2007 Superbike World Championship
Round 9, Brno, CZ - Final qualifying
Circuit: 5.403 kms Weather: Dry, sunny 28 C.
MAX JUST MISSES OUT ON POLE.
Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Max Biaggi was on
course for pole position in the 16-rider Superpole shoot-out
today right up the moment the last rider, Noriyuki Haga, went
out. At that stage, Max had lapped the 5.403 kilometre Brno
circuit in 2:00.018 - a time that looked unbeatable. But then
Haga blitzed his Yamaha round the undulating track in 1:59.603
and became the first rider ever to have lapped a Superbike
at Brno in under two minutes. But Max is happy enough with
second today, a front row grid position and is ready for two
long 20 lap races tomorrow. His team mate Yukio Kagayama made
a couple of small mistakes on his Superpole lap and ended
sixth quickest - the same as last year. Third fastest in Superpole
today is Troy Bayliss (Ducati), with series leader James Toseland
(Honda) fourth.
Max - 2nd
My Superpole lap time was the fastest I’ve been round
here this weekend and I thought maybe it was good enough for
pole position. It didn’t work out that way, but I’m
not too unhappy because I am on the front row and that is
what counts. If the weather is as hot or similar to these
last two days, tyres are going to be a crucial element. I
think the guy who wins tomorrow’s race is the one who
conserves his tyres best. It’s going to be a long, hard
day for sure and the last five or six laps of the races are
going to very interesting. I hope that tomorrow Brno will
once again give me good memories.
Yukio - 6th
I was sixth in qualifying last year and went on to win both
races, so if I can do the same I will be very happy! Today
I made some mistakes in Superpole and lost some time. That
was enough to lose the front row, but sixth is not so bad.
I went onto the grass and then wheelied when I hit the ripple
strip and that was probably about four tenths of a second
gone. Then some slides and more time lost, so that’s
where my Superpole lap went. But, I’m quite happy with
my times on race rubber and as long as I get a good start
I think I can be competitive for sure. It’s going to
be very hard tomorrow - especially if the weather stays as
hot. Tyre life is going to be a problem and you will have
to have a good tyre strategy to win the race. This is going
to be my goal.
Final qualifying
1 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:59.603, 2 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki
Corona Extra) 2:00.018, 3 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 2:00.034, 4
Toseland (GB-Honda) 2:00.235, 5 Corser (Aus-Yamaha) 2:00.251,
6 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 2:00.879,
7 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 2:01.078, 8 Neukirchner (D-Suzuki) 2:01.177,
9 Rolfo (I-Honda) 2:01.234, 10 Fabrizio (I-Honda) 2:01.690,
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