FIM Superbike World Championship Monza, Italy May 9, 2009 Superpole Results (all on Pirelli tires): Superpole Session One Results: 1. Max NEUKIRCHNER (Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9), 1:44.985 2. Ben SPIES (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:45.033 3. Michel FABRIZIO (Ducati 1098 F09), 1:45.082 4. Ryuichi KIYONARI (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:45.279 5. Noriyuki HAGA (Ducati 1098 F09), 1:45.334 6. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9), 1:45.349 7. Max BIAGGI (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:45.379 8. Tom SYKES (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:45.471 9. Jonathan REA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:45.487 10. Troy CORSER (BMW S1000 RR), 1:45.661 11. Shinya NAKANO (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:45.963 12. Regis LACONI (Ducati 1098R), 1:45.985 13. Ruben XAUS (BMW S1000 RR), 1:46.019 14. Carlos CHECA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:46.093 15. Shane BYRNE (Ducati 1098R), 1:46.095 16. Broc PARKES (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:46.235 Do Not Advance To Superpole Session 2 17. Leon HASLAM (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:46.250 18. Luca SCASSA (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:46.372 19. Karl MUGGERIDGE (Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9), 1:46.407 20. Jakub SMRZ (Ducati 1098R), 1:46.522 Superpole Session 2 Results: 1. Michel FABRIZIO (Ducati 1098 F09), 1:44.843 2. Noriyuki HAGA (Ducati 1098 F09), 1:44.865 3. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9), 1:44.907 4. Ben SPIES (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:44.999 5. Ryuichi KIYONARI (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:45.019 6. Max BIAGGI (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:45.094 7. Max NEUKIRCHNER (Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9), 1:45.100 8. Jonathan REA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:45.100 Do Not Advance To Superpole Session 3 9. Carlos CHECA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:45.166 10. Tom SYKES (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:45.383 11. Troy CORSER (BMW S1000 RR), 1:45.543 12. Regis LACONI (Ducati 1098R), 1:45.663 13. Broc PARKES (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:46.368 14. Ruben XAUS (BMW S1000 RR), 1:46.571 15. Shane BYRNE (Ducati 1098R), 1:46.593 16. Shinya NAKANO (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:46.928 Superpole Session 3 Results: 1. Ben SPIES (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:44.073 2. Michel FABRIZIO (Ducati 1098 F09), 1:44.270 3. Ryuichi KIYONARI (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:44.642 4. Max NEUKIRCHNER (Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9), 1:44.900 5. Noriyuki HAGA (Ducati 1098 F09), 1:45.096 6. Jonathan REA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:45.170 7. Max BIAGGI (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:45.605 8. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9), 1:45.861 Final Qualifying Results, After Superpole: 1. Ben SPIES (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:44.073 2. Michel FABRIZIO (Ducati 1098 F09), 1:44.270 3. Ryuichi KIYONARI (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:44.642 4. Max NEUKIRCHNER (Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9), 1:44.900 5. Noriyuki HAGA (Ducati 1098 F09), 1:45.096 6. Jonathan REA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:45.170 7. Max BIAGGI (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:45.605 8. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9), 1:45.861 9. Carlos CHECA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:45.166 10. Tom SYKES (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:45.383 11. Troy CORSER (BMW S1000 RR), 1:45.543 12. Regis LACONI (Ducati 1098R), 1:45.663 13. Broc PARKES (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:46.368 14. Ruben XAUS (BMW S1000 RR), 1:46.571 15. Shane BYRNE (Ducati 1098R), 1:46.593 16. Shinya NAKANO (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:46.928 17. Leon HASLAM (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:46.250 18. Luca SCASSA (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:46.372 19. Karl MUGGERIDGE (Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9), 1:46.407 20. Jakub SMRZ (Ducati 1098R), 1:46.522 21. Tommy HILL (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:47.032 22. Brendan ROBERTS (Ducati 1098R), 1:47.130 23. Makoto TAMADA (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:47.220 24. Matteo BAIOCCO (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:47.220 25. Jake ZEMKE (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:47.751 26. David CHECA (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:47.868 27. David SALOM (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:47.963 28. Vittorio IANNUZZO (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:48.063 29. Roland RESCH (Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9), 1:48.810 More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: Jonathan Rea will start tomorrow’s fifth round World Superbike