Fabrizio secures provisional pole from Rea

Imola race two winner Michel Fabrizio stormed to an impressive provisional  pole position in first qualifying at Imola today. Onboard the Xerox Ducati, the 25 year old Italian snatched the position by just 0.051 seconds after trading places at the top of the time-sheets with Brit Jonathan Rea.

Fabrizio said: “Today I had no particular problems. We found a setting and a tyre that I liked almost right away and I was able to make constant improvement throughout the day. I was losing a couple of tenths in the first split but I think it’s linked more to a characteristic of the four cylinder bikes than to the tyres. Anyway we are very satisfied and hope it bodes well for the rest of the weekend.”

Speaking to MCN, Rea said: “I’m still struggling in sector two, basically it’s the approach to turn six and I can’t get in from the moment I release the brake. I don’t want to make a big change to the bike and compromise my set up for the other two sectors and unfortunately neither of my team-mates are going fast enough for me to be able to overlay their data to see what’s going on. I’ve done some good times on old tyres so it’s not so bad, now I just need to sit down with the boys tonight and see what improvements we can make.”

Championship leader Noriyuki Haga claimed third with title rival Ben Spies making his typical quick adaption to the track in fourth. Carlos Checa bounced back to form after a disappointing Imola race in fifth ahead of a resurgent Troy Corser onboard the powerful BMW S1000RR.

Max Biaggi ended the day tenth after a collision with Tom Sykes at the Adelaide hairpin and subsequent crash. The Italian suffered a bruised thumb but went back out on track to improve his time.

Leon Haslam dropped from second in free practice to 11th after struggling to get the best out of a new spec Pirelli tyre with Tom Sykes in 15th, Leon Camier in 17th and Shane Byrne 18th.

1 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1’38.770 25 160,774 282,0
2 65 J. REA GBR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’38.821 0.051 0.051 25 160,691 286,5
3 41 N. HAGA JPN Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1’38.877 0.107 0.056 24 160,600 288,0
4 19 B. SPIES USA Yamaha WSB Yamaha YZF R1 1’38.939 0.169 0.062 25 160,499 288,8
5 7 C. CHECA ESP HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’39.379 0.609 0.440 24 159,788 289,5
6 11 T. CORSER AUS BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’39.435 0.665 0.056 21 159,698 286,5
7 71 Y. KAGAYAMA JPN Suzuki Alstare BRUX Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’39.497 0.727 0.062 25 159,599 285,7
8 96 J. SMRZ CZE Guandalini Racing Ducati 1098R 1’39.613 0.843 0.116 24 159,413 283,5
9 10 F. NIETO ESP DFX Corse Ducati 1098R 1’39.772 1.002 0.159 24 159,159 286,5
10 3 M. BIAGGI ITA Aprilia Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’39.834 1.064 0.062 25 159,060 291,1
11 91 L. HASLAM GBR Stiggy Racing Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’39.900 1.130 0.066 24 158,955 285,7
12 31 K. MUGGERIDGE AUS Suzuki Alstare BRUX Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’39.964 1.194 0.064 25 158,853 281,3
13 23 B. PARKES AUS Kawasaki World Superbike R.T. Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’40.000 1.230 0.036 22 158,796 276,2
14 25 D. SALOM ESP Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’40.017 1.247 0.017 19 158,769 278,4
15 66 T. SYKES GBR Yamaha WSB Yamaha YZF R1 1’40.048 1.278 0.031 23 158,720 291,1
16 9 R. KIYONARI JPN Ten Kate Honda Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1’40.101 1.331 0.053 25 158,636 279,8
17 22 L. CAMIER GBR Aprilia Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’40.103 1.333 0.002 28 158,633 282,7
18 67 S. BYRNE GBR Sterilgarda Ducati 1098R 1’40.354 1.584 0.251 19 158,236 279,1
19 111 R. XAUS ESP BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’40.375 1.605 0.021 21 158,203 278,4
20 94 D. CHECA ESP Yamaha France GMT 94 Ipone Yamaha YZF R1 1’40.554 1.784 0.179 24 157,921 279,1
21 99 L. SCASSA ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’40.828 2.058 0.274 24 157,492 281,3
22 88 R. RESCH AUT TKR Suzuki Switzerland Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’41.007 2.237 0.179 23 157,213 279,8
23 132 S. MORAIS RSA Kawasaki World Superbike R.T. Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’41.496 2.726 0.489 21 156,455 272,0
24 15 M. BAIOCCO ITA Guandalini Racing Ducati 1098R 1’41.573 2.803 0.077 14 156,337 278,4
25 77 V. IANNUZZO ITA Squadra Corse Italia Honda CBR1000RR 1’41.908 3.138 0.335 23 155,823 279,1
26 40 F. GENTILE ITA Honda Althea Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1’42.272