Toseland takes provisional pole at Assen

Championship StandingsJames Toseland stormed to provisional pole position for rounds nine and ten of the World Superbike Championship at Assen.

The 25-year-old Briton, who leads the world championship, roared around historic Dutch circuit in 1:39.603 in the final minutes of the session on his Ten Kate Honda, over a second under the lap record set by Troy Bayliss last year.

His closest challenger was Japanese rider Noriyuki Haga, who was 0.147 seconds slower on his Motor Italia Yamaha.

Spaniard Ruben Xaus, who wowed his local crowd with a home win in Valencia two weeks ago, was the only other man whose name appeared at the top of the timesheets and wound up third quickest on his Sterilgada Ducati - one spot above defending champion Troy Bayliss, who spent the first three quarter of the session fiddling with his suspension on his works machine.

Troy Corser - who can set a new record of 110 podium finishes if he makes it into the top three on raceday - was fifth on the second Motor Italia bike with Karl Muggeridge and Fonsi Nieto next up for Alto Evolution Honda and PSG1-Kawasaki.

Czech rider Jakub Smrz was a sensational eighth fastest on his two-year-old Caracchi Ducati while Lorenzo Lanzi - on a works bike - and Josh Brookes on the second Alto Evolution Honda completed the top ten.

Le Mans 24 hours winner Max Neukirchner was less than a second off the pace in 11th for Suzuki Germany while his namesake Max Biaggi - Toseland's closest championship challenger - was one place further back on his Alstare-run bike.

Britain's Dean Ellison was 20th on his Pedercini Ducati - 5.3 seconds off the pace.

EuroSport