From the WSBK Press Office
Points leader Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) slammed in a record 1:54.595 in the final run on Saturday to take only his second career Superpole win and lead Sunday’s race grid for the German Round of the World Superbike Championship at the Nurburgring.
“After my crash I had a pain in my back and my left arm but nothing broken, just a big crash," Biaggi said. "We did a lot of work in set-up on the bike and our race pace is not so bad. For the race tires, we are not so bad and after a few laps there should be even better grip. I am happy for me and my team, and all my sponsors.”
Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) was the early pace setter and remained second, but original third place man James Toseland (Yamaha Sterilgarda) was demoted to eighth, after leaving pitlane too early in Superpole 3. All the riders behind him, down to eighth place, were thus promoted one spot on the grid.
“Everything has worked well here with our bike and we have been quick to find a competitive pace," Checa said. "We were fast in Superpole but then Max did an even faster lap and we went second. We are on the front row and satisfied with our pace. I hope we can finish the season well and bring Ducati to the top.”
Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki Alstare) is now in third on the revised grid, with Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) moving up to fourth.
"After going fastest in the second Superpole I thought I could go even better but I had no more qualifying tires left," Guintoli explained. "I had burned one getting stuck behind people so I had to put a used one in for the last part of the last session. But I am happy, have a good pace and this track is so nice, brilliant.”
Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare) is one step closer to Biaggi in fifth, and Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox) is now sixth. Tom Sykes had a great ride throughout Superpole, and slotted his Kawasaki Racing Team four-cylinder into seventh place, one up on the luckless Toseland.
Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad), who has been one of the main protagonists throughout the weekend, had a luckless Superpole, this time high-siding and landing hard, his third crash in around an hour of track action. He was out of Superpole from that point, finally qualifying 14th.
Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) headed the World Supersport qualifying list after setting a 1:58.415 lap, heading off his great championship rival Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) in the process.
Broc Parkes (Kawasaki Motocard.com) was third in his return to the WSS class, one place up on his team-mate Katsuaki Fujiwara.
Crowned Superstock 1000 champion at the previous round in Silverstone, Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia STK) took pole in BMW’s back yard, with a 1:59.181 lap.
Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Racing) took another step towards the Superstock 600 championship title on Saturday after he earned yet another victory, his fifth of the year. The Frenchman now sits on 177 points compared to his countryman Florian Marino’s 134, a gap of 43 points.
Marino (Ten Kate Junior Honda) was only eighth on Saturday.
World Superbike Times
1. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1:54.595
2. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1:54.621
3. Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:54.934
4. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1:55.138
5.Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:55.161
6.Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1:55.276
7. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1:55.378
8. Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF-R1 1:54.909
9. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1:55.264
10. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF-R1 1:55.295
11. Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000RR 1:55.375
12. Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1:55.524
13. Smrz J. (CZE) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1:55.577
14.Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000RR 1:55.599
15.Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 1:55.735
16. Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1:55.908
0 comments:
Post a Comment