Assen: Toseland Scores Superpole Win Number Three

RECORD LAP FROM TOSELAND SECURES PREMIUM GRID POSITION

An ebullient Superpole ride from James Toseland (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) gave him an early psychological and measurable advantage for Sunday’s 22-lap Superbike races, thanks to a new Superbike best lap of 1’38.603. It was Toseland’s first Superpole of the year and only the third of his entire SBK career. Superpole changed the fortunes of many riders after the morning’s final regulation qualifying session, notably fifth placed pre-Superpole qualifier Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) who went second in the final analysis, some 0.623 seconds from Toseland. A joint factory Ducati push saw fastest pre-Superpole fastest qualifier Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) go third. The last place on the front row was earned by a resurgent Max Biaggi (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), who recovered from a lowly 12th finish after regulation qualifying to go fourth in Superpole.

VALENCIA WINNER FIFTH AFTER STORMING PRACTICE SHOWINGS

Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Ducati) went fifth in qualifying after losing forward drive in some places on his Superpole lap, but such was his pace all weekend he looks like a possible to repeat his win from Valencia come the races on Sunday. An uncharacteristically scrappy Superpole lap from Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) put him sixth only, one place up on the ever-impressive Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Germany), who now starts from row two. The second rank was completed by a recovering Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), the last placed qualifier into the Superpole 16, but eighth after the specialised single lap contest.

MUGGERIDGE MISSES BY A WHISKER Karl Muggeridge (Alto Evolution Honda) rode hard for his ninth place on the grid and missed out on a second row start by only a tenth. Best of the Kawasaki riders was Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse), last man in the top ten, while Roby Rolfo (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) went 11th fastest, having been second last man into Superpole. Rapid private rider, Jakub Smrz (Team Caracchi SC Ducati) was a fine 12th, qualifying on row three.

BIG NAMES OCCUPY ROW FOUR SLOTS Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) led some top riders on the fourth row, with Josh Brookes (Alto Evolution Honda) just behind. Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) almost crashed in his Superpole lap but recovered impressively to set any time at all, going 15th eventually, some 2.5 seconds down on Toseland. The last of the Superpole riders was Michel Fabrizio (DFX Corse Honda).

WORLD SUPERSPORT - KENAN SETS NEW TRACK BEST A new track record for the Supersport class gave Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) his second pole in succession, after a hotly contested final few minutes of the last qualifying session. Sofuoglu had to pass another rider in the entrance to the final chicane, and yet still set a 1’41.144, a time which eased out his own team-mate Sebastien Charpentier (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) by only 0.048 seconds. The front row had a more cosmopolitan feel after the Yamaha of Broc Parkes (Yamaha World SSP Racing) and the Kawasaki of Fabien Foret (GIL Motorsport Kawasaki) joined the Honda duo. In fifth place on the combined time sheets, Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni) recovered from a machine problem early in the final session to get into the top five, while a great stand-in ride by Steve Martin (Yamaha World SSP Racing) put him sixth fastest. Sunday’s 21-lap Supersport race is expected to be run in warm conditions, albeit possibly cooler than those which have accompanied the entire weekend so far.

SUPERSTOCK 1000 FIM CUP - CORTI THE POLE WINNER Claudio Corti (Team Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha) was the pole man in the big Superstock division, the third different rider to secure a pole this year. Didier Van Keymeulen (TTSL-MGM Racing Yamaha) rode his Yamaha to second place, one position ahead of Michele Pirro (Team Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha). The first non-Yamaha rider was Ayrton Badovini (Biassono Unionbike MV Agusta F4 312R) fourth. Brendan Roberts (Ducati Xerox Junior Team) went sixth.

SUPERSTOCK 600 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP - QUICK NAPEL Local rider Roy Ten Napel (MQP Racing Team Yamaha) scored the quickest ever lap of Assen on a 600 Superstock machine to take his first ever pole, setting a new record of 1’45.415. Fastest rider on day one Maxime Berger (Team Yamaha Trasimeno) was second fastest overall, with the improving Sylvain Barrier (Coutelle Junior Team Yamaha) making it a clean sweep for Yamaha in the top three places. Honda rider Andrea Antonelli (Team Italia Megabike AX) was fourth quickest, ahead of the Ducati 1098 of Domenico Colucci.

World SBK