2014 Imola SBK FP3 Results
The man who led Friday’s opening practice at Imola World Superbike – Ducati Team’s Davide Giugliano – was quickest Saturday ahead of Superpole.
Friday’s second free practice, which was topped by Pata Honda Racing’s Jonathan Rea, had two red flag incidents, but not for crashes. The first was due to a drainage ditch issue, and the second a fire at an adjourning park.
Though temperatures were on the rise once again Saturday at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari at Imola – causing slick conditions – all 28 riders improved on their Friday times.
During the final two minutes of the 45-minute FP3 session, the reigning World SBK Champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) traded the top spot with Giugliano. But when the flag waved, it was the Ducati 1199 Panigale R that took the quickest time at the circuit just south of Ducati’s home in Borgo Panigale.
The top ten riders from the combined times of the opening three free practices automatically continue to Superpole 2. These riders are, Giugliano, Sykes, Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike Team), Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team), Eugene Laverty (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), Chaz Davies (Ducati Superbike Team), Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike Team), Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) and Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team).
Niccolo Canepa (Althea Racing Ducati) improved but was unable to displace Leon Camier (BMW Motorrad BMW) as the top EVO category rider with Camier classified 11th a fraction of a second ahead of Canepa.
Only one rider crashed in FP3 – Team Bimota Alstare’s Ayrton Badovini. He did make it into Superpole 1, which takes the 11th-22th fastest riders in the combined free practices.
The riders will return to Imola this afternoon for qualifying. Last year, Sykes took the pole ahead of doubling at the round.
