Superbike, Pirelli Riviera di Rimini Round, Tissot Superpole: Tom Sykes takes pole

Heart-pounding qualifying heats at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, where the seventh round of the production-derived World Championship is taking place: Jonathan Rea loses pole position in the final moments to an extraordinary Tom Sykes.

The English Kawasaki rider did the perfect lap and took a first place in the lead, trailing his teammate by more than three tenths and will therefore start in front of everyone on a track that has always exalted him: considering that here Rea won the last three races, the spectacle in Race 1 seems assured.

The third slot is occupied by Marco Melandri's Panigale 1199 R, also mocking his teammate in the final moments of the heat, finishing four and a half seconds behind the leader.
It seems that Ducati is experimenting with a new system to facilitate the work of the rear tyre, which has always been a problem noticed in races especially by Melandri: in practice a convex disc was fitted only on part of the rear to stabilize the tyre.
It's not exactly the lenticular tire seen in MotoGP, the purpose seems to be to stabilize the tire to preserve it.

In the second row we find Chaz Davies, over six tenths behind Sykes, Michael Van der Mark and Leon Camier almost a second behind, testimony to the amazing performance of the Kawasaki rider, who confirms himself as the "magician" of the lap fast.

Third row of the grid for Alex Lowes, Xavi Fores with the Panigale of Team Barni Racing and Jordi Torres with the BMW of Team Althea, all with gaps of more than second.

Fourth row for Eugene Laverty, in tenth position, followed by Randy Krummenacher and Romann Ramos, qualified from the first heat of Tissot-Superpole.

Next appointment at 13pm with the start of Race 00.

Below is the starting line-up for the first race of the Pirelli Riviera di Rimini Round:

1. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10RR 1m 33.662s
2. Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10RR 1m 33.990s
3. Marco Melandri ITA Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale R 1m 34.121s
4. Chaz Davies GBR Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale R 1m 34.337s
5. Michael van der Mark NED PATA Yamaha YZF-R1 1m 34.595s
6. Leon Camier GBR MV Agusta RC F4 RR 1m 34.628s
7. Alex Lowes GBR PATA Crescent Yamaha R1 1m 34.812s
8. Xavi Fores ESP Barni Ducati Panigale R 1m 34.858s
9. Jordi Torres ESP Althea BMW S1000RR 1m 34.962s
10. Eugene Laverty IRE Milwaukee Aprilia RSV4 1m 34.980s
11. Randy Krummenacher SWI Puccetti Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 35.332s
12. Roman Ramos ESP Team Go Eleven Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 35.609s

Grid positions set by Superpole 1 results:

13. Lorenzo Savadori ITA Milwaukee Aprilia RSV4 1m 35.708s
14. Leandro Mercado ARG IodaRacing Aprilia RSV4 1m 35.910s
15. Raffaele De Rosa ITA Althea BMW S1000RR 1m 35.967s
16. Riccardo Russo ITA Guandalini Yamaha YZF-R1 1m 36.375s
17. Alex de Angelis SMR Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 36.494s
18. Stefan Bradl GER Red Bull Honda CBR1000RR SP2 1m 36.685s
19. Fabio Menghi ITA VFT Racing Ducati Panigale R 1m 37.093s
20. Ayrton Badovini ITA Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 37.300s
21. Ondrej Jezek CZE Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 37.390s