Superbike Assen: Superpole goes to Tom Sykes
The Kawasaki rider wins the 13th Superpole of his career
Tom Sykes achieved his thirteenth career Superpole today on the historic "TT Circuit of Assen". The Kawasaki rider achieved it with an amazing 1'35.043, a time that no one has managed to come close to, even if he failed to beat the 2010 record set by Jonathan Rea, who today finished in second place on board the Honda of Team Pata, orphan of the injured Leon Haslam.
Third and fourth times for the two official Aprilias of the Internal Team of Eugene Laverty (last place on the front row for him) and Sylvain Guntoli. The two preceded the second Kawasaki of the official team, that of the Frenchman Loris Baz, fresh winner of the Bol D'Or 2013 and the Aprilia of Team Althea of Davide Giugliano, sixth and ahead of Marco Melandri from Ravenna riding the BMW and Carlos Checa , riding the Ducati 1199 Panigale R of Team Alstare.
The Top Ten is closed by the Aprilia of the Team Red Devils Roma of the Roman Michel Fabrizio and the Suzuki of Jules Cluzel. A day to forget, however, for the winner of the two Aragon heats Chaz Davies, only thirteenth and who did not go beyond Superpole 1. Tomorrow he will be called upon to make a great comeback if he wants to be the protagonist.
Assen – FIM Superbike World Championship – Superpole 3
1. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'35.043
2. Jonathan Rhea (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 1'35.639
3. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'35.814
4. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'35.973
5. Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'36.166
6. David Giugliano (Althea Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'36.326
7. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 1'36.330
8. Carlos Checa (Team Ducati Alstare) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 1'36.438
9. Michelle Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'37.570
10. Jules cluzel (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'36.837
11. Ayrton Badovini (Team Ducati Alstare) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 1'36.937
12. Max Neukirchner (MR-Racing) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 1'38.561
13. Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 1'37.865
14. Ivan Clementi (HTM Racing) BMW S1000 RR 1'38.016
15. Victor Iannuzzo (Grillini Dentalmatic SBK) BMW S1000 RR 1'39.420
16. Frederick Sandi (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'40.534
17. Mark Aitchison (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 1'41.408
18. Alexander Lundh (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'42.390
19. Leon Camier (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2'01.728
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Well done Tom, congratulations. This is a very special occasion for Kawa (my first love) and for Tom. He made the Superpole, but this is not real news, the news is that in Assen there are all the conditions to take home the victory. It usually starts to give way after half the race, first a little, then more and more. Sometimes he stabilizes the performance, but the leaders are gone.
Today, with a dry track, he confirmed himself to be in very good shape, always giving everyone a good time (especially considering that we are in SBK). He not only achieved excellent times, but also proved to be consistent.
In the tests preceding the Superpole (the most significant ones so far), Tome, his Kawa, did the last outing of 12 laps (in total they did 21) and apart from a few slow laps, like everyone else, he stopped there a step from 1.36.high, while all the others are already at 1.37.
In particular, only Rea managed to maintain a pace (not as constant as Tom) of 1.37.basso, all the others, including Checa unfortunately, have a pace of 1.37.mezzo.
Very special for Tom, there is every reason to see him greeting the company and then waiting at the finish line sipping a cup of coffee.
Races are races though and SBK races are even more so (if one can say so). Nothing for granted.
This was also supposed to be the 9th test for the new Panigale and, even if Carlos (gosh, think about it... 41 years old. Everything and more than due respect, but where are the young people?) has the chance to make a good race (I hope so to the nth degree), the performances are still not what I would like, even if, since last year's race, the times have dropped and not by a little, especially those of the race pace.
However, I am of the opinion that the race will be exciting, whether Tom starts and says goodbye to everyone (then fights for second), or whether Tom does the usual Tom, waiting for everyone, until the tires tell him "enough" and He begins to lose one position after another.
If he doesn't have to win (as seems likely) a Ducati (Checa maybe the one), then I hope Tom will be able to give at least a cent to the second place.
EXECUTIONER gave 6 tenths per second 0_o
It's really a shame that he always takes pole but then in the race he gets eaten...his rear tire gives out immediately after the 7-8th lap...
Too bad...he deserves to win the world championship...GO KAWASAKI, GO SYKES
kawa has produced a super thousand!!! not the best aesthetically but a monster of power and finally of chassis. bikes that until recently weren't for everyone... Tom's great but he has a flaw... his riding style destroys the tires before everyone else. just look at baz who always starts from far behind and in the race manages to get very close to his times. anyway always go KAWA!!!!!!!!!!!!! SCOTT RUSSELL in the blood!!
…nooooooo, you mentioned him…the legendary Scott Ru$$el, as written on the suit…a tear falls and runs down my fat face…be careful, if he reads Best Wan Laptopi he'll call you pitiful…he'll catch us of motorbike...he has a burgman!!! Bow to his power, you ugly bastard that you are!!!