Rea heads Kawasaki 1-2 ahead of Lowes | Donington WorldSBK Superpole Results
After topping Friday practice by almost half-a-second, Jonathan Rea was favourite to take pole position in WorldSBK's Donington Superpole session.
Superpole for the fifth round of the 2022 Superbike World Championship was, as Friday, held under sunlight which was increasing in intensity.
The short, 15-minute Superpole session took place after FP3, in which Garrett Gerloff was fastest. But after topping Friday afternoon's FP2 by almost half-a-second, Jonathan Rea was favourite to take pole position at what is his home race.
An early crash for Loris Baz at turn one limited his potential for the session (although he was able to get back out later on for 14th) while the early pace was set by Eugene Laverty, who sat at the top briefly before the major runners came through.
When they did, it was Jonathan Rea who was fastest ahead of Scott Redding, while Alvaro Bautista and Toprak Razgatlioglu were the only other riders within half-a-second of Rea after the opening salvos.
Next came the SCQ tyres, of course, which would provide the optimum grip for a fast time. Once again it was Rea who had the most potential, and he was even able to improve on the second lap of the tyre - a rarity with the new-for-2022 SCQs.
Scott Redding was unable to benefit to the same extent with the Q tyre as the SCX on the first run from Rea's tow, and he ended up fourth, as Alex Lowes and Toprak Razgatlioglu completed the front row.
Alvaro Bautista was fifth, ahead of his factory Ducati teammate Michael Rinaldi who completed row two; while Iker Lecuona will start race one later today from seventh, alonsdie Garrett Gerloff and Andrea Locatelli on row three.
Full WorldSBK Superpole results from Donington Park are below.
2022 WorldSBK Championship | Donington, UK | Superpole RESULTS
| 2022 WorldSBK Championship | Donington, UK | Superpole RESULTS | Round 5 / 12 | |||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat. | WorldSBK Team | Superbike | Timing |
| 1 | Jonathan Rea | GBR | Kawasaki Racing Team | Kawasaki ZX-10RR | 1:26.080 |
| 2 | Alex Lowes | GBR | Kawasaki Racing Team | Kawasaki ZX-10RR | 1:26.353 |
| 3 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | TUR | Pata Yamaha | Yamaha R1 | 1:26.506 |
| 4 | Scott Redding | GBR | BMW Motorrad | BMW M 1000 RR | 1:26.514 |
| 5 | Alvaro Bautista | ESP | Aruba Racing Ducati | Ducati Panigale V4 R | 1:26.736 |
| 6 | Michael Ruben Rinaldi | ITA | Aruba Racing Ducati | Ducati Panigale V4 R | 1:27.011 |
| 7 | Iker Lecuona | ESP | Team HRC | Honda CBR1000RR-R | 1:27.038 |
| 8 | Garrett Gerloff | USA | GRT Yamaha Team | Yamaha R1 | 1:27.100 |
| 9 | Andrea Locatelli | ITA | Pata Yamaha | Yamaha R1 | 1:27.191 |
| 10 | Axel Bassani | ITA | Motocorsa Racing | Ducati Panigale V4 R | 1:27.206 |
| 11 | Philipp Oettl | GER | Team GoEleven | Ducati Panigale V4 R | 1:27.336 |
| 12 | Lucas Mahias | FRA | Puccetti Racing | Kawasaki ZX-10RR | 1:27.390 |
| 13 | Tarran Mackenzie | GBR | McAMS Yamaha | Yamaha R1 | 1:27.670 |
| 14 | Loris Baz | FRA | Bonovo Action BMW | BMW M 1000 RR | 1:27.711 |
| 15 | Leon Haslam | GBR | TPR Pedercini Racing | Kawasaki ZX-10RR | 1:27.806 |
| 16 | Xavi Vierge | ESP | Team HRC | Honda CBR1000RR-R | 1:27.861 |
| 17 | Leandro Mercado | ARG | MIE Racing Team | Honda CBR1000RR-R | 1:27.929 |
| 18 | Ilya Mychalchyk | UKR | BMW Motorrad | BMW M 1000 RR | 1:27.957 |
| 19 | Roberto Tamburini | ITA | Motoxracing Team | Yamaha R1 | 1:28.025 |
| 20 | Eugene Laverty | IRL | Bonovo Action BMW | BMW M 1000 RR | 1:28.048 |
| 21 | Hafizh Syahrin | MAL | MIE Racing Team | Honda CBR1000RR-R | 1:28.141 |
| 22 | Peter Hickman | GBR | FHO Racing | BMW M 1000 RR | 1:28.378 |
| 23 | Kohta Nozane | JPN | GRT Yamaha Team | Yamaha R1 | 1:28.617 |
| 24 | Christophe Ponsson | FRA | Gil Motor Sport | Yamaha R1 | 1:28.935 |
| 25 | Oliver Konig | CZE | Orelac VerdNatura | Kawasaki ZX-10RR | 1:29.011 |
| 26 | Luca Bernardi | SMR | Barni Spark Racing | Ducati Panigale V4 R | 1:29.032 |
