Day Two
Closest ever Superpole front row headed by Crutchlow
In what was the closest ever period of Superpole qualifying in the Superbike World Championship, the top four riders, headed by Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda), all finished with 0.125 seconds of each other. Crutchlow and second placed man James Toseland each beat Ben Spies’ previous record best lap, with Crutchlow taking his third pole of the year with a 1 minute 37.243 second lap. Third fastest man when it mattered for grid positions was Carlos Checa from the Althea Ducati squad, and the front row was completed by Ducati Xerox rider, Michel Fabrizio.
Leon Haslam was fifth for Suzuki Alstare, while Ducati Pata B&G privateer Jakub Smrz (fastest in combined qualifying) was sixth in Superpole. The top eight was completed by Aprilia Alitalia duo, Max Biaggi and Leon Camier.
Superpole two was contested by the top 16 riders, but those to lose out on the chance to go for a front row start in Superpole 3 included privateer Luca Scassa (Supersonic Ducati), Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki Alstare) plus other big names like Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Tom Sykes on his Kawasaki Racing Team machine, who was 12th.
Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) was 13th after a good period of early qualifying was not improved on today. Local rider Sheridan Morais (EmTek Aprilia) was cheered all the way in Superpole and qualified 14th, taking a fourth row start. Noriyuki Haga, winner of each race here last year, was 16th in Superpole, having a tough time again.
Cal Crutchlow: “It didn’t look like we were going to be one and two on the grid this weekend. Coming to what was Yamaha’s worst track last year results-wise, as a team we have done a fantastic job to get first and second. It will be interesting tomorrow but today is today and we are first and second. If we get away and make a good start then it will make for entertaining racing.”
James Toseland: “I went wide twice in my fast lap, and felt there was a high 1’36 in there. But to go from high 1’39s at the start of the weekend to even thinking about a high 1’36, it just gives great credit to the team. I came out this afternoon thinking, ‘right this championship is still there and I am not prepared to just let it slip away.’ To be second on the grid after being 17th this morning means I have to give thanks to everybody from the team and Clinica Mobile.”
Carlos Checa: “Here again we are at track where the bike works quite well. We did the best qualifying job of the year because we did not know the track, but we knew that the Ducati was going to work. Finally it was very exciting in qualifying, one of the closest. I though these guys in front would maybe be in the 1’36s but we all did 1’37.2s. I think we will have exciting racing.”
Michel Fabrizio: “I pushed very hard in Superpole and when I did a 37.3 I thought that was it, I would be second, but then I saw I was only fourth. But I have a lot of faith in myself and tomorrow I am going to do well in the races.”
World Supersport
Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) did a 1’40.812 lap in final qualifying to take pole in South Africa, heading off perennial challenger Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda). Third on the grid, despite pain from Friday’s crash, was Sofuoglu’s team-mate, Michele Pirro. With championship leader Joan Lascorz only eight, the best Kawasaki Motocard.com machine belonged to Katsuaki Fujiwara, fourth and in a front row starting position. Matthieu Lagrive (ParkinGO Triumph BE1) used his Friday time to claim fifth place, one position up on his team-mate Chaz Davies. Massimo Roccoli made good early ground for his Intermoto Czech Honda team, going seventh on the grid. Lance Isaacs (BikeFin Safe Sky Honda) was top local qualifier, 11th.
| Superpole + Grid | Supersport Final Qualifying |
| 1 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha GBR 1’37.243 2 James Toseland Yamaha GBR 1’37.260 3 Carlos Checa Ducati ESP 1’37.296 4 Michel Fabrizio Ducati ITA 1’37.368 5 Leon Haslam Suzuki GBR 1’37.401 6 Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 1’37.561 7 Max Biaggi Aprilia ITA 1’37.613 8 Leon Camier Aprilia GBR 1’38.148 9 Luca Scassa Ducati ITA 1’37.756 10 Sylvain Guintoli Suzuki FRA 1’37.875 11 Jonathan Rea Honda GBR 1’37.953 12 Tom Sykes Kawasaki GBR 1’38.206 13 Troy Corser BMW AUS 1’38.210 14 Sheridan Morais Aprilia RSA 1’38.404 15 Ruben Xaus BMW ESP 1’38.471 | 1. Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR 600 RR 1’40.812 2. Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR 600 RR 1’40.896 3. Pirro M. (ITA) Honda CBR 600 RR 1’41.415 4. Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’41.415 5. Lagrive M. (FRA) Triumph 675 Daytona 1’41.418 6. Davies C. (GBR) Triumph 675 Daytona 1’41.675 7. Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR 600 RR 1’41.700 8. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’41.856 9. Salom D. (ESP) Triumph 675 Daytona 1’41.874 10. Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR 600 RR 1’42.060; etc. |
— Ducati Report
Today’s Superpole at the South African track of Kyalami turned into an extremely close contest , when the fastest seven riders finished the last phase of the Superpole within four tenths of a second of each other. Ducati Xerox rider Michel Fabrizio, at the end of two very positive days on track, closed today in fourth place, thus ensuring himself of a front row start for tomorrow’s races.
