eni FIM Superbike World Championship
Losail International Circuit, Doha, Qatar
October 17, 2015
Qualifying Results (all on Pirelli tires):
From Superpole Two:
1. Tom SYKES, UK (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:56.821
2. Jonathan REA, UK (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:56.997
3. Xavi FORES, Spain (Ducati Panigale R), 1:57.384
4. Chaz DAVIES, UK (Ducati Panigale R), 1:57.406
5. Leon HASLAM, UK (Aprilia RSV4 RF), 1:57.449
6. Jordi TORRES, Spain (Aprilia RSV4 RF), 1:57.601
7. Alex LOWES, UK (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:57.638
8. Randy DE PUNIET, France (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:57.644
9. Michael VD MARK, Netherlands (Honda CBR1000RR SP), 1:58.034
10. Leandro MERCADO, Argentina (Ducati Panigale R), 1:58.565
11. Matteo BAIOCCO, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), 1:58.741, crash
12. David SALOM, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:59.289
From Superpole One:
13. Sylvain GUINTOLI, France (Honda CBR1000RR SP), 1:58.768
14. Niccolo CANEPA, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), 1:58.941
15. Ayrton BADOVINI, Italy (BMW S1000RR), 1:59.229
16. Leon CAMIER, UK (MV Agusta F4 RR), 1:59.256
17. Christophe PONSSON, France (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:59.339
18. Roman RAMOS, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:59.928
19. Ginaluca VIZZIELLO, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 2:01.565
20. Gabor RIZMAYER, Hungary (BMW S1000RR), 2:02.827
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:
Night-time Tissot-Superpole victory for Sykes in Qatar
The Briton claims pole number 30 of his career as Rea and Fores will join him on front row.
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) has taken his 30th career Tissot-Superpole to ensure his place at the head of the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s two, 17-lap final WorldSBK races of the season at Losail International Circuit. Joining the British rider on the front row will be 2015 Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Xavi Fores (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team), after the floodlit session saw the grid decided only in the closing moments. The leading two bettered the 2014 outright circuit best and gave KRT another 1-2 on the grid, with the best time of Sykes being a blistering 1.56.821s.
The fight to make it on to row two was a closely contested affair with Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team) edging the Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils pairing of Leon Haslam and Jordi Torres at the end of the 15-minute Pole Position shoot-out.
Alex Lowes and his Voltcom Crescent Suzuki team mate Randy de Puniet will start from the third row alongside Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) and ahead of Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing Ducati). Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing Ducati), who fell from his Althea Racing Ducati in the final seconds, has been declared unfit to race after being diagnosed with fractured third, fourth and fifth metacarpal bones in his right foot.
Superpole 1 saw the aforementioned Salom (Team Pedercini) and Leandro progressed to join the already seeded top 10 riders after Free Practice, they would eventually qualify 12th and 10th on the grid respectively after Superpole 2.
Tom Sykes #66 – Kawasaki Racing Team
Tissot-Superpole 1st
Twitter: @TheRealTomSykes
Facebook page: Tom-Sykes
“It is nice to score 30 Superpoles and it is a reassurance that speed is not an issue. We will keep working and I hope that we can convert a few more of these pole positions into race wins. We improved the set-up just in time for Superpole and in free practice four we need to explore the set-up even further and see how the consistency feels. We will keep working and I need to thank Marcel, Danilo and all my mechanics because we have made a lot of changes to the bike settings, which turned out well. The feeling from the Superpole race tyre was faster and safer than before so I was a little more confident to do some more things with the bike. It should help us for race distance as well.”
Jonathan Rea #65 – Kawasaki Racing Team
Tissot Superpole 2nd
Twitter: @jonathanrea
Instagram: @jonathan_rea
Facebook: JonathanReaOfficial
“It was good Superpole and I was really happy with my best lap because on my race tyre lap we made some mistakes. We quickly got back to the garage and changed some traction control settings on the bike and it worked a lot better with the Q tyre. I had no problems, it was a nice lap, and a front row starting position gives me an opportunity for tomorrow. It is a bit weird to do FP4 after Superpole but it is good really, because we still have some issues to work on with the front of the bike to try and have some more stability. We are ready now, but to be really ready, we need another session.”
