2018 Laguna Seca World Superbike Superpole Results: The Corkscrew Plays Its Part

Superpole One was contested by ten riders, including wildcard Josh Herrin. Michael van der Mark and Loris Baz were the favourites for promotion going into the session, having qualified eleventh and twelfth quickest respectively.

After one lap, Michael van der Mark sat on top with a 1'24.113, while locals Josh Herrin and Jake Gagne sat second and third quickest. On the second lap, Leandro Mercado pushed everyone down a space with a 1'24.105 as everyone pitted in for the mid-session break.

Josh Herrin stayed out throughout the break, alone on the track until four minutes from the end when everyone else came out to join him. The to flying laps were set by Michael van der Mark, a 1'23.649, and Loris Baz, with Toprak Razgatlioglu the only other rider joining them under 1'24 at the flag. 

Michael van der Mark and Loris Baz joined the ten quickest riders for Superpole two. After one lap, Jonathan Rea, setting a 1'23.257, headed Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri, with Eugene Laverty fourth quickest until the second flying lap where Laverty set a 1'23.257 on race rubber before everyone pitted in for the sticky qualifying tyres only to find Loris Baz already there, having pitted in before completing his first lap.

With under three minutes left, everyone started their flying laps, with enough time for two laps before the flags would come out. Eugene Laverty set a 1'22.718 to go quickest, but was demoted by Chaz Davies's 1'22.282, Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea. On the last possible lap, Loriz Baz crashed out on the corkscrew, bringing out a yellow flag, forcing all riders to slow down through the sector and ending the challenges for pole position. Loris Baz helped the marshals remove his bike and returned to his garage without having set a time. 

Chaz Davies took pole position ahead of Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea with Eugene Laverty heading the second row alongside Alex Lowes and Lorenzo Savadori. 

Qualifying Results:

Superpole One:

Superpole Two: