Sykes Takes Five Poles In A Row As Baz Goes Sixth On The Grid
. By Bikeland Staff
Tom Sykes posted his fifth Superpole win of the season in succession after a two-part ‘Wet’ Portimao Superpole and in doing so took a new track best lap of 1’41.360. Loris Baz was a strong sixth.
Despite the Portimao track surface being more bumpy than last year, and with small spots of rain arriving to turn a planned three part dry Superpole into a two-part wet Superpole, Sykes still used his time and tyres wisely to set a new track best and his fifth Superpole win in a row. He now has 16 career Superpole successes, making him equal fifth best in the history of SBK qualifying.
Working well with his team and his Ninja ZX-10R in the final 20-minute Superpole session, having qualified fifth into Superpole after combined qualifying, Sykes was only just able to hold off the close attentions of Eugene Laverty. The Irish rider went to within one thousandth of a second of Tom’s time, but starts from second place.
For Loris Baz Portimao in 2013 started out as a tough test but after good work from rider and team he moved from tenth in combined qualifying to sixth in Superpole, earning himself a second row start which should count for a lot at this tight and intense circuit.
Alex Lundh (Kawasaki Team Pedercini) qualified 17th on the grid with team-mate Federico Sandi 19th.
In the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup Lorenzo Savadori (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) scored second place on the grid for Sunday’s race, as Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Kawasaki) set the fourth best qualifying time.
Tom Sykes: “I am really happy to have five Superpole wins on the bounce, it is a record for me. I was able to do my time on a dry and sunny track but Eugene Laverty almost beat me to it this time. He was not quite close enough, so it does not matter if it is one thousandth of a second or one second, it went in my favour. I am looking forward to two races tomorrow and I am expecting them to be difficult, but also a good show for the fans. We took a circuit best lap and I was surprised at that because last year I put in a good lap in better conditions. I think it shows that Pirelli have made a good step with the tyres. Conditions today were not as good as last year and yet we went faster. I was not expecting this lap time – but I will certainly take it!”
Loris Baz: “Our target was to get on the second row and we achieved it. Superpole was strange because we started dry and ended up with one wet final Superpole session but the track was dry. The feeling with the bike yesterday was not really good and this track gets more bumpy every year. I was still only one second from the front so we worked really well today and the team did a good job. We found a nice setting this morning. It was a little bit better in free practice once more in the afternoon and so I was confident for Superpole. Whether we were fourth, fifth or sixth, it is the same if I am on the second row. Our race pace is good so I am looking forward to the races.”