The Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team enjoyed a positive start on Friday at a hot and humid Imola, Round 5 of the 2018 FIM Motul Superbike Championship. Michael van der Mark displayed good pace throughout the day and finished fifth fastest on the combined timesheets with a 1:47.461 to make it through automatically to Saturday's SP2. His teammate Alex Lowes also showed strong pace and towards the end of FP3, he set a time good enough for fifth on the timing screens but, unfortunately, he had it taken away for exceeding the track limits by the tiniest of margins at the final chicane. This meant he ended Friday in 12th overall with a 1:47.737 but he will head into Saturday's SP1 looking to make the most of the extra track time and with the confidence he has the pace to make it through to SP2.