Kiwi Jake Lewis made an impressive start to his 2013 European Junior Cup campaign in Motorland Aragon, Spain, by finishing fourth in the opening free practice and then qualifying fourth for the racing proper.

The Rangiora rider who finished third in the 2013 New Zealand Superbike Championships’ 600cc supersports class, left it until the final moments of qualifying to secure a second row start for the opening round of this year’s European Junior Cup.

Having been fourth overall in the free practice session yesterday, Lewis had at one point been as high as provisional second before having to settle for 4th position at the flag.

“Today has been another good result for round one,” said Lewis, who returns to the series this year following several outings last season in the UEM Superstock 600cc championship.

“I was aiming for the front two rows of the grid and that’s where I’ve ended up so I am happy with that. It will be important to get a good start because slipstream here will be important but things are looking good.”

Fellow Kiwis Connor London, of Auckland, Blayes Heaven, of Auckland, and Sam Croft, of Wellington, qualified 29th, 30th and 33rd respectively.

Meanwhile, Spaniard Albert Arenas took the first pole position of the 2013 European Junior Cup season after a late charge saw him displace long time provisional pole sitter Guillaume Raymond.

Raymond (who was fastest yesterday), held on to second ahead of a much improved Michael Canducci. Lewis took fourth spot, just a fraction ahead of Illian Fernandez and Javier Orellana who completed the top 6.

Zac Levy will start the race in 7th after initially heading the timesheet early in the session, while Peter Sebastyen and Ali Adriansvah Rusmiputro rounded out the top 9.

Less than two seconds cover the top 13, so with slipstreaming expected to play a big part in the race we can expect a big battle to claim the podium places.

Of the women, Sabrina Paiuta,from Brazil, continued to mix it amongst the front runners by putting her CBR500cc Honda into a solid 12th position overall. Amelie Demoulin  from France ,was 34th on her Honda.

Several riders tumbled in the session, thankfully all without injury.

European Junior Cup Qualifying, round 1, Aragon, Spain:

1 11 A. ARENAS ESP Honda CBR500R 2’25.483
2 5 G. RAYMOND FRA Activbike Honda CBR500R 2’25.504
3 97 M. CANDUCCI ITA Colors Experience Honda CBR500R 2’25.687
4 29 J. LEWIS NZL Jake Lewis Racing Honda CBR500R 2’25.855
5 53 I. FERNANDEZ ESP Evo Kids Racing Honda CBR500R 2’26.171
6 27 J. ORELLANA ESP Europfoods Honda CBR500R 2’26.213
7 87 Z. LEVY AUS Puma R.V.s Honda CBR500R 2’26.523
8 56 P. SEBESTYEN HUN World Management Honda CBR500R
9 12 A. RUSMIPUTRO INA Honda CBR500R 2’26.720
10 34 A. PITTET SUI Swisscare Honda CBR500R 2’26.924
11 19 R. FILIPPINI ITA Nineteen Racing Team ASD Honda CBR500R 2’26.989
12 88 S. PAIUTA BRA LS2 Helmets Racing Team Honda CBR500R 2’26.996
13 41 S. ODEGARD NOR Team Stinius Viking Racing Honda CBR500R 2’27.129
14 43 K. MANFREDI ITA Newton Trasformatori Srl Honda CBR500R 2’27.158
15 78 L. GAROFOLI ITA Honda CBR500R 2’27.329
16 2 R. BODIS HUN Sparta Motorsport Honda CBR500R 2’27.727
17 55 I. MYKHALCHYK UKR Wind Racing Team Honda CBR500R 2’27.766
18 33 R. ANNE FRA Anne Formation Honda CBR500R 2’27.854
19 77 M. ARANDA ESP Aranda 77 Honda CBR500R 2’27.889
20 21 M. SCHULTHEISS GER ADAC Würtemberg Honda CBR500R 2’28.139
21 3 A. ZANELLA ITA Maverik Honda CBR500R 2’28.271
22 69 J. HARLAND GBR Padgettsmotorcycles.com Honda CBR500R 2’28.361
23 25 J. HUBNER SWE MH Entreprenad Honda CBR500R 2’28.436
24 37 A. FERNANDEZ ESP DS Junior Team Honda CBR500R 2’28.734
25 10 C. EBEHARD BEL RSM Junior Team Honda CBR500R 2’28.845
26 17 J. FLITCROFT GBR Nova Caravans Honda CBR500R 2’28.944
27 38 H. SOOMER EST Enos OÜ Honda CBR500R 2’29.039
28 4 A. MAGLIOCCHETTI ITA Honda CBR500R 2’29.318
29 99 C. LONDON NZL WILSport Management Honda CBR500R 2’29.960
30 59 B. HEAVEN NZL Team Amadora Honda CBR500R 2’31.469
31 35 S. HILL GBR Munton Roofing Honda CBR500R 2’31.552
32 7 A. WISDOM USA Cads Racing Honda CBR500R 2’31.822
33 24 S. CROFT NZL White Ribbon New Zealand Honda CBR500R 2’32.504
34 9 A. DEMOULIN FRA JFA Performances Honda CBR500R 2’33.884
35 93 C. KOSAN USA MCJ Motorsports Honda CBR500R 2’34.675

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