Tom Sykes claims Spanish Tissot-Superpole with new outright record
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) has claimed the Pirelli Spanish Round pole position, his 29th career Pole after a nail biting Tissot-Superpole at the 4.423km Jerez Circuit this afternoon. The Briton lapped in an outright circuit best of 1.40.292s, six thousandths of a second better than former teammate Loris Baz’s time of 12 months ago.
The final minutes of the second session were simply hectic, with many position changes until to the chequered flag as the top 7 were separated by less than nine tenths of a second. Joining Sykes on the front row tomorrow are series leader and team mate Jonathan Rea and Althea Racing’s Niccolò Canepa, the trio split by 0.216s.
Row 2 will be headed by Michael van der Mark, who posted a series of impressive laps to grab fourth after making his way through Superpole 1 and narrowly missing out on his first ever front row start. He will be joined by Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) and Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team).
Replacement rider at the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team Michele Pirro qualified seventh ahead of Althea Racing rider Matteo Baiocco and Voltcom Crescent Suzuki’s Alex Lowes who completes row 3.
Row 4 will see Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) and Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) ahead of Team Pedercini’s David Salom, who after falling in SP1 was unable to take to the track for the final 15 minutes.
Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing) and Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) will line up tomorrow on the fifth row on the grid.
WorldSBK Jerez – Tissot-Superpole
1 – Tom Sykes Kawasaki Racing Team 1’40.292
2 – Jonathan Rea Kawasaki Racing Team +0.208
3 – Niccolò Canepa Althea Racing Team +0.216
Tom Sykes #66 – Kawasaki Racing Team – Tissot-Superpole 1st – “A few guys are very strong so it is good to be at the front for tomorrow’s two races. I like to ride out front, that is how I like to do it. I do not like anybody behind or in front of me – I just like to go and race the tarmac. We found some clear air but had a difficult time in the first run with the race tyre, and the lap time was incredibly slow. When we put the qualifying tyre into the Ninja ZX-10R for the second run it was very easy to manage. It was such an enjoyment to ride then and to get the record was just a little bit something extra for today. Overall the target was the front row and I think our race pace is also OK.”
Jonathan Rea #65 – Kawasaki Racing Team – Tissot Superpole 2nd – “I am really excited because we have done a really good job with the bike throughout the free practice sessions, and not really once this weekend have we tried to push for an out-and-out lap time. The race tyre we used at the beginning of Superpole made a really good job. Then I got a little bit too excited on the qualifying lap in T2, overcooked it a little, but I am really happy with the effort I did. To be on the front row is good because I have been acclimatised to the third row recently. The front row gives me a real chance of a good start to get stuck in. Thanks to all my guys for giving me a good bike for tomorrow.”
Niccolò Canepa #59 – Althea Racing Ducati – Tissot-Superpole 3rd – “I’m really happy, especially after the Free Practice crash this morning. The fall prevented me from doing any long run and at the moment I’m feeling pain everywhere. The guys did an amazing job in rebuilding the bike twice and I was not expecting a front row start, even though I thought I could finish in the top 5. It was better than expected also because I was tailing Johnny (Rea). Now it’s time to look forward to tomorrow, we’ll see how it goes but I’m confident because I have a good pace.”
Jordi Torres #81 – Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils – Tissot-Superpole 5th – “This is a good weekend for us, even if I am still a bit on the edge with the front end. When I try to push hard the smallest mistake becomes fatal, but overall I have a good pace. Starting from fifth place isn’t bad. The important thing will be to stick with the best from the start and battle with them. The podium isn’t my first goal. I want to stay with the leading group flag to flag, learning from the riders in front and then the results will come automatically.”
Sofuoglu takes important Spanish WSS Pole
Pole Position for the Spanish round of the World Supersport championship has been taken in style by current championship leader Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). The Turkish rider edged second placed Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) by almost half a second, courtesy of a 1’43.528 lap-time. Completing the front row will be the winner from Sepang and title contender PJ Jacobsen (CORE” Motorsport Thailand).
