WSBK 2015 – Round One – Phillip Island – Image Gallery E
By Trevor Hedge
WSBK 2015 – Round One – Phillip Island – Image Gallery E
Jonathan Rea takes WSBK Superpole at Phillip Island
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) will start the opening races of the 2015 eni FIM Superbike World Championship from Pole Position after setting a time 0.026 faster than the opposition in Tissot-Superpole at Phillip Island this afternoon.
With temperatures soaring towards 60-degrees celsius, today’s Pole setting time was 1m31.212, a little slower than last year when the conditions were considerably cooler.
Superpole 1 was red flagged after nine minutes giving a welcome break to proceedings to the riders as the track temperature reached 56-degrees before Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing) and current FIM Superstock 1000cc Champion Leandro ‘tati’ Mercado (Barni Racing) progressed into the final 15 minute shoot-out. The pair narrowly edging Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) who just missed out. All three were experiencing their first Tissot-Superpole.
Troy Bayliss (Aruba Ducati SBK) recovered from an FP4 crash to ensure that he lines up on the grid tomorrow in 14th, an incredible achievement considering he hasn’t raced competitively since 2008. Wildcard Jed Metcher (Race Center – Demolition Plus) will start 16th, with the third of the Australian entries Matt Walters (Team Pedercini) qualifying 19th after a huge crash into turn one as Superpole 1 was only a few minutes old. He escaped any serious injury.
Superpole 2 was action all the way with several riders taking their turn at the top before Rea came out on top ahead of Chaz Davies (Aruba Ducati SBK) and Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) who will line up alongside the x for tomorrow’s 22 lap races.
David Salom, the current EVO winner (Team Pedercini) crashed heavily entering the start and finish straight with 4 minutes to go causing a red flag, the Spaniard had been on a lap that could have seen him easily inside the top six.
Chaz Davies and Nico Terol had posted times to elevate themselves to Pole and 2nd respectively only for them to be delighted owing them to have crossed the line after the red flag following Salom’s incident.
Row two comprises with Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda WSBK), Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) and WorldSBK rookie Nico Terol (Althea Racing).
Leon Haslam – “A little disappointed that we didn’t get to put the Q in, I was a little bit reserved on the race tyre but hopefully Salom is okay after that big crash.”
Chaz Davies – “A fair improvement from last year, kind of strange that came about, I thought the opportunity had gone away from me, as I had used my Q up and saw the red flag just before I came across the line so lost my best lap, but got a little bit lucky with the session being cancelled.”
Jonathan Rea – “It was a really strange session, with it being cut short, I did a good job on the race tyre, I was looking forward to the qualifying tyre as I know our bike works so well on it.”
- World Superbike FP4 Report
- World Superbike Friday Highlights Video
- World Superbike Image Gallery D
- Jules Cluzel sets World Supersport pace
- World Superbike FP3 Report
- World Superbike Image Gallery C
- World Superbike Image Gallery B
- Video – Troy Bayliss on his comeback
World Superbike 2015 Round One Phillip Island
Superbike Free Practices + Superpole Combined Results
- Rea 1m31.212
- Davies 1m31.238
- Haslam 1m31.507
- Van Der Mark 1m31.613
- Lowes 1m32.042
- Terol 1m32.081
- Torres 1m32.243
- Sykes 1m32.265
- Guintoli 1m32.446
- Baiocco 1m32.841
- Salom 1m31.488 (FP3)
- Mercado 1m32.219 (FP3)
- De Puniet 1m31.885
- Bayliss 1m32.201
- Camier 1m32.668
- Metcher 1m32.727
- Canepa 1m32.998
- Barrier 1m33.057
- Walters 1m33.477
- Ramos 1m33.716
- Barragan 1m33.960
- Pegram 1m34.323
- Ponsson 1m34.324
- Rizmayer 1m34.633
- Toth 1m36.699
World Superbike 2015 – Round One – Phillip Island
Free Practice 3 Combined Times FP1- FP2 – FP3 – Not including Superpole
- Haslam 30.79
- Torres 30.83
- Lowes 30.85 (FP1)
- Rea 31.07
- Terol 31.26
- Davies 31.32
- Sykes 31.40 (FP1)
- Salom 31.48
- Guintoli 31.54
- Vd Mark 31.59
- De Puniet 31.88 (FP1)
- Camier 32.13 (FP1)
- Baiocco 32.15
- Mercado 32.21
- Barrier 32.39 (FP1)
- Metcher 32.42
- Bayliss 32.52
- Canepa 32.54
- Walters 33.09 (FP1)
- Ramos 33.19 (FP1)
- Barragan 33.96
- Pegram 34.32
- Ponsson 34.32
- Rizmayer 34.63 (FP1)
- Toth 36.69 (FP1)
