Sykes in terrific form at Jerez
Kawasaki Racing Team's Tom Sykes was once again in terrific form on day 2 of SBK testing at Jerez de la Frontera in Spain, as the 2012 runner-up lapped in a time reckoned to be around the 1 minute 41 second mark. Sykes also fell earlier in the day but suffered no harm and was back out again after a quick repair session by the team. Team-mate Loris Baz was not far behind either, but the Kawasaki team continued their strategy of not using transponders so their laps did not appear on the circuit timesheets.
Best of the timed rest was Sylvain Guintoli, the Frenchman swiftly getting to grips with the Aprilia RSV4 Factory machine as he tests it for the first time in view of a possible berth in the Italian team for next year. Team-mate Eugene Laverty was half-a-second slower.
In the Pata Honda team Leon Haslam continues to shine on his CBR1000RR, the ex-BMW man once again a whisker ahead of Jonathan Rea.
In the Supersport category, STK600 winner Michael van der Mark is showing impressive form on the Ten Kate machine, posting times quicker than the multi-titled Kenan Sofuoglu and Fabien Foret on the Indian-run Mahi Racing Team Kawasakis.
SBK Times (day 2): 1. Guintoli (Aprilia) 1'41.283; 2. Laverty (Aprilia) 1'41.762; 3. Haslam (Honda) 1'42.039; 4. Rea (Honda) 1'42.108; 5. Fabrizio (Aprilia) 1'42.114; 6. Hofmann (Aprilia) 1'43.028.
WSS Times (day 2): 1. Van der Mark (Honda) 1'44.343; 2. Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) 1'44.832; 3. Foret (Kawasaki) 1'45.861; 4. Zanetti (Honda) 1'45.994.
