Sykes overcomes early problems for Superpole win

Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) set a new track best of 1’34.486 in the first Superpole session, and then bettered it with the final new track best of 1’34.212 in Superpole 2, to score pole position at Misano.

He had got himself into a sticky situation entering Superpole 1, as he had only been 11^th in regulation qualifying, missing out on automatic qualification to the final session, but he made it out with the aid of a qualifying rear tyre. He then made it look almost easy in Superpole 2 to score the best starting spot for Sunday’s races with a time that was 0.212 seconds better than any of his rivals.

Second spot went to the gradually improving Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) and third to local hot shot and series regular, Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati WSB).

Clear championship leader Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) placed fourth, Friday’s fastest man Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing) fifth and Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) – who had been fastest pre-Superpole in regulation qualifying – was sixth.

Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) ran off track in Superpole but finished seventh, one place ahead of the fastest BMW of Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia).

Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda WSB) was ninth and substitute rider for the recently injured Luca Scassa, Michele Pirro (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati WSB) was tenth. Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati WSB) went 11^th.

Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was 18^th.