Biaggi was the fastest around the track during the final qualifying session at Valencia, but not by much. The top ten riders were separated by just two tenths of a second, and Reuben Xaus, who finished 18th, was still within one second of the leader.
Cal Crutchlow finished 15th in the second qualifying round, leaving him out of many people’s pre-superpole predictions. But Crutchlow fought his way through the pack to claim his second consecutive superpole victory at the World Superbike Championships.
In Portimao, Crutchlow wasn’t able to use his pole position to any advantage. The Yamaha rider suffered a crash during race one and finished 14th. He did manage to climb onto the podium during race two, giving Yamaha its first pordium finish of the 2010 WSBK season.
Crutchlow will look to use his position to give him an edge in an extremely competitive field at Valencia. Behind Crutchlow come the only three riders to have won a race this season. Carlos Checa comes in second, just two tenths behind Crutchlow, and just two hundredths of a second in front of Biaggi. Leon Haslam will also join them on the front row of the grid for tomorrows race.
Troy Corser, Sylvain Guintoli, Jonathan Rea and Lorenzo Lanzi will make up the second row.
1 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'33.615
2 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'33.840
3 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'33.860
4 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'33.961
5 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'34.059
6 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'34.073
7 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'34.235
8 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'34.261
9 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'33.988
10 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'34.021
11 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'34.100
12 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'34.246
13 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'34.273
14 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'34.280
15 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'34.730
16 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 1'34.934
17 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'34.756
18 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'34.894
19 88 Pitt A. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'36.088
20 32 Morais S. (RSA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'36.072
21 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'36.104
22 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'36.117
23 17 Andrews S. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'36.329
24 31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'36.524
25 123 Resch R. (AUT) BMW S1000 RR 1'36.639
