Round 11, Imola, Italy
Circuit: 4.959 kms. Weather: Dry, mostly sunny 24-27 C.
Final qualifying, Saturday 30th September
SUPER SIXTH FOR MAX!
Team Alstare Engineering Corona Extra rider Max Neukirchner
embarrassed many of the top factory riders at Imola today
by posting the sixth fastest lap in Superpole. The German
led the charge for over half of the 16-rider Superpole shoot-out
and was only beaten by determined rides from the leading contenders.
Troy Bayliss (Ducati) took Superpole with a tremendous lap
of 1:48.804 - the only rider to dip into the 1:48s. Second
was James Toseland (Honda) with Andrew Pitt (Yamaha) third
and then Max’s fellow Alstare riders Troy Corser and
Yukio Kagayama fourth and fifth respectively.
MAX - 6th, 1:49.840
I am very happy with my Superpole lap, even though I made
a little mistake during it. But sixth is pretty good considering
everything and it’s a sign that I am getting to understand
the Alstare Engineering bike more and more. Unfortunately
I had a bit of a crash in the afternoon practice and although
I was OK, the bike was pretty badly damaged. I’m afraid
I gave my mechanics a lot of work to do. Sixth was good today,
but what’s important is tomorrow. I need a couple of
good starts and be strong throughout the two races. If I can
do that, I can look forward to a couple of good finishes.
Final qualifying
1 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:48.804, 2 Toseland (GB-Honda) 1:49.394,
3 Pitt (Aus-Yamaha) 1:49.433, 4 TROY CORSER (Aus-Alstare Suzuki
Corona Extra) 1:49.442, 5 YUKIO KAGAYAMA (J-Alstare Suzuki
Corona Extra) 1:49.497, 6 MAX NEUKIRCHNER (D-Alstare Engineering
Corona Extra) 1:49.840, 7 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:49.856, 8 Barros
(Bra-Honda) 1:49.888, 9 Xaus (E-Ducati) 1:49.958, 10 Lanzi
(I-Ducati) 1:50.081
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