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Solid supersport start for Smith

Pata Honda rider Kyle Smith set the fourth fastest overall time in today's two free practice sessions for the opening round of the 2015 World Supersport championship at Phillip Island in Australia.

The 23-year-old British rider fired his Honda CBR600RR around the 4.445km Phillip Island circuit in a time of 1m34.023s, 0.7s behind provisional pole sitter Jules Cluzel.

Making his World Supersport debut on a track he rode for the first time during a two-day test earlier this week, Smith has impressed his Pata Honda team with his feedback on the CBR's performance, as well as his speed.

Smith will return to the circuit for Free Practice 3 tomorrow morning before the afternoon qualifying session to determine final grid positions for Sunday's 18-lap World Supersport opener.

Kyle Smith - P4,1m34.023s

I'm really happy! I didn't expect to be in the top five, even though that's what I was aiming for in the race. But to be up there on the first day is really positive. I was actually third fastest this morning and third all the way through that second practice until the last couple of minutes. It's good and I'm happy with the bike and the team and my ideal lap is a bit faster, so if can put that together, that would be good. I've spoken to the guys and it's clear from the data that I do get it sideways and spinning up quite a lot, which isn't really good for going fast or the end of the race. I'm used to much shorter Superstock races on the Fireblade where you can get away with it a bit more. So we'll be working a bit more on my style tomorrow in FP3 but, apart from th at, it's all good.

Pieter Breddels - technical co-ordinator

Kyle had a very good test here earlier this week and he continued improving this morning when he finished third fastest with a better lap time. In the afternoon session he improved a little more and ended up fourth fastest. For his first day in World Supersport I think he did a really good job and if he continues like this it looks like he'll be fighting with three or four other riders for the last podium position on Sunday.

Free Practice Results
1 Jules Cluzel 1m33.305 FRA MV MV Agusta Reparto Corse
2 Kenan Sofuoglu 1m33.326 TUR KAWASAKI Kawasaki Puccetti Racing
3 Gino Rea 1m33.729 GBR HONDA CORE Motorsport Thailand
4 Kyle Smith 1m34.023 GBR HONDA Pata Honda World Supersport Team
5 Lucas Mahias 1m34.137 FRA KAWASAKI Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres
6 Lorenzo Zanetti 1m34.151 ITA MV MV Agusta Reparto Corse
7 Alex Baldolini 1m34.379 ITA MV Race Department ATK#25
8 Ratthapark Wilairot 1m34.383 THA HONDA CORE Motorsport Thailand
9 Aidan Wagner 1m34.387 AUS YAMAHA Oz Wildcard Racing
10 Patrick Jacobson 1m34.412 USA KAWASAKI Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres