2014 Donington Superbike Friday Practice Results
With rain in the forecast for this weekend’s Donington round of World Superbike, officials decided to hold the opening three free practices on Friday instead of just two.
Rain held out until the end of the three 45-minute sessions, though the morning FP1 session began with a wet track.
When Friday practice wrapped up for round five at Donington Park in the UK, the reigning World SBK Champion Tom Sykes was quickest.
The Ninja ZX-10R pilot posted a best lap of 1:27.840 around the 2.5-mile circuit containing 15 corners. To put this time into perspective, the outright World Superbike lap record is a 1:27.378, which was set last season by Sykes before he doubled at his home round.
Sykes, who trails Pata Honda Racing’s Jonathan Rea by four points after four of 13 rounds, finished Friday ahead of Ducati Team’s Davide Giugliano, who was 0.242 of a second back. Third, 0.292 of a second back, was Aprilia Racing Team’s Sylvain Guintoli.
Taking the fourth spot was Sykes teammate Loris Baz. The Frenchman, who was quickest in the morning FP1 session, was 0.392 of a second off the pace. Fifth went to Voltcom Crescent Suzuki’s Alex Lowes.
Rounding out the top 10 Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team), Eugene Laverty (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike Team), who won the past three consecutive races, Rea’s teammate Leon Haslam, and Ducati Superbike Team’s Chaz Davies.
These top-10 riders will immediately progress into Superpole 2.
Heading up the EVO class was once again Althea Racing Team’s Niccolo Canepa, the Italian 1.653 seconds off the top pace. The next fastest EVO bike was the BMW Motorrad Italia S1000RR piloted by Leon Camier, who finished 12th overall, 0.191 of a second behind Canepa.
As for crashes, with 18 minutes to go Baz and Davies crashed out at Redgate Corner; both walked away unharmed.
The EVO rider who replaces Michel Fabrizio aboard the Iron Brain Grillini Kawasaki, Bryan Staring, was unable to fully maneuver on the Ninja ZX-10R. He was forced to withdraw from the event.
As for the American Team Hero EBR 1190RX riders, Aaron Yates finished 24th, 4.775 seconds off the top time, and Geoff May 25th, 6.354 seconds back.
Rain is once again predicated for Saturday’s Superpole and Sunday’s doubleheader, so setups tested on Friday may need to be drastically changed.
2014 Donington World Superbike Free Practice Combined Results:
1. Tom Sykes, UK, Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10R
2. Davide Giugliano, Italy, Ducati Superbike Team 1199 Panigale R
3. Sylvain Guintoli, France, Aprilia Racing Team RSV4
4. Loris Baz, France, Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10R
5. Alex Lowes, UK, Voltcom Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000
6. Marco Melandri, Italy, Aprilia Racing Team RSV4
7. Eugene Laverty, Ireland, Voltcom Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000
8. Jonathan Rea, UK, PATA Honda World Superbike CBR1000RR Fireblade
9. Leon Haslam, UK, PATA Honda World Superbike CBR1000RR Fireblade
10. Chaz Davies, UK, Ducati Superbike Team 1199 Panigale R
11. Niccolo Canepa, Italy, Althea Racing 1199 Panigale R
12. Leon Camier, UK, BMW Motorrad Italia SBK S1000RR
13. Christian Iddon, UK, Team Bimota Alstare BB3
14. Ayrton Badovini, Italy, Team Bimota Alstare BB3
15. David Salom, Spain, Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10R
16. Toni Elias, Spain, Red Devils Roma RSV4
17. Fabien Foret, France, MAHI Racing Team India ZX-10R
18. Jeremy Guarnoni, France, MRS Kawasaki ZX-10R
19. Claudio Corti, Italy, MV Agusta RC-Yakhnich F4RR
20. Alessandro Andreozzi, Italy, Team Pedercini ZX-10R
21. Romain Lanusse, France, Team Pedercini ZX-10R
22. Sheridan Morais, Russia, IRON BRAIN Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10R
23. Imre Toth, Hungary, BMW Team Toth S1000RR
24. Aaron Yates, USA, Team Hero EBR 1190RX
25. Geoff May, USA, Team Hero EBR 1190RX
26. Peter Sebestyen, Hungary, BMW Team Toth S1000RR
27. Bryan Staring, Australia, Ion bRainGrillini Kawasaki ZX-10R