Superpole Imola: Davies drives the point home, Guintoli and Mahias HS

After having dominated each of the practice sessions this weekend at Imola, the n ° 7 persists and signs the Italian Superpole! Chaz Davies debunks Sykes’ record. He is ahead of his teammate Giugliano and the factory Kawasaki. The second Superpole session (SP2) has just ended in Italy, on the legendary Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari located

After having dominated each of the test sessions this weekend at Imola, the n ° 7 persists and signs the Italian Superpole! Chaz Davies debunks Sykes’ record. He is ahead of his teammate Giugliano and the factory Kawasaki.

The second Superpole session (SP2) has just ended in Italy, on the legendary Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari located about forty kilometers from Bologna and the Ducati factory, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year! This is to say if spectators expect a lot from their pilots…

From the start of Superpole 2, Chaz Davies continues to delight "his" public: leading all the practice sessions, he is the first rider to drop below 1 ’47 … The Ducati official wears the colors of Italy on his helmet – usually multicolored – and hears them hoist very high this afternoon and tomorrow in the race !

Two minutes later, Jonathan Rea beats the Welshman with nothing while the red flags are waved: Sylvain Guintoli is on the ground, surrounded by the commissioners and a doctor. Our n ° 50 has just been the victim of a gigantic highside … Climbed very high at the exit of Acqua Minareli, "Guinters" hit very hard.

Once our unfortunate 2014 world champion has been evacuated by ambulance, the session resumes. Somewhat disturbed in their routine, the 11 drivers who remain in the running have 9 and a half minutes to set the best time..

Chaz Davies drives home the point by completing the 4.909 km of the Italian circuit in 1 ‘45.598 on qualifying tires. Coming from the 2015 vice-world champion, renowned for his average qualifying and much better races, the message is very clear: he is the man to beat !

Even his teammate Davide Giugliano is relegated to almost half a second … The tifosis are no less happy: the factory Ducati double in Superpole is a nice first gift for the anniversary of their favorite brand.

Jonathan Rea could hope to slip his Kawasaki between the two Ducatis, but the “Number One” of the discipline missed out on his last lap and has to be content with third place on the Italian grid. Can the Northern Irishman follow "Chazie" in the race? Mystery and Pirelli Balls.

Beaten by three thousandths of a second by the ruthless "JR", Tom Sykes will lead in a few minutes – and tomorrow for the second round – the second row of the starting grid. He will start in front of the 2015 ST1000 champion Lorenzo Savadori on his Aprilia RSV4 and Jordi Torres on his BMW S1000RR.

Like Savadori, Leon Camier confirmed his great form – and that of his Italian mount – by securing 7th place on the grid. The 2009 English champion will install the only MV Agusta F4 on the grid ahead of the BMW of rookie Markus Reiterberger and the Fireblade of 2006 MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden "who else" ?

Matteo Baiocco, replacing Fabio Menghi in the VFT Racing team, adds a Ducati in the Top 10 of these qualifications at Imola. Victim of technical problems at the end of SP2, Michael van den Mark sees his efforts in SP1 poorly rewarded…

Guintoli and Mahias: High Side and Hors Service…

Indeed, big names were on the Superpole 1 list. Josh Brookes for example, the 2015 British Superbike champion, was the fastest out of the pits. But as in Assen last week where the driver led a few laps on the dryer, the BMW Milwaukee driver did not stay in the lead until the end….

It was Xavi Fores, German Superbike champion 2014, who led the first "run" of SP1 on the handlebars of his private Panigale … Panigale of the "private" Barni team, but not "deprived" of the double pot of the official Ducatis that n ° 12 received this weekend !

During the second half of the SP1, Nicky Hayden put the turbo, going down the first under the 1 ’48. The "Kentucky Kid was however preceded by his teammate VDM who, despite a straight right at the end of the session, took advantage of a final loop started just before leaving the checkered flag to finish first in SP1.
 
Released by "Magic Michael" in extra time, Xavi Fores is in 13th position on the timesheet but should settle in 12th place of Sylvain Guintoli, declared unfit for the race this afternoon … Victim of new technical glitches on his R1 in SP1, Alex Lowes will follow Fores on the grid.

Finally, let us note that Lucas Mahias, again replacing Sylvain Barrier on his Kawasaki Pedercini this weekend at Imola after his magnificent freelance at Assen, is out of the race, as he explains himself on his official Facebook page….

"First complicated day at Imola, I made a highside at the start of a turn at the end of FP1 with my new tire. I was immediately transported to the medical center with severe back pain … I participate in FP2 in pain or I still improve my time ".

"At the end of the day, I return to the clinic and I am immediately taken to the hospital for a CT scan where they will detect 3 small fractures on the vertebrae D4, D5, D6! The circuit doctors obviously do not want to let me ride this weekend … I’m sorry for the team but I’m doing my best for the rest "… Banzaiii ! 

Superpole World Superbike Imola 2016

Related articles

• WSBK – WSBK Imola: Sykes doubles the Superpole stake! –

  WSBK Imola: Sykes doubles down in Superpole ! Tom Sykes and his ZX-10R Ninja caused a stir, this time on the Imola track in Italy for the second round of…

• WSBK – Lausitzring Superpole: Davies passes the second in Germany – Used DUCATI

  Superpole Lausitzring: Davies passes the second in Germany Contested on a partially wet track, the WSBK Superpole session back in Germany was…

• WSBK – WSBK France: Superpole for Sykes, sleepless night for Guintoli –

  WSBK France: Superpole for Sykes, sleepless night for Guintoli Contested in mixed conditions this afternoon, the Magny- Cours Superpole was won by Tom…

• WSBK – WSBK Aragon: Sykes in Superpole ahead of Baz and Guintoli –

  WSBK Aragon: Sykes in Superpole ahead of Baz and Guintoli Tom Sykes and his ZX-10R have just won their first Superpole 2014 on the Aragon circuit in…

• WSBK – WSBK Imola: Rea hoists his Honda in Superpole –

  WSBK Imola: Rea hoists his Honda in Superpole Against all expectations, it is the n ° 65 rider of the Honda Pata team who will post his Fireblade…

• WSBK – Superpole Laguna Seca: very first pole for Davies –

  Superpole Laguna Seca: very first pole for Davies Author of only one pole position in the Supersport category, the 2011 champion Chaz Davies has just won…

• WSBK – WSBK Malaysia (2): Rea stumbles on Davies! –

  WSBK Malaysia (2): Rea stumbles on Davies ! If the first corner of the second Superbike round at Sepang was hectic, the rest of the race was much quieter…

• WSBK – MNC Analysis of World Superbike in Italy – To win, Davies has yet to win …

  MNC analysis of World Superbike in Italy Beyond the points distributed, each race weekend brings its share of remarkable feats and poor performances,…

• WSBK – WSBK Italy (2): second cup for Davies at Imola –

  WSBK Italy (2): second cup for Davies at Imola The threatening sky did not prevent Davies from shining this Sunday in Imola! The Ducati rider n ° 7 even…

• WSBK – Superpole Sepang: Guintoli persists and signs … pole –

  Superpole Sepang: Guintoli persists and signs … pole Dominant during the test sessions in Malaysia, Sylvain Guintoli confirmed this afternoon in…