By Rizwan Rehmat
DOHA: Britain’s Tom Sykes yesterday grabbed his 30th career Superpole win after an impressive run under lights ahead of today’s 13th and final round of FIM WorldSBK Championship at Losail International Circuit.
Sykes, the Kawasaki Racing Team giant, clocked a time of 1 minute 56.821 seconds to secure the top spot on the front grid that also has compatriot Jonathan Rea and Xavi Fores.
Rea, also of Britain, powered his Kawasaki ZX-10R in style as he clocked 1’56.997 around the 5.38km circuit bathed in artificial light.
Spain’s Forex (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) finished third fastest with a time of 1’57.384, a notch behind the 2015 world champion.
In a remarkable run of form, Sykes and Rea bettered the 2014 circuit best times to give Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT) the top two spots on the front grid.
“It is a good change to get a good start and start from the top. We need a good rhythm on Sunday,” Sykes said.
“Unlike most weekends, we will be trying to improve tomorrow,” the Briton added. “We had put together a good package for the Superpole. This is the fastest we have been, by a long margin.
“Now to see if we can do well tomorrow,” he said.
Rea, who is seeking to better Carlos Checa’s record of 15 wins in a season, said he was delighted with his run.
“It was a tough race. It was a good this week,” Rea said.
“It was a good opportunity to be fast. We settled well in the practice. Credit to my mechanics for the changes they made. It has been the fastest we’ve been for sometime. Let’s see if we can improve tomorrow,” he added.
Rea is only 24 points short of the best ever points haul in a single season. In 2022, Colin Edwards finished the season with 552 points, with Troy Bayliss right behind on 541.
Third-placed Fores said: “I was lucky to follow Jonny (Rea) on that lap. At the end of the second free practice, I had problems with the grip. But we improved the bike for the Superpole.”
The Spaniard added: “I am hoping we will improve further for the race. I am very happy with the first, first row of my career. I want to thank all my team for their help in getting me here.”
Britain’s Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing, Ducati 1199R) claimed the fourth fastest spot with a time of 1’57.406 while compatriot Leon Haslam (Red Devils Roma, Aprilia RSV4) secured the fourth spot on the grid with a time of 1’57.449.
Spain’s Jordi Torres (Red Devils Roma, Aprilia RSV4) locked the third spot on the second grid after recording a time of 1’57.601.
In Superpole 1, David Salom (Team Pedercini) and Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing) rode with purpose as they managed to join the top 10 riders after Free Practice.
Mercado and Salom eventually qualified 12th and 10th on the grid respectively after the 15-minute Superpole 2.
Voltcom Crescent Suzuki duo Alex Lowes Randy de Puniet will start today’s races from the 3rd row.
Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) and ahead of Mercado, Matteo Baiocco who fell from his Althea Racing Ducati in the final seconds and David Salom who make up row 4. The 13th to 15th positions on the grid were taken by 2014 champ Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team), Niccolo Canepa (Althea Racing) and Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia).
In World Supersport qualifying, Kenan Sofuoglu, riding his Kawasaki ZX-6R, grabbed the top spot with a time of 2 minutes 00.989 seconds during his 16 laps around the 5.380km circuit. The experienced Turk, who wrapped up a record fourth world title at Magny-Cours earlier this month, arrived for the qualifying battle against arch-rival Lucas Mahias of MG Competition.
Despite the fierce battle under lights, Sofuoglu 31, finished ahead of Mahias who was 0.792 seconds behind the Turkish rider.
Britain’s Gino Rea - riding a Honda CBR600RR - ended the qualifying in third spot. Rea, with three wins in his career, was 0.919 seconds behind Sofuoglu.
American rider Patrick Jacobsen, also on Honda CBR600RR, finished in fourth spot, 0.964 seconds adrift of winning rider in qualifying.
Kyle Smith of Britain was fifth (1.069 seconds behind). Smith also rode a Honda CBR600RR. Italy’s Lorenzo Zanetti (1.294 seconds behind) emerged as the fifth fastest rider.
Spain’s Nicolas Terol and Italian trio Marco Faccani, Christian Gamarino and Roberta Rolfo completed the top-10 riders in WSS qualifying.
THE PENINSULA
