With the sun continuing to shine on the Misano World Circuit – Marco Simoncelli, FP3 was a fast and furious affair with the 30 strong field of WSBK riders all keen to make into this afternoon’s Tissot-Superpole sessions.

Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team) and Davide Giugliano (Ducati Superbike Team), who topped FP1 and FP2 respectively were once again in the mix but on combined times at the end of FP3 it was the Ducati rider who goes into Superpole 2 as the fastest rider of the weekend so far.

Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) was one of the first to improve and within the first 7 minutes he had improved his personal best time before moving to the top of the timing sheets 0.029s faster that Giugliano’s best from yesterday.

His Aprilia team mate Melandri soon responded to displace the Frenchman at the top before a series of improving laps from most of the top ten changed the order considerably.

After another exciting FP3 the top ten riders making directly into Superpole 2 are as follows:

Davide Giugliano, Marco Melandri, Sylvain Guintoli, Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team), Chaz Davies (Ducati Superbike Team), Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike Team), Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) and Eugene Laverty (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki).

In the EVO battle, Italian Niccolo Canepa was fastest in 12th overall, ahead of the returning Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia) and wildcard rider Matteo Baiocco (Grandi Corse by AP Racing) moved up in the final four minutes.

Fabien Foret (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki) crashed with 7 minutes to go but will still take part in Superpole 1 courtesy of the 15th best lap in the combined classification.

Ivan Goi (Barni Racing Team) was the final rider to make it into the Superpole 1. He will join the riders placed 11th to 20th in the first of the 15 minute grid deciding sessions later this afternoon.