News

Floodlit FP3 over, Torres leads field into Tissot-Superpole

Saturday, 17 October 2015 15:49 GMT

    • Action packed final 10 minutes sees big changes ahead of qualifying.

    The final free practice session ahead of this evening’s floodlit Tissot-Superpole was headed by Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils), the Spanish rider moving to the top of the combined standings after an exciting final ten minutes saw the top spot change several times. His time of 1.58.044s was a mere 0.015s faster than Pata Honda’s Michael van der Mark who looked like he was on rails around the 5.380km Losail circuit.

    Dutchman van der Mark strung together several personal improving laps to overhaul Torres with a matter of minutes remaining before Torres, who in turn had overhauled Rea with 20 minutes to go responded to regain the top spot in the closing seconds.

    2nd and 3rd places overall eventually went to van der Mark and the second Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils entry of Leon Haslam who also improved over yesterday’s efforts in the slightly less humid conditions.

    The top 6 was completed by Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) who didn’t improve, Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) and Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team). Tom Sykes also failed to better his time of yesterday aboard his KRT machine, he was classified 7th with Xavi Fores (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team), Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) and Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing) rounding out the top ten riders that have guaranteed themselves a place in Superpole 2.

    Just missing out on an automatic place in Superpole 2 was Baiocco’s Althea Racing team mate Niccolo Canepa who finished 11th. The final rider to make it in 20th position was Gabor Rizmayer (BMW Team Toth).

    The grid deciding Tissot-Superpole sessions are set to start at 2045 local time with the top 10 after free practice automatically making it to the final Superpole 2. Riders placed 11th to 20th after FP3 will need to fight for the two remaining places In Superpole 1. They will then join the top ten and still be in with a shout of taking the final Pole Position of the year.

    Once again all of the action can be followed as it happens on Twitter: @WorldSBK