Row two sees Marco Faccani (San Carlo Puccetti Kawasaki), Kyle Smith (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) and Lucas Mahias (MG Competition) while the third row comprises Gina Rea (CIA Landlords Insurance), Vladimir Leonov (DMC Racing) and Alex Baldolini (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who improved in the final 30 seconds to claim ninth.
Title contender Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) will take no further part this weekend and was not on track in qualifying after breaking his leg in FP3 yesterday afternoon. The Frenchman has been replaced by former WorldSBK rider Nico Terol who returned to the paddock at short notice claiming eleventh on the grid in his first WSS qualifying session after only 90 minutes of track time.
World Supersport – Qualifying
1 – Kenan Sofuoglu Kawasaki Puccetti Team 1’43.528
2 – Lorenzo Zanetti MV Agusta Reparto Corse +0.423
3 – PJ Jacobsen CORE” Motorsport Thailand +0.584
Tamburini keeps his title chances alive by scoring pole position at Jerez
Roberto Tamburini (Team MotoxRacing) has taken Pole Position, his career third, ahead of tomorrow’s penultimate FIM Superstock 1000 Cup race at Jerez this afternoon. Tamburini made it a clean sweep of Italian riders on the front row as Riccardo Russo (GM Racing) slotted into second with Raffaele de Rosa (Althea Racing) third in a session that was full of drama from the start. For Tamburini the result is significant with him being the closest to Lorenzo Savadori in terms of the overall championship standings.
Row two is headed by Czech rider Ondrej Jezek (Triple-M by Barni Ducati) who was unable to repeat his performance from Free Practice in which he was fastest. He will be joined tomorrow on row two by Fabio Massei (EAB Racing Team Ducati) and Alessandro Andreozzi (Nuova M2 Racing Aprilia).
Champion elect Savadori (Nuova M2 Racing Aprilia) crashed on his first flying lap, losing the front at Turn 2. Unhurt he was able to remount and continue the session after a few adjustments by the team, eventually qualifying ninth despite a last lap push in which he gave everything, almost crashing again. He lines up on the third row just behind team mate Kevin Calia and Jeremy Guarnoni (Team Trasimeno Yamaha).
Superstock 1000 – Qualifying
1 – Roberto Tamburini Team MotoxRacing BMW 1’44.188
2 – Roberto Russo Team G.M. Racing +0.013
3 – Raffaele De Rosa Althea Racing Ducati +0.069
Rinaldi wins his first STK600 race after dominating in Jerez
With newly crowned Champion Toprak Razgalioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) withdrawing from the penultimate race of the season after Free Practice yesterday at Jerez the way was clear for a new name to challenge for victory.
Starting from Pole Position Michael Ruben Rinaldi (San Carlo Team Italia) hit the front leading every lap, eventually converting his number one spot in qualifying to a maiden victory by 1.571s after 13 intense laps.
Second went to Augusto Fernandez (Pata Honda Junior Team) who notched up his first podium finish, the reigning EJC champion coming home a lonely second after a controlled and mature race from the Spanish teenager.
The main action on track was all about the final spot on the podium as a group of 5 fought from lights to flag with third eventually going to Davide Stirpe (Scuderia Maranga Racing) just ahead of Andrea Tucci (San Carlo Team Italia), Niki Tuuli (Kallio Racing) and the 16-year-old Axel Bassani (Berclaz Racing Team), who completed the top 6. For Stirpe the delight was evident, the Italian taking his second podium of the year after a last corner pass on his compatriot Tucci.
The final round of the championship takes place in France at Magny-Cours in a fortnight.
Superstock 600 – Race
1 – Michael Ruben Rinaldi San Carlo Team Italia
2 – Augusto Fernandez PATA Honda Junior Team +1.571
3 – Davide Stirpe Scuderia Maran ga. Racing Kawasaki +8.976
Standings (7 of 8 rounds completed)
1 – Toprak Razgatlioglu Kawasaki Puccetti Racing 141*
2 – Michael Ruben Rinaldi San Carlo Team Italia 98 (-43)
3 – Federico Caricasulo PATA Honda Junior Team 86 (-55)
*Already crowned the 2015 Champion
