2006 Superbike World Championship
Round 9, Assen, NL
Final qualifying,
Weather: dull, mostly overcast 17-19C.
THE RETURN OF ‘MR SUPERPOLE’.
Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Troy Corser shrugged
off the problems in qualifying to take Superpole at Assen
today. It was his first Superpole since Monza in early May,and
his third of the season. It is also the 37th Superpole of
his career and pushes him further ahead of his nearest rival
Carl Fogarty, who has recorded 21 pole positions. It was a
particularly good Superpole for Team Alstare because Troy’s
team mate Yukio Kagayama set the third quickest time of the
day and will line up on the front row of the grid. Between
him and Troy is his good friend Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha), with
series leader Troy Bayliss (Ducati) in fourth place.
TROY 1st, 1:38.965
After the small problems in qualifying, it’s fantastic
to take Superpole today. It’s been a bit of a while,
but once we’d improved the clutch feeling and got some
more grip, I knew that I was in for a chance of a front row
place on the grid. And, to be honest, that’s what I
expected, so to get Superpole is a bonus. Front row is so
important here, as any race, because the first section of
the track consists of four or five slow turns and you have
to be up the front or else you’ll get left behind. Tyre
life is going to be a real factor tomorrow because nobody
will have good grip in the second half of the race. I really
hope that it doesn’t rain tomorrow, because that’ll
ruin the races and not make it so much for the fans.
YUKIO 3rd, 1:39.176
I like the new section of the track and maybe that’s
because we are all seeing it for the first time, so nobody
has a big advantage or experience over me. For sure tomorrow’s
races are going to be very hard, because of the tyres. I don’t
think there will be much grip in the latter part of the race
and there will be many slides. I am happy that Troy-san took
pole today and also happy Nori is next to me on the grid -
in one way. But also, there is a lot of pressure on me to
beat him off the line and get to the first turn ahead. He
is a very hard rider, but I am ready for the big battle.
Final qualifying
1 TROY CORSER (Aus-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:38.965,
2 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:39.009, 3 YUKIO KAGAYAMA (J-Alstare Suzuki
Corona Extra) 1:39.176, 4 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:39.304, 5
Barros (Bra-Honda) 1:39.419, 6 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda) 1:39.
543, 7 Toseland (GB-Honda) 1:39.565, 8 Pitt (Aus-Yamaha) 1:39.756,
9 Nieto (E-Kawasaki) 1:39.958, 10 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 1:40.149,
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