Misano (San Marino), Friday 10 June 2011 – Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) ended up on the top slot in Friday’s World Superbike qualifying session with a time of 1 minute 36.024 seconds, half-a-second quicker than Cal Crutchlow’s lap record set during last year’s race. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) went head-to-head with Checa for much of the session, but any last-minute attempt by the Italian to oust his rival from the top was thwarted by a crash by Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad) four minutes from the end that interrupted proceedings.
In the crash Corser suffered a bang on his head and was taken to the medical centre for checks but the Australian should be OK for tomorrow. The session was completed a short time afterwards, with Corser ending up fifth fastest at a circuit where he holds the qualifying record. Two more Italians are behind Biaggi; Marco Melandri (Yamaha World Superbike Team) and Michel Fabrizio (Alstare Suzuki), with Melandri’s team-mate Eugene Laverty completing the top 6.
Jakub Smrz (Effenbert–Liberty Racing Ducati) pushed his way to seventh on his big twin, one place up on the Aprilia Pata machine of Noriyuki Haga. Sylvain Guintoli, Smrz’ team-mate went ninth, with the top ten being rounded out by Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike), with six different manufacturers represented in the top ten places. Top Honda rider was Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) in 12th, while comeback kid Chris Vermeulen (Kawasaki Racing Team) finished his first day at Misano in 22nd place.
In a close qualifying session the top 21 riders were within 1.5 seconds of the top spot. Final qualifying and the Tissot Superpole contest take place on Saturday 11th June.
Times: 1. Carlos Checa (Althea Racing), Ducati 1098R, 1’36.024. 2. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team), Aprilia RSV4 Factory, 1’36.149. 3. Marco Melandri (Yamaha World Superbike Team), Yamaha YZF R1, 1’36.482. 4. Michel Fabrizio (Team Suzuki Alstare), Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1’36.546. 5. Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport), BMW S1000 RR, 1’36.656. 6. Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike Team), Yamaha YZF R1, 1’36.683. 7. Jakub Smrz (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing), Ducati 1098R 1’36.713, 8. Noriyuki Haga (PATA Racing Team Aprilia), Aprilia RSV4 Factory, 1’36.728. 9. Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing), Ducati 1098R, 1’36.753. 10. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike), Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1’36.793. 11. Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport), BMW S1000 RR, 1’36.810. 12. Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda), Honda CBR1000RR, 1’36.824. 13. Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team), Aprilia RSV4 Factory, 1’36.984. 14. Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team), BMW S1000 RR, 1’37.059. 15. Matteo Baiocco (Barni Racing Team S.N.C.), Ducati 1098R, 1’37.073, etc.
World Supersport
Sam Lowes made a clear impression on the rest of the field at the Misano World Circuit as the Parkalgar Honda man went quickest in the first qualifying session. His time of 1 minute 39.618 seconds was good enough to take the provisional pole away from points leader (equal with Luca Scassa) and Yamaha ParkinGO’s Chaz Davies.
Two Kawasaki Motocard.com machines were next up with David Salom and Broc Parkes in third and fourth, while former champion Fabien Foret (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was fifth. Wild-card entry, but also Italian champion, Ilario Dionisi (Honda Italia) proved to be a true revelation as he posted the sixth quickest time, with Robbin Harms (Harms Benjan Honda) and Florian Marino (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) right behind.
Times: 1. Sam Lowes (Parkalgar Honda), Honda CBR600RR, 1’39.541. 2. Chaz Davies (Yamaha ParkinGO Team), Yamaha YZF R6, 1’39.618. 3. David Salom (Kawasaki Motocard.com), Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’39.795. 4. Broc Parkes (Kawasaki Motocard.com), Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1’39.897. 5. Fabien Foret (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), Honda CBR600RR, 1’40.133. 6. Ilario Dionisi (Honda Italia Improve FG), Honda CBR600RR, 1’40.141. 7. Robbin Harms (Harms Benjan Racing Team), Honda CBR600RR, 1’40.454. 8. Florian Marino (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), Honda CBR600RR, 1’40.467. etc.
Superstock 1000
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Racing Team Ducati) took the top slot in this afternoon’s Superstock 1000 qualifying session, his time of 1’39.118 just ahead of points leader Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Ducati). A German bike was right behind the two Italian machines, Sylvain Barrier taking his BMW Motorrad Italia S 1000RR machine to third place. Andrea Antonelli (Lorini Honda) was next up, with former champion Niccolò Canepa (GOELEVEN Kawasaki) finally producing good form in sixth ahead of Monza winner Lorenzo Zanetti (BMW Motorrad Italia Superstock team).
Times: 1. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Racing Team), Ducati 1098R, 1’39.118. 2. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing), Ducati 1098R, 1’39.550. 3. Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia Superstock), BMW S1000 RR, 1’39.776. 4. Andrea Antonelli (Team Lorini), Honda CBR1000RR, 1’39.891. 5. Niccolò Canepa(Goeleven), Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1’39.911. 6. Lorenzo Zanetti (BMW Motorrad Italia Superstock), BMW S1000 RR, 1’40.089. 7. Sheridan Morais (Lorenzini by Leoni), Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1’40.262. 8. Michele Magnoni (Baru Racing Team), BMW S1000 RR, 1’40.306., etc.
Superstock 600
Wild-card rider Giuliano Gregorini (Trasimeno Yamaha) set the quickest time in the first qualifying session for European Superstock 600, ahead of regular campaigner Dino Lombardi (Martini Corse Yamaha), currently second in the points standings. Third quickest was another domestic rider, Christian Gamarino (GOELEVEN Kawasaki), while Stéphane Egea (ASPI Yamaha) was the first foreign interloper in fourth, with the promising Australian Jed Metcher (MTM-RT Yamaha) next up ahead of another youngster, Francesco Cocco (Martini Corse Yamaha) in sixth.
Times: 1. Giuliano Gregorini (RCGM Team), Yamaha YZF R6, 1’41.896. 2. Dino Lombardi (Martini Corse), Yamaha YZF R6, 1’42.496. 3. Christian Gamarino (Goeleven), Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1’42.499. 4. Stèphane Egea (Team ASPI), Yamaha YZF R6, 1’42.718. 5. Jed Metcher (MTM-RT Motorsports Team), Yamaha YZF R6, 1’42.755. 6. Francesco Cocco (Martini Corse), Yamaha YZF R6, 1’42.799. 7. Riccardo Russo (Team Trasimeno), Yamaha YZF R6, 1’42.831. 8. Luca Vitali (Forwards Racing Jr Team), Yamaha YZF R6, 1’43.007. etc.
The ‘Two Countries Cup’, featuring riders from the Russian Federation and Italy, is on the Misano race card and the first qualifying session was headed by Vladimir Leonov (Yakhnich Motorsport) who went over a second faster than his nearest rival, Stefano Togni (Str lg Factory Yamaha). The next five riders were all from Italy, Andrea Agnelli (Clinica della Moto Yamaha) the third fastest overall, with one more qualifying session remaining.
