WSB Aragon: Checa regains control in Spain – One second covers top 16

Championship leader Carlos Checa made the improvements he promised yesterday to become the pace setter and provisional pole man after second qualifying this morning. In much cooler air and track temperatures the Spanish rider reduced his lap time by 0.990s but it wasn’t just his speed over a single lap, Checa showed consistency which will no doubt be worrying his rivals.

Fellow Ducati rider Jakub Smrz stormed to second position on the provisional grid after languishing in last position after first qualifying on Friday.

Max Biaggi re-asserted his position as top Aprilia rider in third ahead of an impressive Tom Sykes onboard the factory Kawasaki in fourth.

Leon Camier jumped up to fifth after a slow start and also had to deal with swapping to his number two bike during the session which had completely different setting compared to his preferred number one machine.

Supersonic Ducati rider Maxime Berger was the surprise of the session in sixth and even has the accolade of being the fastest rider through the first split. He finished just ahead of yesterday’s pace setter Marco Melandri who dropped down the order after electing not to use the softer rear tyre in the 45 minute session.

Eugene Laverty claimed 11th but admitted there is still work to do on his Yamaha in order to tame wheelies at three crucial sections of the track. Leon Haslam picked up his pace but is still 0.824s off and down in 13th position.

With just one second separating the top 16 this afternoons’ Superpole session promises to be one of the best of the season.

Ruben Xaus and Chris Vermeulen were two of the four riders that failed to make the cut for Superpole.

Aragon – SUPERBIKE – Qualifying 2

1.  Carlos Checa1’59.183 Ducati 1098R (Althea Racing)
2.  Jakub Smrz1’59.262 Ducati 1098R (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing)
3.  Max Biaggi1’59.278 Aprilia RSV4 Factory (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team)
4.  Tom Sykes1’59.358 Kawasaki ZX-10R (Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike)
5.  Leon Camier1’59.419 Aprilia RSV4 Factory (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team)
6.  Maxime Berger1’59.423 Ducati 1098R (Supersonic Racing Team)
7.  Marco Melandri1’59.437 Yamaha YZF R1 (Yamaha World Superbike Team)
8.  Ayrton Badovini1’59.579 BMW S1000 RR (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team)
9.  Michel Fabrizio1’59.613 Suzuki GSX-R1000 (Team Suzuki Alstare)
10.  Joan Lascorz1’59.830 Kawasaki ZX-10R (Kawasaki Racing Team)
11.  Eugene Laverty1’59.831 Yamaha YZF R1 (Yamaha World Superbike Team)
12.  Noriyuki Haga1’59.881 Aprilia RSV4 Factory (PATA Racing Team Aprilia)
13.  Leon Haslam2’00.007 BMW S1000 RR (BMW Motorrad Motorsport)
14.  Mark Aitchison2’00.024 Kawasaki ZX-10R (Team Pedercini)
15.  Sylvain Guintoli2’00.133 Ducati 1098R (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing)
16.  Troy Corser2’00.182 BMW S1000 RR (BMW Motorrad Motorsport)
17.  Ruben Xaus2’00.432 Honda CBR1000RR (Castrol Honda)
18.  Chris Vermeulen2’00.507 Kawasaki ZX-10R (Kawasaki Racing Team)
19.  Roberto Rolfo2’00.678 Kawasaki ZX-10R (Team Pedercini)
20.  Lorenzo Lanzi2’00.776 BMW S1000 RR (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team)