, but still half a second behind Caricasulo.

Kyle Smith (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) took the sixth fastest time on the Honda, in only his second race since returning to the CIA Landlord team. Seventh was Anthony West (EAB antwest Racing), with One Event rider Stefano Valtulini (Pleo Racing Team) in eighth position.

Randy Krummenacher (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) could only finish the day with the ninth fastest time, nearly nine tenths of a second slower than Caricasulo, with wildcard Marco Bussolotti (Team ROSSO CORSA) taking the final spot in tomorrow’s Superpole 2 just ahead of Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in eleventh.

Will any of the WorldSSP top four take the leading spot on Sunday’s grid, or will we see a surprise at the front? Find out as the Superpole 1 kicks off right after the WorldSBK Race 1 at 14:00 local time (12:00 GMT), with all the action available thanks to the WorldSBK VideoPass.