Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes recorded yet another Superpole success at Aragon World Superbike with a late 1’49 lap putting him on the front row ahead of Sylvain Guintoli and Alex Lowes.
Pata Yamaha duo Guintoli and Lowes surprised many towards the end of the session as they stuck their YZF-R1s second and third, respectively, and also climbed into the 1’49 bracket.
To illustrate how much of an incredible qualifying performance it was by Paul Denning’s team, the best the team had achieved all weekend was fifth back in FP1 with Lowes.
After that the 25-year-old had just scraped into Superpole 2, while Guintoli was miring in 14th in FP2 resulting in him riding in Superpole 1, which he emerged from successfully.
Even this morning’s third practice session only had the Frenchman ninth and Lowes 11th, and despite being relatively close to the pace no-one much expected a front-row double.
Jonathan Rea kicked the session off on his Kawasaki but Jordi Torres on the Althea BMW quickly dispatched Rea’s first flying effort.
The Spaniard brought the times into the 1’50s and he had Michael Van Der Mark, Lowes and Lorenzo Savadori following him into that range soon after.
Sykes and Chaz Davies began to make their play too, with the eventual polesetter settling into second behind Torres as Aruba.it Ducati’s Davies slotted into third.
It looked as if the Kawasaki would be heading to the front of the pack with just six minutes remaining.
Sykes got himself onto a flier and was under in all three sectors but between the final sector and the finish line something went amiss and he was bumped into third as Davies went top.
With three minutes remaining on the clock the 12 Superpole challengers made their way back out for a final shoot-out but Van Der Mark was the first to meet trouble.
The Dutchman lost the front between Turn 7 and 8, in an innocuous looking crash manufactured by either a lock of the front brake or too much time spent on the kerb, or both, and his session was over.
Van Der Mark’s Honda team-mate Nicky Hayden had to break from his line to avoid the 23-year-old and with that both Fireblades’ chances of good position for the race were done.
In the end the two Hondas – who until then had been majorly impressive – had to settle for 10th and 11th respectively.
While the Honda garage was contemplating their disappointment, a real battle was continuing at the front as the clock ticked down.
Guintoli was the first rider to make his play as the Frenchman struck top spot with a fine 1’49.374 and he was soon followed in by his team-mate and Kawasaki’s Rea but it would be Sykes to have the last laugh.
The Yorkshireman went hurtling around the 5.344 km Aragon circuit to take the 32nd Superpole of his career and take the pole lap record with him, ahead of the Yamahas with Davies fourth and Rea fifth.
Davide Giugliano performed creditably with sixth place while Leon Camier took a superb seventh on the MV Agusta and he will be joined on the third row by Torres and Xavi Fores.
The unfortunate Honda pair of Hayden and Van Der Mark complete the fourth row alongside Lorenzo Savadori while reigning BSB champion Josh Brookes will start back in 18th on the sixth row.