WSB Kyalami: Fabrizio on top as Ducati dominate

Xerox Ducati rider Michel Fabrizio set the fastest time of the opening free practice session at Kyalami this afternoon.

The Italian rider who finished second in both races last year to his team-mate Noriyuki Haga set a best time of 1.39.081.

The lap time was nearly two seconds off Ben Spies’ 2009 qualifying best, mainly due to the dirty track.

Fast qualifier Jacob Smrz (B&G Ducati) claimed second spot with Carlos Checa and Shane Byrne in fifth and sixth places respectively (Althea Ducati) making it a good day for Ducati who were always expected to be fast at the low grip bumpy, Kyalami circuit.

Monza race winner Max Biaggi made a surprisingly fast start to secure third place. Biaggi is traditionally a slow starter but spent the 45 minute session close to or at the top of the time sheets onboard his rapid Aprilia RSV4.

2009 Kyalami podium man Jonathan Rea took sixth with fellow Brits Cal Crutchlow and Leon Haslam in seventh and eighth place.

Noriyuki Haga ran as high as fourth in the session but slipped to tenth at the finish.

First qualifying gets underway this afternoon at 15.00 local time.

1 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1’39.081 22 154,274 251,0
2 96 J. SMRZ CZE Team PATA B&G Racing Ducati 1098R 1’39.333 0.252 0.252 23 153,882 245,3
3 3 M. BIAGGI ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’39.457 0.376 0.124 28 153,691 252,8
4 7 C. CHECA ESP Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 1’39.727 0.646 0.270 25 153,274 244,8
5 67 S. BYRNE GBR Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 1’39.771 0.690 0.044 22 153,207 246,4
6 65 J. REA GBR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’40.151 1.070 0.380 23 152,626 249,8
7 35 C. CRUTCHLOW GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda Team Yamaha YZF R1 1’40.221 1.140 0.070 22 152,519 251,6
8 91 L. HASLAM GBR Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’40.227 1.146 0.006 25 152,510 251,0
9 76 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’40.370 1.289 0.143 25 152,293 247,0
10 41 N. HAGA JPN Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1’40.466 1.385 0.096 22 152,147 249,8
11 99 L. SCASSA ITA Supersonic Racing Team Ducati 1098R 1’40.625 1.544 0.159 23 151,907 244,8
12 11 T. CORSER AUS BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’40.637 1.556 0.012 23 151,888 252,2
13 52 J. TOSELAND GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda Team Yamaha YZF R1 1’40.645 1.564 0.008 20 151,876 251,0
14 66 T. SYKES GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’40.702 1.621 0.057 23 151,790 249,3
15 50 S. GUINTOLI FRA Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’40.792 1.711 0.090 26 151,655 251,0
16 2 L. CAMIER GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’41.027 1.946 0.235 28 151,302 244,2
17 111 R. XAUS ESP BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’41.081 2.000 0.054 23 151,221 248,7
18 32 S. MORAIS RSA EmTek Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’41.141 2.060 0.060 17 151,132 248,7
19 23 B. PARKES AUS ECHO CRS Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’41.434 2.353 0.293 20 150,695 247,6
20 77 C. VERMEULEN AUS Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’41.438 2.357 0.004 24 150,689 248,1
21 95 R. HAYDEN USA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’42.862 3.781 1.424 26 148,603 238,3
22 15 M. BAIOCCO ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’43.797