Phillip Island WSB: Ben Spies takes pole on debut

Yamaha rider Ben Spies smashed the lap record to take pole position on his WSB debut at Phillip Island.

Spies broke the lap record – held by Troy Bayliss – by four tenths of a second with his best time of 1’31.069

Spies only just managed to qualify for the new-look superpole session in the dying moments of the qualifying session.

• New Superpole explained

24-year-old Spies said: “It was good. First I’d like to congratulate the other guys because it was difficult. I never did superpole but it was very good – it built up a lot of nerves.

“To get  the first pole is great. It’s gunna be a hard race because there’s going to be seven or eight guys battling for the lead so it’s will be good.

“Hopefully we can keep improving but it’s very hard you can’t make any mistakes.”

Factory Aprilia rider Max Biaggi has impressed throughout the qualifying sessions and backed up his consistent form by setting the second fastest time.

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider Jonathan Rea and Guandalini Ducati rider Jakub Smrz rounded out the first row of four different manufacturers and teams.

The second row comprises of Xerox Ducati rider Michel Fabrizio, Brit Leon Haslam, Carlos Checa and Regis Laconi.

World Championship hopeful and Xerox Ducati rider Noriyuki Haga suprised everyone with his time of 1’31.907, which was only good enough for 13th position.

BMW, who are taking part in their first WSB championship this year only just managed to qualify both riders in the top 20. Troy corser and Ruben Xaus finished 17th and 19th respectively.

1 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1’31.069
2 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1’31.402
3 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’31.596
4 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1’31.600
5 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’31.837
6 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’32.112
7 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1’32.537
8 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098 RS 09 1’32.649
9 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 1’31.843
10 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1’31.860
11 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’31.867
12 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1’31.881
13 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1’31.907
14 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’31.916
15 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1’32.119
16 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’32.719
17 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1’32.873
18 44 Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’32.997
19 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1’33.152
20 33 Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’33.363
21 24 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 1’33.588
22 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’33.709
23 86 Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’34.174
24 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’34.194
25 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’34.341
26 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’34.390
27 77 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.767
28 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.363