Biaggi wins first superpole at home

Added on Saturday, May 8th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments

Max Biaggi stormed the Superpole at Monza this afternoon, to ride to his first World Superbike pole position.

After flying to a new track best time of 1:42.121s, Biaggi overcame advances from numerous potential pole sitters, giving him the premium spot at his home race. On his way to pole position, the Italian Aprilia Alitalia rider also set the fastest top speed in WSB history, achieving speeds of 330.2km/h.

Cal Crutchlow followed the local hero onto the front row, qualifying second ahead of tomorrow’s double header. Crutchlow had been fastest earlier on in the weekend, however just missed out on pole. Completing the front row were Michel Fabrizio and Assen dominator Jonathan Rea, in third and row respectively.

Current championship leader, Leon Haslam, kicked off the second row, with the fifth fastest time, while Ruben Xaus will start sixth, despite suffering a fall during the session. James Toseland recorded the seventh fastest time, with Tom Sykes eighth, Max Neukirchner and Luca Scassa completing the top ten.

Commenting on his first pole position in his four year WSB career, Biaggi told the WSB website: “It’s been a great Saturday for us but it’s not Sunday! So far it’s the best qualifying we did ever, there are no points for Superpole but it’s the emotion that counts!

“I want to dedicate it to all the team, because they are working very hard. This is a big step forward for us because at the last race we started on the third row. We are running a good pace compared to Yamaha and Honda and we’re looking forward to tomorrow. A good tyre at the end of 18 laps is going to make all the difference, especially at the Parabolica,” he added.

Qualifying results, WSB, Monza:

Pos Rider Nat Team Time

1   Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’42.121
2   Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1’42.154
3   Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’42.499
4 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’42.566
5 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’42.633
6 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1’42.725
7 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1’42.789
8 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’43.111
9 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 1’43.410
10 Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’43.431
11 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1’43.506
12 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1’43.508
13 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’43.530
14 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’43.691
15 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1’43.813
16 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1’43.957
17 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1’44.291
18 Vermeulen C. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’44.802
19 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’44.878
20 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’46.180
21 Sakai D. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’46.679
22 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’46.771
23 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’46.912
24 Parkes B. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 1’46.914