The FIM Sportbike World Championship took to the track on the opening day of the Pirelli Spanish Round for a critical Tissot Superpole session, setting the Race 1 grid for what will be a critical Race 1 as the title remains up for grabs at the Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto, Andalucia. David Salvador (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) posted the season's fastest time for his fifth pole in the category’s maiden campaign. Carter Thompson (Team BrCorse) followed him in P2 for what will be his second first-row start this season, both earned in the last two rounds. Xavi Artigas (MTM Kawasaki) rounded out the front row, hoping to overpower his title rival Salvador on Saturday.
EARLY RED FLAGS
With 20 minutes remaining in the session, Fenton Seabright (PHR Performance Triumph) slowed down as his bike suffered a tech issue between Turns 1 and 2. Dutch rider Jurrien van Crugten (MMR) was following close behind when the Brit’s bike suddenly slowed, causing the #20 to hit the back of the #73 and send the Dutchman down onto the tarmac. The red flags were waved for track conditions as van Crugten was taken to the medical centre, where he was diagnosed with deep abrasions on the fourth and fifth fingers of his left hand. His condition will be reviewed on Saturday after the Warm Up.
FIVE FOR SALVADOR, ARTIGAS ON FRONT ROW
Championship leader Salvador finished the session atop the order after taking P1 with eight minutes left. He will be crowned in Race 1 if he can outscore Artigas by 14 points. Fighting to defend his third-place Championship position from Antonio Torres (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI), Thompson landed P2 on the timesheets, just seven tenths behind the #38 in P1. Artigas has his work cut out for him at home as he will fight from P3 to overcome his 12-point Championship deficit
RISUENO TAKES A PERSONAL BEST AT HOME
Juan Risueno (Pons Motosport Italika Racing) landed his best qualification of the season at home with a P4; the Spaniard hadn’t qualified as well since his P4 Superpole session effort at Magny-Cours last season in WorldSSP300. Thompson wasn’t the only Yamaha R7 rider showing serious speed; his Italian teammate Marco Gaggi took P5 to tie his season-best qualification set at Cremona. Torres used his home familiarity to finish P6 on Friday. His 1’47.189s clocked in just three hundredths of a second slower than the #43.
VANNUCCI TO FIGHT FOR SIXTH PLACE IN THE STANDINGS
Matteo Vannucci (Revo-M2) will lead the third row, his best Friday result in the last two rounds with a 1’47.345s time. Alvaro Fuertes (Deza-Box 77 Racing Team) was less than a thousandth behind him but was sent to P8 by the slimmest of margins. Ferre Fleerackers (Track & Trades Wixx Racing) will set off from ninth, just four points behind Seabright, who fell to P12 on Friday after crashing at Turn 9 with two minutes left in the session. The pair are set to fight for fifth place in the Championship order with just four points behind him. American rider Julian Correa (Pons Motosport Italika Racing) set a new season best Superpole result on Friday of P10, building on his previous best of P18.
The top six from the WorldSPB Tissot Superpole session, full results here!
- David Salvador (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) 1’45.802s
- Carter Thompson (Team BrCorse) +0.701s
- Xavi Artigas (MTM Kawasaki) +1.087s
- Juan Risueno (Pons Motorsport Italika Racing) +1.148s
- Marco Gaggi (Team BrCorse) +1.357s
- Antonio Torres (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) +1.387s
The WorldSPB title hangs in the balance! Tune in Saturday, October 17th at 13:00 (Local Time UTC +2) for Race 1 at Jerez with the WorldSBK VideoPass! Now just €4.99!