Phillip Island WSB: Haslam secures maiden pole position, four Brits on first two rows

Leon Haslam claimed his first ever World Superbike pole position with a stunning 1m 31.229 second lap around the Phillip Island circuit today. Onboard his Alstare Suzuki GSXR1000, Haslam survived a high speed crash in this mornings qualifying to bounce back with a string of fast times during free practice and all three Superpole sessions.

Speaking to MCN, Haslam said: “It feels good to get pole, but it was pretty nerve racking watching the other guys after I’d set my time. Fabrizio and Cal came close, but I got it in the end.

“I’m confident with out set-up whatever the conditions. The times are coming easily but I know that it will be close tomorrow. With Phillip Island it’s not what you can do in the first five laps, its what you can do in the last five.”

Michel Fabrizio backed up his weekend long performance with second position onboard his factory Xerox Ducati. Cal Crutchlow defied the odds of not only getting into final Superpole session but by setting the third fastest time using a race tyre having used his two qualifiers in Superpole two.

Crutchlow said: “The team have worked hard and the bike is a lot better, but it is still really physical to ride. The traction control is helping us a lot, but we still need more. Tomorrows race all depends on track temperature and tyre choice, but if it’s cool like it was this morning I’d be confident of a good result.”

Jonathan Rea and James Toseland secured seventh and eighth places respectively to make it four British riders on the front two rows of the grid.

Noriyuki Haga and Max Biaggi were two high profile riders who failed to make the cut into final Superpole. Biaggi didn’t even get the chance to use his qualifying tyre, instead electing to try and make the cut using a race tyre.

Shane Byrne has been unable to match his early qualifying pace due to injury and dropped out in the first Superpole with Tom Sykes and Leon Camier qualifying in 12th and 16th places.

1 91 L. HASLAM GBR Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’32.373 1’32.436 41 1’31.229 1’31.229 175,405
2 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1’32.162 1’33.099 39 1’31.245 0.016 1’31.245 175,374
3 35 C. CRUTCHLOW GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda Team Yamaha YZF R1 1’33.038 1’32.446 45 1’31.642 0.413 1’31.642 174,614
4 7 C. CHECA ESP Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 1’32.155 1’32.227 45 1’31.671 0.442 1’31.671 174,559
5 50 S. GUINTOLI FRA Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’32.902 1’32.448 47 1’31.696 0.467 1’31.696 174,511
6 96 J. SMRZ CZE Team PATA B&G Racing Ducati 1098R 1’32.905 1’32.571 38 1’31.757 0.528 1’31.757 174,395
7 65 J. REA GBR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’32.884 1’32.460 52 1’31.912 0.683 1’31.912 174,101
8 52 J. TOSELAND GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda Team Yamaha YZF R1 1’33.422 1’32.455 25 1’32.019 0.790 1’32.019 173,899
————————————————– Superpole 2 ————————————————–
9 57 L. LANZI ITA DFX Corse Ducati 1098R 1’33.454 1’32.620 34 1’32.205 1’32.205 173,548
10 41 N. HAGA JPN Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1’32.703 1’32.751 48 1’32.229 0.024 1’32.229 173,503
11 3 M. BIAGGI ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1’32.850 1’33.637 46 1’32.293 0.088 1’32.293 173,383
12 66 T. SYKES GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’33.492 1’32.806 36 1’32.398 0.193 1’32.398 173,186
13 11 T. CORSER AUS BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’33.512 1’32.684 39 1’32.430 0.225 1’32.430 173,126
14 77 C. VERMEULEN AUS Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’33.389 1’32.500 45 1’32.561 0.356 1’32.561 172,881
15 111 R. XAUS ESP BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’33.984 1’33.396 23 1’32.842 0.637 1’32.842 172,357
16 2 L. CAMIER GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1’33.296 1’32.548 44 1’32.895 0.690 1’32.895 172,259
————————————————– Superpole 1 ————————————————–
17 76 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’33.960 1’32.884 40 1’32.782 1’32.782 172,469
18 67 S. BYRNE GBR Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 1’32.635 1’33.695 47 1’32.823 0.041 1’32.823 172,393
19 88 A. PITT AUS Team Reitwagen BMW BMW S1000 RR 1’33.940 1’33.396 44 1’33.207 0.425 1’33.207 171,682
20 123 R. RESCH AUT Team Reitwagen BMW BMW S1000 RR 1’34.065 1’33.390 24 1’33.390 171,346
————————————————– Others in Grid ————————————————–
21 25 J. BROOKES AUS ECHO CRS Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’34.663 1’33.901 44 1’33.901 170,414
22 31 V. IANNUZZO ITA S.C.I. Honda Garvie Image Honda CBR1000RR 1’34.417 1’34.248 37 1’34.248 169,786
23 15 M. BAIOCCO ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’35.892 1’35.297 48 1’35.297 167,917
24 95 R. HAYDEN USA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.113 1’35.614 46 1’35.614 167,360