eni FIM Superbike World Championship
Misano World Circuit, San Marino
June 20, 2015
Superpole One Results (top two advance to Superpole Two, all on Pirelli tires):
1. Tom SYKES, UK (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:34.486
2. Ayrton BADOVINI, Italy (BMW S1000RR), 1:35.084
3. Leandro MERCADO, Argentina (Ducati Panigale R), 1:35.285
4. Niccolo CANEPA, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), 1:35.464
5. Michael VD MARK, Netherlands (Honda CBR1000RR SP), 1:35.642
6. Markus REITERBERGER, Germany (BMW S1000RR), 1:35.658
7. Roman RAMOS, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:36.205
8. Leon CAMIER, UK (MV Agusta F4 RR), 1:36.247
9. Randy DE PUNIET, France (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:36.262
10. David SALOM, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), no time recorded
Superpole Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Tom SYKES, UK (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:34.214
2. Leon HASLAM, UK (Aprilia RSV4 RF), 1:34.426
3. Davide GIUGLIANO, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), 1:34.442
4. Jonathan REA, UK (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:34.459
5. Max BIAGGI, Italy (Aprilia RSV4 RF), 1:34.463
6. Jordi TORRES, Spain (Aprilia RSV4 RF), 1:34.551
7. Alex LOWES, UK (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:34.811
8. Ayrton BADOVINI, Italy (BMW S1000RR), 1:34.881
9. Sylvain GUINTOLI, France (Honda CBR1000RR SP), 1:35.061
10. Michele PIRRO, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), 1:35.139
11. Chaz DAVIES, UK (Ducati Panigale R), 1:35.473
12. Matteo BAIOCCO, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), 1:35.862
Combined Qualifying Results:
1. Tom SYKES, UK (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:34.214
2. Leon HASLAM, UK (Aprilia RSV4 RF), 1:34.426
3. Davide GIUGLIANO, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), 1:34.442
4. Jonathan REA, UK (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:34.459
5. Max BIAGGI, Italy (Aprilia RSV4 RF), 1:34.463
6. Jordi TORRES, Spain (Aprilia RSV4 RF), 1:34.551
7. Alex LOWES, UK (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:34.811
8. Ayrton BADOVINI, Italy (BMW S1000RR), 1:34.881
9. Sylvain GUINTOLI, France (Honda CBR1000RR SP), 1:35.061
10. Michele PIRRO, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), 1:35.139
11. Chaz DAVIES, UK (Ducati Panigale R), 1:35.473
12. Matteo BAIOCCO, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), 1:35.862
13. Leandro MERCADO, Argentina (Ducati Panigale R), 1:35.285
14. Niccolo CANEPA, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), 1:35.464
15. Michael VD MARK, Netherlands (Honda CBR1000RR SP), 1:35.642
16. Markus REITERBERGER, Germany (BMW S1000RR), 1:35.658
17. Roman RAMOS, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:36.205
18. Leon CAMIER, UK (MV Agusta F4 RR), 1:36.247
19. Randy DE PUNIET, France (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:36.262
20. David SALOM, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), no time recorded
21. Santiago BARRAGÁN, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:38.523
22. G. VIZZIELLO, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:38.675
23. Christophe PONSSON, France (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:38.931
24. Gabor RIZMAYER, Hungary (BMW S1000RR), 1:39.792
25. Imre TOTH, Hungary (BMW S1000RR), 1:41.415
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:
Misano Tissot-Superpole goes to Sykes
The KRT rider takes Pole Position after making his way through Superpole 1.
After two of the most unpredictable Tissot-Superpole sessions of the season, Tom Sykes will start tomorrow’s two 21-lap races at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” from Pole Position. The Kawasaki rider powered to the top spot, claiming a new outright circuit best lap of 1’34.214s as well as his third front-grid start of the year. Courtesy of his 27th career Pole, the Briton elevates himself to second all-time for the most Pole Positions taken in the series. With the current Tissot-Superpole format, this is the first time that a rider is able to claim Pole Position after making his way through Superpole 1.
Alongside Sykes on the grid tomorrow will be Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) and Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team), the front row qualifiers split by 0.228s.
