Championship top 4 set cracking pace at Magny-Cours
World Superbike Press Release
Michel Fabrizio's magic moment continues as last Sunday's Imola winner powered to the quickest time in the first Superbike qualifying session at Magny-Cours. The Ducati Xerox rider's time of 1 minute 38.770 seconds was just three-tenths away from Haga's best lap of 1'38.444.
There was quite a scrap for second place, with Fabrizio managing to hold off Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and the two main title contenders Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox) and Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike), with all four separated by 0.169 seconds and the only riders able to lap under the 1'39"mark.
Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was back amongst the top echelons with fifth place, ahead of Troy Corser (BMW), the Australian looking much more at ease than Imola on the French track, and Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki Alstare), who brought back some morale to the Alstare team.
The surprise of the day was Fonsi Nieto (Ducati DFX), who set ninth quickest time, ahead of Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing), victim of a harmless crash. It was a positive debut on the Aprilia RSV4 for BSB champion Leon Camier, the British rider posting 17th quickest time just two-tenths away from Biaggi.
Times: 1. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'38.770; 2. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'38.821; 3. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'38.877; 4. Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'38.939; 5. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'39.379; 6. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'39.435; 7. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'39.497; 8. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'39.613; 9. Nieto F. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'39.772; 10. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'39.834; 11. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'39.900; 12. Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'39.964; 13. Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'40.000; 14. Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'40.017; 15. Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'40.048; 16. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'40.101
