Magny-Cours Superbike | Sykes Earns 8th Superpole

2013 Magny-Cours World Superbike Superpole Results

Wet conditions plagued Saturday the Superpole sessions at Magny Cours for round 13 of 14 in the 2013 World Superbike Championship.

The weather caused only two Superpole sessions to be held instead of the usual three. This didn’t affect the most successful qualifier of 2013 World SBK; Kawasaki Racing Team’s Tom Sykes would earn his eight Superpole of 2013 WSBK, and the 19th of his career.

The Brit sykes is now the fourth best qualifier in the history of the World Superbike series, which was founded in 1988.

Despite a narrow dry line on the 2.74-mile circuit, Sykes was quickest in the first Superpole season. In the second one, though, Aprilia Racing Team’s Eugene Laverty temporarily edged him out.

But as the track continued to dry, Sykes switched to a dry qualifying Pirelli tire, and was able to post an impressive 1:38.592. He beat out his rival of 2013 WSBK, Aprilia Racing’s Sylvain Guintoli, by 0.805 of a second. Taking the final sport on the front row will be Althea Racing Aprilia’s Davide Giugliano.

Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10R Ninja) says: “I am happy because we have proved again that we can do it and that the bike works well here. This is a great place to get pole position, especially in these conditions. Three riders in two corners made it very difficult for me in the fast lap so I am sue it was very exciting for those watching on TV! From where I was sitting it was quite dangerous.

“I hope it is dry tomorrow because if we have good conditions everybody will be fighting and putting on a good show for the crowd. The Ninja ZX-10R is working well but we can still improve it even more in wet conditions. In dry conditions we know what to expect. Overall we will go and relax now, get a good sleep and come out ready to race tomorrow.”

Finishing fourth on top of the second row in Superpole was Laverty, who finished ahead of Pata Honda World Superbike’s Michel Fabrizio and Team Ducati Alstare’s Ayrton Badovini.

Heading up the third row will be BMW Motorrad GoldBet’s Marco Melandri, who will be joined by teammate Chaz Davies and Leon Camier’s substitute rider on the FIXI Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000, Vincent Philippe.

As for crashes, Team Ducati Alstare’s Michele Pirro and Pata Honda World Superbike’s Leon Haslam crashed out at Turn 12 during Superpole 1: the Italian high-sided at mid-turn, landing badly on his back but with no major consequences, while Leon Haslam low-sided while entering the corner, eventually crossing on foot the track to pick up his bike and successfully make it back to the pits.

2013 Magny-Cours World Superbike Superpole Results:

1. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’38.592

2. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’39.397

3. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’39.933

4. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’40.410

5. Michel Fabrizio (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 1’40.864

6. Ayrton Badovini (Team Ducati Alstare) Ducati 1199 Panigale 1’40.926

7. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 1’41.361

8. Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 1’41.375

9. Vincent Philippe (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’47.691

10. Michele Pirro (Team Ducati Alstare) Ducati 1199 Panigale 1’47.871

11. Toni Elias (Red Devils Roma) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’47.886

12. Jules Cluzel (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’48.221

13. David Salom (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’48.916

14. Lorenzo Lanzi (Mesaroli Transports A.S.) Ducati 1098R 1’50.257

15. Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 1’51.796

16. Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’41.137

17. Federico Sandi (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’41.281

18. Fabrizio Lai (MR-Racing) Ducati 1199 Panigale 1’42.474

19. Vittorio Iannuzzo (Grillini Dentalmatic SBK) BMW S1000 RR 1’43.180