From the WSBK Pressoffice
Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda) battled to the head of the World Superbike pre-race rankings at Magny-Cours, taking a new track best of 1:37.699 in Superpole Three on Saturday.
“It’s nice to be going into my last World Superbike race before I head off with a pole position," Crutchlow said. "It’s a good reward for Yamaha, they have put their trust and faith in me so to give them a pole is good and I want to make it a race win tomorrow that’s for sure. We’ve struggled with a few things over the weekend, but maybe found something in the Superpole. We’ll see tomorrow, it’s going to be entertaining.”
Series regular Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki Alstare) rode to second place at his home round, while Jakub Smrz (Pata B&G Aprilia) made it three different bikes in the top three grid positions.
“What I wanted was the pole but unfortunately Cal just managed to get it ahead of me," Guintoli said. "Today was great. This morning when I was quickest in Q2 was good and I’m looking forward to tomorrow because I’ve been so close to the podium so many times this year. I really wish I can get my first one here in front of the French public. I’m going to push hard tomorrow, my race pace is good and I feel confident.”
“It was a really good day for me today and I am happy because in the last five races I have been three times on the first row," Smrz said. "Unfortunately it’s the end of the season and we started with the Aprilia late and I didn’t achieve anything really good this season but let’s hope for a good race this weekend and a better start next year.”
The front row for Sunday’s races was completed by new champion Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia), despite the Roman rider suffering from a cold.
Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox Team) posted fifth best time in Superpole, followed by a rider who was only passed fit to race on Friday morning, Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda). Rea rode wearing a special lightweight cast on his injured left wrist.
Carlos Checa (Althea Racing), the double winner in Imola, was a fine seventh, followed on the grid by the official machine of Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox).
Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) made the top 10 after another challenging period of practice, heading the third row with ninth best time. Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare) was the final rider in the top 10.
Ruben Xaus was 11th on his official BMW. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) posted 12th best time, for the last position on the third row.
There were several riders who were not quite able to replicate their pre-Superpole form in the final couple of sessions, including eventual 13th place rider, Lorenzo Lanzi (DFX Corse Ducati). Shane Byrne (Althea Racing), James Toseland (Yamaha Sterilgarda) and Luca Scassa (Supersonic Ducati) finished off the top 16 grid places.
Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) took his fifth World Supersport pole of the season by posting a 1:41.372 lap in Saturday’s second and final qualifying session. He will be followed off the grid by the only rider who can overhaul him in the season finale, Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda).
Katsuaki Fujiwara (Kawasaki Motocard.com) is third, because of his fast Friday time and French WSS legend Fabien Foret (Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki) is the final front row qualifier.
Broc Parkes (Kawasaki Motocard.com) was fifth fastest. ParkinGO BE-1 Triumph rider David Salom is the quickest three-cylinder qualifier in sixth.
Maxime Berger (Ten Kate Junior Honda) eased out his countryman Sylvain Barrier (Garnier Junior Team BMW) by a whisker to take the Superstock 1000 pole at Magny-Cours. Champion Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia STK) fell late in Saturday’s final qualifying session, but starts from the front row in third position in any case.
Australia’s Jed Metcher (MTM Yamaha) set a new lap record in the Superstock 600 championship race on his way to taking a surprise first win after a collision between already crowned champion Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Racing Yamaha) and Stephane Egea (Team ASPI Yamaha) near the end saw them crash out.
World Superbike Qualifying Times
1. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF-R1 1:37.699
2. Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:37.768
3. Smrz J. (CZE) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1:37.784
4. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1:38.039
5. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1:38.082
6. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1:38.155
7. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1:38.252
8. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1:38.421
9. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000RR 1:38.250
10. Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:38.327
11. Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000RR 1:38.364
12. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1:38.370
13. Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1:38.519
14. Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1:38.538
15. Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF-R1 1:38.551
16. Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1:38.585
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