ROUND 5/MAY 26, 2013
DONINGTON PARK/EAST MIDLANDS, ENGLAND
WORLD SUPERBIKE
P90
WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Sykes' String
Quartet
Tom Sykes piled it on with his
fourth pole in five rounds with
not one but two consecutive
record laps in Superpole 3 at
Donington, his eventual 1:27.378
giving him the pre-race 'win.'
"I had a small crash yesterday
on a damp section of the track,
but the boys did a really good
job and gave me a great Ninja
ZX-10R to ride today," Sykes
said. "We have worked hard on
the race set-up here not just
in qualifying trim. There are a
number of factors why I can do
well in Superpole, but I have always
enjoyed riding by myself on the best
Tom Sykes – Mr. Superpole
2012-2013 - continued his run
during qualifying.
package we have. Combine that with
the 'time-trial' element of Superpole
and I just race myself and the tarmac."
Sykes' success was his 15th in
Superpole, putting him tied for sixth in
the all-time Superpole count with Colin
Edwards.
Behind Sykes, .338 of a second
behind, was championship leader
Sylvain Guintoli. And with Eugene
Laverty one place back on the other
factory Aprilia things were different
in 2013 for machines that never used
to take to Donington quite so well as
most others.
Jonathan Rea was fourth on his
Pata Honda, Fixi Crescent Suzuki's
Leon Camier a season-best fifth on a
track where top end is not the main thing
to have for a fast lap or race.
