Tom Sykes 1’56.479

Reigning World Superbike Champion Tom Sykes nicked pole position away from under the nose of his young works Kawasaki team-mate Loris Baz with his final lap of Superpole at Motorland Aragon today, going two-tenths quicker than the Frenchman.

Baz’s final effort was enough to depose compatriot and works Aprilia rider Sylvain Guintoli from top spot with Baz lapping at 1’56.675 compared to the British-based rider’s 1’56.769 but Sykes swung in with a 1’56.479 to grab top spot but couldn’t quite match his 1'56.339 set last year.

Davide Guigliano won the battle of the works Ducatis after Chaz Davies lost the front through turn 12 but got back on to grab sixth place behind the Pata Honda of Jonathan Rea. Marco Melandri, who had been so quick through free practice, stumbled to seventh place.

Eugene Laverty’s final run was enough to push Voltcom Suzuki team-mate Alex Lowes into ninth place while Toni Elias rounded out the top ten. BMW Italia replacement rider Leon Camier fought his way from Superpole one into the main session and was on a very fast lap on the Evo-spec S1000RR only to crash unhurt and finish in 11th.

Luckless Leon Haslam got spat off his Fireblade at the session start and didn’t record a time. He did make it back to pitlane and didn’t appear to be injured in the turn ten off. Christian Iddon will start from 18th place on the Bimota BB3.

Superpole one was delayed after a freak incident which saw Jeremy Guarnoni’s Evo Kawasaki blow an engine. It was so violent, his generator cover was blown towards pitlane and smashed into a pitboard. His engine then emptied itself of oil down the start/finish straight, necessitating a red flag.

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