What the heck is SuperPole? (a quick guide to how WSBK works)

[Rob]

1st session - Top 20 riders from Saturday Qualifying will ride in a 12 minute session.

2nd session - The top 16 riders from the preceding session will ride for another 12 minute session

3rd session - The top 8 riders from the preceding session will ride for another 12 minutes

-Rows 1 & 2 of the grid will be based on the placement of the 8 riders in the 3rd session
-Rows 3 and 4 will be based on the placement of the 8 slower riders from the 2nd session
-Row 5 will be based on the placement of the 4 slowest riders from the 1st session
-Remaining rows will be based on placement from the Saturday qualifying session's riders who did not make Superpole.

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=34298

[viperclaw]

Also, times are cleared for each session. That means the riders have to maintain consistently good lap times in order to qualify in the top positions.

[kismetcapitan]

and hence how some people can place higher on the grid while having a slower overall best lap time - the system rewards consistency. I thought it was awkward last year but I now think it's pretty clever.

[avidrider]

It is a little strange, and sometimes it seems riders snatch the pole out from the fastest riders during practice. But your right it does reward consistency.