NEUKIRCHNER 9TH AT MISANO
 As
temperatures rose to 34C this afternoon at Misano for the
first day of qualifying for the eighth round of the World
Superbike Championship, Max Neukirchner, Fonsi Nieto and Yukio
Kagayama had to work hard in difficult conditions as they
began finding good set-ups for their GSX-R1000 Suzukis.
Neukirchner ended the fastest of the trio, in ninth place,
with Nieto 11th and Kagayama 20th. The Japanese rider was
suffering from his injured left hand and there was some speculation
about whether or not his it would be strong enough to ride,
but he is determined to be on the grid on race day.
Troy Bayliss (Ducati) ended with the day's fastest lap, with
Jakub Smrz (Ducati) second, Troy Corser (Yamaha) third and
Max Biaggi (Ducati) fourth.
Max Neukirchner - 9th, 1:37.751:
"We began with one bike with the Nurburgring set-up
and the other bike with a slightly lowered front and that
was the one that worked better. I had some problems exiting
the corners because the bike was spinning a bit and that caused
me to lose time. Otherwise I probably could've finished much
higher up. I think we've more or less decided on which rear
tyre to use in the race, but we're not sure about the front
yet. One thing I do know is that it's going to be a very difficult
day on Sunday to do two races in this kind of heat!"
Fonsi Nieto - 11th, 1:37.759:
"After Germany, today was much better and I was happy
to be amongst the fastest in the morning session. Later, it
was hard to find that last three or four tenths-of-a-second,
but the lap times are very, very close, so I am not unhappy.
Tomorrow I want to be fast straight away and do a good Superpole
so that I don't have to start way down the grid again. I don't
think I have ever ridden in such heat as today. After five
or six laps it was difficult to breathe properly and there's
no air coming inside the helmet. Sunday is going to be very
tough for all of us."
Yukio Kagayama - 20th, 1:38.636:
"It was very difficult for me out there today because
of my hand. The doctors told me that it would be three weeks
before the bone would be OK and longer for the ligaments I
damaged. The ligaments are causing me problems when I am trying
to get the bike to change direction - especially from left
to right. Tomorrow I might try a pain-killing injection. It
will be good for the pain, but the problem is that it will
reduce the feeling in my hand!"
Friday WSB qualifying: 1 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati)
1:36.863, 2 Smrz (CZ-Ducati) 1:37.139, 3 Corser (Aus-Yamaha)
1:37.224, 4 Biaggi (I-Ducati) 1:37.477, 5 Haga (J-Yamaha)
1:37.542, 6 Laconi (F-Kawasaki) 1:37.574, 7 Lanzi (I-Ducati)
1:37.618, 8 Xaus (E-Ducati) 1:37.710, 9 Max Neukirchner (D-Alstare
Suzuki) 1:37.751, 10 Fonsi Nieto (E-Suzuki Alstare) 1:37.759.
20 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare) 1:38.636.
SUPERSTOCK 1000:
Team Alstare Suzuki rider Xavi Simeon ended the first day
of qualifying in Misano with the sixth fastest time but is
confident of improvement tomorrow.
The young Belgian and his 39 fellow competitors had to endure
temperatures of 34C this afternoon and the forecast is the
same for the rest of the weekend, so they all know they are
going to be in for a tough time.
Aussie Brendan Roberts (Ducati) took provisional pole, with
Davide Giugliano (Suzuki) second and Alessandro Polita (Ducati)
third.
Xavi Simeon - 6th, 1:40.927:
"It was very hot out there and hard for all of us and
it's going to be the same tomorrow. Today my bike was not
so bad, but I didn't have a good feeling with it going into
the turns. But I think we have a good base and I'm sure we'll
improve it tomorrow and be ready and faster for the race on
Sunday. The only other problem is that the track is even bumpier
than last year."
Friday Superstock 1000 qualifying: 1 Roberts
(Aus-Ducati) 1:40.443, 2 Giugliano (I-Suzuki) 1:40.465, 3
Polita (I-Ducati) 1:40.615, 4 Perotti (I-Suzuki) 1:40.853,
5 Pirro (I-Yamaha) 1:40.923, 6 Xavi Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki)
1:40.926.
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