Alitalia Aprilia's Max Biaggi took the top time in morning SBK qualifying at Miller Motorsports Park, breaking the standing record in the process at 1'48.115.
has had the fastest
World Superbike all weekend here at Miller Motorsports Park, at least in terms of top speed. Now the Emperor has the fastest standing lap at the Utah circuit, topping the timesheets in record-breaking form on the Alitalia Aprilia RSV4 Factory. Biaggi’s 1’48.115 bests the standing record of 1’48.193 set by Carlos Checa in 2008. Following the Italian on the combined qualifying sessions timesheet was yesterday’s fastest rider, Pata B&G Ducati’s Jakub Smrz, as well as BMW’s Troy Corser and the 2008 MMP double-victory winning Carlos Checa.
For much of the Sunday morning session Smrz continued to clutch to the provisional pole by virtue of yesterday’s Q1 time. As riders continued to fight for inclusion in this afternoon’s Superpole sessions, Carlos Checa gained some ground moving up to fourth. With 10 minutes remaining in the hour-long session Checa jumped ahead of Smrz with a 1’48.405. Aprilia’s Leon Camier was another rider on the move, the British Superbike champ climbing into the top 10 and up to as high as sixth.
Jakub Smrz was looking behind for the rest of the Superbike field after Saturday qualifying and held onto second overall after Sunday's morning session.
It wasn’t until the closing laps that a flurry of activity saw Biaggi vault to the front with the new lap record. Smrz also improved on his Saturday time for second overall, with Troy Corser bolting out of the double digits to take third on the timesheet aboard the BMW S1000RR. The moves in turn pushed Checa down to fourth.
Checa’s Althea Ducati teammate Shane Byrne finished the session fifth-fastest, Shakey followed by fellow Ducati man Michel Fabrizio, Yamaha’s Cal Crutchlow and the current points leader Leon Haslam.
The final laps saw Camier lowside his Aprilia, though he walked away from the incident under his own power.
The crashed Camier fell to ninth-fastest.
James Toseland rounded out the top 10, the English rider linked to his fellow countryman by also having binned his R1 during the close of yesterday’s qualifying session.
Noriyuki Haga talks with his Ducati Xerox crew. Nirto Nori was 13th-fastest.
Aprilia's Leon Camier was on the move until a late session lowside.
Points leader Leon Haslam was eighth-fastest in combined qualifying at MMP.
Honda's Eugene Laverty finished the morning Supersport practice in a familiar spot, the top of the timesheet.
Riders on the outside looking to make a jump in Superpole include Jonathan Rea, who improved on yesterday’s lap time but still lingers in 12th, as well as
Noriyuki Haga, who was 13th-fastest and nearly a second off Biaggi’s pace.
World Superbike Sunday Qualifying Results:
1. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) 1'48.115
2. Jakub Smrz (Pata B&G Ducati) 1'48.289 +0.174
3. Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad) 1'48.318 +0.203
4. Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) 1'48.358 +0.243
5. Shane Byrne (Althea Ducati) 1'48.549 +0.434
6. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 1'48.571 +0.456
7. Cal Crutchlow (Sterilgarda Yamaha) 1'48.611 +0.496
8. Leon Haslam (Alstare Suzuki) 1'48.734 +0.619
9. Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia) 1'48.741 +0.626
10. James Toseland (Sterilgarda Yamaha) 1'48.887 +0.772
11. Luca Scassa (Supersonic Ducati) 1'48.945 +0.830
12. Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) 1'48.965 +0.850
13. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox) 1'49.050 +0.935
14. Sylvain Guintoli (Alstare Suzuki) 1'49.142 +1.027
15. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing) 1'49.225 +1.110
16. Ruben Xaus (BMW Motorrad) 1'49.477 +1.362
Supersport
Eugene Laverty continues to set the pace in the Supersport class followed by chief championship rival and current points leader Keenan Sofuoglu. Michele Pirro took third position ahead of Kawasaki’s Joan Lascorz. American Jason DiSalvo managed to lap fifth-fastest at his home SBK circuit. ParkinGo Triumph teammate Chaz Davies was eighth-fastest. American’s Tyler Odom and Melissa Paris were a respective 16th and 19th on the practice session timesheet.
World Supersport Free Practice Results:
1. Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) 1'51.566
2. Keenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) 1'51.822 +0.256
3. Michele Pirro (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) 1'52.277 +0.711
4. Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Motocard.com) 1'52.362 +0.796
5. Jason DiSalvo (ParkinGO BE1 Triumph) 1'52.487 +0.921
6. Matthieu Lagrive (ParkinGO BE1 Triumph) 1'52.590 +1.024
7. Dave Salom (ParkinGO BE1 Triumph) 1'52.793 +1.227
8. Chaz Davies (ParkinGO BE1 Triumph) 1'52.809 +1.243
9. Fabien Foret (Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki) 1'52.891 +1.325
10. Gino Rea (Intermoto Czech Honda) 1'52.908 +1.342
16. Tyler Odom (Erion Racing Honda) 1'54.467 +2.901
19. Melissa Paris (MPH Racing Yamaha) 1'58.430 +6.864
