Lap Record Broken Misano
World Superbike 2014
By Byron Wilson
Kawasaki Racing’s Tom Sykes earned the 21st World Superbike pole position of his career at Misano, breaking the previous lap record at the circuit set by Troy Corser in 2010. Ducati’s Davide Giugliano finished second-fastest followed by Aprilia Racing’s Sylvain Guintoli in third.
Sykes continues to struggle with a lingering wrist injury left over from a crash in Race 1 during the previous round atSepang. The Kawasaki ace remained back in the field for the majority of the session and didn’t appear to be on pace for pole during what would eventually become his fastest lap. He picked up the pace in the third sector though and dipped into uncharted territory, becoming the first World Superbike rider to dip into the 1’34’s at the Italian circuit.
Giugliano was the fastest rider on track for much of the session and finishes just one-tenth short of Sykes’ qualifying time. Guintoli made an early push for the top-spot but was unable to make up enough time by the end to vie for the number-one position on the grid.
Sykes’ teammate, Loris Baz, starts Sunday’s race from fourth followed by Guitoli’s teammate, Marco Melandri, in fifth. Red Devis Roma’s Toni Elias claimed sixth-place in SP2 followed by Ducati’s Chaz Davies in seventh and Pata Honda’s Jonathan Rea in eighth. Voltcom Suzuki’s Eugene Laverty struggled to match the pace of the front runners and placed ninth.
World Superbike Misano Superpole Results 2014
1. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) 1’34.883
2. Davide Giugliano (Ducati) 1’35.079
3. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia) 1’35.106
4. Loris Baz (Kawasaki) 1’35.254
5. Marco Melandri (Aprilia) 1’35.316
6. Toni Elias (Aprilia) 1’35.404
7. Chaz Davies (Ducati) 1’35.602
8. Jonathan Rea (Honda) 1’35.675
9. Eugene Laverty (Suzuki) 1’36.043
10. Niccolo Canepa (Ducati) 1’36.404
Giugliano was the fastest rider on track for much of the session and finishes just one-tenth short of Sykes’ qualifying time. Guintoli made an early push for the top-spot but was unable to make up enough time by the end to vie for the number-one position on the grid.
Sykes’ teammate, Loris Baz, starts Sunday’s race from fourth followed by Guitoli’s teammate, Marco Melandri, in fifth. Red Devis Roma’s Toni Elias claimed sixth-place in SP2 followed by Ducati’s Chaz Davies in seventh and Pata Honda’s Jonathan Rea in eighth. Voltcom Suzuki’s Eugene Laverty struggled to match the pace of the front runners and placed ninth.
World Superbike Misano Superpole Results 2014
1. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) 1’34.883
2. Davide Giugliano (Ducati) 1’35.079
3. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia) 1’35.106
4. Loris Baz (Kawasaki) 1’35.254
5. Marco Melandri (Aprilia) 1’35.316
6. Toni Elias (Aprilia) 1’35.404
7. Chaz Davies (Ducati) 1’35.602
8. Jonathan Rea (Honda) 1’35.675
9. Eugene Laverty (Suzuki) 1’36.043
10. Niccolo Canepa (Ducati) 1’36.404