CHAZ SETS A RECORD PACE
CHAZ DAVIES beat the lap record in World Superbike Championship practice at Magny-Cours yesterday.
The Ducati rider clocked a time of 1m 37.836secs to pip former British champion Leon Camier by 0.210secs ahead of this afternoon’s opening race in France.
Davies has won five times so far in an inconsistent campaign, to lie third in the Championship standings.
But he still has a mountain to climb as he is 51 points down on second-placed Tom Sykes and 98 behind championship leader ® Jonathan Rea. Sykes said: “We still have a long way to go and we are still in the running – we have seen already this year how fast things can turn on their heads.
“In Germany one day it all went for me and then on the second day it went against me.”
Sykes lost ground on his Kawasaki team-mate and defending champion Rea when he crashed out of the second race in Germany, in which Rea chalked up his ninth victory. That gave Rea a commanding 47-point lead, with six races left.
But the Ulsterman, who was fourth fastest yesterday with a best lap of 1min 38.145secs, is taking nothing for granted.
He said: “It is that crucial time of the season. We have a points advantage but not enough to be comfortable with – so we still have to go out and make big points.
“We can’t really manage a 47-point lead because we can see how easy it is to lose a bunch of points, but I am happy and confident on the bike.”