Crutchlow snatches Kyalami pole

Added on Saturday, May 15th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments

Cal Crutchlow stormed the field to take his third Superpole win of the season at Kyalami this afternoon, qualifying just ahead of teammate James Toseland.

In what was an extremely close Superpole, Crutchlow managed to take the prominent spot just ahead of his Sterilgarda Yamaha teammate, with Toseland determined to do well after being taken to hospital last time out. After suffering concussion in a high speed incident last weekend, Toseland is back and fighting fit, and has demonstrated he is better than ever.

Carlos Checa recorded the third fastest time, while Michel Fabrizio completed the front row. To indicate how close a session it was, the top four were separated by just 0.125 seconds.

With the rest of the field left to battle out the next few rows of the grid, it was championship leader Leon Haslam who was next up in fifth. Heading the second row, Haslam will be aiming for a good getaway at the start, eager to hold onto and extend his championship lead.

Jakub Smrz set the sixth fastest, after recording the quickest combined qualifying time, while Max Biaggi qualified seventh, just ahead of teammate Leon Camier.

Luca Scassa and Sylvain Guintoli completed the top ten positions, with Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes just behind after each suffered a difficult session. After riding to the teams first podium last weekend, Troy Corser could only manage thirteenth quickest, with Sheridan Morais just behind. Corser’s teammate Ruben Xaus will start fifteenth for race one tomorrow, with Noriyuki Haga again experiencing difficulties to only set the sixteenth fastest time.

With another two races of the 2010 WSB championship tomorrow it is sure to provide everyone with yet more thrilling action.

WSB, Kyalami, Qualifying results:

Pos Rider Nat Team Time

1      Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1’37.243
2     Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1’37.260
3     Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1’37.296
4    Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’37.368
5    Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’37.401
6    Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1’37.561
7     Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’37.613
8    Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’38.148
9   Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’37.756
10 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’37.875
11 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’37.953
12 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’38.206
13 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1’38.210
14 Morais S. (RSA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’38.404
15 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1’38.471
16 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1’38.496
17 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 1’38.917
18 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1’39.037
19 Vermeulen C. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’39.317
20 Parkes B. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 1’40.713
21 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’40.981
22 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’41.526