Row two will see championship leader Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team), Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) and Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) with row 3 comprising Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), Ayrton Badovini and reigning champion Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team).
Tenth after qualifying was Michele Pirro (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team), he will head row 4 where he will be joined by Chaz Davies on the third of the official Ducatis entered this weekend and Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing Ducati). Thirteenth on the grid tomorrow will be Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing); he will be joined on the fifth row by Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing Ducati) and Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team).
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
Giugliano and the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team score a front row start at the Misano World Circuit
Misano Adriatico (Italy), Saturday 20 June 2015 – A positive Superpole, and third place overall, for Davide Giugliano and the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team at the Misano World Circuit. Michele Pirro and Chaz Davies qualify tenth and eleventh respectively for the two 21-lap races.
In this morning’s third timed practice, both Davies and Giugliano were able to improve on yesterday’s times, as well as continuing to work to refine the set-up of their Panigale R bikes ahead of the Superpole and Sunday’s races. Giugliano is suffering the after-effects of yesterday’s crash, riding with significant contusions to his right hip and gluteus. The two Aruba Ducati riders’ fastest laps (1’35.435 for Chaz, 1’35.486 for Davide) ensured them of direct entry to Superpole 2, with Davies in sixth position and Giugliano eighth. Michele Pirro, substituting for injured Luca Scassa and therefore participating in his first session, was immediately able to find a good base set-up, lowering his times significantly throughout the timed practice to record a best of 1’35.439, which positioned him seventh, between his two teammates, at the session’s end.
Superpole 2: all three riders made an initial exit on the race tyre before returning to the track with the qualifying solution. Despite his physical limitations after Friday’s crash, Giugliano was able to make the most of the soft tyre, recording a lap that was fast enough – 1’34.442 – to guarantee himself a place on the front row of the grid, in third position. Unfortunately a technical problem that came up during the session prevented Davies from completing a fast lap with the qualifying tyre meaning that the Welshman qualifies in eleventh place with a time of 1’35.473 set with the race tyre. Michele, who was using the soft qualifying solution for the first time, made two solid laps, the fastest of which, a 1’35.139, positioned him tenth overall; the Italian will therefore line up on row four of the race grid alongside Davies.
Quotes after the day’s sessions:
Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team #34) – 3rd (1’34.442)
“I’m pleased we were able to close third, as to start at the front of the grid will be particularly helpful in the opening stages of the race, also considering how close we all are in terms of times. Today I’m feeling physically worse than yesterday and I’m struggling to ride to be honest, especially in the changes of direction, so the races won’t be at all easy. We’ll continue to work this evening and I’m sure that, also with Dall’Igna’s help, we’ll be able to prepare well for tomorrow. Another key thing that will help is the passion and support of all my fans here.”
Michele Pirro (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team #55) – 10th (1’35.139)
“First of all I want to thank the team for giving me this opportunity. It’s not easy to go from one bike to another, on different tyres, but I think that we worked well during the morning’s two sessions, setting some interesting times. The gap between me and the fastest riders was fairly contained which is important. As far as Superpole is concerned, I was using the qualifying solution for the first time and so although I think we have good potential, I was unable to make the most of the tyre. Anyway I hope to get away well in the races and be able to score two solid results.”
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team #7) – 11th (1’35.473)
“Unfortunately we had a problem with the gear sensor in the Superpole, something that already affected my laps on the race tyre and then became worse with the qualifying tyre. There is no time to solve any issues during such a short session and so the result is disappointing. It’s a shame because the front of the bike seemed a bit better in this session. We’ve obviously got work to do tomorrow. I need to focus on making a fast start and then positioning myself well through the first laps to see what I can do, but it’s not going to be easy from the fourth row.”
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Superpole Win For Sykes As Rea Goes Fourth
Tom Sykes (KRT) set a new track best of 1’34.214 at Misano to score his third Superpole win of the year, as his team-mate Jonathan Rea (KRT) placed fourth. Sykes had to first negotiate Superpole 1 after qualifying in 11th place after the first three timed qualifying sessions but ended up with a clear advantage of 0.212 seconds over the second placed rider after Superpole 2.
