Northern Irishman Eugene Laverty waited until his last lap in the closing moments of provisional World Superbike qualifying session on Friday at the Aragon circuit in Spain to snatch the provisional pole position from BMW factory rider Chaz Davies, who initially appeared as if he was going to be the provisional pole man until final qualifying and Superpole begins tomorrow. Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes came in third quickest, followed by Davies’ BMW teammate Marco Melandri as the last man in the 58s. Pata Honda’s Jonathan Rea was fifth, showing that the team is beginning to come to grips with the problematic electronics package that has given them fits so far.
Both of the factory Alstare Ducatis are struggling on Aragon’s long straights, with Carlos Checa’s 1199 Panigale superbike more than 12 mph slower than the Aprilias of Laverty and Sylvain Guintoli (who qualified sixth).
World Superbike Aragon Friday provisional qualifying results:
1. Eugene Laverty (IRL) Aprilia 1:58.548
2. Chaz Davies (GBR) BMW 1:58.652
3. Tom Sykes (GBR) Kawasaki 1:58.887
4. Marco Melandri (ITA) BMW 1:58.944
5. Jonathan Rea (GBR) Honda 1:59.060
6. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Aprilia 1:59.144
7. Leon Camier (GBR) Suzuki 1:59.379
8. Jules Cluzel (FRA) Suzuki 1:59.414
9. Loris Baz (FRA) Kawasaki 1:59.423
10. Davide Giugliano (ITA) Aprilia 1:59.599
11. Leon Haslam (GBR) Honda 1:59.599
12. Carlos Checa (SPA) Ducati 2:00.004
13. Michel Fabrizio (ITA) Aprilia 2:00.199
14. Ayrton Badovini (ITA) Ducati 2:00.688
15. Alexander Lundh (SWE) Kawasaki 2:01.041
16. Max Neukirchner (GER) Ducati 2:01.658
17. Federico Sandi (ITA) Kawasaki 2:01.928
18. Vittorio Iannuzzo (ITA) BMW 2:03.201
19. Ivan Clementi (ITA) BMW 2:03.233
20. Mark Aitchison (AUS) Ducati 2:04.169
