From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

VERMEULEN EDGES AHEAD AT IMOLA

Honda CBR600RR rider Chris Vermeulen snatched provisional pole position for round 10 of the World Supersport championship at Imola, Italy with the fastest lap in Friday afternoon¹s opening qualifying practice.

Vermeulen, whose lap was more than one second inside the existing lap record, heads into Sunday’s race at the circuit near Bologna needing eight points, the equivalent of eighth place, to clinch the world title on his Ten Kate Honda.

“After this morning’s free practice I was feeling confident but this afternoon the times have really closed up,” said the 21-year-old Australian. “There was a lot of riders all out there in the closing stages of the session and it was almost impossible to get a clear lap without being held up.”

It was Vermeulen’s nearest rival in the title chase, Japanese rider Katsuaki Fujiwara, who was edged into second place by the Honda CBR600RR pilot’s flying lap. Vermeulen’s team-mate Karl Muggeridge recorded the third fastest time as he bids to add to his victory in the last round at Assen, Holland.

Muggeridge said: “I’m certain I could’ve gone a lot quicker but there were too many riders cruising around looking for a tow. The set-up of the machine feels excellent ­ especially considering we’ve never been here with the
CBR600RR.”

Former world champion Stephane Chambon was fourth quickest with local ace Gianluca Nannelli fifth. Sebastien Charpentier, aboard the Klaffi Honda
team’s CBR600RR, ended the day sixth but in the Imola gravel trap.

“I was trying too hard at the end of the session and braked too late, the front wheel tucked under and I crashed,” Charpentier explained, who escaped injury. “But for my first time at Imola I’m happy with today’s performance.”

Affable Dutchman Jurgen van den Goorbergh was seventh quickest with Matthieu Lagrive eighth, just 0.001s ahead of Austrian Robert Ulm, on the second of the Klaffi Honda machines.

“I didn’t feel like I was pushing that hard today,” said Ulm. “So long as the conditions are as good tomorrow I’ll be able to record a much faster lap.”

Alessio Corradi completes the provisional top 10 while the Van Zon pairing of Iain MacPherson and Werner Daemen ended Friday’s action in 13th and 17th places respectively.

MacPherson commented: “I’m comfortable around this place. This morning I was very relaxed and lapped quickly but this afternoon I didn’t really get into any sort of rhythm. I know what’s needed tomorrow and I really want to be up there challenging for a win on Sunday.”

Daemen, looking to start his first race at Imola on Sunday, said: “I had a little front suspension problem but on my fast lap, at the end of the
session, I highsided and was so close to crashing. I missed last year’s race here through injury and in 2001 I crashed in practice so I would at least like to be on the starting grid this year!”

Friday’s World Supersport championship qualifying times: 1 Chris Vermeulen, Australia (Honda) 1:52.918

2 Katsuaki Fujiwara, Japan (Suzuki) 1:52.934

3 Karl Muggeridge, Australia (Honda) 1:53.067

4 Stephane Chambon, France (Suzuki) 1:53.118

5 Gianluca Nannelli, Italy (Yamaha) 1:53.566

6 Sebastien Charpentier, France (Honda) 1:53.608

7 Jurgen van den Goorbergh, Holland (Yamaha) 1:53.715

8 Mattieu Lagrive, France (Yamaha) 1:53.870

9 Robert Ulm, Austria (Honda) 1:53.871

10 Alessio Corradi, Italy (Yamaha) 1:53.932

13 Iain MacPherson, GB (Honda) 1:54.427

17 Werner Daemen, Belgium (Honda) 1:54.576