Aprilia’s Sylvain Guintoli was the fastest bike out on the Monza circuit, in the second World Superbike qualifying practice session this morning. The Frenchman clocked a time of 1’43.167, but because the practice session was declared wet but dried out, the times were a second off those set in the first fully-dry qualifying yesterday afternoon.
Pata Honda’s Jonathan Rea tried to equal the times made by Guintoli, but had to settle for the second fastest time of 1’43.447. GoldBet BMW’s Marco Melandri was not able to improve on his time, but neither could anyone else, so in the combined qualifying the Italian still tops the time-sheets, but today could only manage a 1’43.523, compared to a 1’42.883 from yesterday.
Many of the riders tried to attempt to do a last lap dash to improve their times, but to no avail. Aprilia’s Eugene Laverty found himself just outside the top three with a time of 1’43.535. Kawasaki’s Loris Baz went quicker than his English team-mate, Tom Sykes with a 1’43.535, while the Huddersfield rider had to settle for eighth fastest in the session. Fixi Crescent Suzuki’s Leon Camier found himself sandwiched between the two riders finishing the second qualifying practice sixth fastest with a time of 1’44.090.
GoldBet BMW’s Chaz Davies completed more laps this morning, than in the session yesterday. In the opening qualifying practice the Welshman crashed his bike at Lesmo 2, but today the rider made it to the end and finished eleventh fastest.
But Ducati Alstare rider Carlos Checa was absent from the line-up and he will miss the rest of the race weekend after struggling with a shoulder injury. He pulled out this morning, after seeking medical advice. The former champ has vowed to return to action at Donington Park in two weeks' time.
