World Superbike

FP2 action began for WorldSBK at 13:30 local time with entry to Tissot-Superpole 2 for the top ten. Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team) led the charge in the opening minutes of the session before times tumbled with Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) putting in the fastest time. By the end, all of the top ten were within seven tenths of a second of each other on the timesheets, making for a promising weekend of racing ahead.

Sykes maintained the fastest time throughout the session, while Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) improved his time from the morning to finish second fastest. Alex Lowes (Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) put in a last minute dash that saw him steal third on the timesheets.

Temperatures rose by midday and with extra rubber on the circuit, the conditions allowed for riders to set their fastest times, with the entire top ten improving their times from the morning session. Michael van der Mark (Honda World Superbike Team) was fourth, while Fores was the first Spaniard home continuing his good pace on Friday afternoon, to finish in fifth.

Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) improved from the morning session, setting his fastest time in sixth to secure his entry to Tissot-Superpole 2. Nicky Hayden (Honda World Superbike Team) was seventh fastest in the combined times ahead of Leon Camier who set the eighth quickest time despite sliding out on turn 1 in the final minutes of the session. The MV Agusta Reparto Corse rider walked away in the top ten with his sights firmly on Saturday’s Tissot-Superpole 2 shoot-out.

Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jonathan Rea finished in ninth, while Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) finished in tenth gaining a direct seeding to the Tissot-Superpole 2 qualifying session. Giugliano put in a solid performance after sitting out for most of FP2 with his recovering shoulder.

Tissot-Superpole 2 qualifying session will see Friday’s top ten battle it out for pole position on Saturday 15th of October at 10:55am local time (GMT+2) ahead of lights out for Race 1 at 13:00.

 

World Supersport

Friday afternoon saw a mid session duel play out between Kawasaki Puccetti Racing Teammates Kenan Sofuoglu and Randy Krummenacher who fought each other for the fastest time in FP2.

Times stayed the same at the top of the timesheets for the Kawasaki teammates until they caught each other mid lap, half way through the session. They battled side by side for a couple of laps with Krummenacher putting in his best time to beat Sofuoglu. The reigning World Champion remained in second keeping a consistent pace, but wasn’t able to improve his time from the morning session. Niki Tuuli (Kallio Racing Team) improved in the combined times, setting the third fastest time of the day despite a crash in the first half of the session. The young Finn was quick to rejoin practice and was able to maintain his place in the top three.

FIM Europe Supersport Cup contenders Axel Bassani (San Carlo Italia Team), Illia Mykhalchyk (DS Junior Team) and Alessandro Zaccone (San Carlo Team Italia) fought it out on the timesheets, all setting times within a second of each other. Bassani set the best lap of his Cup challengers in fourth, while Kyle Smith (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) broke up the ESS pack to finish fifth fastest. Mykhalchyk set the sixth quickest time ahead of Zaccone in seventh.

Though he had a mid session spill, Federico Caricasulo (BARDHAL Evan Bros. Honda Racing) rejoined to finally secure eighth and gain direct access to Tissot- Superpole 2. Honda World Superbike Team’s PJ Jacobsen couldn’t match his FP1 place on the timesheets and finally finished the combined times in ninth, while GRT Racing Team’s Gino Rea locked out the top ten but was declared unfit following a crash at the end of the session.

Friday’s top ten will be back on track on Saturday the 15th of October as they fight it out for pole position in Tissot-Superpole 2 qualifying session at 11:55am local time (GMT+2).

 

Source: WorldSBK