Misano Superbike Friday Results
Ahead of its home World Superbike race weekend at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Ducati earned the provisional pole.
This was after Ducati Superbike Team pilot Davide Giugliano posted a best lap of 1:36.370 Friday in the second 45-minute free practice session, which was shortened 12 minutes due to two red flags.
The first red flag was due to Dream Team Company MV Agusta rider Michael Savary’s F4 catching fire. The second arrived after Aaron Yates’ Team Hero EBR 1190RX super bike stopped on the track due to mechanical issues.
Giugliano finished FP2 0.127 of a second ahead of the reigning World Superbike Champion and current points leader Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10R Ninja), and 0.130 of a second ahead of Aprilia Racing’s Marco Melandri. The latter, who doubled two weeks ago at Sepang, led the morning FP1 session.
Davide Giugliano (Ducati Superbike Team #34) says “We’re quite fast already and the bike has been working really well. Things are not yet perfect but we’re working hard and I’m very pleased.
“Our pace is strong; we made a long-run and I was able to lap with times that were consistently under 1’37. We still need to improve a little in sector 3, with the long turn – I think we can gain a couple of tenths there but all things considered we’ve made a great start to the weekend.”
Heading up the provisional second row is Giugliano’s teammate on the other Ducati 1199 Panigale R, Chaz Davies. The Brit trailed his teammate by 0.266, and finished ahead of Kawasaki Racing Team’s Loris Baz and Voltcom Crescent Suzuki’s Alex Lows.
Next was Aprilia Racing Team’s Sylvain Guintoli, who finished ahead of Pata Honda World Superbike’s Jonathan Rea and Lowes’ teammate Eugene Laverty. Red Devils Roma Aprilia’s Toni Elias was 10th quickest, followed by the final rider to post within a second of Giugliano, Pata honda World Superbike’s Leon Haslam.
As for the Americans on the Team Hero EBR 1190RX super bikes, both Aaron Yates and Geoff May were over six seconds off the top time.
The riders will return to the Misano Circuit Saturday morning for two additional practice sessions ahead of Superpole.
For a preview, visit 2014 Misano World Superbike Preview.
