WorldSBK Barcelona Superpole Results | Landmark pole for Lecuona, Honda

Iker Lecuona has claimed a maiden WorldSBK pole position after carrying his fine free practice form to take Honda to its first Superpole success since 2016 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

A landmark performance by the ex-MotoGP rider on the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade, Lecuona emerged quickest at the flag after fending off the challenge of several unexpected rivals in an unpredictable session.

Indeed, with Honda stepping up to challenge Yamaha, Kawasaki and Ducati on the circuit it has predominantly used to develop the latest generation Fireblade, Lecuona set the pace during the first wave of Superpole laps with a 1m 41.330secs, before responding to the renewed threat from his rivals by going quicker again at 1m 40.766s to seal pole by 0.023s from Alex Lowes.

As well as a maiden WorldSBK pole for rookie Lecuona and HRC as Honda's operating team, this afternoon's Race 1 will be the first time in six years a Honda will lead the field away from the front. Back then it was Michael van der Mark doing the honours during the 2016 Thailand round in Buriram.

An impressive Lowes will get away from second position after out-qualifying his Kawasaki team-mate and title contender Jonathan Rea, the factory duo also taking full advantage of their intimate knowledge of Provec Racing’s home venue.

Andrea Locatelli equalled his career best starting spot in fourth place to put himself in a good position for a good result to end a dry spell of form, while championship leader Alvaro Bautista remains a threat despite his modest fifth place starting position.

GRT Yamaha's Garrett Gerloff and Motocorsa Ducati's Axel Bassani follow up in sixth and seventh as the best of the privateers, where they will start ahead of defending champion Toprak Razgatlioglu, whose mistake on his crucial final lap left him plummeting down the order to the third row for Race 1 and the Superpole Race.

Lecuona’s team-mate Xavi Vierge gets away from ninth, with Michael Ruben Rinaldi recovering to tenth after running off track and taking a tumble at Turn 1 early on.

2022 WorldSBK Championship | Barcelona, Spain | Superpole Qualifying Results