Maiden Tissot-Superpole win for Eugene Laverty
An emotional and moving tribute to Andrea Antonelli gathered the entire WSBK paddock on the starting line at Silverstone, together with his Team, Goeleven Kawasaki, Andrea's bike #8 and the Moscow Raceway Supersport race winner trophy, which was given in his memory. Following this special moment, the eni FIM Superbike World Championship riders went on track for the ninth Tissot-Superpole of the season.
After two dry sessions, the third one was red flagged as the rain started to fall on the Norhamptonshire track. The action resumed with a final wet 20-minute Superpole, which saw Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) getting the best out of a last minute attempt, on an almost dry track surface, and clocking in 2'04.730 seconds to secure his first ever Tissot-Superpole win.
The 27 year old from Toomebridge, Northern Ireland, was able to edge Spaniard Carlos Checa (Team Ducati Alstare), back on the front row of the grid after the pole position scored in the Season Opener at Phillip Island, and Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike).
Row 2 will be headed by Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team), who was leading the last session before the rain stopped - allowing riders for a final quick lap - followed by team mate Tom Sykes. The Brit got the worse of today's Superpole, as just before the red flag came out he set what would have been the new best lap of the circuit.
Works BMW rider Chaz Davies ended up sixth, while his team mate Marco Melandri got out of contention early on as he suffered a technical problem on his BMW S1000RR during Superpole 1.
Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) and Championship leader Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) ended up 7th and 8th, with Frenchman stopped by his RSV4 after a technical fault. Ninth place Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia) had to sit out the final session due to a crash he sustained before the red flag was waved.