Once again this morning, in the second qualifying session, Fabrizio was immediately, and consistently, fast and even though he was unable to improve on the time he set yesterday, he remained at the top of the timesheets until four minutes from the end of the session, when Jakub Smrz on the privateer Ducati went two tenths faster than the Roman rider, who therefore qualified in second place for the afternoon’s Superpole. His team-mate Noriyuki was able to improve by a few tenths with respect to yesterday but this unfortunately did not change his overall position; the Japanese rider thus qualified thirteenth for Superpole.
Superpole 1. In the first phase of the Superpole both Noriyuki and Michel went out on race tyres. Michel did enough to find himself in tenth position and deemed a second exit unnecessary. Noriyuki, on the other hand, did go back out on a qualifier and closed this first session in fourteenth position.
Superpole 2. Fabrizio confronted this phase in the same way, exiting first on a race tyre to register the sixth fastest time, and then on a “Q” to take the fifth position overall. Noriyuki went straight out on a qualifier but the Japanese rider cited a lack of rear grip. Despite making a second exit on a race tyre, Haga was unable to improve and closed today’s Superpole in sixteenth position. The times in this second phase were extremely close with the first eleven riders closing within half a second of each other.
Superpole 3. Once more composed of two exits for Michel, first with the qualifier used in the previous phase and the second with the new “Q”. Just two tenths lost in the first split meant that Michel missed out on the pole position, which eventually went to Crutchlow on the Yamaha. The Italian rider’s time, 1m37.368, ensured him of fourth position, completing a front row composed of Crutchlow, Toseland and Checa, all three of whom finished within a tenth of a second of each other.
Michel Fabrizio
“Today’s Superpole was not at all easy. I had to really push and at one point I risked finding myself on the ground. I thought I’d finished in second but in the end it was fourth. Anyway, I’m on the front row tomorrow and am confident that I can make two great races. We’ve been going strong both today and yesterday and I know I have good race pace. Of course the competition is always the same but, from fourth on the grid, I think I can push for the win.”
Noriyuki Haga
“Today I had problems due to a lack of rear grip. In the Superpole, even on the qualifier, I didn’t have enough grip to be able to turn the bike and really push. We still have tomorrow morning to work on the bike and we’ll do our best to improve.”
— Althea Ducati
Althea Racing is once again a protagonist of the sixth round of the World Superbike Championship; the races take place tomorrow at the South African track of Kyalami.
Carlos Checa, after an initial moment of hesitation, was consistently fast in the practice sessions, and then registered an impressive 1’37″296 in the Superpole, which was enough to secure himself a place on the front row of the grid for tomorrow; if he can make a fast start he could be in for two great races.
“I’m satisfied with the work we’ve done”, declared Carlos. “It’s not an easy track but the Ducati works here. Yesterday I started slowly but then, thanks to the work of the team, we found a good set-up for the races. Qualifying is not my strong point but I came very close to the pole. To start from the front row is important, also because we have a good race pace.”
Shane Byrne, on the other hand, has some regrets, having finished in eighteenth position. “Of course I was very angry when I got off the bike”, stated the English rider, “but then once I calmed down I realized that the time recorded was in line with my standards. It will be difficult to start so far back but I hope to have a good result.”
Genesio Bevilacqua, the team’s general manager declared, “Qualifying was positive in one respect and negative in another. After Monza we expected results that were more in line with our potential. With Carlos we have found a solid race pace. At Kyalami we will try to obtain good results so as to not lose contact with the leaders. Shane is having a more difficult time but this evening we had a meeting with his technical team to better understand how we can help him to improve.”
