WSB: Davies on top as final round commences in Qatar

Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) pounced at the end of the second hour of WorldSBK free practice at Losail to take the overnight pole, heading up Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) by just 0.047 seconds.

Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team Ducati) scorched to third on his privateer Ducati and Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) proved his recovery from his mid-season injury was complete again with fourth place.

Although Fores was 0.303 behind Davies, it was a generally close qualifying with 12 riders within the same second.

Fifth was taken by the official MV of Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) placed sixth.

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Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team) was first BMW rider in seventh place, Nicky Hayden (Honda World Superbike Team) first Honda rider in eighth.

Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) ran off track with what looked like a repetition of rear brake problems he experienced earlier in the year. He got going again to finish 9^th.

Leon Haslam (Pedercini Racing Kawasaki) had an initially tough re-introduction to WorldSBK, as his bike failed to run for most of the first hour of practice. He got going again in the second session, behind his rivals after his early problems, but secured a strong 11^th place after the first day, one behind Lorenzo Savadori (IodaRacing Team Aprilia). Michael van der Mark (Honda World Superbike Team) was 12^th.

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