Crutchlow leads at Misano

From the World Superbike Championship

After the first day of intense practice action at a warm and sunny Misano circuit on Friday, Yamaha Sterilgarda rider Cal Crutchlow heads the qualifying sheets with a 1:36.288, putting him narrowly ahead of Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport). Late in the hour-long session Crutchlow ran off track trying to go even faster, but did not fall.

Corser had been fastest in the unofficial morning practice session, making the most of improvements to his machine during recent Misano tests.

Leon Haslam (Alstare Suzuki) started well to go third, with local hot shot Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) fourth.

Four different types of machine - Yamaha, BMW, Suzuki and Ducati - filled the top four places. The top 11 riders were within the same second with one more session of qualifying and then Superpole taking place on Saturday.

Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) was a late fifth, snatching that place from championship leader Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia).

Seventh was 2009 race podium finisher Shane Byrne, Checa’s team-mate, while Italian privateer Luca Scassa (Supersonic Ducati) was once more well in the mix in eighth.

The second works Aprilia, ridden by Leon Camier, was ninth and the top 10 was completed by James Toseland (Yamaha Sterilgarda), who also proved to be a late faller in the session.

Top Kawasaki rider was to be Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), who ended his first day 14th.

A Misano race winner in 2009, Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was only 16th on Friday.

The race lap record at Misano is a 1:37.135, making the top riders’ times in the 1:36s, still on race tires, impressive after only one day of practice.

In World Supersport, once more Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) started his race weekend in good form, earning the top place in the first official qualifying session right at the end of the day, with a 1:39.469. He displaced fast regular Michele Pirro (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) to second, with local wildcard rider Roberto Tamburini (Bike Service Yamaha) going third, shortly before falling without injury on his last lap.

Championship leader Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was fourth, just edging out rookie rider Gino Rea (Intermoto Czech Honda) to fifth place.

First Kawasaki rider was Joan Lascorz (Motocard.com) in sixth place and top ParkinGo Triumph BE-1 rider proved to be Chaz Davies, seventh.

Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia STK) headed an impressive list of 30 riders in the first timed Superstock session at Misano, setting a best time of 1:39.997 in warm and dry conditions. Second on his CBR was Andrea Antonelli (Team Lorini Honda), followed by another Honda rider, Maxime Berger (Team Ten Kate Junior).

Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Racing Yamaha) was the only one of the Superstock 600 riders in the 1:42 bracket Friday at Misano, and thus took provisional pole.

World Superbike Qualifying Times
1. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF-R1 1:36.288 (158.001 km/h)
2. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000RR 1:36.344
3. Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:36.365
4. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1:36.549
5. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1:36.761
6. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1:36.793
7. Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1:36.819
8. Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1:36.946
9. Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1:37.048
10. Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF-R1 1:37.124
11. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1:37.189
12. Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:37.314
13. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1:37.420
14.Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1:37.444
15. Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000RR 1:37.461
16. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1:37.769