Ducati duel decides WorldSBK Pole Position in USA

The 9th Pole Position of the 2015 eni FIM World Superbike Championship season has gone to Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team) after two enthralling 15 minute Tissot-Superpole sessions. His lap time of 1.22.101s, the fastest of the weekend kept him 0.196s ahead of the rest of the field, the British rider notching up his maiden WorldSBK Pole Position and his first since 2011 when he raced in World Supersport. Joining Davies on the front row for tomorrow’s 25 lap races - the GEICO US round of the WorldSBK series -will be his team mate Davide Giugliano and Jordi Torres, who secured his first WorldSBK front row start on the Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils entry. Row two will see Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) line up alongside team mate and championship leader Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) with Niccolo Canepa (Althea Racing), Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) and Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) making up row 3. With the California sunshine blazing, Superpole 1 saw Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia) and Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) progress to join the already seeded riders, the pair posting their best laps of the weekend before eventually qualifying 12th and 10th on the grid respectively. Row 4 tomorrow comprises Camier, David Salom (Team Pedercini) and Badovini while places 13th to 15th on the grid will see Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing), Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing) and Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team). Chaz Davies #7 - Aruba.it Racing - Ducati SBK Team
Tissot-Superpole 1st
“Superpole has never really been my specialty but today we did everything right. I honestly didn’t think I’d done enough as I made one small mistake, so to be here on pole is a fantastic result, especially at Laguna, a really special track. We’ve been working extremely well this weekend and I believe we’re in a position to really fight tomorrow. This morning we made good progress and then took another step forward in Superpole. I feel well prepared for the scrap we’re bound to see tomorrow, and I’m very much looking forward to racing.” Davide Giugliano #34 - Aruba.it Racing - Ducati SBK
Tissot-Superpole 2nd
“Superpole was a bit of a crazy one. There was an ‘episode’ through the Corkscrew during my first lap that prevented me from setting a fast time and so I had to make a really solid second lap which is never easy to do. I was able to do it though, and this is important; for us to be first and second on tomorrow’s grid is a very satisfying result for the team, for Ducati and for the sponsors. As far as race pace is concerned, I think that we’ve improved today and even if we’re not yet quite 100% sorted, I’m feeling really confident ahead of tomorrow.” Jordi Torres #81 - Aprilia Racing Team - Red Devils
Tissot-Superpole 3rd
“Being on the first row here at Laguna is a dream come true. When I was making my way back to the pit lane I had no idea I scored that type of result. I used to win a lot when I was playing videogames on this track, I love it, but doing so well in the actual racing has a much sweeter taste. We worked very well and I was finally able to take the best out of the qualifying tyre. It’s only a first step as I would like to stay with the leaders also tomorrow, in order to learn from them as we battle for a good result. This is a relatively short track with not too many spots where to overtake, so a good start to both races is crucial.”

Text and pictures WorldSBK