Hannspree Ten Kate Honda's Jonathan Rea didn't let a little rain and wind slow him down and posted the fastest time in today's Nurburgring qualifying session.
Hannspree Ten Kate Honda's Jonathan Rea showed no fear in today’s inclement conditions at Nurburgring, setting the top time in the World Superbike qualifying session. Rea was able to weather cold, rainy conditions to post a 2’11.278-lap, 0.503-seconds faster than the nearest competitor, Yamaha World Superbike’s Tom Sykes. Rea sits fourth in the championship point standings and has one race victory to his credit in his rookie World Superbike season.
BMW’s Troy Corser continues to show progress on the S 1000 RR after posting the third-fastest time of the day. Corser made a move up the timesheets late in the session, and would love to get the BMW team up on the podium for the first time this weekend.
Grabbing the final position on the provisional front row was Ducati Xerox's Michel Fabrizio. Fabrizio sits in third place in the championship point standings and nothing short of a double podium victory could propel him into contention for the title.
Fabrizio’s Ducati Xerox teammate, Noriyuki Haga, was fastest in the morning practice session and backed up that performance with a fifth-fastest time in qualifying. Haga is looking fit and ready to fight for the 2009 World Superbike title after serious injuries hampered his efforts in Brno. Another Ducati rider, Sterilgarda’s Shane Byrne, lapped sixth-fastest but fell victim to the wet conditions and crashed out during the session. Byrne and his fellow British riders had an otherwise strong showing on the rainy circuit. Racing in the British Superbike series provides plenty of opportunities to hone wet-weather riding skills.
Yamaha World Superbike's Tom Sykes was the team stud today, posting the second-fastest qualifying time.
Stiggy Racing Honda’s Leon Haslam posted the seventh-best time of the afternoon. Rounding out the top ten were Guandalini Ducati’s Jakub Smrz in eighth, Ten Kate Honda’s Ryuichi Kiyonari in ninth, and Luca Scassa on the ZX 10R with the tenth-fastest time.
Title contender Ben Spies was off the pace and sat back in 21st until late in the session when a fast lap dropped him into 13th place. Aprilia’s Max Biaggi, a race-winner in the last round at Brno, concentrated more on set-up than lap times and finished just behind Spies in 14th.
Alstare Suzuki’s Karl Muggeridge, subbing for injured rider Max Neukirchner, crashed out late in the session, one of several riders who went off course today.
“There was a lot of standing water around this afternoon and when I crashed it was when the back came round suddenly at a downhill corner. I managed to save it at first, but then the front gripped and I was down. Fortunately I wasn't hurt, but it has given
World Superbike championship points' leader, Noriyuki Haga, looks healed and ready to battle to the end for the 2009 title.
the mechanics some extra work to do on the bike," Muggeridge said.
World Superbike Nurburgring Friday Qualifying -
1. Jonathan Rea (Honda) 2:11.278
2. Tom Sykes (Yamaha) 2:11.781
3. Troy Corser (BMW) 2:12.086
4. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) 2:12.354
5. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) 2:12.635
6. Shane Byrne (Ducati) 2:12.819
7. Leon Haslam (Honda) 2:12.979
8. Jakub Smrz (Ducati) 2:13.089
9. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 2:13.215
10. Luca Scassa (Kawasaki) 2:13.238
11. Richard Cooper (BMW) 2:13. 391
12. Carlos Checa (Honda) 2:13.550
13. Ben Spies (Yamaha) 2:13.898
14. Max Biaggi (Aprilia) 2:13.928
15. Karl Muggeridge (Suzuki) 2:14.073
