Haga quickest at wet Vallelunga

From worldsbk.com

Yamaha Motor Italia WSB rider Noriyuki slithered to the quickest time in Friday's first qualifying session at Vallelunga as a wet track and rain greeted the WSBK regulars on their second visit to the circuit.

The Japanese rider stopped the clocks with a time of 1 minute 50.595 seconds despite two crashes. The only other rider to lap under the 1:51 mark was Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) in second place, while the provisional front row was completed by points leader Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) and the other Yamaha of Troy Corser.

Ryuichi Kiyonari (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) continued his positive run of form with fifth place despite a crash in the morning's free practice. The Donington winner was followed by two more Hondas of Gregorio Lavilla (VentAxia VK) and Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate). Kawasaki was once again back in the top 10 thanks to Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Corse), who looked particularly at ease on the wet surface.

Local riders Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) and Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) both failed to shine at their home track, finishing in 16th and 17th place respectively, while Max Neukirchner (Alstare Suzuki) was also unable to get to grips with the slippery Vallelunga track.

Guandalini Ducati's Jakub Smrz, 15th, has been joined in Superbike by his younger brother Matej, who replaces the injured Luca Morelli in the DF Racing team.

Friday's wet weather action was characterized by 11 crashes involving 10 different riders.

Honda dominated the first day of qualifying in the Supersport category, with four riders on CBR machines making up the provisional front row. In the pouring rain, Matthieu Lagrive (Intermoto Czech) made all the difference, the Frenchman the only man under the 1:55 mark.

Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was second over one second behind. The front row was completed by Italian Gianluca Nannelli (Hannspree Honda Althea) and Donington winner Joshua Brookes (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport Honda).

The poor weather conditions led several riders, in particular championship leader Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport), not to take any risks and the two Australians are down on row 4, while others like British rider Chris Martin (Kawasaki Gil Motorsport) in fifth and Italian wildcard Terence Toti (Celani Suzuki) in 11th, went well.

Superbike Times
1. Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 1:50.595
2. Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1:50.879
3. Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 1:51.146
4. Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 1:51.228
5. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1:51.419
6. Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1:52.012
7. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1:52.143
8. Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1:52.407
9. Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1:52.463
10. Walker C. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1:52.466
11. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:52.507
12. Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR1000RR 1:52.640
13. Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1:52.649
14. Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:52.719
15. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1:52.738
16. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 F08 1:52.865