Michel Fabrizio fastest during Kyalami Qaulifying
Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) continued his recent run of positive form as he powered to the provisional pole in the opening qualifying session for the sixth round of the Hannspree FIM Superbike World Championship at Kyalami. The 24-year-old Italian, who dominated the pre-season testing session here last December, set a new official benchmark of 1 minute 38.103 seconds around the 4.246 km circuit.
Second place went to Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), the British rider four-tenths of a second behind Fabrizio, with his Honda CBR machine showing major signs of a renaissance in the last couple of races. Texan rookie sensation Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike) moved up from 14th to third in the last few minutes of the session, while Leon Haslam (Stiggy Racing Honda) was back on form with the final provisional front row slot.
Shinya Nakano was next up for Aprilia, followed by points leader Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox), whose arm is still swollen following last Sunday’s incident at Monza. Jakub Smrz (Guandalini Ducati), Tom Sykes (Yamaha World Superbike), Max Biaggi (Aprilia) and Ruben Xaus (BMW) make up the top 10, while South African champion Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki World Superbike Racing Team) caused a few eyebrows to be raised at one point as he was running in an impressive third place before ending the session in twelfth. Suzuki Alstare riders Yukio Kagayama and Fonsi Nieto, in for the injured Max Neukirchner, struggled today, finishing in 15th and 22nd position respectively.
Kyalami, South Africa
Qualifying Session One Results:
1. Michel FABRIZIO (Ducati 1098 F09), 1:38.103
2. Jonathan REA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:38.506
3. Ben SPIES (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:38.600
4. Leon HASLAM (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:38.865
5. Shinya NAKANO (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:38.998
6. Noriyuki HAGA (Ducati 1098 F09), 1:39.055
7. Jakub SMRZ (Ducati 1098R), 1:39.230
8. Tom SYKES (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:39.258
9. Max BIAGGI (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:39.284
10. Ruben XAUS (BMW S1000 RR), 1:39.357
11. Carlos CHECA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:39.370
12. Sheridan MORAIS (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:39.388
13. Gregorio LAVILLA (Ducati 1098R), 1:39.389
14. Shane BYRNE (Ducati 1098R), 1:39.470
15. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9), 1:39.475
16. Ryuichi KIYONARI (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:39.788
17. Broc PARKES (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:39.961
18. David SALOM (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:40.105
19. Luca SCASSA (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:40.192
20. Karl MUGGERIDGE (Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9), 1:40.304
21. Tommy HILL (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:40.308
22. Fonsi NIETO (Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9), 1:40.544
23. Shaun WHYTE (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:41.737
24. Steve MARTIN (BMW S1000 RR), 1:42.015
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