Photography by Gold & Goose
JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, Spain (Oct. 19, 2013) — Eugene Laverty put the factory Aprilia RSV4 on the pole Sunday’s pair of World Superbike races in Jerez, the final rounds of 2013. Laverty turned a 1:40.620 to just nip championship rival Tom Sykes, who clocked a 1:40.668 on his factory Kawasaki ZX-10R. Rounding out the front row is Althea Racing’s Davide Giugliano. Giugliano was fastest in Friday’s qualifying session.
It marked only the second-career World Superbike pole for Laverty.
“That’s all I can do,” said Laverty, who sits in second in the standings, 37 points behind Sykes. “I’ve got to go out and try and win both races. Starting from pole position makes that a bit more likely. I’ve got to try to go away at the start and see what I can do and let the rest take care of itself. Tom’s right there on the front row with me, doing his job as well. It was nice for Tom to let me have a pole position again. That’s two. Now I have a watch for each wrist.”
Speaking of watches, Tom Sykes won the overall Tissot Pole Award for earning the best qualifying results all season long. Sykes won eight poles this year. He admitted that he didn’t push to his maximum in Superpole today, especially after he suffered a crash in the morning practice session.
“The target for today was front row,” said the championship leader. “Definitely the bike had a little bit more potential today, but with what happened to a few of the riders yesterday and myself today it was all about being on the front row. So that was it. I’m happy with today’s performance. I’m happy with our settings so far, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s two races.”
Davide Giugliano was a Wildman on the Althea Racing Aprilia, the bike bucking and kicking under the strain of his corner speed, very much looking like a former No. 34, Kevin Schwantz, who just happens to be the racing hero of Giugliano’s youth.
“This is a fantastic result for me,” Giugliano said after Superpole. “This track I like more and for the race I think we’ll be OK. I’m very happy.”
BMW’s Marco Melanri will head up the second row, joined by Sylvain Guintoli and Toni Elias. Elias crashed out of the final session on his Red Devils Roma Aprilia, putting him out of contention for winning Superpole.
The final round of 2013 can be watched live on beIN Sports starting at 5:45 am Eastern.
Jerez – FIM Superbike World Championship – Superpole 3
1. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’40.620
2. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’40.668
3. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’40.839
4. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 1’40.930
5. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’40.958
6. Toni Elias (Red Devils Roma) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’41.347
7. Leon Camier (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’41.837
8. Xavi Fores (Team Ducati Alstare) Ducati 1199 Panigale 1’42.215
9. Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’42.500
10. Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 1’42.015
11. Broc Parkes (Monster Energy Yamaha – Yart) Yamaha YZF R1 1’42.056
12. Lorenzo Lanzi (Mesaroli Transports A.S.) Ducati 1098R 1’42.300
13. Ayrton Badovini (Team Ducati Alstare) Ducati 1199 Panigale 1’42.438
14. Federico Sandi (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’42.916
15. Michel Fabrizio (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 1’43.081
16. Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 1’42.933
17. Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 1’42.973
18. Jules Cluzel (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’42.976
19. Max Neukirchner (MR-Racing) Ducati 1199 Panigale 1’43.289
20. Vittorio Iannuzzo (Grillini Dentalmatic SBK) BMW S1000 RR 1’44.232
