Misano Tissot-Superpole goes to Sykes

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).

Tom Sykes #66 – Kawasaki Racing Team – Tissot-Superpole – 1st – “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 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.”

Leon Haslam #91 – Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils – “This weekend we improved session after session. We had a good base to start from and we basically adapted the set-up 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.”

Davide Giugliano #34 – Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK – “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.”

Pole and best lap for Cluzel in Misano WSS qualifying

Series leader Sofuoglu and Jacobsen complete front row of the grid

The sole qualifying session for the World Supersport championship held a short time ago at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” was a thriller, with the outright circuit best being bettered initially by Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and PJ Jacobsen (CORE’’ Motorsport Thailand Honda), before eventual Pole setter Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) demolished it by almost a second. The Frenchman’s time of 1.37.482s gave him an advantage over his rivals of 0.473s.

Sofouglu and Jacobsen were second and third and will take their respective places on the record-breaking front row of the grid for tomorrow’s 19-lap race.

The battle to make it onto the second row was as equally exciting with the three places available only decided in the final moments of the session. In the end fourth position on the grid went to Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), with Gino Rea (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda) and Fabio Menghi fifth and sixth, respectively. For Menghi and the VFT Yamaha Racing squad it was their best ever qualifying position in the World Supersport championship.

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Row 3 tomorrow will comprise Alex Baldolini (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), Roberto Rolfo (Lorini Honda), and Christian Gamarino (Team Go Eleven).

Kyle Smith was looking good for a front running grid slot until he crashed his Pata Honda. Unhurt, he will start 11th ahead of Marco Faccani (San Carlo Puccetti Racing Kawasaki), who also fell off his bike during the session.

FIM World Supersport Championship Misano – Qualifying

1 – Jules Cluzel MV Agusta Reparto Corse 1’37.482

2 – Kenan Sofuoglu Kawasaki Puccetti Racing +0.473

3 – PJ Jacobsen CORE” Motorsport Thailand Honda +0.584

Savadori puts himself in Pole Position for STK1000 race at Misano

FIM Superstock 1000 Cup points leader Lorenzo Savadori (Nuova M2 Racing Aprilia) gave himself the best opportunity to put one hand on the 2015 title after storming to Pole Position in today’s red flagged qualifying session. The Italian posted a time well beneath the old circuit record to become the fastest Superstock rider to lap the Misano World Circuit.

Joining Savadori on the front row tomorrow will be Ondrej Jezek (Triple-M by Barni Ducati), who fell after posting the provisional pole time and Althea Racing Ducati’s Raffaele de Rosa. Kevin Calia on the second Nuova M2 Aprila heads row 2 in fourth ahead of Kev Coghlan (MRS Yamaha) and Jeremy Guarnoni (Team Trasimeno Yamaha).

The session was stopped with just over 6 minutes to go after Fabio Massei (EAB Racing Ducati) and Luca Salvadori (Althea Racing Ducati) crashed. They will start seventh and thirteenth respectively on the grid tomorrow.

FIM Superstock 1000 Cup Misano – Qualifying

Federico Caricasulo (Pata Honda Junior Team) could hardly contain his delight at taking victory in today’s 13 lap FIM Europe Superstock 600cc race in front of his home fans at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” after timing his move for the lead almost perfectly on the penultimate lap.

As ever the STK600 race was epic with in the early stages a group of ten swapping places at almost every turn. With 5 laps to go the leading group was now only 5 and headed by Michael Ruben Rinaldi (San Carlo Team Italia Kawasaki), who had to settle for fourth at the flag after being overtaken on the final two laps firstly by Caricasulo before Niki Tuuli (Kallio Racing Yamaha) and Toprak Razgatliogliu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), who gave everything on the final lap to take the win and found their way past, taking second and third respectively after some incredible racing.

For Razgatlioglu his third position today gives him the 2015 FIM Europe Superstock 600cc Championship crown with two races remaining, the Turkish youngster making it 5 wins and a third in what has been an impressive debut season. Behind the top 4, Andrea Tucci (San Carlo Team Italia) finished 5th ahead of Luca Vitali (GAS Racing Team Kawasaki).

In the post-race interview it was announced that Razgatlioglu will now switch his attention for the remainder of 2015 to the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, where he will continue to race with his current team on a Kawasaki. With two rounds of the series remaining, Jerez and Magny-Cours the question is now who will finish second overall?

Toprak Razgatlioglu #54 – Kawasaki Puccetti Racing – 2015 FIM Europe Superstock 600 Champion – “I was told many times by my team and by Kenan not to crash, in order to win the title today. I know I could win the race, I had the pace to do it but the other riders were going very hard for the win so I initially settled for fourth place. During the lap I told myself I could have at least gone for a podium finish, so I made a move at the last corner for third! The most important thing for me today was to win the title, we did it and I’m really, really happy. I want to thank everybody for all this.”