championship race from the second row of the grid after filing the sixth fastest time in today’s Superpole session at Monza in Italy. Pole position was taken by America’s Ben Spies as Rea’s Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate, Carlos Checa, qualified with the ninth fastest Superpole time. Rea went into Superpole with the third fastest time, but the three-stage shoot-out for final grid positions has proved a lottery in previous rounds and the Northern Irish rider slipped back to sixth. Jonathan Rea P6, 1’45.170s We were definitely aiming for a front row start because that’s where we’ve been for most of the weekend, so I’m a little disappointed to have missed out on that. But the race pace we’ve shown is pretty good and top six is not really too bad. I had to do it all on my spare bike when the number one machine developed a problem right at the start of free practice, just before Superpole, so the guys didn’t get a chance to fix it. Of course a good start is paramount here, but I think we can get a plan together tonight and, if that plan works, there’s no reason why I can’t be right up there tomorrow. I’ll try to be aggressive for the first couple of laps to make sure that the fast guys don’t get away. After that, we’ll see what happens. Carlos Checa P9, 1’45.166 Well, as you can see, I missed Superpole 3 by maybe one tenth but, really, ninth is not such a bad place to start here maybe better than eighth or seventh because you are on the outside. We struggled a little to find a perfect setting but qualifying is not especially easy here. I need two good starts tomorrow because our race pace is pretty good but it’s a very particular circuit, Monza. I hope I have the same feeling with the bike tomorrow because overall it’s pretty good and my strategy is to be in the leading group from the start because the tyres are working quite well over longer distance. Then I hope to still be in that group near the end. Ronald ten Kate team manager I’m really happy to see our riders still in the top ten and near the front after Superpole, which hasn’t always treated us so well in earlier rounds this season. We all know that a good start is very important here at Monza and at least Jonathan and Carlos are in a position that gives them a good opportunity to remain in touch with the leading group. Hopefully, riders and crew can harvest the fruits of all their development work since Valencia because everyone truly deserves it. More, from a press release issued by Ten Kate Honda: Ryuichi Kiyonari will make his first front row of the season in tomorrow’s fifth round World Superbike race at Monza in Italy after setting the third fastest time in today’s Superpole shoot-out. The Ten Kate Honda Racing rider will line up alongside Ben Spies, who took his fifth pole position of the season, Michel Fabrizio and Max Neurkirchner for tomorrow’s two 18-lappers around the famous 5.8km circuit just north of Milan. Kiyonari went into the three-stage Superpole with the tenth fastest time but his performances have increased throughout the weekend and the Japanese ace progressed into Superpole 3 where he set a time more than one second better than his previous weekend best. Ryuichi Kiyonari P3, 1’44.642s I am so happy to be on the front row here after some real problems in qualifying so far this season. Last year I nearly had my first Superbike win in race two, but maybe it’s possible this year because my bike is very fast. We have worked very hard to improve my feeling with the bike and to find a good setting and I am pleased that we got there today. We still have some things to try to improve the bike a little bit but the team has worked very hard for me, so thanks to them. I know it is important to have good starts here and I am in the best position for this. It is my first time on the front row this year and I want to make the most of it with two podium finishes tomorrow. Ronald ten Kate team manager Kiyo-san and his crew have worked methodically to improve his feeling with the bike since yesterday afternoon and now they have the reward for their efforts. We know the bike is suited to this circuit and it has shown that it has the speed that is required here. But, also, we have found a good direction with the development of the bike since Valencia, so I hope everyone can see the result of our work on the podium tomorrow. More, from a press release issued by Ben Spies’ publicist: MONZA BRINGS FIFTH CONSECUTIVE POLE FOR SPIES MONZA, Italy (May 9, 2009) Ben Spies continued his unbroken string of Superpole triumphs Saturday, by qualifying his Sterilgarda Yamaha R1 on the pole for tomorrow’s World Superbike event at Monza. Spies turned a time of 1:44.073 on the famous, high-speed 5.8 kilometer (3.6-mile), 13-turn Monza circuit. It marked his fifth Superpole in as many events in 2009 and established a new Superbike lap record at Monza. Spies was consistently near the top of the charts in all three 12-minute sessions of Saturday’s Superpole. The 24-year-old Texan finished Superpole 1 as runner up, just 5/100ths of a second behind Germany’s Max Neukirchner. In the second session Spies was the last of a group of four riders who dipped into the 1:44 bracket. Finally, when it was all on the line in the final session, it was Spies emerging with the