Misano World Superbikes: Corser tops second qualifying

Australian Troy Corser pulled out all the stops in the final qualifying session for world Superbikes to outpace fellow country man Troy Bayliss to take provisional pole position.

Corser who took pole at the track 12 months ago saved his best until last to post the fastest lap of the weekend with a 1m 36.412 best.

Troy Bayliss claimed second just 23 100ths of a second back with fellow Ducati rider Jacob Smrtz backing up his impressive pace yesterday with another provisional front row position in third.

Kawasaki’s Regis Laconi was resurgent in Misano, his team’s home track, and set a number if fast laps that saw him secure fourth spot.

Carlos Checa looked like he was going to struggle to make the top 16 and his place in Superpole until the team found an improved setting for the Ten Kate Honda and Checa upped his own pace to take sixth.

The one hour long session wasn’t without incident. Max Biaggi who ended the session ninth had run-ins with both Noriyuki Haga and championship leader Troy Bayliss. Both times Biaggi was on a fast lap and gesticulated at Haga and Bayliss after being held up.

Noriyuki Haga was one of only three men who didn’t improve on his Friday lap time after spending the session working on his race set-up. He finished the session in 14th place. 

Final times:

1 11 T. CORSER AUS Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 1’37.224 1’36.412 1’36.412 157,798 40

2 21 T. BAYLISS AUS Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 1’36.863 1’36.435 1’36.435 0.023 0.023 157,760 47

3 96 J. SMRZ CZE Guandalini Racing by Grifo’s Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’37.139 1’36.820 1’36.820 0.408 0.385 157,133 49

4 55 R. LACONI FRA Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’37.574 1’36.871 1’36.871 0.459 0.051 157,050 42

5 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 1’38.076 1’36.938 1’36.938 0.526 0.067 156,942 48

6 7 C. CHECA ESP Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’38.189 1’37.054 1’37.054 0.642 0.116 156,754 52

7 76 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER Team Alstare Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’37.751 1’37.166 1’37.166 0.754 0.112 156,573 46

8 10 F. NIETO ESP Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’37.759 1’37.187 1’37.187 0.775 0.021 156,539 48

9 3 M. BIAGGI ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’37.477 1’37.234 1’37.234 0.822 0.047 156,464 54

10 111 R. XAUS ESP Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’37.710 1’37.304 1’37.304 0.892 0.070 156,351 42

11 57 L. LANZI ITA R.G. Team Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’37.618 1’37.373 1’37.373 0.961 0.069 156,240 41

12 100 M. TAMADA JPN Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’37.819 1’37.390 1’37.390 0.978 0.017 156,213 45

13 34 Y. KAGAYAMA JPN Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’38.636 1’37.409 1’37.409 0.997 0.019 156,183 53

14 41 N. HAGA JPN Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 1’37.542 1’38.359 1’37.542 1.130 0.133 155,970 40

15 86 A. BADOVINI ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’37.871 1’37.562 1’37.562 1.150 0.020 155,938 48

16 31 K. MUGGERIDGE AUS D.F. Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1’37.752 1’37.739 1’37.739 1.327 0.177 155,655 45

17 44 R. ROLFO ITA Hannspree Honda Althea Honda CBR1000RR 1’38.206 1’37.830 1’37.830 1.418 0.091 155,511 46

18 94 D. CHECA ESP Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 1’38.843 1’37.874 1’37.874 1.462 0.044 155,441 47

19 36 G. LAVILLA ESP Ventaxia VK Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’38.202 1’37.891 1’37.891 1.479 0.017 155,414 51

20 38 S. NAKATOMI JPN YZF Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1 1’38.652 1’38.133 1’38.133 1.721 0.242 155,030 50

21 194 S. GIMBERT FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 1’38.774 1’38.213 1’38.213 1.801 0.080 154,904 47

22 23 R. KIYONARI JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’38.392 1’38.288 1’38.288 1.876 0.075 154,786 52

23 88 S. AOYAMA JPN Alto Evolution Honda SuperbikeHonda CBR1000RR 1’38.493 1’38.323 1’38.323 1.911 0.035 154,731 49

24 54 K. SOFUOGLU TUR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Jr.Honda CBR1000RR 1’38.895 1’38.394 1’38.394 1.982 0.071 154,619 50

25 13 V. IANNUZZO ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’39.768 1’38.873 1’38.873 2.461 0.479 153,870 43

26 64 N. BRIGNOLA ITA Grillini PBR Team Yamaha YZF-R1 1’40.311 1’40.311 3.899 1.438 151,664 19

27 43 J. PRIDMORE USA Alto Evolution Honda SuperbikeHonda CBR1000RR 1’40.395 1’40.947 1’40.395 3.983 0.084 151,537 29