— Yamaha Report
Yamaha dominates Kyalami Superpole with a one-two from Crutchlow and Toseland
Yamaha riders Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland put the hammer down in Superpole today, leaving no doubt of the potential of the 2010 R1 in their hands as they took pole and second on the grid respectively ahead of tomorrow’s two races at the Kyalami circuit. The ongoing development of the Yamaha Sterilgarda team which had been evident from Assen was clear to see in this afternoon’s Superpole heats, with both riders going under the lap record set by Ben Spies last year. Toseland had been slower than Crutchlow to get on the pace this weekend, but having found the set up that works for him, he made it count where it mattered, leading the last heat temporarily before a last flying lap by his team mate saw him take the second spot on the grid. Crutchlow’s Superpole score makes it his third from six rounds this year. His time of 1’37.243 gives him the current fastest lap record for the circuit.
Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (1st, 1’37.243)
“It’s been great to take three Superpoles from six meetings so far this year, I’m really looking forward to the racing tomorrow. Yamaha have been doing a really good job in developing the bike to put us on the front row, it was unfortunate we couldn’t deliver more in Monza to repay them but we were unlucky. We’ve been up there all weekend in qualifying and practices so I think we have a good chance to deliver in the races. It’s going to be tough but I’m looking forward to taking the fight to the boys, I reckon there will be five or six up there all looking for the win, I think James is going to be one of them.”
James Toseland, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (2nd, 1’37.260)
“I’m really happy with that result, especially after this morning’s qualifying, I think we were two seconds faster this afternoon. I’ve got a few people to thank! The Mobile Clinica guys and everyone at Monza hospital for their service last weekend, and all the riders who managed to avoid me going into turn one at the second Monza race. My head was a bit lost yesterday and this morning, which made me head in the wrong direction with the team, but they recalculated and we’ve come back, two seconds faster so a big thank you to them. I haven’t done too many laps in one go here because of my neck, so I’m not sure how it’s going to be over 24 laps but when the lights go out I’m going to hang on in there until the end!”
Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team Manager
“It’s been a really good day, I was expecting a good lap from Cal, but knowing James physical condition I wasn’t expecting such a big result, I have to say he did a really good job. I know how tough it is on this circuit so congratulations to Cal and James, and also for the team for all the work they’ve done to get them there. Tomorrow will be a really tough race but here it is very important to start from the front row as it’s very difficult to overtake so we have an advantage.”
— BMW Report
A disappointing Saturday for Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport in Kyalami (RSA): 38-years-old Troy Corser (AUS) will start tomorrow’s races from 12th, while Ruben Xaus (ESP) qualified 15th. Troy set a lap time of 1:38.210 min in today’s Superpole Qualifying, while Ruben’s quickest lap was 1:38.471 min.
Troy Corser: “Today’s result is frustrating. On race tyres the bike does not feel too bad. We can be quite consistent with good lap times. As soon as we fit the qualifying tyre, we cannot benefit from the additional grip and I have trouble steering the bike. I have understeer in a lot of places, and in the slow, tight corners the front wheel is closing, especially in the second half of the circuit. I have to be very sensitive with the brakes. Tomorrow’s races will be tough. I had good starts in the last couple of races and usually I make up positions just after the start, but here we approach the first corner quickly. There are not many places where you can overtake here.”
Ruben Xaus: “We were not too far away from Superpole 3. Although the bike has improved a lot, I struggle with a closing front wheel in nearly every corner. The rear pushes the front, and the front wheel is just sliding. The bike does not really allow me to brake properly. We somehow need to find a solution for this problem. I would like to thank my mechanics today, they have worked really hard over the course of the weekend as we have been trying out a lot of things.”
Davide Tardozzi (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Team Manager): “Today’s result is a shame. Both riders are really quick in the first and second split times of the track, but they are struggling in the second half of the circuit. Both Ruben and Troy complained about a closing front wheel and understeer. We will now try to fix this issue and work on tomorrow’s set-up. We still believe we can have good races.”
— Suzuki Report
Team Suzuki Alstare rider Leon Haslam battled away to the fifth fastest time in Superpole today and will start tomorrow’s pair of 24-lap World Superbike races in Kyalami in South Africa from the second row of the grid.
