Monza World Superbikes: Max Neukirchner dominant in qualifying thanks to tow

Alstare Suzuki man Max Neukirchner backed up his impressive run of form to take provisional World Superbike pole with a lap time 0.369seconds faster than second placed Troy Bayliss.

Neukirchner spent the session lapping with his team-mate Yukio Kagayama with the two riders benefiting from each others tow along the fast straights.

The plan worked well for both men with Kagayama finishing up in third place making it two Alstare Suzuki’s on the front row.

Fourth place went to a resurgent Makoto Tamada onboard the PSG-1 Kawasaki. Tamada has never ridden at the Monza circuit before but has been able to instantly gel with the circuit and also benefit from a reduced amount of chatter, which has been a big problem in the opening four rounds of the championship.

Speaking to MCN, pole man Max Neukirchner said: “I got a good slipstream from Yukio on my fast lap and that helped a lot. It’s important to lap with someone around here and I worked on this with Yukio this morning and in the afternoon.

“We haven’t had to change the bike so much and now we are focusing on our choice of race tyre. At the moment there are two options but we do not know which one will work best.”

Whilst the Suzuki, Ducati and Kawasaki motorcycles are clearly working well at the circuit, Honda and Yamaha are yet to find a good set-up. Karl Muggeridge was the first of the Honda’s in sixth spot with the best Ten Kate rider in eighth thanks to Kenan Sofuoglu.

Gregorio Lavilla secured tenth with regular front runner Carlos Checa in 14th and British Superbike champion Ryuichi Kiyonari in 16th.

Noriyuki Haga was the best Yamaha in 12th with his team-mate Troy Corser 15th.

Max Biaggi is so far having another disastrous weekend like he did at Assen.

The Italian Sterilgarda rider could only finish in 17th place all be it only 1.265 seconds off pole.

Monza World Superbike first qualifying results:

1 Max NEUKIRCHNER GER Team Alstare Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’45.990
2 Troy BAYLISS AUS Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 1’46.359
3 Yukio KAGAYAMA JPN Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’46.371
4 Makoto TAMADA JPN Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’46.404
5 Jakub SMRZ CZE Guandalini Racing by Grifo’s Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’46.604
6 Karl MUGGERIDGE AUS D.F. Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1’46.750
7 Michel FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 1’46.814
8 Kenan SOFUOGLU TUR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Jr. Honda CBR1000RR 1’46.854
9 Ruben XAUS ESP Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’46.915
10 Gregorio LAVILLA ESP Ventaxia VK Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’46.946
11 Fonsi NIETO ESP Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’46.990
12 Noriyuki HAGA JPN Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 1’47.074
13 Regis LACONI FRA Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’47.089
14 Carlos CHECA ESP Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’47.135
15 Troy CORSER AUS Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 1’47.232
16 Ryuichi KIYONARI JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’47.246
17 Max BIAGGI ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’47.255
18 Ayrton BADOVINI ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’47.805
19 Shinichi NAKATOMI JPN YZF Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1 1’47.815
20 Sebastien GIMBERT FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 1’48.276
21 Shuhei AOYAMA JPN Alto Evolution Honda Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 1’48.496
22 Vittorio IANNUZZO ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’48.583
23 Lorenzo LANZI ITA R.G. Team Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’48.741
24 Luca MORELLI ITA Alto Evolution Honda Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 1’49.036
25 L. MAURI ITA Spring Ducati ASD Ducati 999 RS 1’49.082
26 G. BUSSEI ITA Hannspree Honda Althea Honda CBR1000RR 1’49.206
27 Russel HOLLAND AUS D.F. Racing – Bertocchi Honda CBR1000RR 1’49.572
28 Loic NAPOLEONE FRA Grillini PBR Team Yamaha YZF-R1 1’51.441
29 Michael BECK USA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 1’51.869