WSBK ; Sylvain Guintoli continues to dominate in a decimated field at Istanbul

The first qualifying practice at Istanbul saw a decimated field of partecipants, as five riders were being treated for various injuries and fractures in the medical center following this morning’s opening practice, leaving only fifteen to take part in the provisional qualifying session.

As this morning Sylvain Guintoli was the fastest rider posting a best lap time of 1’56″190 and leaving Marco Melandri again in second, but more than half a second adrift, followed by e second Aprilia factory rider Eugene Laverty, who has also previousl raced in Turkey, in 2007, when he was in the 250cc GP class.

Tom Sykes was fourth and the first outsider of top three, who already have some past experience at Istanbul Park and he had an impressive Toni Elias on his tail. Elias is debuting for the first time this weekend in World Superbikes riding an Aprilia RSV4.

Sixth fastest was Jules Cluzel, while team mate Leon Camier is sitting in a hospital with suspected foot fracture that will probably end his race weekend as that of Max Neukirchner who is out with fractured right hand with surgery waiting for him.

Both Ducati Alstare riders, Carlos Checa and Ayrton Badovini, were also not present after their morning crashes. Checa has suspected scaphoid fracture, while Badovini has a sprained left ankle.

BMW’s Chaz Davies was 7th and Althea’s Davide Giugliano followed in 8th, while Leon Haslam dropped back to 9th and ahead of his team mate for this weekend Michel Fabrizio, who is subbing for injured Jonathan Rea.

With just 15 riders on the grid the two local Turkish wild cards Tolga Uprak (CMS Eypbike Racing Team) and Yunus Ercelik (Sampiyon 169 Team) were 14th and 15th respectively but a massive 6.8 and 8 seconds from Guintoli’s best time.

2013 WSBK Istanbul QP1 results:

1. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′56.190
2. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 1′56.749
3. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′56.949
4. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′57.170
5. Toni Elias (Red Devils Roma) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′57.206
6. Jules Cluzel (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1′57.222
7. Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 1′57.391
8. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′57.649
9. Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 1′57.699
10. Michel Fabrizio (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 1′58.340

from Twowheelsblog