WorldSBK Barcelona Superpole Results | Sykes ends Rea’s WorldSBK pole streak

Tom Sykes has taken pole position for Round 9 of the 2021 WorldSBK Championship at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, ending Jonathan Rea’s perfect record stretching back to the start of the season.

The factory BMW rider - currently out of a ride for the 2022 WorldSBK season following the signing of Scott Redding - was the man to beat during both qualifying runs as he repelled the threat from title rivals Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea.

Indeed, though Razgatlioglu looked on course to be the one to get the better of Rea at the Kawasaki Racing Team’s de facto home venue, Sykes’ final effort would see him secure his 51st career WorldSBK pole position, but his first since Phillip Island in February 2020.

Razgatlioglu got the edge on Rea for second on the grid as the two title titans prepare for the first of nine races to take place over the next three weeks.

Outside shot Scott Redding gets underway from fourth on the Ducati, ahead of Alex Lowes and Andrea Locatelli on their respective factory Kawasaki and Yamaha bikes in fifth and sixth. 

Leon Haslam was a late improver to lift his Honda CBR1000RR-R up to seventh around Team HRC’s local venue, seeing off Michael Ruben Rinaldi, Michael van der Mark and Garrett Gerloff, the latter American with work to do to repeat his maiden podium exploits of 12 months ago.

2021 WorldSBK Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | Superpole Qualifying RESULTS