WSB Magny Cours: Fabrizio fastest, Crutchlow on provisional front row

Michel Fabrizio made a strong start to what will be Xerox Ducati’s last weekend in WSB by topping the timesheets in the opening free Practice session.

The 25 year old Italian finished ahead of a resurgent Ruben Xaus who claimed second place despite suffering a crash near the end of the session.

Cal Crutchlow started his last weekend as a Superbike rider in style with the third fastest time onboard the fast Sterilgarda Yamaha R1. Jacob Smrz was the top Aprilia rider in fourth with Magny Cours specialist Noriyuki Haga posting the fifth fastest time.

Lorenzo Lanzi continued his impressive results at Imola in sixth, with James Toseland and Shane Byrne both making strong starts in seventh and eighth place respectively.

Newly crowned WSB champion Max Biaggi ended the first session in ninth, three places ahead of Leon Haslam in 12th.

It was an impressive start for Jonathan Rea who not only has elected to ride, but finished ahead of his closest championship rival Carlos Checa. Rea is riding with a specially made cast to support his injured wrist.

The 23 year old crashed six days ago at Imola tearing a ligament in his wrist and breaking his scaphoid.

1 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1’39.175
2 111 R. XAUS ESP BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’39.340
3 35 C. CRUTCHLOW GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda Team Yamaha YZF R1 1’39.464
4 96 J. SMRZ CZE Team PATA B&G Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’39.471
5 41 N. HAGA JPN Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1’39.484
6 57 L. LANZI ITA DFX Corse Ducati 1098R 1’39.635
7 52 J. TOSELAND GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda Team Yamaha YZF R1 1’39.635
8 67 S. BYRNE GBR Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 1’39.641
9 3 M. BIAGGI ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’39.672
10 99 L. SCASSA ITA Supersonic Racing Team Ducati 1098R 1’39.761
11 65 J. REA GBR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’39.763
12 91 L. HASLAM GBR Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’39.766
13 7 C. CHECA ESP Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 1’39.863
14 66 T. SYKES GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’39.960
15 11 T. CORSER AUS BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’40.244
16 50 S. GUINTOLI FRA Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’40.404
17 76 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’41.239
18 5 I. LOWRY GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’41.914
19 15 M. BAIOCCO ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’42.110
20 95 R. HAYDEN USA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’42.698
21 33 F. LAI ITA ECHO CRS Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’43.081