Superbike Donington, Free Practice 2: Tom Sykes still stands out ahead of everyone

Superbike, Acerbis UK Round – Free Practice 2. It was a lively second free practice session that just ended on the Donington Park track: after about 20 minutes the session was interrupted due to the fire that broke out in Chaz Davies' Panigale.

The accident was due to an oil leak: smoke began to come out of the bike while the rider was going through the very fast Craner Corner: fortunately Davies managed to take the Panigale off course and park it in the grass before the flames spread. .
No consequences for the rider but the bike was destroyed and the session was over for him: Davies still entered the second heat of Tissot-Superpole thanks to the fourth time recorded this morning, which earned him the fifth overall time of the day.

Returning to action on the track, Tom Sykes repeats the best time set this morning albeit with just 39 thousandths of an advantage over teammate Jonathan Rea.
The two Kawasakis make a half-empty gap: Davide Giugliano with the third fastest time has a gap of more than three and a half tenths, Alex Lowes is fourth at over six tenths, while Leon Camier in sixth comes close to being a second behind.
Lorenzo Savadori's seventh time was really good, followed by a reinvigorated Jordi Torres who forgot the dull 12th time this morning with a good eighth place which earned him direct access to the second heat of Tissot-Superpole.
Considering the dangers of this track, and the English climate, it is a very important result.
Excellent performance for Cameron Baubier, replacing Sylvain Guintoli on the R1, who after a study session, posted a surprising ninth time and he too will take to the track directly tomorrow for the second qualifying heat.
With him we will also see the other surprise of the day, Karel Abraham who closes the top ten.
Great exceptions are the two Hondas of Nicky Hayden in eleventh and Michael Van der Mark who with the 15th time shows that today wasn't really his day.

Next appointments tomorrow, Saturday 28 May, at 10:00 with the third free practice session followed by the eagerly awaited qualifying starting from 12:15.
Race 1 will start at 16:00 pm (Italian time).

Below is the combined time classification after the second free practice session:

1. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 1m 27.927s
2. Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 1m 27.966s
3. Davide Giugliano ITA Aruba.it Racing Ducati 1199R 1m 28.303s
4. Alex Lowes GBR PATA Crescent Yamaha R1 1m 28.602s
5. Chaz Davies GBR Aruba.it Racing Ducati 1199R 1m 28.871s*
6. Leon Camier GBR MV Agusta RC F4 RR 1m 28.910s
7. Lorenzo Savadori ITA IodaRacing Aprilia RSV4 1m 28.992s
8. Jordi Torres ESP Althea BMW S1000RR 1m 28.996s
9. Cameron Beaubier USA PATA Crescent Yamaha R1 1m 29.022s
10. Karel Abraham CZE Milwaukee BMW S1000RR 1m 29.068s
11. Nicky Hayden USA Honda Racing CBR1000RR 1m 29.184s
12. Markus Reiterberger GER Althea BMW S1000RR 1m 29.257s
13. Luca Scassa ITA VFT Ducati 1199R 1m 29.277s
14. Alex de Angelis RSM IodaRacing Aprilia RSV4 1m 29.344s
15. Michael van der Mark NED Honda Racing CBR1000RR 1m 29.359s
16. Josh Brookes AUS Milwaukee BMW S1000RR 1m 29.402s
17. Roman Ramos ESP GO Eleven Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 29.582s *
18. Anthony West FRA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 29.679s
19. Xavi Fores ESP Barni Ducati 1199R 1m 29.752s*
20. Sherdian Morais RSA Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 30.289s
21. Matthieu Lussiana FRA Team ASPI BMW S1000RR 1m 30.503s
22. Dominic Schmitter SUI Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 30.766s
23. Pawel Szkopek POL Team Toth Yamaha R1 1m 30.992s
24. Saeed al Sulaiti QAT Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 33.107s
25. Imre Toth HUN Team Toth Yamaha R1 1m 34.335s