From the World Superbike Championship
Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda) saved his best for last to take a new track best and head up Superpole qualifying at the World Superbike Championship event at Brno, Czech Republic on Saturday, his fourth pre-race 'win' of the 2010 season.
Crutchlow was over 0.7 secs. faster than the next best rider, and in nine Superpoles this year he has the best individual record.
“I definitely hoped to be here and I’d rather give away a pole for a race win, but you’ve got to take them when you can," Crutchlow said. "I enjoyed that, it was a good session for us. Most of the sessions have been strong and my Yamaha is working well.
"Max is hard to beat in the championship and especially round here. I can see a big battle tomorrow, maybe 10 guys at least at the start. I thought I could have got into the 57s because I was riding very deep into the corners, and I actually had another qualifier left but I’m happy with that.”
Behind him, Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) was second at his favourite circuit on the calendar, as he prepares to go out Sunday and defend a 37-point championship lead.
“A first row result is good for me, but compared to last year’s race we’ve got a lot more work to do this weekend," Biaggi said. "Something we changed on the bike makes it a bit different so it’s not the same feeling. It’s better in other tracks but here we’ve got some difficulties. It’s getting a little bit better, the bike is not where I want, but I’m happy with my pace. We’ll see tomorrow.”
A resurgent Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was a positive third, as he rebuilds from some less than satisfying recent results.
Ruben Xaus (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) finished an impressive fourth, earning himself a front row start. He had crashed heavily here last year but Saturday's result wiped out many memories of his 2009 misfortune.
Xaus's BMW being fourth means that there are four different machines on the front row, and with Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki Alstare) and Luca Scassa (Supersonic Ducati) fifth and sixth restively, there are six different bikes in the top six grid slots.
Scassa, a privateer, was top Ducati rider of any kind, with Ducati Xerox factory pilot Michel Fabrizio one place behind.
Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) will start from row two, taking eighth place as the last rider home in the final Superpole session.
Lorenzo Lanzi (DFX Corse Ducati) just missed the final eight places of Superpole three, with James Toseland (Yamaha Sterilgarda) 10th.
Max Neukirchner went 11th for Hannspree Ten Kate Honda and Tom Sykes ended a fruitful day 12th and on the third row for the Kawasaki Racing Team.
Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox) crashed in two Superpole sessions, and now starts from the fourth row; championship contender Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare) is only one place ahead of him.
Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Motocard.com) took the World Supersport pole, his second of the year, with his very last lap of qualifying, displacing his team-mate Katsuaki Fujiwara to second in the process.
Despite crashing in qualifying, Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) went third while a spectacularly successful qualifying for Kawasaki was completed by Fabien Foret (Lorenzini by Leoni) fourth quickest and therefore the third Kawasaki rider on the front row.
Hannspree Ten Kate Honda riders Kenan Sofuoglu and Michele Pirro were fifth and sixth fastest, respectively.
Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia STK) took the Superstock 1000 pole at Brno by only 0.013 secs. from Maxime Berger (Ten Kate Race Junior Honda).
Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Racing Yamaha) won a crash-laden Superstock 600 race at Brno, shortened to seven laps after the red flags were put out to halt the race after several crashes. Florian Marino (Ten Kate Race Junior Honda) was second in the race and is also second in the championship, with Guarnoni on 136 points, Marino on 106.
Superbike Qualifying Times
1. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF-R1 1:58.018
2. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1:58.743
3. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1:59.094
4. Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000RR 1:59.135
5. Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:59.179
6. Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1:59.393
7. Fabrizio M. (ITA)Ducati 1098R 1:59.451
8. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1:59.571
9.Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1:59.699
10. Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF-R1 1:59.699
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