Bayliss takes sixth Superpole

From worldsbk.com

Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) powered to his sixth Superpole of the year in the Bennetts European Round at Donington Park in a wet 50-minute, 12-lap session on Saturday.

For the Australian rider, who as a result wins the Alfa Romeo Superpole Award, it was his third Superpole in a row and the 24th in his career. Bayliss looked particularly quick in the final part of the 4.02km circuit, and is certainly one of the candidates for the wins in Sunday's 11th round of the championship.

The only rider capable of matching Bayliss's performance was Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB), but he crashed at the final hairpin on his quick lap right at the end and had to settle for eighth quickest time. Alongside Bayliss on the front row are the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda pairing of Brands Hatch winner Ryuichi Kiyonari and Carlos Checa.

Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) made a major improvement today to take the final front row grid slot, while wild-card James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) took the first place on row 2 ahead of Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati). The British wild-cards who had made all the running in the first two days were out of luck; Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) crashed into the gravel, as did Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda).

Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB) could only manage a place on the third row, while Max Neukirchner (Alstare Suzuki), who has failed to shine so far this weekend, is one row behind.

"It's been a difficult situation this weekend, wet right from the start but for sure tomorrow it's going to be dry and that will throw a spanner into the works as far as tire choice goes," Bayiss said. "I'm very happy today, but these other guys were riding really hard, Kiyonari especially. I don't think anyone can match my poles this year so for sure it's nice to win an Alfa."

Matthieu Lagrive (Intermoto Czech Honda) will start the 10th round of the Supersport championship from pole position for the second race in a row. Next to the Frenchman will be Britain's Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), who will be looking for his third win in a row Sunday, Barry Veneman (RES Software Suzuki) of the Netherlands and Australian Joshua Brookes (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport Honda).

The difficult weather conditions brought forward a number of riders not usually seen at the front of the grid, in particular Belgium's Didier Van Keymeulen (RES Software Suzuki), Finland's Vesa Kallio (Benjan Honda) and South African Hudson Kennaugh (Raceways Yamaha).

Points leader Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) will start from row 4 and Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport) from row 5.

Xavier Simeon (Alstare Suzuki) took the pole in the Superstock 1000 session at Donington, the Belgian rider the only one under the 1 minute 46 second mark. The front row is made up of Australian Chris Seaton (Celani Suzuki) and Jon Kirkham (Raceways Yamaha) ahead of Alex Polita (Sterilgarda Ducati).

Joint championship leaders Brendan Roberts (Ducati Xerox Junior Team) and Maxime Berger (Hannspree IDS Ten Kate Honda) sandwich a couple of Italians, Michele Pirro (Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni) and Davide Giugliano (Cruciani Suzuki) in sixth and seventh on row 2.

Marco Bussolotti (Yamaha Motor Italia Junior Team) proved to be quickest in qualifying for the European 600 Superstock race. The Italian set his time right at the end of the session, denying Alex Lowes (O Six Kawasaki) of the honour of starting from pole in front of his home crowd.

Title chasers Loris Baz (YZF Yamaha Junior Team) and Patrick Vostarek (Intermoto Czech Honda) both had a difficult day, the French rider crashing on his second out lap and missing the rest of the session to line up on row 5, while his Czech rival could only manage 12th quickest time.

Superbike Times
1. Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 1:42.013
2. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1:42.353
3. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1:42.486
4. Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1:42.573
5. Ellison J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1:42.582
6. Biaggi M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1:42.619
7. Sykes T. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:42.624
8. Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 1:42.875
9. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1:43.125
10. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 F08 1:43.172
11. Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 1:43.218
12. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1:43.387
13. Walker C. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1:43.492
14. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:43.895
15. Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1:43.915
16. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1:44.683