Cal Crutchlow had a lap time that was a full 0.725 seconds faster than championship leader Max Biaggi's.
The story of Superpole at Brno was the fact that six different manufacturers filled the top-six spots on the grid and Cal Crutchlow’s blistering pole time and new circuit best lap. The fact that there were six manufacturers at the front illustrates once again the parity of the
WSB formula which encourages ultra stiff competition and close races.
But by WSB standards at least, the final Superpole session wasn’t close. Cal Crutchlow has shown all year his pace over a single lap, and when his factory Sterilgarda
Yamaha has grip he is virtually unbeatable. The result was a lap time which bettered Troy Bayliss’ outright best and was a massive 0.725 seconds faster than his closet rival Max Biaggi.
Crutchlow said: “I’m actually a bit disappointed because I wanted to do a 1.57s lap but I ran a bit deep into one corner. I got through the first two Superpoles using the same tire and still had a qualifying tire left at the end but decided not to go out because I knew no one would beat my time.”
In the past Crutchlow has been unable to replicate the same pace over a race distance, but looking at a breakdown of his lap times in the all telling second free practice session, tomorrow’s race might be different. Crutchlow posted a string of 1.59s laps and will be desperate to secure his first ever WSB win and Yamaha’s first in 2010.
On paper his main rival will be Max Biaggi. The Italian rider has a clear affinity with the Brno circuit and is showing incredible consistency and race pace. And unlike Crutchlow who struggles to make his tires last on the Yamaha, Biaggi has made a career out of riding smooth and riding smart and will be at his most dangerous at the end of the race.
Ten Kate
Honda riders Jonathan Rea and Max Neukirchner had a much better day compared to recent rounds after securing third and 11th-places respectively. For the Brno race both riders switched from the HRC electronics system that they’d been using back to the PI Electronics that has been developed by the team since 2007.
Max Biaggi appears as Crutchlow's main rival on paper and took second in Saturday's qualifying.
“I’m not going say it’s a big turnaround but it’s a step in the right direction,” said Rea. “It’s good to be on the front row, but now I’ve got to find a way to stay with Biaggi in the race.”
After such a promising start by the Xerox
Ducati squad, Superpole ended in disappointment with Michel Fabrizio in seventh and Noriyuki Haga in 15th following two crashes in the space of 27 minutes In Superpole I and Superpole 2. In both crashes Haga lost the front of his Ducati, which is major blow to his team after being in such good form up until that point.
Local rider Jacob Smrz paid the price for a crash right at the end of the second free practice session. With only one bike at his disposal following his switch from Ducati to
Aprilia this weekend, the Czech rider spent a lot of time in the pits during the first 14-minute Superpole session and could only manage the 17th-fastest time, meaning he will start the two races from the fifth row of the grid.
After spending the night in Brno hospital, Troy Corser returned to the circuit today having been given the all clear by doctors. The 38-year-old Australian was clearly in some discomfort after having sustained a concussion and a big impact to his sternum.
“I remember everything about the crash, even though it was a pretty heavy one,” Corser said. “I highsided and went up in the air as far as I could go whilst still holding on the bars! All my safety equipment - helmet, boots and gloves all did their job and I probably would’ve walked away from the crash if it hadn’t been for the bike hitting me. Mentally, I’m
After switching the HRC electronics system he'd been using back to the PI Electronics, Honda Ten Kate's Jonathan Rea took third in qualifying at Brno.
absolutely fine. My head is completely clear and I have no fuzziness at all. If it wasn’t for the upper chest problem, I might have been able to ride today.”
In contrast, his
BMW teammate Ruben Xaus secured his best ever qualifying position for the German manufacturer and will line up in fourth-place and on the front row of the grid. Xaus has also shown good race pace, but is still suffering the side effects of his leg injury sustained two weeks ago when he was hit by Jonathan Rea at Misano.
“It’s taken me longer than Troy to get the bike working after the updates we got,” Xaus said. “But the big thing here is that for the first time I’ve been able to get the qualifying tire to work. Every other race I’ve set my fastest times on race tires.”
