Monza (Italy), Saturday 7 May 2011 – Reigning champion Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) reasserted himself at his home circuit of Monza with a spectacular display in Superpole qualifying, setting a lap of 1 minute 41.745 seconds to take his first pole position of the 2011 season.
Biaggi had a truly record-breaking day today, the Italian using a qualifying tyre to set his new best lap of the 5.777km circuit together with an all-time record average lap speed in WSBK history of 204.405 km/h. He also set an absolute top speed record, achieving 334.8 km/h in second free qualifying session.
Second in Superpole, some 0.648 seconds behind, was Eugene Laverty (Yamaha Superbike Racing Team) then Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) and Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) completed the front row, making it four different bikes in the top four places.
Max Biaggi: “It was very good, my first Superpole this year. This track is special for us and finally it came after three races in which it has been difficult to be competitive and get back on top. In qualifying we made good set-up trying a few different things, some of which worked and some of which didn’t. But we did a good job and Italy is always special for us. For sure, top speed is a help at Monza and you need it, but also good braking and agility helps, and I’m happy with everything.”
Eugene Laverty: “It’s been a good weekend for us, the fact that the team is pretty much next door to the circuit is nice and hopefully we can have a couple of good races tomorrow and be fighting for the podium. We’ve been waiting for it for a long time and hopefully tomorrow we can achieve that. The Yamahas managed to challenge the Aprilias on this track last year, so we’re looking forward to this weekend to try and challenge Max again.”
Jonathan Rea: “For sure I’m very happy to be on the front row of the grid, because the weekend hasn’t panned out great so far. We’ve been working very hard for tomorrow’s race, it was pretty critical in the end for tyres with the temperature going up and down, but I’m savouring the moment to be on the front row, it’s exactly what we need to get away in the group tomorrow. For sure it’ll be a big group but a big ambition of mine is to stand on the podium here at Monza, it’ll be very special.”
Fifth on the grid for Sunday’s 18-lap races is another local legend Marco Melandri (Yamaha World Superbike) with Friday’s fastest qualifier Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) sixth. The second row is completed by the last two riders in Superpole 3, Michel Fabrizio (Suzuki Alstare) and Noriyuki Haga (Pata Aprilia).
A great ride from satellite competitor Ayrton Badovini (BWM Motorrad Italia Superbike) put him ninth, ahead of British rider Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia). Championship leader Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) was the top twin-cylinder rider on show, 11th, one place up on the battling Sylvain Guintoli (Effenbert – Liberty Racing Ducati).
Out of Superpole after a close combined qualifying ranking were big names like Chris Vermeulen (Kawasaki Racing Team) and James Toseland (BMW Motorrad Italia Superbike), each struggling with injuries, Vermeulen from a first day highside crash that gashed his left elbow and Toseland from an existing operation on his right hand.
Times: 1. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’41.745; 2. Laverty E. (IRL) Yamaha YZF R1 1’42.393; 3; 4. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’42.614; 4.Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1’42.688; 5. Melandri M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R1 1’42.714; 6. Haslam L. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 1’42.723; 7. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’42.954; 8. Haga N. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’43.043; 9. Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 1’42.886; 10. Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’42.995; 11. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1’43.116; 12. Guintoli S. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1’43.146; 13. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’43.090; 14. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’43.437; 15. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1’43.993; 16.Berger M. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1’44.005; etc.
World Supersport
The ParkinGO Yamahas continue to dominate in the Supersport World Championship, but this time pole position at Monza is in the hands Chaz Davies. The British rider set a quickest time of 1 minute 47.809 seconds around the high-speed track, a couple of tenths quicker than Sam Lowes on the Parkalgar Honda. Broc Parkes took his Kawasaki Motocard.com ZX-6R machine to third place, with the front row completed by Fabien Foret (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda).
Fifth and sixth place went to two Italians, Roberto Tamburini on the Bike Service Racing Team Yamaha and Luca Scassa with the second ParkinGO Yamaha. Florian Marino (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) continued his Supersport learning curve with the next slot on the grid, and James Ellison took his Bogdanka PTR Honda to the outside row 2 position, one place ahead of Gino Rea (Step Racing Honda).
Times: 1. Davies C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1’47.809; 2. Lowes S. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1’48.051; 3. Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’48.189; 4.Foret F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1’48.347; 5. Tamburini R. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’48.368; 6. Scassa L. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’48.468; 7. Marino F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1’48.55; 8. Ellison J. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1’49.080; etc.
Superstock 1000
Opening round winner Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Ducati) powered to pole position for tomorrow’s Superstock 1000 race at Monza with a time of 1 minute 46.044 seconds. The Italian was ahead of the three BMW S 1000 RR machines that have been setting the pace so far, the Italia STK version of Sylvain Barrier, Michele Magnoni (Baru Racing Team) and the other BMW Italia bike of Lorenzo Zanetti. Australian champion Bryan Staring put in an excellent run to take his Kawasaki Pedercini to fifth overall ahead of the second Althea Racing Ducati of Lorenzo Baroni.
Times: 1. Giugliano D. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’46.044; 2. Barrier S. (FRA) BMW S1000 RR 1’46.261; 3.Magnoni M. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 1’46.352; 4. Zanetti L. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 1’46.358; 5. Staring B. (AUS); Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’46.527; 6. Baroni L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’46.807; 7. Petrucci D. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’46.875; 8. Bussolotti M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’47.013; etc.
Supersport 600 – Race
With his win at Monza, young Frenchman Romain Lanusse ((MRS Yamaha Racing France) has now taken over at the top of the European Superstock 600 Championship. Such was Lanusse’s domination that the following group were a full six seconds behind in their sprint to the line. The photo-finish saw Dino Lombardi (Martini Corse Yamaha) take the runner-up slot, ahead of American Joshua Day (Racedays Kawasaki), wild-card Franco Morbidelli (Forwards Yamaha), Riccardo Russo (Trasimeno Yamaha) and another wild-card Giuliano Gregorini (RCGM Team Yamaha). In the standings Lanusse is now followed by Dutchman Michael van der Mark, who could only finish tenth.
Results: 1. Lanusse R. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 18’43.803 (185,061 kph); 2. Lombardi D. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 6.167; 3. Day J. (USA) Kawasaki ZX-6R 6.662; 4. Morbidelli F. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 6.665; 5.Russo R. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 6.685; 6. Gregorini G. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 6.829; 7. Vitali L. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 7.500; 8. Major N. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 8.398; etc.
Points: 1. Lanusse 45; 2. Lombardi 33; 3. VD Mark 31; 4. Day 23; 5. Russo 20; 6. Calero perez 17; 7. Metcher 16; 8. Morbidelli 13; etc.
