For the first time after several wet/dry Superpoles today’s World Superbike first ever qualifying session at the Moscow Raceway was dry and it was Carlos Checa who took home his first Tissot watch of the season.
The reigning World Champion who is fourth in the standings was the fastest rider in SP2 with a best lap of 1.34.435, but it was in SP3 that the Spaniard out performed himself when he laid down the best lap of the Superpole session in 1.34.193-
Starting on the front row with Checa will be Tom Sykes and a very impressive Eugene Laverty on the Aprilia RSV4 who was just 0.013s from the Kawasaki rider, while Leon Haslam closed out the fourth spot ahead of his BMW team mate.
Marco Melandri will be opening the second row in fifth spot and he struggled with his usual Superpole qualifying chattering, while Jonathan Rea inserted himself in 6th separating Melandri from standings leader and championship rival Max Biaggi who had tire problems at the start of SP1. Davide Giugliano who led most of the practice sessions crashed out at turn 3 at the start of SP3 and he ended up 8th. Silverstone Race 1 winner Loris Baz couldn’t make it past SP2 and will be starting in 9th while Niccolò Canepa closed out the top ten with his Ducati.
John Hopkins took 11th for his FIXI Suzuki while Hiroshi Aoyama qualified 12th in his first ever Superpole.
WSBK Moscow Superpole Results:
1. Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 1’34.193
2. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’34.549
3. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’34.562
4. Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport )BMW S1000 RR 1’35.170
5. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 1’35.224
6. Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.237
7. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’35.253
8. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 1’34.973
9. Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’35.224
10. Niccolò Canepa (Red Devils Roma) Ducati 1098R 1’35.255
2. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’34.549
3. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’34.562
4. Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport )BMW S1000 RR 1’35.170
5. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 1’35.224
6. Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.237
7. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’35.253
8. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 1’34.973
9. Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’35.224
10. Niccolò Canepa (Red Devils Roma) Ducati 1098R 1’35.255
