Crutchlow sets Silverstone pace

From the WSBK Press Office

Local hero Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda) set a blistering 2:05.664-second lap at Silverstone to head the first qualifying session at his home track, with no fewer than five of his compatriots inside the top 10 places in World Superbike Championship action on Friday.

The 5.902km Silverstone circuit is new to almost all of the 25 Superbike riders on show, making Crutchlow’s advantage of 0.342 secs. over the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda of Jonathan Rea an impressive first day result.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport rider Troy Corser was third quickest, with British rider Leon Camier fourth on his Aprilia Alitalia v-four. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) made it five different bikes in the top five places with one qualifying session to go, and James Toseland (Crutchlow’s Yamaha Sterilgarda team-mate) secured sixth place.

Championship leader Max Biaggi, Camier’s team-mate, was a steady seventh, one place ahead of his main championship threat, Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare). Privateer Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) was 0.811 secs. away from Crutchlow, in ninth, with the top 10 rounded out by Tom Sykes on his official Kawasaki Racing Team four-cylinder machine.

Lorenzo Lanzi (DFX Corse Ducati) was a happy 11th, as he was one place up on the official machine of Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox). Shane Byrne (Althea Ducati) was 13th, the Team Pata B&G Aprilia of Jakub Smrz 14th, and 15th was a rider returning from injury, Luca Scassa (Supersonic Ducati).

Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) eased to the top of the first World Supersport qualifying session at Silverstone, 0.090 secs. ahead of UK-based series regular Gino Rea (Intermoto Czech Honda) and 0.161 secs. up on Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Motocard.com). Championship leader Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was fourth, Miguel Praia (Parkalgar Honda) fifth.

Maxime Berger (Ten Kate Junior Honda) earned the best time in the first Superstock 1000 qualifying session in the last minute, heading off championship leader Ayrton Badovini (BMW Italia STK).

Wildcard rider Luke Mossey (Sondelsport Yamaha) was the provisional Superstock 600 pole man at Silverstone after the first day, holding off the push of championship challengers Florian Marino (Ten Kate Race Junior Honda) and Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Racing Yamaha).

World Superbike Times
1. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF-R1 2:05.664
2. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 2:06.006
3. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000RR 2:06.052
4. Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 2:06.064
5.Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 2:06.088
6. Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF-R1 2:06.238
7. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 2:06.315
8. Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:06.464
9. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 2:06.475
10. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 2:06.596
etc.