From the WSBK Pressoffice
At one of his favourite circuits Lorenzo Lanzi (DFX Corse Ducati) headed up the first World Superbike qualifying session in France on Friday, with a 1:38.856 lap set in dry conditions. Lanzi is a former winner at the circuit, and was a podium man last time out in Imola.
In a session where the top 16 riders were within 0.710 secs. of each other, Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) was second quickest, new champion Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) third, and Luca Scassa (Supersonic Ducati) was another fast privateer on good form - like Lanzi - setting a 1:39 flat to go fourth on the overnight grid.
Behind the leading four, double Silverstone winner Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda) was fast once again, multiple Magny-Cours winner Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox) was sixth, with the official BMW Motorrad Motorsport machine of Troy Corser seventh. Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) was a firm eighth, looking for more wins as he attempts to take third place in the final rankings.
After two good rounds in Germany and Italy, Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) looks set to make it three in a row, going ninth on Friday in first qualifying, one place ahead of Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare).
Jakub Smrz (Pata B&G Aprilia) headed up James Toseland (Yamaha Sterilgarda). Toseland was one of four fallers in the session, alongside Crutchlow, Haga and Roger Lee Hayden.
On Saturday there will be one more qualifying period and then the Superpole sessions to determine the final grid positions at the last round of the 2010 season.
Katsuaki Fujiwara (Provec Motocard.com Kawasaki) was fastest rider in the WSS first qualifying session, starting and finishing well to keep points’ leader Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) behind him in a tight contest.
Local star man Fabien Foret (Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki) was a confident third fastest, ParkinGO BE-1 Triumph rider David Salom fourth after a fast late charge.
Championship challenger Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) started the weekend fifth fastest. Gino Rea (Intermoto Czech Honda) was sixth and Imola race winner Michele Pirro (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), seventh.
The impetus of a home race took Sylvain Barrier (Garnier Junior Team BMW) to the lead in the first Superstock 1000 qualifying sector, in a session ended a minute early due to a red flag being shown.
Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Racing Yamaha) dipped under the 1:45 barrier at Magny-Cours to take provisional pole in Superstock 600, his 1:44.979 second lap enough to keep another French rider Stephane Egea (Team ASPI Yamaha) second.
World Superbike Times
1. Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1:38.856
2. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1:38.927
3. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1:38.972
4. Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1:39.000
5. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF-R1 1:39.058
6. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1:39.091
7. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000RR 1:39.119
8. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1:39.138
9. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1:39.207
10. Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:39.238
11. Smrz J. (CZE) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1:39.260
12. Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF-R1 1:39.360
13. Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1:39.370
14. Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:39.431
15. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1:39.454
16. Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000RR 1:39.566
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