Kawasaki rider Jonathan Rea takes pole at home race – World Championship leader Alvaro Bautista only on second row of grid – Philipp Öttl receives penalty
Jonathan Rea has secured the fastest time in Superpole at the World Superbike Championship in Donington (see result). The Kawasaki factory rider set a new lap record in 1:26.230 minutes. Kawasaki teammate Alex Lowes and Yamaha factory rider Toprak Razgatlioglu completed row one.
Before Superpole, Garrett Gerloff’s (GRT-Yamaha) FT3 best time was the fastest lap of the weekend. The US American moved to the top of the combined standings on Saturday morning with his 1:26.877 lap. Compared to FT3, it was much warmer in Superpole.
Loris Baz (Bonovo-BMW) hinted at potential with the second fastest time in FT3, but Superpole did not start according to plan. The Frenchman crashed at Turn 1 on his very first attempt and returned his damaged BMW M1000RR to the pits.
Crash 76 Baz, rider OKGBRWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/L2VoniqMT3
– WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) July 16, 2022
The mechanics worked flat out to get the bike ready to go again. In the end, Baz was able to complete one more lap and finished the Superpole in 14th place
Scott Redding uses Jonathan Rea for guidance
Jonathan Rea was a popular draw at the start of Superpole. BMW rider Scott Redding used the number 65 Kawasaki as a guide. With a 1:26.687 time, Rea took the top position ahead of Redding, who was ideally positioned for a fast lap. Alvaro Bautista (Ducati) was third after the first attempt ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu and Alex Lowes.
Fighting on track, but always with respect GBRWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/BP97Vd2euN
– WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) July 16, 2022
On his second attempt, Scott Redding again used Jonathan Rea’s Kawasaki as a guide. Rea set a new lap record of 1:26.230. Redding also improved, but was undercut a little later by Alex Lowes and Toprak Razgatlioglu and slipped back to fourth place.
No Ducati on the front row of the grid
WM leader Alvaro Bautista was unable to fight for the front row of the grid. The Ducati rider finished Superpole in fifth position. Ducati teammate Michael Rinaldi completes the second row of the grid in sixth place.
FT3 leader Garrett Gerloff failed to put together a perfect lap in Superpole and was slower on the SCQ tyre than in FT3. The US rider ended up eighth behind Honda rider Iker Lecuona and is on row three with Yamaha brand mate Andrea Locatelli.
Three positions down: Philipp Öttl receives grid penalty
Philipp Öttl (GoEleven-Ducati) finished Superpole in eleventh position, 1.256 seconds behind. Already before Superpole Öttl received a penalty for hindering some riders on Friday by riding slowly on the racing line. Öttl is penalised three positions and has to start the first race from position 14.
Wildcard starter Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha) made a strong impression with 13th position. The 2021 BSB Champion was significantly faster than Peter Hickman (FHO-BMW), who is also competing with a wildcard and finished Superpole in 22nd position.