blistering 1:44.073, breaking the lap record of 1:44.931 set last year by Troy Bayliss and finishing nearly 2/10ths of a second faster than second-place qualifier Michel Fabrizio. “We were working quietly yesterday perfecting our race set up and I guess we sort of snuck up on some people today,” Spies said, referring to his seventh-place qualifying placing on Friday. “In the practice session before Superpole the bike felt great and I knew we were going to be right there. I didn’t even use a qualifier until the final session [Superpole 3] and even then I went out and set my best time on the first flying lap. We had another qualifier ready to go if we needed it. I’d rate this as my best qualifying session of the year so far. “It was great to get this pole for the entire team since this our home base. I would gladly trade a couple of these Superpoles for a few more wins, but overall I’m happy with how things are going.” Monza is one of the highest speed circuits in the world and Spies says you literally “feel” the speed and he said the Italian fans are some of the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable in the world. “Monza being so fast is one of those places that keeps your attention,” he said. “I really enjoy this track, the fans, the atmosphere, everything. It’s great to be in a place where motorcycle racing is so popular. It’s unlike anything I’ve experienced.” Spies said he believes the work the team put in Friday on perfecting a race set up will pay off tomorrow. “I won’t say we have everybody covered, but I have to say this is the most confident I’ve felt going into a race,” Spies explained. “I know it’s going to be a challenge, but we put a lot into being ready for Sunday and sort of snuck under the radar earlier in the weekend. Hopefully everything will come together Sunday as we planned.” In just five rounds Spies has already moved past World Superbike greats Fred Merkel and James Toseland to 15th on the all-time World Superbike pole winners list. One unique aspect to this weekend is that Spies has been mobbed by large crowds at Monza. The circuit has had to employ extra security just so he can move around the facility. In recent weeks Spies has received massive exposure in his second home of Italy. He’s been on magazine covers and featured in numerous magazine and newspaper articles across the country. While he’s thrilled to have such fan support, his emerging popularity has left him somewhat embarrassed and perplexed. He said almost sheepishly, “These people seem to think I’m somebody. I haven’t done anything yet. I’m not Valentino Rossi.” In the U.S., both World Superbike rounds from Monza can be watched back to back on Speed TV starting with race one tomorrow, Sunday, May 10, at 4:00 pm Eastern. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha: Spies makes it five in a row in Monza To the delight of The Yamaha World Superbike Team’s home crowd rider Ben Spies effortlessly rode his R1 to take an incredible fifth consecutive Superpole of the year, again breaking the lap record in the process. Having spent the two qualifying sessions fine tuning his set up for race day, Spies took it relatively easy for the first two Superpole heats, ensuring he made it through to the final eight without using a qualifier tyre. As the final heat started, out came the new Pirelli qualifier tyre with its distinctive yellow stripe, and the lap time tumbled as Spies displayed what is now becoming almost expected, a scorching Superpole lap and a new lap record. Team-mate Tom Spies had a more frustrating Superpole experience, having started well on a qualifier in the first session he made it through safely to the second. The young British rider’s flying lap saw him quick enough through the first two splits to go through to the final session, however he came up against another rider on a slow down lap halfway round the infamous Parabolica corner, losing nearly half a second in the process and sealing his fate outside the top ten for the final heat. Sykes will now start tomorrow’s races from the third row of the grid. Ben Spies, Yamaha World Superbike Team (1st, 1’44.073) “It’s been really good here at Monza this weekend. The approach has been a bit different, we’ve kind of tried to sneak up on everyone and been working really hard on the race setup through the sessions. We’ve been working quietly away in the garage and I think the bike is going to be really good in the race. I really wanted to get this one for Yamaha on their home track so it was great to be able to take the Superpole for the team. It looks like it could be a bit of a dogfight tomorrow, hopefully we’ll have some guys up there to mix it up and shake up the points a little bit.” Tom Sykes, Yamaha World Superbike Team (10th 1’45.383) “Qualifying was a fairly steady session, we tried a couple more things to cross some boxes, so it was constructive. We got some more information out of it which helped towards the Superpole. We did the first Superpole heat ok, the aim of the game was to get into the top sixteen and we did that. I was fairly confident for the second one, I knew I was on a good lap and everything felt really nice and smooth but coming into the last corner, Kiyonari was in front of me. He was going pretty slowly and then sat up and we nearly came together. I lost half a second there and didn’t have time to get back and change tyres for another go. I’m very disappointed as I feel that our race pace for tomorrow is quite strong and we are having to start from row three. Hopefully we can get a good clean start and get through the first chicane and try and go with the leading bunch as I know we can stay with them.” Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha World Superbike Team Manager “After the pole position we are quite confident that tomorrow we can run a good race. Here in Monza the two races will be really close at the start with a lot of riders in a tight pack for the first half but I think after that just a few riders will fight for the win. I think tomorrow we will see two very good races.” More, from a press release issued by Xerox Ducati: MICHEL FABRIZIO (DUCATI XEROX) SPEEDS TO SECOND ON TOMORROW’S GRID IN FRONT OF THE HOME CROWD AT MONZA; HAGA FIFTH Monza (Italy) Saturday 9th May: an extremely positive day for the Italian rider Michel Fabrizio who, having registered the fastest time in every session so far, battled in this afternoon’s Superpole for the pole position, only to lose out in the final minutes to Yamaha rider Ben Spies. Michel was just two tenths off the fastest time but Michel and his team are nonetheless very satisfied with today’s performance and know that they have the pace necessary to be in contention for the win tomorrow. Noriyuki Haga also contributed to the excitement of the three mini-Superpole sessions by making a final exit in the last couple of minutes of the third Superpole in the hope of improving on the sixth place already obtained. An improvement was made but unfortunately a place on the first row remained just out of reach with Noriyuki achieving the fifth fastest time, on an already used qualifying tyre. The Ducati Xerox Team and riders Noriyuki and Michel have only one objective, to fight for the win in both of tomorrow’s races. In second qualifying this morning Ducati man Michel Fabrizio continued to impress, going four tenths of a second faster than the fastest time that he set yesterday and breaking the 1m45 barrier, the only rider to do so in either of this weekend’s qualifying sessions. Team-mate Noriyuki qualified for Superpole in fourth. Michel Fabrizio 1m44.2s “It’s a pity that I was unable to take the pole because we’ve been up there in every session until now and making the Superpole was the final step. I hoped to be the fastest but once again Spies made a great lap. Anyway we know that we have the race pace and I hope to be up there fighting together with Spies for the win tomorrow. The important thing is to start from the front row; last year I was down on the fourth row and it was so hard to make up the positions to eventually finish fourth and fifth, so being already up front tomorrow obviously gives me a strong advantage this time around.” Noriyuki Haga 1m45.0s “We have a great package and tomorrow, even if it’s going to be tough with five or six strong contenders, I intend to concentrate on taking the win. Today’s Superpole? Well I’m not so worried about not being on the front row to be honest. There are tracks, like Valencia, where it’s more important to start up front but Monza isn’t one of those tracks and the person who starts from first can easily be down in fifth by the end of the first lap. I’m feeling confident ahead of tomorrow’s races.” More, from a press release issued by Stuggy Racing Honda: Haslam just missing out on good Superpole result In the second day of qualifying on the fast track in Monza, Leon Haslam took a gamble with his tyres in the first Superpole session, and found himself left out of the shoot-out game that determines the first 16 places on the grid. Haslam was well on the pace in the early qualifying session, and set his fastest time at 1’45.919s. In the Free Practice session leading to Superpole, he managed to further lower his time to 1’45.763 while running on the last millimeters of thread on his race tyre. Confident he could keep the pace and repeat his time in the First Superpole qualifying, he opted for a soft race tyre to save his qualifiers for the remaining Superpole sessions. Unfortunately, a mistake on his first flying lap, and the choice of tyre left him sacrificing his placement for the second shoot out. It was Ben Spies who managed to snatch pole position from Michel Fabrizio – who dominated the sessions leading to Superpole – and sent the Italian back to a second place on the front row, alongside Ryuichi Kiyonari and Max Neukirchner. Leon Haslam will start both races for the fifth round of the Superbike World Championship from a 17th place on the grid. Newcomer to the series, Jake Zemke, had to dig deep today to make the most out of his Qualifying sessions. The fast track of Monza is by far the best place for a maiden race, but the American AMA Formula Extreme Champion remains confident he can improve his results in tomorrow’s race. He starts both races from a 25th place on the grid. Leon Haslam, P17, 1’46.250s: ” I am obviously disappointed. I messed up on my first lap and then I didn’t have time to come in for another tyre, and the tyre I was running on was finished. I was 0.6s quicker in the session before on an old race tyre, so I felt confident I