Kawasaki Racing Team’s Tom Sykes topped an incredibly tight second free practice session at the Jerez Circuit, the Yorkshireman edging countrymen Chaz Davies and Alex Lowes.
Sykes comes into this round 48 points down on teammate and championship leader Jonathan Rea, meaning the 2013 World Champion has to deliver this weekend in order to keep his title hopes alive. After a steady start this morning, Sykes stepped up his pace in FP2 and produced a 1m41.739s to go top of the pile.
Aruba.it Ducati’s Chaz Davies carried on his good form from FP1 and ended this afternoon’s hour-long session second fastest on a 1m41.777s, missing out on top spot by just a few hundredths of a second. Pata Yamaha’s Alex Lowes made it a trio of Brits at the sharp-end, the former British Champion putting in a late lap of 1m41.804s to leap up to third.
Michael van der Mark is still seeking that elusive first win in the World Superbike Championship, and made his intentions clear in FP2. The Dutch rider, who won the 2014 World Supersport encounter and finished third at the track last year, was just over a tenth down on Sykes’ best at the chequered flag. FP1 fastest man Xavi Fores completed the top five on his Barni Racing Ducati.
Sylvain Guintoli made huge gains this afternoon. The French rider ended FP1 down in 15th but improved his lap time by 1.2 seconds to go sixth quickest and progress straight through to the second part of Superpole tomorrow morning.
Nicky Hayden was seventh in FP2, with MV Agusta’s Leon Camier close behind in eighth. Jonathan Rea will be left scratching his head at the six-tenth gap separating himself from his teammate Sykes, the Northern Irishman ending the day ninth fastest overall. Davide Giugliano completed the top 10 and will go straight into SP2 tomorrow, providing he his declared fit by circuit medical staff this evening.
Jordi Torres failed to improve on his 1m42.356s from this morning and ended up 11th as a result. Ioda’s Lorenzo Savadori was 12th quickest ahead of Torres’ teammate Markus Reiterberger. Ant West and Alex De Angelis rounded out the top 15.
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