Pata Honda’s Leon Haslam will start the World Superbike race at his home track of Donington Park from second on the starting grid, after a very wet Superpole session today which saw him finish just a tenth behind Ducati's Davide Giugliano.
The rider who lives, 30 minutes away from the Leicestershire circuit, could not managed to out-pace Giugliano but a time of 1’45.009 was enough to push him second. The Italian was the only rider to lap inside the 1’44’s – with a 1’44.908, with fellow compatriot Aprilia’s Marco Melandri rounding off the front row with a 1’45.111.
Initially it was Rea who was the quickest in the wet with a 1’49.171, but mere seconds later Haslam went fastest, only for Rea to go back to the top of the timing-screens. With six minutes of track time left Guintoli set a 1’46.912, but ended up dumping his bike at the Fogarty Esses, but soon go back on again.
With Guintoli momentarily in the gravel in enabled Rea and Lowes to better their lap times to go first and second quickest on the 13 minute mark, but the Isle Of Man resident binned it at Melbourne but re-joined soon after.
As the chequered flag appeared Lowes went top, only for Haslam and Giugliano to go faster. But Haslam was not out and went up to second with a 1’45.009. Giugliano fell at Melbourne but already done enough to start from the number one spot on the grid.
A last lap dash from Melandri was enough to place his Aprilia from seventh to third, and rounds off the front row. With the Roman going one tenth faster than Lowes it meant the Lincolnshire lad was pushed down to fourth, and will be joined on row two with Guintoli and Baz.
Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes heads row three, followed by Pata Honda’s Jonathan Rea and Elias. Voltcom Suzuki’s Eugene Laverty and Ducati’s Chaz Davies round off the top eleven.
In Superpole one BMW Italia’s Leon Camier crashed on his opening lap of the session at Schwantz, ending his hopes of going into Superpole two. Alstare’s Christian Iddon initially set the quickest time after five minutes with a 1’51.371, but with six minutes remaining Yakhnich’s Claudio Corti went top and was the first rider to lap within the 1’49 barrier.
Althea Racing’s Niccolo Canepa was third fastest but soon slipped down the timesheets after crashing at Melbourne. Seconds later Alstare’s Ayrton Badovini fell into the grass, but as still second fastest overall and was able to progress into Superpole two, with Elias.
Iddon missed out on a spot in Superpole two by one tenths of a second and starts from the fifth row of the grid.
