WSBK: Round #8 Superpole Report – Portimao

wSBK Press Release:

Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) will start the 8th round’s two World Superbike races from the front of the grid after winning this afternoon’s Superpole at a very hot and sunny Portimao circuit, his third in a row at the Portuguese track and 22nd Pole Position so far in his WSBK career.

A thrilling Superpole 1 saw David Salom  and Sylvain Barrier progress to join the already seeded top ten from the combined free practice sessions with the 12 riders then doing battle for the final 15 minute grid deciding shoot-out.

The opening session wasn’t without incident as after 4 minutes the red flags came out as the marshals tended to Claudio Corti who had fell on the rollercoaster section of the circuit. He was taken to the medical center for further checks. Toni Elias also failed to record a time as his Aprilia developed a technical problem on his out lap.

In the final 15 minute Superpole 2, the times at the top changed almost every time a rider recorded a time but at the flag and with less than a second covering the top 9, Sykes emerged as the fastest, ahead of Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) and Chaz Davies, who will join him on row one tomorrow.

Row two will see Marco Melandri, Loris Baz and other factory Aprilia rider Sylvain Guintoli, who recovered from a high speed FP4 crash to claim 6th.

In the battle of the EVO riders, Sylvain Barrier will start 10th and David Salom 12th.

Alex Lowes crashed in the final minute of the session and will therefore start 11th tomorrow.

Times:

1. Sykes (Kawasaki) 1’42.484 average 161.305 kph
2. Rea (Honda) 1’42.765
3. Davies (Ducati) 1’42.924
4. Melandri (Aprilia) 1’43.038
5. Baz (Kawasaki) 1’43.048
6. Guintoli (Aprilia) 1’43.076
7. Laverty (Suzuki) 1’43.245
8. Giugliano (Ducati) 1’43.317
9. Haslam (Honda) 1’43.475
10. Barrier (BMW) 1’43.754
11. Lowes (Suzuki) 1’43.840
12. Salom (Kawasaki) 1’44.361
13. Badovini (Bimota)
14. Canepa (Ducati)
15. Iddon (Bimota)
16. Morais (Kawasaki)
17. Staring (Kawasaki)
18. Andreozzi (Kawasaki)
19. Corti (MV Agusta)
20. Elias (Aprilia)

For more information: www.worldsbk.com

Source : cycleworld[dot]com