Kawasaki Racing’s Tom Sykes topped the final timed World Superbike free practice session at Donington Park, going only one tenth slower than his own lap record at the Leicestershire circuit. Huddersfield’s finest lapped a 1’28.172 knocking 0.4 seconds off his best time from FP2.
Challenging Sykes all the way through the 45 minute outing was Aruba.it Ducati’s Davide Giugliano. The Italian was on the pace and edging ever closer to the best lap time set by Sykes, but while he was on a hot lap he crashed unhurt at Redgate, with two minutes remaining to the session.
Sykes’ team-mate and current championship leader, Jonathan Rea was near the top of the pile for the majority of the session. He was another rider who bettered his lap time from the previous session, and the Isle of Man resident ended his afternoon with a 1’28.483.
Local hero, Red Devils Aprilia’s Leon Haslam is still recovering from two cracked ribs, but managed to fight through the pain to place his machine in fourth on the sheets with a 1’28.516, followed by Aruba.it Ducati’s Chaz Davies.
Voltcom Suzuki’s Alex Lowes made up for his earlier free practice crash to make his way safely into Superpole two at his local circuit. The Derby-based rider was only 0.03s off the best time set by Welshman and pushed ahead of BMW Motorrad’s Ayrton Badovini on the timing-screens.
MV Agusta’s Leon Camier kept up his consistent good form in FP3, and improved on his time from the first session by nearly one second. The Kent native pushed his Reparto Corse backed bike to ninth with a 1’28.756 rotation.
Initially it was Giugliano who bettered Sykes’ best time from the second session with a 1’28.293 after only a few laps in the final timed session. The Italian Ducati man held firm on to his P1 spot, but that was only to last twenty minutes, as Sykes fought back to knock one tenth off with a 1’28.172 rotation.
Former MCE British Superbike rider, Matteo Baiocco had a stellar afternoon on track and was well inside the top ten during the majority of the free practice sessions today, and managed to cling on to complete the top ten and go through to Superpole two.
All the British riders safely secured their place in Superpole two, but some notable names will have to battle it out in Superpole one tomorrow. They include Pata Honda’s Sylvain Guintoli, Voltcom Suzuki’s Randy De Puniet and Red Devils Aprilia’s Jordi Torres.