Xavi Fores #112 – Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team
Tissot-Superpole 3rd
Twitter: XaviFores
Instagram: xavifores
Facebook: Xavi-Fores
“In the timed practice we had a lot of work to do, not having yet identified the right grip with the race tyre. So before the Superpole we made a big change to the set-up of my bike that allowed me to improve a great deal already in the opening stages with the races tyre. I had more confidence with the bike and, with the qualifier, I was able to push and improve further. I’m really happy as it’s my first front row position in Superpole but I know that tomorrow’s races will definitely be difficult. We must stay focused on the races to close the season with the best possible results.”
Chaz Davies #7 – Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team
Tissot-Superpole 4th
Twitter: @chazdavies
Instagram: @chazdavies7
Facebook: chazdavies7
“It was a fairly average Superpole for me today really. Everything felt ok with the race tyre but then there was a lot of vibration at the rear with the qualifier, which caused me to go wide through turn 2 for example. I just didn’t really feel like I could push. I was a little happier in today’s timed practice and we’re going in the right direction but I think we could still make another step. Anyway, fourth place is not so bad and I’m confident I can make a good start tomorrow; the races will be a matter of tyre management and there are pros and cons to each tyre solutions so we will decide tomorrow as to which way to go…”
More, from a press release issued by Pata Honda:
Van der Mark on third row for Qatar clash
Michael van der Mark will start tomorrow’s last two races of the 2015 World Superbike championship from the third row of the grid after setting the ninth fastest time in this evening’s Superpole sessions at Losail International Circuit in Qatar.
The Dutch rider continued the impressive pace shown yesterday into Free Practice 3 this evening, ending the session second fastest. However, van der Mark’s qualifying tyre in Superpole 2 did not offer the expected level of grip to allow him to push for the front two rows for tomorrow’s two 17-lap races at the 5.380km Losail circuit.
His Honda team-mate Sylvain Guintoli had no better fortune in tonight’s Superpole after the technical gremlins that plagued yesterday’s efforts returned to restrict his track time even further.
A trouble-free FP3 allowed the French rider to make some progress in refining the setting on his Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP, but an electrical problem forced him into the pits before completing a flying lap in SP1. The only opportunity for the 33-year-old to improve his position was the first lap on his qualifying tyre but, with the lack of track time, Guintoli could do no better than 13th.
Michael van der Mark – P9 1m58.034s
In FP3 earlier we altered a couple of things on the bike but it still wasn’t quite right, so we changed the front tyre and the confidence came back. In the second half of FP3 we were able to be really fast and consistent. But in Superpole I just didn’t have enough grip from the qualifying tyre and I ended up ninth. But the overall pace is much better so I’m looking forward to the races tomorrow.
Sylvain Guintoli – P13 1m58.768s
It was just another problem today, I’m not sure what it was but the bike wasn’t working properly in Superpole so I had to pit in straight away for the guys to look at it. They fixed it but it just didn’t feel right. We haven’t had much trouble this season but it seems like it’s hitting us here. A lot. That’s the third session out of four that we’ve suffered. I had to push a bit too much on the only lap I got on the qualifying because I’ve not had much track time. I needed those extra couple of laps on the race tyre to get into a bit of a rhythm. I’ll have to use FP4 to rebuild the confidence and the rhythm but we’re not done yet!
Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator
Sylvain has not had a good weekend so far and has been plagued by little technical problems stopping him getting laps and getting into a rhythm. This continued into Superpole which left him 13th but that is not where he belongs. Michael has been going really well, especially in FP3, but in Superpole it looks like the tyre just did not have the grip that you would normally get from a qualifier. This is very unfortunate because I’m quite sure he could have got on to the second or even the front row. But we know he can start well and has challenged for podiums from even further back on the grid and we’re still on the third row. I believe we can still do a good job tomorrow
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Superb 1-2 For KRT Sees Sykes On Pole At Record Pace
Tom Sykes (KRT) set a new track best of 1’56.821 in the second Superpole qualifying session at Losail to take his sixth pole win of the year. New World Champion Jonathan Rea (KRT) was second after an exciting Superpole contest, just 0.176 seconds from Sykes and alongside him on the grid for Sunday’s two 17-lap races.
The final flurry of fast times from the top riders, competing under the floodlights at Qatar again this season, saw Sykes come out on top just before the finish, taking his 30th career Superpole win in the process.
Tom was already the second best rider of all time in Superpole and extended his advantage with his latest peerless attack on the stopwatches.
