Australian Anthony West has been given a major shot in the arm ahead of today’s opening round of the 2018 FIM Supersport World Championship at Phillip Island.
The former Moto2 race winner qualified in fifth position – a row two start – yesterday, but he has since been bumped up to a front row start after German Sandro Cortese (Yamaha) and Italian Federico Caricasulo (Yamaha) were both demoted three grid positions for riding too slow on track during the Superpole 2 qualifying session – deemed to be “irresponsible riding” in the FIM rule book.
The sanctions bumped up West to the front row alongside world champion Lucas Mahias (Yamaha) and Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki), while Caricasulo will be on row two between Like Stapleford (Triumph) and Randy Krummenacher (Yamaha).
Cortese moves back to row three.
Meanwhile, former Phillip Island World SSP winner Jules Cluzel (Yamaha) was also pinged for the same indiscretion as Cortese and Caricasulo, and he moves back to row four.
West has finished third in the last two WorldSSP races at Phillip Island, and is chasing his first win in the category since way back in 2007.
Tom Toparis (Kawasaki, row six) and Lachlan Epis (Kawasaki, row eight)) will also be flying the Aussie flag in the 16-lap race that starts at 1:30pm.
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