World Superbikes: Marco Melandri sets fastest lap time, pipping fellow Italian Nico Canepa
Italian Marco Melandri produced the fastest lap time right at the end of the second qualifying session at Laguna Seca.
Last Updated: 28/09/13 10:46pm
![Marco Melandri: Headed an Italian 1-2 after the second qualifying session](https://uatimg.skysports.com/13/05/768x432/Marco-Melandri_2943164.jpg?20130512114131)
The Italian produced a time of one minute 23.775 seconds on his BMW just moments before the chequered flag was waved, meaning he pipped compatriot Nico Canepa of Ducati by just 0.163secs.
Canepa is filling in for the injured Carlos Checa for Team Ducati Alstare.
Tom Sykes, who leads the overall championship standings, had been on top for much of the session but eventually had to settle for third place.
The Yorkshireman's best lap of 1:24.153 meant he finished just ahead of his nearest title rival, Sylvain Guintoli.
Irishman Eugene Laverty had set the pace in the first session with a time of 1:24.482 but he could only improve to 1:24.394 to finish eighth, one place ahead of Britain's Leon Haslam.