In an unusual schedule for this round the riders had to attack Superpole after only three practice sessions, not four. With neither KRT rider making lap time improvements on their day one efforts in Free Practice 3, their teams had to find immediate improvements to allow them to compete in Superpole shortly afterwards. Slick and effective work saw Tom and Jonathan go 1-2 on the grid. There is one more free practice session to go tonight, before race day on Sunday.
Both riders feel they will have good race pace to face the two floodlit races at the season finale on Sunday evening. Sykes will be pushing himself to make sure he can finish second overall in the points standings while Rea is out to score the greatest number of points in a season, needing just 25 across two races to do so.
Tom Sykes stated: “It is nice to score 30 Superpoles and honestly speaking it is a reassurance that speed is not an issue. We will keep working and I hope that we can convert a few more of these pole positions into race wins. We improved the set-up just in time for Superpole and in free practice four we need to explore the set-up even further and see how the consistency feels. We will keep working and I need to thank Marcel, Danilo and all my mechanics because we have made a lot of changes to the bike settings, which turned out well. The feeling from the Superpole race tyre was faster and safer than before so I was a little more confident to do some more things with the bike. It should help us for race distance as well.”
Jonathan Rea stated: “It was good Superpole and I was really happy with my best lap because on my race tyre lap we made some mistakes. We quickly got back to the garage and changed some traction control settings on the bike and it worked a lot better with the Q tyre. I saw from Superpole 1 that the Q tyre was sort of running out of grip at the end of the first lap, so I was careful on the beginning of the out lap. I had no problems, it was a nice lap, and a front row starting position gives me an opportunity for tomorrow. It is a bit weird to do FP4 after Superpole but it is good really, because we still have some issues to work on with the front of the bike to try and have some more stability. I am looking forward to another session to be ready for the race. We are ready now, but to be really ready, we need another session.”
David Salom (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) got out of Superpole one and entered Superpole 2, finishing 12th on the grid. Roman Ramos (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki) was 18th after Superpole 1.
More, from a press release issued by Voltcom Crescent Suzuki:
Double third row for Voltcom Crescent Suzuki in final Superpole at Qatar
Alex Lowes and Randy de Puniet will start the final World Superbike races of 2015 on the third row for Voltcom Crescent Suzuki after a tense Superpole at Qatar’s Losail International Circuit this evening
A strong performance in the day’s opening session had allowed both Suzuki racers to advance directly to Superpole 2, which took to the track at a slightly delayed 21:30hrs local time (19:30BST). Lowes had put in a confident and consistent fifth place performance in the final timed free practice – completing 17 laps in the 45-minute session as he switched his Yoshimura-powered GSX-R’s settings from those used on Friday – and the British racer’s determined performance continued into the Superpole qualifier as he claimed seventh in the times with a best lap of 1’57.638, to head row three for tomorrow’s finale.
A season’s best performance saw Randy de Puniet qualify in eighth place – joining his teammate on the third row for Sunday’s races – as he continued to develop on his impressive performance shown this weekend. The confidence found with his Suzuki GSX-R1000 allowed the Frenchman to push hard on the qualifying tyres, finishing the session less than three-tenths from the front row times with a 1’57.644.
A change to the regular schedule saw one free practice session completed either side of the all-important Superpole qualifiers, as Tom Sykes’ 1’56.821 lap aboard his Kawasaki claimed pole position from his teammate Jonathan Rea – both surpassing the circuit’s best lap record.
Saturday’s final track action for Voltcom Crescent Suzuki comes in the form of the later-than-normal free practice four, with both Lowes and de Puniet utilising the 30 minutes to concentrate on tyre-life ahead of the 2015 season’s two 17-lap race-conclusion tomorrow at 19:00 and 22:00hrs local time (17:00 and 20:00BST).
Alex Lowes:
“Today wasn’t bad, and we’ve made some big steps compared to yesterday. Free practice three was good – we had a totally different setting in the bike which took a bit of understanding, but honestly, I’m really disappointed to be seventh. I made some mistakes near the end of my qualifying lap, just probably pushing a little bit too hard, but we are working better today so I’m looking forward to free practice four and a couple of good races tomorrow. It’s one of those tracks where obviously the one lap pace doesn’t have much of a bearing on the race results so we need to work hard in the next session, get a good start tomorrow and I want two top-sixes to finish the year. I would have liked to have qualified on the first two rows but that didn’t happen, but we are working well as a team, I think that was a solid job and I’m looking forward to the races.”
