Superpole hat trick for Spies

From the World Superbike Championship

VALENCIA, SPAIN -- Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike) powered to his third Superpole position in three races at the Valencia track on Saturday, the 24-year-old Texan once again proving to be the master of the new format.

Spies, who had to switch to his second R1 machine in Superpole 2 after his first one developed a technical fault, set a record-breaking time of 1 minute 33.270 seconds, over half-a-second quicker than Max Neukirchner’s best mark from last year.

“I was a bit worried about having to change bikes," Spies said. "We had an OK second Superpole but coming in we had a problem with the bike and had to revert back to the other one. It had a bit of a different set-up and I didn’t get to try it in the morning practice, but luckily the change worked out well.”

Flanking Spies on the front row will be a trio of Ducati 1098 machines, headed by the surprising Regis Laconi, who won on this track back in 1999 with a Yamaha 500.

“I’m very happy because the bike is working really good on this track and we are ready," Laconi said. "I won my first race in GP 10 years ago and it’s just a pleasure to be up here one more time. A big thanks to DFX and Ducati for giving me a great bike. I have had a couple of difficult years but I am happy now that I am back on a Ducati.”

The two factory Ducati Xerox riders, Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio are in third and fourth place respectively. 

“I’m very happy for the front row," Haga said. "In the weekend I find a good solution for the race and I’ve already decided for the tire. And I am feeling confident, so tomorrow I will try to do my best and win twice and that is my target.”

The second row sees a double pairing, with Suzuki ahead of Honda. Yukio Kagayama took fifth from Neukirchner, while Jonathan Rea was seventh ahead of Carlos Checa. The Spanish rider just managed to avoid being eliminated in Superpole 2, setting his best time despite a fall.

Broc Parkes again put in a positive performance for Kawasaki, setting 13th quickest time on his ZX-10R machine, just ahead of the BMW of Troy Corser, who had been expecting to go better in Superpole after a positive qualifying session.

Once again the first knock-out phase saw some illustrious victims with Tom Sykes (Yamaha World Superbike) and Max Biaggi (Aprilia), one of the quickest riders throughout the day, not making the cut.

The other Aprilia rider Shinya Nakano missed the Superpole after breaking his left collarbone in a crash in the morning. He was operated on Saturday with the aim of being ready for the next round at Assen.

Supersport pole honours once again went to Cal Crutchlow on his factory Yamaha R6. In his debut season, the British rider powered to his second successive pole and was the only man under the 1:36 mark as he grabbed the top slot right at the end of the session.

Crutchlow managed to prevent Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki) from taking the pole at his home circuit, last year’s winner settling for second place, less than two-tenths behind his rival. Making up the front row was the first Honda, ridden by Anthony West (Stiggy Racing) and the second Kawasaki of Katsuaki Fujiwara.

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda’s two champions Andrew Pitt and Kenan Sofuoglu failed to shine and both will start from row 3, the reigning champion ninth but with three crashes to his name in the session, while the Turkish rider failed to find the right pace.

Qatar winner Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) could only manage the fourth row.

The first Superstock 1000 pole position of the season went to Davide Giugliano, in his debut season for MV Agusta. The Italian managed hold off the attacks of Claudio Corti (Suzuki Alstare), penalized by a technical problem that left him a fraction behind. 

After dominating Superstock 600 free practice, Danilo Petrucci (Yamaha Italia Trasimeno) did the same in qualifying to clinch pole position.

Superbike Times
1. Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1:33.270
2. Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1:33.955
3. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1:34.082
4. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1:34.259
5. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 1:34.755
6. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 1:34.903
7. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1:35.056
8. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1:35.346
9. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1:34.536
10. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1:34.655
11. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1:34.684
12. Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1:34.742
13. Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1:34.823
14. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1:34.863
15. Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 1:35.082
16. Hopkins J. (USA) Honda CBR1000RR 1:35.251
17. Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1:35.203
18. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1:35.204
19. Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1:35.806
20. Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1:35.416