Valencia WSB Qualifying two: Biaggi storms to pole, Byrne on front row

Just 0.068 seconds separated the top five riders in second qualifying at Valencia today with Italian Max Biaggi securing provisional pole on his final flying lap of the session. In what was one of the closest qualifying session in Superbike history the top 18 were covered by 0.915s.   

Carlos Checa ended the session in second despite not improving on his day one time with fast starter Jacob Smrz maintaining his position on the front row in third. Althea Ducati rider Shane Byrne was once again fast despite not finding the optimum setting on his 1198.

Leon Haslam was in good form setting the fifth fastest time while being consistently quick on a race tyre. Xerox Ducati men Michel Fabrizio and Noriyuki Haga remain focussed on a strong qualifying performance after their disaster in Portimao. The two men finished in sixth and seventh respectively.

Jonathan Rea was disappointed to finish down in tenth but is only 0.240s off pole. James Toseland claimed 13th with Crutchlow, Camier and Sykes 16th, 17th and 18th. Simon Andrews finished in 23rd.

1 3 M. BIAGGI ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1’34.218

2 7 C. CHECA ESP Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 1’34.220

3 96 J. SMRZ CZE Team PATA B&G Racing Ducati 1098R 1’34.239

4 67 S. BYRNE GBR Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 1’34.265

5 91 L. HASLAM GBR Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’34.286

6 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1’34.356

7 41 N. HAGA JPN Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1’34.427

8 57 L. LANZI ITA DFX Corse Ducati 1098R 1’35.049 1’34.441

9 50 S. GUINTOLI FRA Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’34.442

10 65 J. REA GBR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’34.458

11 11 T. CORSER AUS BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’34.476

12 76 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’34.836

13 52 J. TOSELAND GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda Team Yamaha YZF R1 1’34.894

14 99 L. SCASSA ITA Supersonic Racing Team Ducati 1098R 1’34.933

15 35 C. CRUTCHLOW GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda Team Yamaha YZF R1 1’34.938

16 2 L. CAMIER GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1’34.973

17 66 T. SYKES GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’35.132

18 111 R. XAUS ESP BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’35.133

19 88 A. PITT AUS Team Reitwagen BMW BMW S1000 RR 1’35.604

20 32 S. MORAIS RSA ECHO CRS Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’36.072

21 15 M. BAIOCCO ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.104

22 95 R. HAYDEN USA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.117

23 17 S. ANDREWS GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.329

24 31 V. IANNUZZO ITA S.C.I. Honda Garvie Image Honda CBR1000RR 1’36.524

25 123 R. RESCH AUT Team Reitwagen BMW BMW S1000 RR 1’36.639