German WSB: Davies Dominates Pre-Superpole Qualifying

Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) upped the pace to an unrivalled level in the second regulation qualifying session at the Nürburgring in Germany to enter Superpole as the fastest rider. His 1’54.223 lap time was fully 0.422 seconds better than the next quickest rider, Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing) at the BMW’s home circuit.

Davies was around a second faster than the regular lap record, doubling up his first day kudos as fastest rider and is still using race tyres at this stage of the weekend. Now he will aim to beat Max Biaggi’s track best of 1’53.855, which Biaggi set last year, when the qualifying tyres arrive for Superpole later this afternoon.

Loris Baz was, unusually, the fastest official KRT Kawasaki rider, going third on the dummy grid at one of his favourite circuits.

Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) placed fifth, one behind the privateer Althea Aprilia of Davide Giugliano, but usual top qualifier Tom Sykes (KRT) is sixth going into Superpole qualifying later today. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing) placed eighth, Leon Camier (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) ninth and Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike) 12th.

After a crash early in yesterday’s session, Carlos Checa (Ducati Alstare) was unable to make up for it today and lost his final qualifying chance so he misses out on Superpole, and will start each race from 18th on the grid. His team-mate Ayrton Badovini was tenth, privateer Panigale rider Max Neukirchner (MR Racing) 14th.