Tom Sykes returned to the top of the timesheets in the first qualifying session at the Moscow Raceway.
The Kawasaki rider who won the inaugural race at the Russian circuit last season, posted a blazing lap in 1.
35.
687 in the dying minutes to pip Davide Giugliano and deny him of honor of the first spot after a final flying lap after they exchanged the position a few times.
It was another tight session, with eleven riders in less than eight tenths of a second and the Aprilia satellite rider once again was faster than his factory counter parts, Eugene Laverty and injured Sylvain Guintoli, who were 5th and 14th respectively.
The Frenchman only managed to ride 11 laps this afternoon and he is still in Saturday’s provisional Superpole shootout.
Marco Melandri was third fastest and a little more than three tenths adrift, with Carlos Checa right on his tail with his Panigale and just 0,030s separated him from the BMW Goldbet rider.
Leon Camier broke into the top ten with his 6th spot, and just missed breaking the 1.
35 barrier.
Jonathan Rea also moved up the timesheets to take 7th and he was followed by Michel Fabrizio and Loris Baz.
Chaz Davies closed out the top ten and he was just 0.
737s from Sykes’ best time.
2013 WSBK Moscow QP1 results:1.
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′35.
5672.
Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′35.
6153.
Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 1′35.
8914.
Carlos Checa (Team Ducati Alstare) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 1′35.
9215.
Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′35.
9646.
Leon Camier (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1′36.
0137.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 1′36.
0848.
Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′36.
1629.
Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′36.
26010.
Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 1′36.
30311.
Jules Cluzel (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1′36.
30412.
Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 1′36.
58513.
Ayrton Badovini (Team Ducati Alstare) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 1′36.
78714.
Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′36.
82015.
Max Neukirchner (MR-Racing) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 1′36.
88116.
Federico Sandi (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′38.
04817.
Vittorio Iannuzzo (Grillini Dentalmatic SBK) BMW S1000 RR 1′39.
07918.
Lorenzo Savadori (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′39.
504
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