ASSEN, The Netherlands – Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) will start both of Sunday’s 21-lap eni FIM Superbike World Championship races from pole position after securing the first Tissot-Superpole of his career at Assen on Saturday, courtesy of his 1:34.357 lap time (a new outright best lap of the circuit) set moments before the arrival of the rain.
“I am not sure why my lap time was so good but I had been feeling good all weekend and I was just missing one or two tenths from yesterday,” Baz said. “Superpole was just perfect. I knew it was going to rain so I just pushed as hard as I could and I am really happy with this performance.
“I think we are better with a qualifier just because of all the changes we made in set-up this year. Everything is about confidence because the bike is working well and every time on the bike you build confidence. Being on the podium twice in Aragon made me very confident for all the season.”
Joining Baz on the front row on Sunday will be fellow Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), with Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team), Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) and Davide Giugliano (Ducati Superbike Team) forming the second row.
“We made a lot of progress today, session after session, and Superpole gave us a final confirmation of that,” Guintoli said. “I was fast and had a good feeling straight away. This is a big boost of confidence for tomorrow’s races.
“It’s always a shame to miss the pole position when you know you could have taken it, but a front row start is an excellent result nevertheless, especially on a track like Assen. We have also taken a big step forward in terms of race pace and tomorrow, if the weather will be on our side, we will definitely be in the mix.”
In the EVO category Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing Ducati) was the fastest qualifier in seventh position overall, improving over a second on his morning time.
Superpole 1 saw Chaz Davies (Ducati Superbike Team) and Melandri progress into the final 15-minute shootout with the other ten already seeded riders following Free Practice.
Florian Marino (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) will start Sunday’s third round of the World Supersport championship from the front after grabbing his career first World Supersport pole position at Assen Saturday afternoon. With spots of rain falling in the final 15 minutes few riders would improve over their times set earlier meaning Marino remained on the top spot courtesy of a 1:38.106s lap time.
The one and only qualifying session for the second round of the FIM Superstock 1000cc Cup was held in less than perfect conditions. Fresh from his podium finish in Aragon, the honour of pole position went to Pedercini Kawasaki’s Lorenzo Savadori, who claimed his first ever category top spot.
Niki Tuuli (Kallio Racing Yamaha) won the second round of the FIM Europe Superstock 600cc Championship after a masterful display on a rain soaked Assen circuit.
The second qualifying session of the Pata European Junior Cup, powered by Honda took place under changeable conditions. Marc Miralles (Honda Spain) set the fastest lap in 1:56.822s to secure pole position.
World Superbike Qualifying Results (Top 12)
1.Loris Baz (Kawasaki) 1:34.357 (173.291km/h)
2. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia) 1:34.845
3. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) 1:35.311
4. Marco Melandri (Aprilia) 1:35.333
5. Jonathan Rea (Honda) 1:35.361
6. Davide Giugliano (Ducati) 1:35.476
7. Niccolo Canepa (Ducati) 1:35.500
8. Eugene Laverty (Suzuki) 1:35.646
9. Alex Lowes (Suzuki) 1:35.684
10. Toni Elias (Aprilia) 1:36.203
11. Leon Haslam (Honda) 1:36.284
12. Chaz Davies (Ducati) 1:36.288
–From WSBK Press Office
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