Tom Sykes gets up to speed to lead QP2
Kawasaki Racing Team's Tom Sykes set the best time in WSBK Qualifying 2 at MotorLand Aragon, proving to be ready for his assault on the Tissot-Superpole (that was won by him last year). The rider from Huddersfield did a quick breakthrough into 1'57 bracket and led most of the session up to the chequered flag, further improving at his last attempt to a final 1'57.785. The other top riders from QP1 had a harder time getting up to speed but most of them were able to better their lap-times in the end. Yesterday's leader Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) managed to stay within 0.244 seconds from the top, ahead of Brits Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) and Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad Goldbet).
Unlike the Welshman, his team mate Marco Melandri did not improve his Qualifying 1 performance and was 7th behind the Aprilia duo of Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) and works rider Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team). Factory Kawasaki rider Loris Baz dropped 4 tenths of a second off his Q1 lap-time to finish in 8th position.
Despite a 9th place in the combined qualifying classification, Leon Camier was not on track this morning - and won't be for the rest of the round - due to the consequences of the high-side he had yesterday during Qualifying 1. The FIXI Crescent Suzuki rider underwent a successful left knee surgery last night at Alcaniz hospital, with an estimated recovery time up to 5 days. His team mate Jules Cluzel, with his 10th position in QP, will be waving the FIXI Crescent Suzuki's flag high.
Leon Haslam didn't get the best start of QP2. The rider from Derby crashed at Turn 2 early on and lost the entire session, but was able to qualify for Superpole as well as Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma Aprilia), who had a small high-side at Turn 8. All 1199 Panigale R will line-up for the Tissot-Superpole: Team Ducati Alstare riders Carlos Checa and Ayrton Badovini and German Max Neukirchner (MR-Racing Team Ducati) all earned their spot for this afternoon's show.
As for Leon Camier's unfit status, Alexander Lundh (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) will take part in the Tissot-Superpole as 15th rider.