could run a good lap again. I am really disappointed, but that’s the way this new Superpole qualifying works. We’ll have to make a good start in the race tomorrow and try to make up for the ground lost “. Jake Zemke, P25, 1’47.751s: ” It was not the best day for us here. We were making improvements yesterday, but today we were not able to capitalise on those improvements. We tried to go on in the same direction we were headed yesterday, bit it seemed that it didnt help the bike get quicker around the track. I will have to start over tomorrow morning and throw a new set of plans at the bike, and make it go around the corners a little better for me. I am really struggling getting the bike to go around the corner. It is definitely hurting us right now. I knew it would be difficult coming in here this weekend as we are in at the deep end, but at the same time we should definitely be a lot further up then we are now “. Johan Stigefelt, Teammanager: ” We were very unlucky in the Superpole session. We took a gamble with the tyre and just missed out on the second Superpole. Leon was comfortable he could run the ’45s, as he did in the Free Practice, so we opted for a softer tyre in the First qualifying, but that didn’t really work out, and on top of that he made a mistake on his first lap. It just didn’t work out today. We’ll have to analyse the data and see what we can improve tomorrow. We know we can run a good race pace on the harder tyre. For Jake, everything here is just a new exerience and it is hard to say whether it is good or bad or anything. It is just a learning curve for him. The set up is not as he would like to have it, but I am confident it will come “. More, from a press release issued by InFront Motorsports: Spies Takes Five for Yamaha in Monza Superpole Ben Spies made it an impressive five Superpole triumphs in five races with a blistering lap in the decisive qualifying session at the Autodromo di Monza. The Yamaha World Superbike team’s Texan rookie star, who received his Superpole trophy from Troy Bayliss, totally disintegrated the Australian champion’s previous record mark of 1’44.931 to clinch the pole with a time of 1 minute 44.077 seconds. The only rider who was able to stay close to Spies throughout the 50 minute session was Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), who had dominated qualifying, but who had to take second best by two-tenths. Third place on the grid went to Ryuichi Kiyonari (Ten Kate Honda), who is starting to come good again after a difficult start to the season. The Japanese rider, who almost won here twelve months ago, headed Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Alstare). The German was out of contention until a couple of minutes from the end, but he put in a last-minute effort to haul his GSXR into the fourth slot, making it four different makes, Yamaha, Ducati, Honda and Suzuki, on the first row of the grid. Ben Spies: “It’s been a really good weekend for us so far, we’ve had these poles this year but I definitely wanted to get this one for Yamaha at their home track. Congratulations to Michel and Kiyo, they did great laps, we’ve kind of been working under the radar this weekend, very quiet, but it looks like it’s going to be a real dogfight tomorrow in the races.” Michel Fabrizio: “I wanted the Superpole at all costs but Ben did a great lap. Hopefully tomorrow I can fight with him for the first time because we have never been up against each other so far. We’ll see what happens. In any case I have a much better feeling with this new Superpole formula, I didn’t like the one-lap sprint at all.” Ryuichi Kiyonari: “Yesterday and today we tried to make the good setting and finally I could get the bike set up well to go fast. I hope I can get the same result as last year. Last year I almost won and I feel like I have a good chance to win tomorrow because my bike is very fast.” Max Neukirchner: “I really like Monza with all the fans here, it’s a great atmosphere. My team did a very good job this weekend . I have a good race pace for tomorrow and hopefully I have made the right tyre choice, but I am so happy to be on the front row.” The next rider up was Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox), who had to use his second allocated qualifier to save himself from the cut after the second run. Haga will be flanked on row 2 by Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing), who set the all-time fastest ever speed recorded in Superbike at 325.8 km/h, and Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki Alstare). In row 3 can be found the first BMW of Troy Corser, with the leading Kawasaki of the still injured Broc Parkes. The first Superpole run saw the elimination of two top privateers, Leon Haslam (Stiggy Racing Honda) and Jakub Smrz (Ducati Guandalini), both of whom scored podiums at Assen but who will now start from row 5 at Monza. Times: 1. Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R 1’44.073; 2. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’44.270; 3. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1’44.642; 4. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’44.900; 5. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1’45.096; 6. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’45.170; 7. