Aprilia’s Marco Melandri was the quickest rider during this morning’s final timed World Superbike free practice session at Jerez, and sailed into Superpole two after a 1’41.436.
Ducati’s Davide Giugliano set the second fastest time, and was only two tenths off the pace of his fellow compatriot. Former MotoGP contender Toni Elias left it till his final lap to set his quickest time which propelled the rider to third on the sheets, with a 1’41.849.
The biggest shock of the session was Pata Honda’s Leon Haslam. He set the fourth quickest time during the free practice session yesterday, and was looking like a potential front row contender. But he will have to battle it out on Superpole one after he could only lap a 1’42.547 to place him 11th on the timing-screens.
He was edged out of the top ten by his team-mate, Jonathan Rea – with only 0.02 seconds separating the pair. The Voltcom Suzuki duo faired much better, with Eugene Laverty storming into the top four after a 1’41.888, with his younger counterpart, Alex Lowes rounding up the top seven.
Ducati’s Chaz Davies was one tenth behind the pace of Irishman, Laverty, but the Welshman was lapping consistently inside the 1’41’s to prove that he has the pace to challenge for pole later this afternoon.
Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes did start the session strongly, and was initially on course for a provisional front row start – but the likeable Yorkshireman could not improve on his 1’42.016, and slipped back to eighth. But his time was good enough to secure his place in Superpole two.
Entrants for Superpole two:
Melandri
Giugliano
Elias
Laverty
Davies
Guintoli
Lowes
Sykes
Baz
Rea
