Imola (Italy), Saturday 9 May 2015 – A ‘red hot’ Superpole for Davide Giugliano and the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team at Imola today: Giugliano, returning after having missed the first four championship rounds due to injury, laps fastest of all to score pole position for tomorrow’s races! Chaz Davies qualifies fourth.
In this morning’s final timed practice session, Davide was once again able to improve on his fastest time, by an impressive four tenths, to set a best of 1’47.116 and conclude the combined practices in first position as a result. Chaz, who spent the session making some refinements to the set-up of his Panigale R, retained fourth place thanks to his best time set yesterday (1’47.686), meaning that both factory riders therefore qualified comfortably for the afternoon’s second Superpole.
after making an initial lap on race rubber, the two riders headed straight back out on track with the qualifying solution. Davide completed two flying laps but the first, despite a small mistake in the final section, was to prove decisive. Stopping the clock at 1’46.382, the Roman rider’s time was to remain the fastest of the entire session! Giugliano thus earned pole position for tomorrow’s races, a truly impressive feat coming on the back of three months of inactivity, due to the bad accident he suffered in Phillip Island. Chaz, completing two fast laps, recorded a best of 1’46.672 that positioned him fourth at the session’s end. The Welshman will therefore line up on the second row of tomorrow’s grid.
Quotes after the day’s sessions:
Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team #34) – 1st (1’46.382)
“I knew that I could put in a fast lap – that’s one of my strengths. We can only be pleased with this result and I think it’s a nice reward not only for myself but also for the team, the sponsors and all my fans. Tomorrow will be more difficult; I believe that we’re in a good place as far as set-up is concerned, and we’ve already chosen the tyres, but I’m not physically fit and think I’ll struggle a bit in the races. Anyway, that said, never say never, maybe adrenalin will help me! For now I’ll celebrate the Superpole with my team, and tomorrow we’ll have to see…”
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team #7) – 4th (1’46.672)
“I don’t really feel that we made a lot of progress today, although things were a little better in Superpole. We’ve made several changes but they’ve probably taken us in the wrong direction. The bike is still not working as I’d really like, and I’m still looking for that solution that helps me with the turning. Superpole itself wasn’t too bad, and we’ll try to go a little more in that direction for tomorrow’s races.”
Claudio Domenicali – Ducati CEO –
“Today was a great day for Davide, returning after a four-round absence. To see him so psyched up and so motivated, with all his talent, is fantastic. I’m really pleased with this result, even though tomorrow will probably be a lot tougher for him. In any case we have two strong and determined riders in the top four, given that Chaz too is fast.”
Weekend schedule (CET):
Sunday
8.40 – 8.55 – SBK Warm-up
10.30 – SBK Race 1
13.10 – SBK Race 2
