Source: WSBK.

The Tissot-Superpole ahead of Sunday’s two WSBK races has been won by Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) after a blistering lap in hot and sunny weather at the Laguna Seca circuit in California.

The current reigning champion and points leader of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship clocked in 1m21.811s, new outright best lap of the circuit, to claim the 23rd WSBK pole position of his career, his third in a row after the ones scored at Misano and Portimao.

“It was a really exciting Superpole. I knew that we would be struggling all weekend because many of our competitors are very strong here but you know, slowly but surely, we got the Ninja working much better and I’m a lot more confident for tomorrow,” Sykes said.

“We put the Pirelli qualifying tyre in and I had a little stab at it, I also had a small moment down the Corkscrew but we put a great lap time together and I’m happy. The boys worked hard and it’s going be close tomorrow, I think there’s a number of people with great race pace so I look forward to it.”

In the final 15-minute, top 12 grid deciding session, the expectant American fans were not left disappointed after a series of fast laps kept them guessing as to who would emerge as the front row qualifiers.

Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) set the initial benchmark of 1m23.752s before being eclipsed by his team mate Marco Melandri. The Ducati pairing of Davide Giugliano and Chaz Davies split the Aprilia duo before Guintoli reclaimed the top spot with nine minutes to go.

At the flag it was reigning champion Sykes who lived up to his title of Mr Superpole, edging. Sylvain Guintoli and Chaz Davies by half a second. The top-3 riders were presented with the Tissot-Superpole Award by former WSBK champion Doug Polen.

The accolade of being the best classified EVO rider at the US round went to Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing Team Ducati) in 12th position overall, the only EVO rider to make it through to the final shootout.

Christian Iddon (Team Bimota Alstare – EVO) fell in Superpole 1, with the British rider unhurt and able to race tomorrow.

2014 Superbike World Championship
Round nine – Laguna Seca, USA

Superbike Superpole results:
1. Tom Sykes 1m21.811s
2. Sylvain Guintoli 1m22.339s
3. Chaz Davies 1m22.384s
4. Davide Giugliano 1m22.422s
5. Marco Melandri 1m22.704s
6. Eugene Laverty 1m22.725s
7. Leon Haslam 1m23.181s
8. Loris Baz 1m23.242s
9. Toni Elias 1m23.358s
10. Jonathan Rea 1m23.501s
17. Bryan Staring (AUS) 1m24.986s (E)

Click here for detailed results