NEUKIRCHNER TAKES PROVISIONAL POLE
 Team
Alstare Suzuki rider Max Neukirchner was in sensational form
today at the Monza World Superbike fifth round in Italy, posting
the day's fastest lap in this afternoon's qualifying session.
The young German blitzed the 5.793 kilometre circuit in 1:45.990,
breaking the lap record in the process. Over three tenths
of a second behind was series leader Troy Bayliss (Ducati)
with Suzuki Alstare rider Yukio Kagayama third.
It was not such a good day for Suzuki Alstare rider Fonsi
Nieto: He crashed in the qualifying session, fortunately without
injury, and lost time when most of the riders were setting
their quick lap times. Nieto ended 11th and he and the team
know that a lot of good work will have to be done tomorrow
to get a good grid position.
Max Neukirchner - 1st, 1:45.990:
"I'm happy with how things worked out today and happy
because I think we have a pretty good bike set-up. We'll make
some small adjustments tomorrow to see if we can improve the
bike, but it will not be anything major. Tomorrow we'll do
some work on the electronics and maybe the engine-braking
to try and get the best possible set-up. I want to say thank
you to Yukio for helping me do my fast lap today. At Monza
you need help if you want to set a really good time and Yukio
was great."
Yukio Kagayama - 3rd, 1:46.371:
"My feeling today is good. We started the day with the
settings from Assen and they worked pretty well really. I
had some small problems braking, but that was because of front
fork settings, not the brakes themselves. The team made some
changes and the bike improved. Towards the end of this afternoon's
qualifying, I was using a hard tyre - for a test - but I'm
sure I could've gone faster if I had used a softer tyre. Maybe
I could've been second or even first! Although slipstreaming
is very important here, I would prefer to be on my own because
then I can push much harder. I think Monza might be good for
us and that is what I am hoping for."
Fonsi Nieto - 11th, 1:46.990:
"I am not so happy today because I had a small crash,
lost some time in the qualifying session and that meant I
missed the chance to go for a quick lap time. The crash happened
at the Parabolica when I went into the gravel. The tyre wall
was approaching, so I had no choice but to lay the bike down.
Luckily I didn't hurt myself or do any further damage to my
left knee. It is a bit sore when I'm on the bike, but it will
not affect me in the race."
Friday WSB qualifying: 1 Max Neukirchner
(D-Alstare Suzuki) 1:45.990, 2 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:46.359,
3 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare) 1:46.371, 4 Tamada (J-Kawasaki)
1:46.404, 5 Smrz (CZ-Ducati) 1:46.604, 6 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda)
1:46.750. 11 Fonsi Nieto (E-Suzuki Alstare) 1:46.990.
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