After yesterday’s bitter cold, rain and wind and track conditions that were on the limit, this Saturday morning at Donington Park the sun was shining for the second qualifying practice and while the lap record was still more than a second off, Tom Sykes continued to dominate on the British circuit with a best lap of 1.
28.
800, a little less than two tenths faster than Sylvain Guintoli who was second.
It was a very tight session with nine riders in less than eight tenths of second, and seven in less than half a second, with four of the five manufacturers in the top four spots, while Ducati couldn’t make it into the top ten, even on such a technical track.
Fixi Crescent Suzuki’s Leon Camier was third fastest followed by Marco Melandri.
Kawasaki’s Loris Baz who had a huge moment under braking in the finale but he was still able to obtain the fifth spot on the track that saw his debut in World Superbikes last year.
Chaz Davies was sixth, followed by Davide Giugliano, Jonathan Rea, Aprilia’s Eugene Laverty, while Michel Fabrizio closed out the top ten, but he was more that 1.
1 seconds adrift.
Carlos Checa was the fastest Ducati rider in 11th with Suzuki’s Jules Cluzel in 12th.
Ducati Alstare wild card entry Niccolò Canepa was also able to qualify for the Superpole and so did Ayrton Badovini.
A stoic Leon Haslam was the last rider to qualify, returning to action following his fractured leg that he sustained just three weeks ago at Assen.
He was able to out qualify Max Neukirchner, Federico Sandi, Vittorio Iannuzzo and returnee Alexander Lundh, who fractured his collarbone at Assen.
2013 WSBK Donington QP2 Results:1.
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′28.
8002.
Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′29.
0263.
Leon Camier (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1′29.
0904.
Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 1′29.
1075.
Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′29.
1676.
Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 1′29.
2567.
Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′29.
2748.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 1′29.
4469.
Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′29.
58710.
Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′29.
95011.
Carlos Checa (Team Ducati Alstare) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 1′29.
95612.
Jules Cluzel (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1′30.
06613.
Niccolò Canepa (Team Ducati Alstare) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 1′30.
07814.
Ayrton Badovini (Team Ducati Alstare) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 1′30.
40415.
Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 1′30.
41316.
Max Neukirchner (MR-Racing) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 1′30.
81717.
Federico Sandi (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′32.
01018.
Vittorio Iannuzzo (Grillini Dentalmatic SBK) BMW S1000 RR 1′32.
14519.
Alexander Lundh (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′33.
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