Randy de Puniet:
“I’m really happy! Since yesterday we have already improved a lot, the feeling is good and in qualifying I finished top-eight which is my best qualifying of the year and so close to the front row! It is the last race of the year and it is good to finish like this. The weekend is not over yet but in a good way – now FP4 is really important for us because we need to try a different setting for the race distance as we are struggling with rear-tyre-life. We know we are fast but now we need to be more consistent, maybe a little bit slower but more consistent, so FP4 will be an important session. We have many things to try but I’m confident, I’m feeling good on the bike and I’m enjoying it.”
Paul Denning – Team Manager:
“It’s been a strange schedule today with FP3 then straight into Superpole and now we wait until almost midnight for FP4 to do some more setting work on the bikes for the races. Considering the problems we had yesterday, Alex has taken huge steps forward today. Qualifying was not a bad job at all and, as he showed in FP3, his rhythm on the race tyre looks ok – we will try to improve further in FP4.
“I’m really pleased for Randy, the weekend has gone better than any in the championship so far this year and to qualify only three-tenths off the front row is a really big step forward. Tyre-life and the rhythm over race distance is a worry but it is always a worry here. Randy has put himself in a good position to go with the faster riders and try and challenge for his best results of the year.”
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:
SECOND ROW FOR THE APRILIA RSV4 RF MACHINES IN THE QATAR SUPERPOLE.
GREAT RECOVERY BY LEON HASLAM TO TAKE FIFTH PLACE
SUPER FAST IN FP3, JORDI TORRES WILL START FROM THE SIXTH SPOT TOMORROW
Losail (Qatar), 17 October 2015 – Leon Haslam and Jordi Torres will start from the second row in the two races tomorrow at Losail International Circuit. The Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils riders turned up for the last Superpole of the season with all the best credentials: Torres confirmed his excellent feeling with the Qatar circuit, putting the best time on the sheets at the end of an extremely positive session, whereas his garage mate made a clear improvement compared to yesterday, finishing practice with the third best time.
In Superpole 2 Jordi Torres confirmed his excellent form even further, stopping the clock with the second best time on a race tyre. Once he had mounted the soft tyre, the Spanish rookie had a bit of difficulty taking advantage of the higher grip, finishing the session in sixth place. That will place him on the second row for the races tomorrow.
Leon Haslam is all smiles, improving by leaps and bounds in terms of race pace and comforted by a better feeling on his RSV4 today. His qualifying sessions were conditioned by a trivial mishap: in a particularly abrupt braking section Leon put too much stress on the chain, which then created some bothersome vibration on his flying lap. This puts his fifth place finish in an entirely different light, placing him among the favourites for an important race result.
Leon Haslam: “We took a huge step forward compared to yesterday. The bike is working much better and I’m quite satisfied. In Superpole I made two mistakes, both in the first sector, one of which put too much stress on the chain. That caused some abnormal vibrations which partially compromised our performance. Despite this little problem our time was good anyway. We are less than a tenth of a second behind the front row. Considering the initial difficulties this weekend I’m pleased with the way things went today.”
Jordi Torres: “It’s really a shame about Superpole. With the race tyre I had a good lap and in practice I showed that I have a good pace. With the soft tyre it’s a struggle for me to figure out its grip. It seems like it’s sliding but I know it can provide better grip. The increased push on the front also creates some problems for me. In each Superpole I learn a bit more but we can definitely do better. I made two mistakes that cost me a few tenths, but most of all they cost me my confidence. I am optimistic about tomorrow because I really like the way the RSV4 is performing on race tyres.”
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
Forés third and Davies fourth on the grid for the final World SBK showdown at Losail
Doha (Qatar), Saturday 17 October 2015 – the Losail International Circuit in Qatar played host to a hard fought Superpole this evening. In the final qualifying session of the 2015 season, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team riders Xavi Forés and Chaz Davies battled it out against their rivals to earn third and fourth position respectively on the grid for tomorrow’s SBK races.
The third and final timed practice session took place at 6pm local time. Davies focused his attentions on the final split, a sector where he was losing a little time yesterday. Able to make an improvement in terms of both said section and lap times, the Welshman closed in sixth place, having obtained a best time of 1’58.460. Forés made the most of this final session to make final preparations for the Superpole, having lost precious time yesterday after a crash in session one. Unfortunately yesterday’s fall left him with serious bruising on his right leg but despite this setback, the Spaniard was able to improve slightly on yesterday’s time with a fastest lap completed in 1’58.460. Both Aruba Ducati men therefore qualified directly for Superpole 2, in sixth (Chaz) and eighth (Xavi) position.