Sykes was only just out of the top ten after regulation qualifying meaning he had to ride in Superpole 1 to earn his place in Superpole 2. He led this first contest on a race tyre and then used a qualifying rear tyre to make sure he entered Superpole 2.
In the second Superpole sector Tom pushed on to record his new track best lap time, to his own surprise in some regards, but his start from the best possible grid position will stand him in good stead for each race on Sunday.
Rea was on strong form from the start at Misano and although he missed a front row start in Superpole after pushing too hard in the first sector of his first flying lap, he is in a good starting position to take on the challenge of a newly resurfaced Misano circuit.
Rea has been working through various tyre options, both front and rear, through race weekend and he will make his final race selection after morning warm-up on Sunday.
After taking his 27th career Superpole win Sykes is now the second ranked qualifier of all time in his own right, moving one place ahead of WSB legend Troy Bayliss today. He has also scored pole at Misano in the past four visits of the WSB championship to the Adriatic circuit.
Weather conditions for raceday will determine final race settings but both KRT riders are confident they each have a strong set-up for any possible circumstance on raceday.
Tom Sykes: “I am a little bit surprised to be win Superpole because I was not sure if my lap was good enough. But it was, so for this I am happy. I used a race tyre, then a qualifier in Superpole 1 and finally we had to do three fast laps on the front tyre. I did a 1’34.9 on a race tyre at one stage but the front tyre had already done ten laps. The new track surface is good and the circuit is faster, and a better camber in some areas. We have had a good way of working through the weekend but we had to try a couple of different things and they did not work out. We got caught out because we did not put a fresh tyre in during practice to check our performance over one lap. In a way it was good to do Superpole 1 because I got three extra flying laps in. At this level it gives you a bit more understanding, especially on fresh tyres.”
Jonathan Rea: “In the first lap of Superpole using my qualifying tyre I pushed a little but hard and messed up the first sector. After that on the second lap I did a much better job in the first two sectors but by then the qualifying tyre had gone off a little. I am happy enough because P4 is not the worst-case scenario and I think we have a bike we can race with in good condition. I do not know what we will get for weather but we are set-up for both conditions, cooler or hotter. We have been fast with the soft tyre and the hard tyre, and when the lights go out we will see what happens.”
David Salom (Kawasaki Team Pedercini) is 20th on the grid after having an issue in Superpole 1. Roman Ramos (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki) starts 17th.
More, from a press release issued by Voltcom Crescent Suzuki:
Positive Misano Superpole for Voltcom Crescent Suzuki
A positive day at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli saw Voltcom Crescent Suzuki’s Alex Lowes qualify seventh this afternoon with an invigorated performance at the Italian track.
Energised by recent performance developments, Lowes confidently mastered the Misano circuit with his Yoshimura-powered GSX-R, setting a 1’34.811 on the Pirelli qualifier. The British racer’s best effort was just six-tenths off Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes – who claimed the Superpole with a 1’34.214 – and will see Lowes line up directly behind the former’s teammate, and current Championship leader, Jonathan Rea, as he heads up the third row.
A disappointing Superpole failed to deliver the results expected by Randy de Puniet. Earlier improvements had seen the Frenchman running strongly on his Suzuki Superbike and he remains confident of a recovered showing during Sunday’s two races.
Buoyed by the successful race simulations completed by Lowes during the early afternoon practice, Voltcom Crescent Suzuki returns to the Rimini track at 08:40hrs local time (07:40BST) tomorrow morning in preparation for the day’s two 21-lap battles taking place at 10:30hrs and 13:10 (09:30 and 12:10BST) respectively.
Alex Lowes:
“I’m actually really happy with seventh today. I feel like I got as much out of the bike as I could, we’re only seventh and you always want to do better but it’s been a good day. We had some problems in the practice this morning but we still managed a decent lap at the end. In FP4 we did a race simulation – it went well, we still have a few things to improve on but the pace was there – and in qualifying we did a good job. No mistakes, I enjoyed riding the bike and it wasn’t too far away but we just need two solid results tomorrow – whatever the result as long as I do my best and don’t make any mistakes I’ll be happy!”