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’45.605; 8. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’45.861; 9. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1’45.166; 10. Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1’45.383; 11. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1’45.543; 12. Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1’45.663; 13. Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’46.368; 14. Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1’46.571; 15. Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1’46.593; 16. Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’46.928 World Supersport There’s no stopping Britain’s Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha World Supersport), who powered to his fourth pole position in five races. The points leader improved the previous record mark by almost one-tenth, leaving it at 1 minute 49.706 seconds. Crutchlow, in his rookie Supersport season, will not have it easy in the race however, after being pushed hard all the way by Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Provec) and Fabien Foret (Yamaha World Supersport). The final front row qualifier was Assen winner Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda), who moved up the timesheets well after a disappointing Friday. The second row contains Mark Aitchison (Althea Honda), who crashed harmlessly today, and the Hannspree Ten Kate pairing of Kenan Sofuoglu and Andrew Pitt, who are over 1 second off the pole pace. Italian Gianluca Nannelli and Australian Garry McCoy were next up on the ParkinGo Be1 675 machines as Triumph attempt to get a slice of the Supersport glory. Times: 1. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1’49.706; 2. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’49.739; 3. Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’49.803; 4. Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 1’50.006; 5. Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1’50.407; 6. Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1’50.636; 7. Pitt A. (AUS)Honda CBR600RR 1’50.733; 8. Nannelli G. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 1’50.798 Superstock 1000 The three candidates for the Superstock 1000 title lived up to their star billing in the qualifying session, with the first pole position of the season for Xavier Simeon (Ducati Xerox) in 1 minute 48.675 seconds. Just a fraction separated him from his chief rivals, Claudio Corti (Suzuki Alstare) and Maxime Berger (Ten Kate Honda), making tomorrow’s race a wide-open affair. The front row is completed by wild-card Domenico Colucci (Ducati Barni), who won last weekend’s Italianj championship race here. The other possible candidates for victory include Javier Fores (Kawasaki Pedercini) with fifth quickest time, who will have Daniele Beretta (Ducati Xerox) and Davide Giugliano (MV Agusta) alongside. Talented French youngster Loris Baz (MRS Yamaha) failed to emerge in qualifying and finished in 24th place on the grid. Times: 1. Simeon X. (BEL) Ducati 1098R 1’48.675; 2. Corti C. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’48.825; 3. Berger M. (FRA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’49.062; 4. Colucci D. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’49.178; 5. Fores J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’49.512; 6. Beretta D. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’49.545; 7. Giugliano D. (ITA) MV Agusta F4 312 R 1’49.862; 8. Barrier S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R1 1’49.864 Superstock 600 An all-Italian and all-Yamaha front row made up the qualifying session for European Superstock 600. The pole position went to wild-card Ferruccio Lamborghini (Media Action), who edged out the two favourites Danilo Petrucci and Marco Bussolotti (Trasimeno), coming close to Baz’s 2008 record. The final front row slot went to Fabio Massei (M2 Racing), while Vincent Lonbois (MTM Yamaha) and championship leader Gino Rea (Ten Kate Honda) also line up on row 2. Times: 1. Lamborghini F. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’53.605; 2. Petrucci D. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’53.813; 3. Bussolotti M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’54.370; 4. Massei F. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’54.452; 5. Gregorini G. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’54.915; 6. Lonbois V. (BEL) Yamaha YZF R6 1’55.079 7. Rea G. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1’55.107; 8. La Marra E. