Toseland second fastest despite fall

James Toseland recovered from a fall midway through first qualifying at Valencia to eventually finish the session second quickest.

His Factory Ducati team-mate, Regis Laconi, took provisional pole with a time of 1:36.323. Toseland, who escaped unhurt from the fall, managed to return quickly to the pits and put in a time of 1:36.683. The crash happened in very windy conditions at the Spanish circuit, as the British rider was turning into Turn 1. Having braked as normal, the back of the bike came out of line, forcing him to take a far wider line around the corner, on dirtier Tarmac, at which point he lost the front of the bike. Luckily Toseland was not only unhurt, but actually riding his number two bike at the time, so was able to return to the pits quickly and remount his number one machine.

Australian Steve Martin also overcame a fall to post a quick time, finishing third on 1:36.778, followed by Noriyuki Haga and Garry McCoy. Chris Walker finished in ninth place on the Foggy Petronas FP-1, two places behind team-mate Troy Corser. Leon Haslam was twelfth fastest.

1) Laconi 1:36.323. 2) Toseland 1:36.683. 3) Martin 1:36.778. 4) Haga 1:36.901. 5) McCoy 1:37.208. 6) Borciani 1:37.212. 7) Corser 1:37.254. 8) Vermuelen 1:37.713. 9) Walker 1:37.718. 10) Pedercini 1:37.778. 11) Nannelli 1:37.897. 12) Haslam 1:37.975. 13) Sanchini 1:38.117. 14) Fuertes 1:38.259. 15) Clementi 1:38.510. 16) Chili 1:38.510. 17) Bontempi 1:38.638. 18) Nowland 1:39.057. 19) Saiger 1:39.307. 20) Velini 1:39.399. 21) Mrkyvka 1:41.302. 22) Praia: 1:44.739.

In World Supersport, Craig Jones finished 20th on the ValMoto Triumph Daytona 600.