WorldSBK Barcelona Superpole Results | Sykes ends Rea’s WorldSBK pole streak
BMW rider Tom Sykes ends Jonathan Rea's run of eighth consecutive WorldSBK pole positions in Barcelona for his 51st career Superpole success
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
| 2021 WorldSBK Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | Superpole Qualifying RESULTS | Round 9 / 13 | |||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat. | WorldSBK Team | Superbike | Timing |
| 1 | Tom Sykes | GBR | BMW Motorrad WorldSBK | BMW M1000RR | 1m 40.408 |
| 2 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | TUR | Pata Yamaha by BRIXX | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 1m 40.694 |
| 3 | Jonathan Rea | GBR | Kawasaki Racing Team | KawasakI ZX-10RR | 1m 40.921 |
| 4 | Scott Redding | GBR | Aruba Racing Ducati | Ducati Panigale V4 R | 1m 40.978 |
| 5 | Alex Lowes | GBR | Kawasaki Racing Team | KawasakI ZX-10RR | 1m 41.086 |
| 6 | Andrea Locatelli | ITA | Pata Yamaha by BRIXX | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 1m 41.129 |
| 7 | Leon Haslam | GBR | Team HRC Honda | Honda CBR1000RR-R | 1m 41.253 |
| 8 | Michael Ruben Rinaldi | ESP | Aruba Racing Ducati | Ducati Panigale V4 R | 1m 41.275 |
| 9 | Michael van der Mark | NED | BMW Motorrad WorldSBK | BMW M1000RR | 1m 41.320 |
| 10 | Garrett Gerloff | USA | GRT Yamaha WorldSBK | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 1m 41.405 |
| 11 | Axel Bassani | ITA | Motocorsa Racing | Ducati Panigale V4 R | 1m 41.632 |
| 12 | Kohta Nozane | JPN | GRT Yamaha WorldSBK | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 1m 41.744 |
| 13 | Chaz Davies | GBR | Team GoEleven | Ducati Panigale V4 R | 1m 41.791 |
| 14 | Samuele Cavalieri | ESP | Barni Racing Team | Ducati Panigale V4 R | 1m 41.801 |
| 15 | Lucas Mahias | FRA | Puccetti Kawasaki | KawasakI ZX-10RR | 1m 41.808 |
| 16 | Alvaro Bautista | ESP | Team HRC Honda | Honda CBR1000RR-R | 1m 42.055 |
| 17 | Leandro Mercado | ESP | MIE Racing | Honda CBR1000RR-R | 1m 42.215 |
| 18 | Jonas Folger | GER | Bonovo MGM Action | BMW M1000RR | 1m 42.257 |
| 19 | Isaac Vinales | ESP | Orelac VerdNatura Racing | KawasakI ZX-10RR | 1m 42.446 |
| 20 | Christophe Ponsson | FRA | Gil Motorsport | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 1m 42.460 |
| 21 | Loris Cresson | BEL | TPR Team Pedercini Racing | KawasakI ZX-10RR | 1m 43.841 |
| 22 | Lachlan Epis | AUS | TPR Team Pedercini Racing | KawasakI ZX-10RR | 1m 45.732 |
