Sykes takes Superpole at Misano

Tom Sykes

Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike’s Tom Sykes used all his experience and pace to take a popular pole position at the World Superbike round at Misano in Italy.

The Britain overcame wet but slowly drying conditions better than his rivals to take Kawasaki’s first pole on the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R.

His last pole was in similar conditions at Imola last season, on the previous model of Kawasaki.

Points leader Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) ran him close after three wet superpole sessions but starts second, with Jakub Smrz (Effenbert Liberty Racing Ducati) third and the front row completed by Marco Melandri (Yamaha World Superbike).

Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) crashed out late on and missed the chance to improve on fifth, while Australia’s Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) overcame the pain of a fall yesterday to take sixth place. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) and Sylvain Guintoli (Effenbert Liberty Racing Ducati) completed the front two rows.