Sykes Hits 39th Superpole Milestone

A new Donington best lap of 1’26.641 gave Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) his first official Superpole win of the 2017 season, and the 39^th of his career. Sykes had started from pole at Assen, after Rea had been punished with a second row start for obstructing Davies, but Rea kept his Superpole winner’s status all the same. Despite the TV graphics showing Sykes as having 40 career poles it was later re-confirmed by the organisers as this being Sykes’ 39^th pole.

After early morning rains gave way to a dry Superpole period for the Superbike riders, the top 12 riders took to the track on qualifiers to set their best times.

Behind Sykes was his team-mate Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team), 0.364 seconds down and the improved Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who found a better set-up overnight.

Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) was first Yamaha rider home in fourth place with the second factory Ducati of Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) fifth. 

Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) had a positive start to his first Donington raceday for Milwaukee Aprilia, with sixth place.

Ducati privateer Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Ducati) pushed on to seventh, Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was heading for a better place then eighth but fell midway through the Superpole 2 session. The third row for race one later today was completed by privateer Aprilia rider Leandro Mercado (IodaRacing Team Aprilia).

British runner Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was tenth, Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) and Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) were 11^th and 12^th.