Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) chose a good location to extend his all-time record of Superpole wins to 46 – a full Valentino’s worth – at Misano, which is not very far from the MotoGP legend’s home town of Tavullia.
Sykes was on course to take his 46th pole, and fourth of the season, after most others had set their best attempt, going faster than eventual second place man Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) in the first two sectors, only to lose a fraction in the third. Sykes made it back up in the fourth and last part of the 4.226km long circuit for a new track best in Superbike of 1’33.640. He was just 0.033 seconds ahead of Rea at the end.
Behind the KRT duo, the aggressive Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) was third fastest, earning a front row start for the first race later today using the new 200/65 rear qualifying tyre, like most of his peers.
Spanish rider for an Italian team, Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team Ducati) put himself fourth, with day one fastest man Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) fifth and Misano semi-sensation Loris Baz (GULF ALTHEA BMW Racing Team) sixth – all three starting off the second row now.
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was seventh, Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) eighth, and Superpole 1 promoteeJordi Torres (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) ninth. Leon Camier (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) rounded out the top ten.
Superpole 1 qualifier Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK) was only 11th and a late crash – when otherwise looking set for a front row start – saw Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK) down in a lowly 12th on the grid.
Race one takes place at Misano at 13.00, local time in Italy.
By Gordon Ritchie
