Michel Fabrizio on the gas in Misano provisional qualifying.
Ducati Xerox rider Michel Fabrizio takes the provisional pole position at Misano. The Italian edged out American rookie and
Yamaha ace Ben Spies, with the remaining provisional front row spots taken up by Suzuki’s Yukio Kagayama and Honda’s Jonathan Rea. The championship points leader,
Noriyuki Haga, was eighth-fastest at the San Marino circuit.
The provisional qualifying session and Friday practice are of particular importance for dry setup, as rain seems assured for Saturday.
“I am really happy because I must say that I didn’t expect to be the fastest out there today’” said Fabrizio after the Friday qualifying session. “The only annoying thing was the traffic; every time I was pushing on a fast lap, I would find someone in front of me, the only rider I didn’t find was Nori! They say it may rain tomorrow and I can’t say how we’ll go if the track is wet but I’m feeling confident and am satisfied with today’s work because if and when it’s hot again on Sunday I’ll know that we are well prepared.”
Alstare Suzuki's Yukio Kagayama: "I am lucky because my right foot is broken in the heel area and I don't use this area much when I ride my bike. Of course, after some laps, I feel some pain, but it is a matter of understanding the pain and managing it when I am on the bike."
The second-fastest time by Spies proves the Texan won’t suffer much from ignorance of the new SBK tracks. The only question on Saturday will be the weather, and whether Spies can stretch his unprecedented Superpole streak to eight consecutive.
The third-fastest time by
Yukio Kagayama is incredible considering the Japanese rider is still injured. Broken bones in his foot didn’t slow him on Friday, but how the long-time GSX-R1000 pilot will hold up in two full-length races is another matter.
Broc Parkes leads the second row positions in fifth via his Kawasaki ZX-10R. The Australian is followed by Ten Kate Honda riders Riyuichi Kiyonari and Carlos Checa, and Ducati’s Haga.
Haga is unconcerned by his eight-place result. Although Misano has not been a historically positive track for the
Ducati rider, Haga chalks his result up to a crowded track rather than poor setup.
Nitro Noriyuki Haga looks to regain point lost at Miller by grabbing some wins at Misano.
“For now all is under control. I have a good feeling with the bike and I’m pretty happy with the setting we tried today. Despite the heat I didn’t have too many problems with the tires, and if it hadn’t been for traffic that I came across, I would have finished today in third or fourth – we know that we have the race pace. The forecast predicts rain for tomorrow and maybe Sunday too but I am confident that whatever the weather we’ll be ready for battle come race day.”
Hopefully that battle will be an exciting one at the front between Nitro Nori and Elbowz Spies.
Stiggy Honda’s Leon Haslam was ninth-fastest, with
BMW S1000RR rider Troy Corser 10th and Aprilia RSV4 rider Shinya Nakano 11th. Corser and Nakano’s teammates, Ruben Xaus and Max Biaggi, were a respective 14th and 16th.
On the American rider front, Kawasaki’s Jamie Hacking was 20th overall – a full second slower than Fabrizio. Current Stiggy Honda rider and former MotoGP pilot John Hopkins was 26th-fastest. Hopper returns to competitive racing after a broken hip earlier in the SBK season.
Misano World Superbike - Provisional Qualifying Results:
1. Fabrizio (Ducati 1098R) - 1'37.016
2. Spies (Yamaha YZF R1) - 1'37.102
3. Kagayama (Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9) - 1'37.209
4. Rea (Honda CBR1000RR) - 1'37.238
5. Parkes (Kawasaki ZX 10R) - 1'37.281
6. Kiyonari (Honda CBR1000RR) - 1'37.396
7. Checa (Honda CBR1000RR) - 1'37.44
8. Haga (Ducati 1098R) - 1'37.451
9. Haslam (Honda CBR1000RR) - 1'37.490
10. Corser (BMW S1000 RR) - 1'37.503
11. Nakano (Aprilia RSV4 Factory) - 1'37.630
12. Lanzi (Ducati 1098R) - 1'37.702
13. Smrz (Ducati 1098R) - 1'37.710
14. Xaus (BMW S1000 RR) - 1'37.773
15. Lavilla (Ducati 1098R) - 1'37.786
16. Biaggi (Aprilia RSV4 Factory) - 1'37.813
20. Hacking (Kawasaki ZX10R) - 1’38.441
26. Hopkins (Honda CBR1000RR) - 1’38.856