Although he would’ve liked a front-row grid place, his position is well-placed for an attack into the first turn for what promises to be yet another action-packed Raceday.
Haslam’s team mate Sylvain Guintoli improved from yesterday and was charging towards the first two rows of the grid until the smallest of mistakes in Superpole 2 cost him a place in Superpole 3.
Cal Crutchlow took Superpole today – his third of the season – with Yamaha team mate James Toseland second. Third was Carlos Checa (Ducati) with Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) fourth on a day that saw just one second separating the top 13 riders.
Leon Haslam – 5th, 1:37.401: “I’m pretty happy with fifth place today and I actually prefer it to fourth because it is a better place from which to attack the first turn. It’s an easier run and as long as I get a good start, I’m sure I’ll be there or thereabouts. I’m happy because my race pace is good and my lap times on race rubber are good. It’s going to be a tough day tomorrow and any one of about six or so riders could win a race. Kyalami is a difficult track to overtake on because there’s more or less only one racing line. When you get off that line, to pass somebody for example, it’s easy to get on a dirty and bumpy part of the track and make a mistake. The first corner is not very far away and after that there are a series of corners where it would be impossible to pass, so good starts are vital. Tomorrow morning we’ll make a few little tweaks to the bike and see if we can improve it further. But, if not, then it’s ready to race and so am I.”
Sylvain Guintoli – 10th, 1:37.875: “I am disappointed with my Superpole and but for a small mistake in a final split, I’m sure that I could have got into final Superpole. That would’ve given me at least a place on the second row, but now I will have to start tomorrow’s races from row three. The first corner is quite close and so it’s very important that I make two good starts. If I don’t, I’m going to be in trouble for sure and it’ll be difficult making up ground.
“The good news is that I’m happy with my race set-up and very happy with my race tyres. It’s a shame that I didn’t qualify better, because I’m sure that it would’ve made my two races easier. As I said before, this Championship is so competitive and the lap times are so close and if you make the smallest of errors you get punished a lot.”
— Ten Kate
Jonathan Rea will start tomorrow’s two sixth round World Superbike championship races from the third row of the grid after setting the 11th fastest time in this afternoon’s Superpole qualifying sessions at Kyalami in South Africa.
Pole position was taken by Cal Crutchlow from fellow Briton, James Toseland, while Rea’s Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate, Max Neukirchner, endured another frustrating qualifying day with the 18th fastest time.
Rea’s grid position was particularly disappointing for his team after the 23-year-old had been near the top of the leaderboard in each of the preceding practice and qualifying sessions.
The plucky Northern Irishman found it difficult to find the additional grip expected of the Pirelli qualifiers and was unable to improve his times sufficiently to move him into Superpole three for a position on the first two rows, where his race pace suggested he might start.
Neukirchner, meanwhile, continued his search for the optimum combination of balance and suspension set-up on his CBR1000RR to deal with the myriad bumps at the 4.263km Kyalami circuit.
Jonathan Rea – P11
The bike isn’t perfect, but we’re certainly not in the worst shape we’ve ever been the night before the race. Our race pace is pretty good, really, so it’s doubly frustrating to be on the third row, because we went well in the other sessions. The problem seems to be that we’re not finding the extra grip and speed from qualifiers that the other guys seem to. That’s going to make things difficult for tomorrow for sure, and I can’t afford a bad start. I’m not nervous or anything – in fact, I’m quite excited and looking forward to the challenge of tomorrow’s races. But there’s only one direction I can go in.
Max Neukirchner – P18
I’ve been having quite bad chatter in the sessions so far and this is not helped by the bumps here at Kyalami. The problem begins when I let the brake off in the corner, and I am having to wait a long time to get on the throttle. We haven’t really been able to move forward since Friday morning, so I guess I cannot expect anything more than the starting position that I’ve got. We will have to try something new tomorrow morning and then do the best I can in the races and see what happens.
Ronald ten Kate – team-manager
Jonathan’s race pace is fast, so it is particularly frustrating that while on the qualifying tyres other seem to find perhaps one-and-a-half to two seconds, we only chip away 0.7. So the third row is disappointing but we’re still confident that Jonathan can play a role in the leading group in tomorrow’s races. Max continues to look for a solution that will allow him to open the throttle earlier in the corners, and we’ll keep trying to find that for him tomorrow during warm-up.
