Valencia World Superbikes: Max Neukirchner takes maiden pole position

Max Neukirchner has taken his first superpole ahead of tomorrow’s World Superbike races in Valencia.

The German just pipped his Alstare Suzuki team-mate Yukio Kagayama to the top spot with his lap of 1:33.805 good enough to see him claim pole position.

Kagayama, still struggling with his shuolder injury sustained at the opening round in Qatar, will line up alongside Neukirchner with his lap just 0.123secs slower.

Troy Bayliss is the top Ducati on the grid as he will start from third with Sterilgarda Ducati’s Ruben Xaus thrilling his home crowd as he rounds off the front row of the grid with a lap of 1:34.332.

Top qualifyer Carlos Checa only managed to grab a second row starting spot with his lap recorded at 1:34.492 seeing him finish up in seventh on his Hannspree Ten Kate Honda.

Valencia World Superbikes superpole results:

1 Max NEUKIRCHNER GER Team Alstare Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’33.805
2 Yukio KAGAYAMA JPN Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’33.928
3 Troy BAYLISS AUS Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 1’35.060 1’33.976
4 Ruben XAUS ESP Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’34.332
5 Lorenzo  LANZI ITA R.G. Team Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’35.085 1’34.370
6 Ryuichi KIYONARI JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’34.370
7 Carlos CHECA ESP Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’34.492
8 Troy CORSER AUS Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 1’34.613
9 Max BIAGGI ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’34.658
10 Noriyuki HAGA JPN Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 1’34.770
11 Michel FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 1’34.799
12 Makoto TAMADA JPN Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’34.930
13 Fonsi NIETO ESP Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’34.959
14 David CHECA ESP Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 1’35.089
15 Regis LACONI FRA Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’35.232
16 Jakub SMRZ CZE Guandalini Racing by Grifo’s Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’35.980
17 Gregorio LAVILLA ESP Ventaxia VK Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.381
18 Roberto ROLFO ITA Hannspree Honda Althea Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.521
19 Karl MUGGERIDGE AUS D.F. Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.597
20 Russel HOLLAND AUS D.F. Racing – Bertocchi Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.692
21 Shinichi NAKATOMI JPN YZF Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1 1’36.088 1’35.703
22 Sebastien GIMBERT FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 1’35.766
23 Sergio FUERTES ESP Team Suzuki Motorrad Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’35.862
24 Kenan SOFUOGLU TUR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Jr. Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.911
25 Carmelo MORALES ESP L’Oreal Men Expert Laglisse Yamaha YZF-R1 1’36.070
26 Diego LOZANO ORTIZ ESP Honda Joe Darcey Honda CBR1000RR 1’36.453
27 Ayrton BADOVINI ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’36.596
28 Shuhei AOYAMA JPN Alto Evolution Honda Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 1’36.618
29 Luca MORELLI ITA Alto Evolution Honda Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 1’37.283
30 Loic NAPOLEONE FRA Grillini PBR Team Yamaha YZF-R1 1’37.288