Randy de Puniet:
“I’m disappointed about the qualifying today because in FP4 we improved the GSX-R’s feeling a lot but I had a problem with the brake power so we decided to try a different brake system for the qualifying. Unfortunately I had vibration so I pulled in and only got back out for one lap on the qualifying tyre. The brake was still not perfect on that lap so I’m 19th on the grid which is disappointing because I expected to be close to the top 12. We will see tomorrow but to start 19th will not be easy, I am hoping to have two good races and to score some points.”
Paul Denning – Team Manager:
“Misano wasn’t our best circuit by a long way last year so to qualify seventh and only 0.3 off the Championship leader is a really good result, and shows the hard work of the team and Alex is finally starting to pay off. The GSX-R is working as it should, the Marelli system is working predictably and we are now able to focus on setting up the bike without fundamental problems.
“The race will be tough but Alex did a full race simulation in FP4 in a good rhythm – his last lap of the run was only 0.3 slower than his quickest lap. So whilst we need to be realistic about the races tomorrow I think Alex has the potential to fight with very good quality riders and make a decent result.
“Randy’s made far better progress than the qualifying result today shows. His qualifying time only matched his best time during FP4 on a race tyre and so starting from 19th isn’t ideal. We are hoping Randy can continue the progress made this weekend and achieve two solid results in tomorrow’s races.”
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:
THREE APRILIAS ON THE FIRST TWO ROWS AT MISANO WSBK
LEON HASLAM RIDES HIS RSV4 TO THE FRONT ROW
MAX BIAGGI TAKES AN EXCELLENT FIFTH PLACE JUST 25 HUNDREDTHS OF A SECOND FROM THE POLE AND TORRES IS SIXTH, BOTH WITH A GREAT RACE PACE
POLE FOR SAVADORI AND THE RSV4 RF IN THE SUPERSTOCK 1000 FIM CUP
Misano Adriatico (Italy), 20 June 2015 – At the end of an exciting Superpole, raced with record breaking laps, Aprilia placed all three of its RSV4 RFs on the first two rows, demonstrating that they will be key players in the two races tomorrow which promise to be unforgettable.
With the second best time (at 1’34.426), Leon Haslam placed on the front row, an excellent performance that takes on even more value in light of the fact that the English Aprilia Racing – Red Devils rider made that time on his second lap with a qualifier tyre, forced to give up his best lap due to a mistake.
Max Biaggi, on his return to racing three years after retiring, continues to astonish. After clearly dominating the free practice sessions on Friday, the six-time World Champion confirmed all of his class and his excellent form battling with the 2015 championship protagonists and taking a brilliant second row spot thanks to his fifth best time (1’34.463) just 25 hundredths from the pole. And this is in his first experience with the current Superpole format that allows only one qualifier tyre to be used, making Max’s achievement in this long-awaited Misano wild card performance even more exceptional.
Jordi Torres showed excellent signs: the Spaniard in his rookie World SBK year facing Misano for the first time on a factory derivative bike dominated in Saturday morning free practice, putting the best time on the sheets (for the first time) and confirming his brilliant day by finishing on the second row (sixth in 1’34.551), but most importantly, demonstrating an excellent race pace that places him among the potential protagonists of the races tomorrow.
Romano Albesiano (Aprilia Racing Manager): “Really a great qualifying session. Our boys were all fast, riding the three Aprilia RSV4s to the top. My compliments to all three of our riders. Today Max also put in an incredibly good performance and he seems to have a good race pace. Torres also has a good pace and he is looking good for the races tomorrow, as is Leon, who is in good shape although we know that we still have some things we need to improve on with him. I don’t feel comfortable making any predictions. We’ll take stock of the situation tomorrow evening, but we definitely are expecting two great races.”
Max Biaggi: “We knew that Superpole would be complicated for us. This is my first time with the new format and using a qualifier tyre on a flying lap isn’t easy at all. In these conditions it doesn’t take more than a small mistake to compromise all of the weekend’s work and the pace is so frenetic that there is no room for indecision. I’m pleased with the placing. The gaps are very tight behind the leaders and we have also done a good job in terms of race pace. I am satisfied and my compliments go once again to the Aprilia test team which came to the track with me to Misano in race configuration. Now I’ll begin to prepare for the two races tomorrow. I’m expecting a hard battle! The main goal is still to have fun and to give the fans a good time.