Superpole 2: having completed a first lap on the race tyre, both Davies and Forés were straight back out on the qualifying solution. The Spaniard, having made significant changes to the set-up of his Panigale R together with his team just prior to the Superpole, found the confidence that he’d been missing and, pushing hard with the qualifying tyre, projected himself into third position, earning a place on the front row of tomorrow’s race grid. It is the first time in his Superbike career that Forés qualifies in the top three.
Chaz unfortunately lost a few tenths on the qualifying tyre due to some vibration issues at the rear of his bike that prevented him from completing a very fast lap. His best time, a 1’57.406, positioned him fourth at the session’s end, meaning that he will line up on row two for tomorrow’s two 17-lap races.
Quotes after the day’s sessions:
Xavi Forés (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team #112) – 3rd (1’57.384)
“In the timed practice we had a lot of work to do, not having yet found the right grip with the race tyre. Then before the Superpole we made a big change to the set-up of my bike that allowed me to improve a great deal already in the opening stages and on the race tyre. I had more confidence with the bike and, with the qualifier, I was able to push and improve further. I’m really happy as it’s my first front row position in Superpole but I know that tomorrow’s races will definitely be difficult. We must stay focused on the races to close the season with the best possible results.”
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team #7) – 4th (1’57.406)
“It was a fairly average Superpole for me today really. Everything felt ok with the race tyre but then there was a lot of vibration at the rear with the qualifier, which caused me to go wide through turn 2 and I just didn’t really feel like I could push. I was a little happier in today’s timed practice and we’re going in the right direction but I think we could still make another step. Anyway, fourth place is not so bad and I’m confident I can make a good start tomorrow; the races will be a matter of tyre management and there are pros and cons to each tyre solution so we will decide tomorrow as to which way to go…”
More, from a press release issued by Althea Racing:
Team Althea Racing returned to the Losail International Circuit today for the final timed practice session, free practice and subsequent Superpole sessions, but it was rather a difficult day for the Italian squad.
With weather conditions remaining unchanged (air temperature around 33°C), the Althea Racing riders Niccolò Canepa and Matteo Baiocco headed out on track at 6pm local time for the final timed session. Both were able to pick up the pace and improve on yesterday’s performance and, in the final stages, each completed his respective fastest lap with the pair closing tenth (Baiocco) and eleventh (Canepa). Thanks to a best time of 1’59.025 Baiocco gained direct access to Superpole 2 while Canepa, just behind his team-mate with a fastest lap completed in 1’59.058, was obliged to take part in Superpole 1.
Canepa was out at 9.05pm to take part in Superpole 1.Completing one first fast lap on the race tyre to position temporarily second, he went straight back out on the qualifying solution. With the fresh tyre he was able to take another few tenths off his time, to finish in fourth position and unfortunately missing out on the chance to participate in Superpole 2.
A few minutes later Matteo was on track for Superpole 2. He recorded a best lap of 1’58.741 to earn eleventh position but unfortunately, as the session was able to conclude, he was the victim of a crash at Turn 13. The Althea rider was immediately taken to the Clinica Mobile where doctors confirm that he has fractured the third, fourth and fifth metatarsi of his right foot.
As a result of his injuries, Baiocco will unfortunately be unable to participate in tomorrow’s races while Canepa will line up on row five, fourteenth, for tomorrow’s two 17-lap races.
Niccolò Canepa: “Today was a difficult day. We haven’t been able to find the right set-up and are quite a way off our usual pace. Even the Superpole was the worst I’ve done so far. I’m not sure how we are doing in terms of pace but we’ll continue to work and I hope that we’ll be able to find a solution for the races.”
Matteo Baiocco: “I’m really sorry because I was sure that in tomorrow’s races I’d be able to fight for a good position and retain eighth place in the general standings. Seeing that my first lap with the soft tyre wasn’t good enough, I was trying to do more, but unfortunately I crashed. As ever I gave it my all, but this time perhaps I risked a little too much. I’m really sorry for the team as they’ve worked hard and well, as they’ve done all season, and I wanted to finish with two strong results.”