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1’55.178 More, from a press release issued by BMW: BMW Motorrad Motorsport rider Troy Corser recorded his best Superpole qualifying of the year by taking the eleventh quickest time in Q2, to end up on row three. And it might have been even better, but for yellow flags and marshals on the kerbs when Troy was on a fast lap towards the end of the session. Troy’s team mate Ruben Xaus ended with the fourteenth fastest lap and will start from row four but was happy that he too had improved in Superpole. American Ben Spies (Yamaha) continued his perfect run of Superpole wins this season, with Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) second, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) third and Max Neukirchner (Suzuki) fourth. Troy – 11th, 1:45.543 Well that is our best result in Superpole this year, but I really think it could’ve been even better. I was on a fast lap towards the end of the session and as I approached the Parabolica I saw yellow flags and oil flags being waved. I had to roll off the throttle a little and when I got to the turn there were some marshals standing on the kerbs! Obviously there had been a crash or something, but it was a real shame because I knew I was going to beat my previous lap time. I feel pretty sure that I would’ve qualified for Superpole 3 and that would have meant a start from at least row two. We solved some of yesterday’s problems, but I think we still need a more consistent braking feeling. There are quite a few bumps here and that makes our bike move and skip about a bit. We’re working on a lot on the electronics side of things and it’s an area which we have to sort out completely and then we’ll be able to lap faster and be more competitive. But I’m happy with out best Superpole result so far and if I can get two good starts, then I’ll be in with a chance of some good results. Ruben – 14th, 1:6.571 Everything is coming better and although there’s still lots to do, we are all working together well and the bike is improving and improving. Maybe here today we had too much grip and that affected the feel of the bike. Also the bike didn’t feel as fast today as when we tested here a month ago and that might be to do with grip and it might be to do with electronics. Today we tried to set the bike up for consistent lap times and maybe lost a little power as a result. I had a little crash today, but I think five other riders crashed using the same tyre, so I think it was because of the soft tyre all of us had used. Tomorrow morning we’ll make some adjustments in the warm-up and hopefully we’ll improve some more. Berti Hauser (Director BMW Motorrad Motorsport) Congratulations to Troy for giving us our best Superpole result so far and I’m only sorry because it seems like it could’ve been even better. But that’s the way things are sometimes and we have to be happy that we are getting better every time we go out. Ruben also made an improvement and this shows that we are going in the right direction. Troy and Ruben have both fought from way down the grid before and I’m sure we’ll see more of that from them tomorrow. More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Team Suzuki Alstare Brux rider Max Neukirchner will start tomorrow’s Monza World Superbike race in Italy from the front row of the grid for the first time this season after posting the fourth quickest time in Superpole 1 today. His team mate Yukio Kagayama set the eighth fastest lap time and will start just behind Max on row two. America Ben Spies (Yamaha) once again dominated Superpole and took his fifth straight win of the season. Second was Michel Fabrizio (Ducati), with Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) third. Neukirchner’s fourth place means that the front row of the grid is filled by four different manufacturers. Max Neukirchner – 4th, 1:44.900: “It’s my first time on the front row and I’m happy for myself and the whole team. We improved the bike from yesterday by making some changes to the suspension and electronics and I think we have a good package and one that can give us a podium. Tomorrow we’ll make a few adjustments in the warm-up and see if we can make the bike better, but I think we’ll be OK. It will be important to get good starts tomorrow because the last thing I want is to get held up behind a group of riders going into the first chicane. But I hope I will not be in that situation and will do my best to make sure I get good starts.” Yukio Kagayama – 8th, 1:45.861: “We improved the feel of the brakes and today I was able to overtake some riders on the brakes, whereas I could not do this yesterday. My only problem was I felt that my bike did not have enough rear grip in the high speed turns, so we will try something in the warm-up tomorrow to see if we can improve the grip there. I like Monza circuit and I will be hoping to get on the podium tomorrow.” Final WSB qualifying: 1 Spies (USA-Yamaha) 1:44.073, 2 Fabrizio (I-Ducati) 1:44.270, 3 Kiyonari (J-Honda) 1:44.642, 4 Max Neukirchner (D-Suzuki Alstare Brux) 1:44.900, 5 Haga (J-Ducati) 1:45.096, 6 Rea (GB-Honda) 1:45.170, 7 Biaggi (I-Aprilia) 1:45.605, 8 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare Brux) 1:45.861. SUPERSTOCK 1000: Team Suzuki Alstare Brux rider Claudio Corti set the second quickest lap in qualifying today at Monza and will start tomorrow’s 11-lap race on the front row just behind Xavi Simeon (Ducati). Joining them on the front row will be Maxime Berger (Honda) and Dominico Colucci (Ducati). Claudio Corti – 2nd, 1:48.825: “I am happy enough with second because I am only a tenth of a second or so behind the leader. Today was a good day and the only problem I had was that I felt that the track was a bit dirty in the Ascari, so I took it steady through there. “My bike was better today than yesterday and a little faster because we were using a new exhaust. I feel ready for the race and ready to challenge for the podium, especially as I have a lot of fans coming from my home town (Como) tomorrow