Gordon Ritchie | May 27, 2017
Sykes Hits 39th WorldSBK Superpole Milestone
A new Donington best lap of 1:26.641 gave Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) his first official Superpole win of the 2017 season, and the 39th of his career. Sykes had started from pole at Assen, after Rea had been punished with a second row start for obstructing Davies, but Rea kept his Superpole winner’s status all the same. Despite the TV graphics showing Sykes as having 40 career poles it was later re-confirmed by the organizers as this being Sykes’ 39th pole.
After early morning rains gave way to a dry Superpole period for the Superbike riders, the top 12 riders took to the track on qualifiers to set their best times.
Behind Sykes was his team-mate Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team), 0.364 seconds down and the improved Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who found a better set-up overnight.
Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) was first Yamaha rider home in fourth place with the second factory Ducati of Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) fifth.
Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) had a positive start to his first Donington raceday for Milwaukee Aprilia, with sixth place.
Ducati privateer Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Ducati) pushed on to seventh, Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was heading for a better place then eighth but fell midway through the Superpole 2 session. The third row for race one later today was completed by privateer Aprilia rider Leandro Mercado (IodaRacing Team Aprilia).
British runner Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was tenth, Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) and Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) were 11th and 12th.
Sofuoglu Extends WorldSSP Superpole Record To 32
Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) finished just 0.067 seconds ahead of second placed Superpole rider Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) to take the 32nd pole of his career and the second of his enforced short season so far.
The final place on the front row of the grid went to Frenchman Jules Cluzel (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda).
Luke Stapleford (Profile Racing Triumph) was the first British rider, in fourth place, making it four different machines in the top four places. Relatively new Profile Racing rider Jack Kennedy (Profile Racing Triumph) was fourth and regular top championship contender, Patrick Jacobsen (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was the last rider on the second row, in sixth place.
A good day for local talents saw Joe Francis (Halsall Racing Team Yamaha) pull himself up to seventh, just 0.752 seconds from Sofuoglu.
Spanish-based British runner Kyle Smith (GEMAR Balloons – Team Lorini Honda) was eighth and first day flier Gino Rea (Team GO ELEVEN Kawasaki) ninth.
Sheridan Morais (Kallio Race System Yamaha) was tenth, Christian Gamarino (BARDHAL EVAN BROS. Honda Racing) 11th and Hikari Okubo (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) 12th
After Superpole 1 Kyle Ryde (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) ended up 14th on the grid, with Anthony West (EAB West Racing Yamaha) 16th. Lachlan Epis (Response RE Racing Kawasaki) placed 27th from the 34 riders in qualifying