Leon Haslam: “This weekend we improved session after session. We had a good base to start from and we basically adapted the setup solutions we had tried at Portimão to make the work on this track. The track changes a lot depending on the temperature, so we tried to work quite a bit on tyre life and on consistency in the various conditions. I’m rather pleased with our level. I was the fastest one out there on a race tyre. In Superpole I made a mistake on the first turn, so I slowed down to conserve the tyre and make a go of it on the second lap. In light of this, second place and a good pace make me hopeful for tomorrow.”
Jordi Torres: “We took a big step forward here at Misano and this is an advantage for me. We still need to improve a bit with the qualifier tyre though, because I am still not taking full advantage of it like the other riders do. My goal tomorrow is to stay with the lead group and learn from Max and the others how to tackle a few of the areas on the track where I feel that there is still room for improvement. We are all very close and I have a good race pace, so I feel confident.
In Superstock 1000 the Team Nuova M2 Aprilia RSV4 RFs put in yet another excellent performance. Championship leader Lorenzo Savadori took pole position with a gap of almost 4 tenths of a second ahead of his nearest rival. Team mate Kevin Calia placed on the best spot of the second row thanks to his fourth best time in 1’36.971.
More, from a press release issued by Pata Honda:
Third row for Guintoli at Misano
Sylvain Guintoli will start tomorrow’s eighth-round World Superbike championship races from the third row of the grid after setting the ninth-fastest time on his Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP in this afternoon’s Superpole at the Misano World Circuit in Italy.
The French Pata Honda rider lapped the 4.226km Misano circuit in a time of 1m35.061s, just 0.6s from a potential front row start alongside pole position man Tom Sykes. The 32-year-old is confident of his race pace on old tyres, however, and is targeting strong results in Sunday’s two 21-lap races.
With track temperatures at the Misano World Circuit approaching 50°C, Guintoli’s Pata Honda team-mate Michael van der Mark, 22, was unable to find in Superpole 1 the pace that he showed in the previous free practice session.
The Dutch rider’s best time of 1m35.642s on Pirelli’s qualifying tyre was not as fast as the time he set on race rubber in Free Practice 4 and he was unable to progress to Superpole 2; but van der Mark and his crew are confident that, with two good starts, he can be in the mix tomorrow.
Sylvain Guintoli – P9, 1m35.061s
We did some good work in FP4 on used tyres and the rhythm felt quite good. I struggled with pure performance on the qualifying tyre and couldn’t get the best out of it, but we’ve done our homework and it feels like we’re ready for tomorrow. They’ll be two tough races – they’re always hard here on tyres and riders – but I’m looking forward to tomorrow because in FP4 we had a really good rhythm on two tyres that were both older than race distance. Hopefully we can turn that into two good results tomorrow.
Michael van der Mark – P15, 1m35.642s
This morning we started with quite a different setting on the bike but, in the end, the lap times were quite similar and we didn’t find much of an improvement. The field is so close and I ended up in Superpole 1 but in FP4 we found a good step with the bike and also my riding was better. So I went into Superpole with a bit of confidence but nothing seemed to be working. I tried with the race tyre and then the qualifier but the time didn’t come so we’re a little uncertain of our potential for tomorrow. As always though, I’ll try my best to get a good start and make up some places, and see we’ll where I am after 21 laps.
Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator
Michael struggled in the morning to break through the 36.2 pace so that was a hard session but in FP4 it was a lot better. He got into a better groove and, with the changes to the bike, that resulted in fifth place with a 35.4 which was a big step. In Superpole he was unable to repeat that and it didn’t work out on the qualifier either. Free practice showed that he can do good times though and I expect him to march towards the front. Sylvain did some good lap times on 22-lap tyres and a good lap on the race tyre in Superpole. But on the qualifier he could only find another three tenths and, to be honest, the tyre didn’t feel quite right. He’s a good starter though and his race pace is quite good so I think he can have a fight tomorrow.