Brno World Superbike Friday Qualifying 2011

Althea Racing’s Carlos Checa claimed the fastest time during Friday’s World Superbike qualifying session at the Brno circuit. The Spaniard narrowly outpaced home favorite Jakub Smrz by 0.263 seconds, the Czech rider helping put Ducati in the top-two spots during qualifying for Round 8. Yamaha’s Marco Melandri trailed Smrz by 0.068 seconds, with teammate Eugene Laverty posting fourth on the grid more than half a second off the pace of Checa.

“Today went well but it's only the first day," said Checa. "We were able to make good use of the tire and made a lot of laps with one that probably won’t be the race tire, and this is why we look to be a little ahead. We’re not in a bad position but at the same time we’re not at a big advantage either. I’m satisfied with the work done today and we’re first, but I’m not looking at that; I’m concentrating instead on the work we have to do tomorrow to have more of a guarantee for the races. Maybe it will rain on Sunday, but I’m not particularly worried. I’m confident and think we’ll be ready for battle whatever the weather conditions may be.”
 
Aprilia’s Max Biaggi had the fifth-fastest lap of the day with a time of 1'59.940, and was the final rider to lap below the 2’00 mark. Tom Sykes put his Kawasaki ZX-10R sixth on the timesheets just over two-tenths behind Biaggi, with BMW’s Leon Haslam another tenth back. Alstare Suzuki’s Michel Fabrizio rounded out the provisional second row in eighth with a time of 2'00.196. Liberty Ducati’s Sylvain Guintoli and BMW Motorrad Italia’s Ayrton Badovini posted ninth and tenth, respectively. Meanwhile BMW’s James Toseland decided not to participate in the upcoming round as he continues to recover from an injured wrist.

Aprilia’s Leon Camier just missed the top-10 by 0.092 seconds, with Pata Aprilia’s Noriyuki Haga finishing the session more than a second adrift. Kawasaki’s Joan Lascorz and Chris Vermeulen both struggled toward the back of the field, the two finishing 19th and 20th respectively on the timesheets.

Brno World Superbike Friday Qualifying Results:
1. Carlos Checa (Ducati) 1'59.322
2. Jakub Smrz (Ducati) 1'59.585
3. Marco Melandri (Yamaha) 1'59.653
4. Eugene Laverty (Yamaha) 1'59.906
5. Max Biaggi (Aprilia) 1'59.940
6. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) 2'00.154
7. Leon Haslam (BMW) 2'00.164
8. Michel Fabrizio (Suzuki) 2'00.196
9. Sylvain Guintoli (Ducati) 2'00.310
10. Ayrton Badovini (BMW) 2'00.310
11. Leon Camier (Aprilia) 2'00.440
12. Max Berger (Ducati) 2'00.463
13. Noriyuki Haga (Aprilia) 2'00.494
14. Lorenzo Lanzi (BMW) 2'00.580
15. Mark Aitchison (Kawasaki) 2'00.604

World Supersport

Kawasaki Motocard.com’s Broc Parkes nabbed the fastest time in Supersport qualifying. The Aussie was 0.298 seconds faster than Step Racing’s Gino Rea, who posted second with a lap of 2'03.909. Hanspree Ten Kate Honda’s Fabien Foret earned the third-quickest time on Friday, the Frenchman finishing just 0.032 seconds behind Rea in the timesheets.
 
Parkes’ Kawasaki teammate, David Salom, was the fastest during Friday’s morning practice, but could only muster the fourth-best time in the afternoon. Parkalgar Honda’s Sam Lowes finished fifth, with Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki’s Massimo Roccoli 0.156 seconds behind Lowes in sixth. Meanwhile, Harms Benjan Racing Team’s Robbin Harms and Bike Service R.T. Yamaha’s Roberto Tamburini claimed seventh and eighth in the order. Yamaha ParkinGo’s Luca Scassa and Chaz Davies both suffered issues during the day and finished ninth and tenth, respectively.

Brno World Supersport Friday Qualifying Results:
1. Broc Parkes (Kawasaki) 2'03.611
2. Gino Rea (Honda) 2'03.909
3. Fabien Foret (Honda) 2'03.941
4. David Salom (Kawasaki) 2'04.013
5. Sam Lowes (Honda) 2'04.123
6. Massimo Roccoli (Kawasaki) 2'04.279
7. Robbin Harms (Honda) 2'04.639
8. Roberto Tamburini (Yamaha) 2'05.047
9. Luca Scassa (Yamaha) 2'05.079
10. Chaz Davies (Yamaha) 2'05.151