Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes pulverised the outright lap record during the World Superbike qualifying session at Laguna Seca – going half a second quicker than the rest of the pack with a 1’21.811. Huddersfield finest bagged his fourth pole of the year – his 23rd of his career this afternoon.
Sykes shares the front row with Aprilia’s Sylvain Guintoli and, Ducati’s Chaz Davies. The Welshman clinched his second front row start of the year after a 1’22.384, placing him third on the starting grid.
Initially it was Ducati’s Davide Giugliano who set the pace, but that was only to last about five seconds, as Aprilia’s Sylvain Guintoli went into the provisional pole spot with a 1’23.233. Davies was always at the sharp end and after seven minutes went into second on the sheets after a 1’23.246 rotation.
On the five minute mark Giugliano soared into the top spot – after a 1’22.422, setting a new outright lap record in the process. But once again, Guintoli was hot on his heels and pulverised his own lap record that he clocked last year by three tenths to regain his place at the top of the timesheets.
But then Sykes pulled his best lap ever out of the bag- going over half a second faster than anyone else, and was the first rider to lap inside the 1’21 bracket, with a 1’21.811, with less than a minute to go to the end of the session – and proved unbeatable as the chequered flag came out. The reigning champ was only six tenth off the best MotoGP lap at the track too.
Voltcom Suzuki’s Eugene Laverty rounded off the second row, as his best time of 1’22.725 was enough to place him sixth on the starting grid. Pata Honda’s Leon Haslam missed out on the second row by four tenths of a second and starts from eighth, with his team-mate, Jonathan Rea completing the top ten.
The Northern Irishman did take a tumble during the dying minutes of the qualifying outing at turn 11, but managed to re-mount to compete the session. Voltcom Suzuki’s Alex Lowes never made it inside the top ten times throughout the 20 minute session and looked like he was experiencing technical problems out on the American track. He will start the double-header from 11th place.
At the start of Superpole one it was Baz on his first flying lap who was the quickest rider, followed by Canepa and Barrier. With ten minutes remaining to the first qualifying outing Baz continued to improve on his lap time – and set a 1’24.083, with his fellow Kawasaki rider David Salom going into second on his Evo machine.
Baz had to retreat to the pits after a crash at turn 6, with eight minutes remaining, and it looked like he hurt his hand in the process. On the three minute mark Althea Racing’s Niccolo Canepa stormed to the top of the timesheets onboard his Evo bike, with a 1’23.566, with BMW Italia’s Sylvain Barrier quickly following suit in second.
Baz eventually made his way out of the pits and on a fresh qualifying tyre went back into first on the timing-screens going one tenth quicker than Canepa. Alstare’s Christian Iddon fell while at turn 5 whilst fourth fastest overall – after a 1’24.024 just as the chequered flag appeared, ending his chances of progressing into Superpole two. The Stockport lad will start the two races tomorrow from 14th of the grid.
At the end of the 25 minute session it was Baz and Canepa who had the chance to fight it out for pole in Superpole two, with Barrier missing out on a spot in the top two by three tenths. Reparto Corse’s stand-in rider, Leon Camier set his fastest time of the weekend so far – a 1’25.157, but it wasn’t enough to go through to Superpole two, and the Kent rider starts from the seventh row tomorrow.
