Cal Crutchlow Breaks Record, Wins Superpole

Cal Crutchlow won the World Supersport Championship in 2009, but decided to take a jump in class to race with the big boys in the 2010 World Superbike championships. Crutchlow’s performance today during the Superpole event shows that Crutchlow isn’t just ready to join the class of WSBK riders, but he’s ready to lead the pack.

Crutchlow was the fastest around the track today in Portimao, and he broke the previous track record set by Ben Spies by .03 seconds. Crutchlow’s 1’42.092 is a great sign for Yamaha who struggled to put points up during the first round at Phillip Island.

Crutchlow was followed closely by Max Biaggi who had the fastest time in the second qualifying session. Behind Biaggi came Phillip Island winners Carlos Checa and Leon Haslam. Jonathon Rea finished fifth.

Michele Fabrizio, who had two devastating second place finishes at Phillip Island, and was consistently in the top three throughout the qualifying rounds, dropped down to 17th places after a fall near the beginning of the race. On his spare bike, Fabrizio raced to catch up, but could never make a dent in the pack ahead of him.

Fellow Ducati Xerox teammate Noriyuki Haga also had an off day coming in just behind Fabrizio in 18th.

1 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'42.092
2 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'42.513
3 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'42.586
4 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'42.596
5 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'42.807
6 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'42.889
7 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'42.960
8 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'43.152
9 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'42.984
10 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'42.999
11 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'43.039
12 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'43.199
13 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 1'43.380
14 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'43.568
15 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'49.401
16 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'44.249
17 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'43.564
18 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'43.686
19 88 Pitt A. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'43.781
20 49 Tamada M. (JPN) BMW S1000 RR 1'45.142
21 32 Morais S. (RSA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.520
22 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'45.610
23 31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.795
24 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'45.799