PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
MONTEREY, CA, JULY 17— Aruba.it Racing Ducati’s Chaz Davies led the first day of practice that counts towards qualifying at Laguna Seca with a 1:23.633 lap, despite running wide at turn two near the end of a busy 45-minute second session.
Kawasaki Racing Team’s Tom Sykes rode to second place in the order, just .156 of a second from provisional pole.
Late faller Davide Giugliano crashed at the same turn two that his teammate Davies had run wide on, but still placed third.
The early Ducati/Kawasaki domination continued with runaway championship leader Jonathan Rea on the Kawasaki Racing Team machine in fourth, and the privateer Panigale of Althea Racing’s Niccolo Canepa in fifth—albeit .510 of a second from leader Davies.
Aprilia Red Devils Roma duo of Leon Haslam and Jordi Torres went sixth and seventh.
The Laguna pairings continued thanks to the Voltcom Crescent Suzuki duo of Randy De Puniet and Alex Lowes in eighth and ninth. The reigning World Champion Sylvain Guintoli on the Pata Honda scored the last place inside the top 10.
2015 World Superbike
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Day One Combined Times
1. Chaz Davies (Ducati) 1:23.633
2. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) 1:23.789
3. Davide Giugliano (Ducati) 1:23.858
4. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) 1:24.021
5. Niccolo Canepa (Ducati) 1:24.143
6. Leon Haslam (Aprilia) 1:24.240
7. Jordi Torres (Aprilia) 1:24.384
8. Randy DePuniet (Suzuki) 1:24.598
9. Alex Lowes (Suzuki) 1:24.628
10. Sylvain Guintoli (Honda) 1:24.742
