Sykes sets new track record to beat Rea to Jerez Superpole

The top WorldSBK riders batted for their grid placings at Jerez under a warm sun that shone brightest on Tom Sykes (KRT) who took a sliver off of the existing track best with his new record, 1’40.292. It was his 29^th career pole position, the fifth of the season.

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) was second, by 0.208 seconds, and surprise third place rider was Niccolo Canepa (Althea Racing Ducati) on a private bike, three places ahead of factory Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati WSB) in sixth place. Michelle Pirro (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati WSB) was seventh.

Having had to qualify into Superpole 2 from Superpole 1, Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda WSB) used his old Pata Honda colleague Rea to get him up to third with half the session left. He then went out and set a 1’40.956 to take the lead on his own, eventually finishing up fourth fastest. Fifth was local rider Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) the fastest rider into Superpole earlier in the day. His team-mate Leon Haslam was 11^th.

Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing Ducati) placed eighth and a late push from Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) put him ninth, on the third row. 2014 champion Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda WSB) was tenth.

David Salom (Kawasaki Team Pedercini) had made it out of Superpole 1 with VDM, but fell late in the SP1 session, and he could not get back on track in time, and qualified 12^th as a result.