PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
SEPANG, MALAYSIA, AUG. 1—A strong session in Superpole for riders on several types of machinery finally delivered the best starting spot for Sunday’s two 16-lap World Superbike races to the second best Superpole rider ever—Tom Sykes.
Aprilia Racing Team Red Devils’ Jordi Torres held the lead in Superpole two for some time until he was deposed by the surprise figure of Pata Honda’s Sylvain Guintoli. It was not to last as first Torres and then immediately after Kawasaki Racing Team’s Sykes took pole position, his 28th, with Torres second.
Guintoli was rewarded with a brilliant front row start in third place for Honda, while late Superpole lapper Max Biaggi on the Aprilia Racing machine went from a predicted seventh in the first sector to fourth with his very last attempt.
Voltcom Crescent Suzuki’s Alex Lowes was a confident fifth and the first Ducati rider proved to be Chaz Davies on the Aruba.it Racing Ducati squad in sixth place who was struggling with chassis and grip issues.
Virtual World Champion elect Jonathan Rea on the other factory Kawasaki was only seventh after a small hiccup while changing gear during his best lap. Fellow Brit Leon Haslam on the other Aprilia Racing Team Red Devils machine was beside him and completing the third row was privateer Niccolo Canepa on the Althea Racing Ducati.
Rounding out the top 10 was Canepa’s teammate Matteo Baiocco.
2015 Sepang World Superbike
Superpole Results:
1. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) 2:03.240
2. Jordi Torres (Aprilia) 2:03.510
3. Sylvain Guintoli (Honda) 2:03.836
4. Max Biaggi (Aprilia) 2:03.948
5. Alex Lowes (Suzuki) 2:04.018
6. Chaz Davies (Ducati) 2:04.179
7. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) 2:04.207
8. Leon Haslam (Aprilia) 2:04.214
9. Niccolo Canepa (Ducati) 2:04.654
10. Matteo Baiocco (Ducati) 2:05.000
