WSB Miller: Biaggi storms to provisional pole in second qualifying

After a difficult day yesterday evaluating set-up, Max Biaggi claimed provisional pole position with a blistering lap time of 1’48.115. Biaggi’s time set on race tyres was faster than the outright circuit best lap set by Carlos Checa in 2008.

Czech, Ducati rider Jacob Smrz backed up his day one pole by setting the second fastest time in the second session. The big improver was BMW man Troy Corser, wearing a Arai helmet instead of his usual Shark, who jumped from ninth to third after drastically improving the set-up of his S1000RR.

Carlos Checa continued to impress onboard his Althea Ducati to claim his spot on the provisional front row in fourth. He finished ahead of team-mate Shane Byrne and factory Ducati man Michel Fabrizio.

Cal Crutchlow claimed seventh with Haslam, who failed to improve his day one lap time in eighth.

He said: “I’m not too worried, some of the other guys like Biaggi have found a bit of speed, but we’ve been focussing on long runs, tyres and being fast at the end of the race so we’re not a million miles away.”

Leon Camier made a strong start to the session but suffered a crash which left him down in ninth, one place ahead of James Toseland who failed to improve on his first qualifying lap time.

1 3 M. BIAGGI ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’49.191 1’48.115 1’48.115 163,393 45
2 96 J. SMRZ CZE Team PATA B&G Racing Ducati 1098R 1’48.517 1’48.289 1’48.289 0.174 0.174 163,130 40
3 11 T. CORSER AUS BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’49.040 1’48.318 1’48.318 0.203 0.029 163,086 35
4 7 C. CHECA ESP Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 1’48.742 1’48.358 1’48.358 0.243 0.040 163,026 42
5 67 S. BYRNE GBR Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 1’48.853 1’48.549 1’48.549 0.434 0.191 162,739 43
6 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1’48.670 1’48.571 1’48.571 0.456 0.022 162,706 39
7 35 C. CRUTCHLOW GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda Team Yamaha YZF R1 1’48.682 1’48.611 1’48.611 0.496 0.040 162,647 36
8 91 L. HASLAM GBR Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’48.734 1’49.149 1’48.734 0.619 0.123 162,463 40
9 2 L. CAMIER GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’49.443 1’48.741 1’48.741 0.626 0.007 162,452 42
10 52 J. TOSELAND GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda Team Yamaha YZF R1 1’48.887 1’49.757 1’48.887 0.772 0.146 162,234 32
11 99 L. SCASSA ITA Supersonic Racing Team Ducati 1098R 1’48.945 1’49.011 1’48.945 0.830 0.058 162,148 38
12 65 J. REA GBR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’49.281 1’48.965 1’48.965 0.850 0.020 162,118 33
13 41 N. HAGA JPN Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1’49.386 1’49.050 1’49.050 0.935 0.085 161,992 39
14 50 S. GUINTOLI FRA Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’50.133 1’49.142 1’49.142 1.027 0.092 161,855 40
15 66 T. SYKES GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’49.748 1’49.225 1’49.225 1.110 0.083 161,732 36
16 111 R. XAUS ESP BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’49.961 1’49.477 1’49.477 1.362 0.252 161,360 38
17 76 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’50.121 1’49.623 1’49.623 1.508 0.146 161,145 37
18 77 C. VERMEULEN AUS Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’51.122 1’50.370 1’50.370 2.255 0.747 160,054 36
19 95 R. HAYDEN USA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’50.806 1’51.095 1’50.806 2.691 0.436 159,425 37
20 23 B. PARKES AUS ECHO CRS Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’51.074 1’51.473 1’51.074 2.959 0.268 159,040 33
21 15 M. BAIOCCO ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’53.724 1’52.691 1’52.691 4.576 1.617 156,758 41