and I want to give them all a good result.” Saturday Superstock 1000 qualifying: 1 Simeon (B-Ducati) 1:48.675, 2 Claudio Corti (I-Suzuki Alstare Brux) 1:48.825, 3 Berger (F-Honda) 1:49.062, 4 Colucci (I-Ducati) 1:49.178, 5 Fores (E-Kawasaki) 1:49.512, 6 Beretta (I-Ducati) 1:49.545. More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki: Parkes Into Superpole Two At Classic Monza Circuit WSBK, Monza, Italy, 9 May 2009 Broc Parkes returned from injury to post 13th best time in Superpole on his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R and start the 18-lap races at Monza from the fourth row of the grid. In regular qualifying Parkes was 16th and only 1.452 seconds from the fastest time in the pre-Superpole session, and after the first of three Superpole sessions, he and his team made a good job of getting into the second elimination round. Parkes is still not back to his full best in terms of his physical condition following his big crash in testing, and was well down the order on day one. On the latest specification of machine today, which featured some upgraded parts for the Monza round, he was a force to be reckoned with, heading off Assen podium finishers Leon Haslam and Jakub Smrz in Superpole Makoto Tamada was unable to reach the top 20 qualifying level and therefore enter the Superpole contest, and he now starts 23rd on the grid. The 5.973km Monza circuit is the fastest one on the WSB calendar, with Parkes setting an average lap speed in his best Superpole lap of 196kmph. Broc Parkes: “Pretty much race I have been at I have made it into the second sector of Superpole, so I’m really happy about that again. But I think I have three 13th places on the grid already so it would have been nice to have made that next step up to the third row. After yesterday I didn’t expect to be so high up the grid but my fitness was a bit better today. Physically, I am still struggling a lot but to be 13th out of 29, I’m happy. My shoulder doesn’t feel too good but the bike was easier to ride today and I could ride it the way I wanted to, but I still couldn’t move around on it like I would normally. I think it will be tough tomorrow, but I think I will feel a little bit better again.” Makoto Tamada: “I just could not get comfortable on the bike today and that meant our qualifying did not turn out the way we wanted. I hope we can find something more for tomorrow because normally like this track.” More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: SO CLOSE TO SECOND ROW! In Superpole qualifying at Monza today, Troy posted his best result of the season and will start tomorrow’s pair of 18-lap races from the third row of the grid. But it could have been even better. The second row of the grid was beckoning on Troy’s hot lap at the end of the session but then yellow flags came out. An earlier crash caused the flags to come out and Troy had no option but to roll off the gas a bit and that was enough to lose a fraction of a second when it mattered. Had it not been for the flags, Troy may well have qualified for Superpole 3 and a start from the second row at the very least. American Ben Spies (Yamaha) made it five out five Superpole wins this season, with Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) second, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) third and Max Neukirchner (Suzuki) fourth. Troy – 11th, 1:45.543 I’m happy because it is our best result so far this year, but I’m not happy because of what happened at the end of Superpole Q2. I feel sure I was on course for qualifying for Q1 and was up on my lap time when I saw yellow flags and oil flags being waved up at the Parabolica. So, I had to ease off the gas a bit and was a bit surprised, to say the least, when I saw some marshals on the kerb stones. Obviously I wasn’t able to go as fast as I wanted and the time I lost meant that I didn’t get into Q1. That was a shame, but we’re all a bit happy because the third row is our best performance in Superpole this year so far and that shows that we are improving. We are still working on quite a few things at the moment and one of them is to improve the consistency of the braking feel. Also this track is a bit bumpy in places and our bike is skipping about a bit, so we’ll make a few adjustments in the warm-up tomorrow and see if can make the bike a bit better. Third row is our best so far and I’ve already showed what I can do from even further back, so I am hoping to get two good starts and fight with the front group. Wish me luck. More, from a press release issued by Team Sterilgarda: Shane Byrne qualifies fifteenth at Monza due to electrical problems and will have to start the race from the fourth row. The English rider hoped to get a better starting position but an electrical component malfunction during session two of the Superpole prevented him from performing at his best. Nonetheless, Shakey will try to get in the top 10 in both races tomorrow. SHANE BYRNE | Ducati 1098R | 15th : “I don’t know what happened but the bike had a problem. I’m really sorry because I know I could’ve improved my time and fight for the top eight spots in the third session of the Superpole. Unfortunately, we keep having incidents during practice and this prevents us from tackling the race from a better starting position”.