World Superbike Championship
Round four: Valencia, Spain
Superpole
 A
wet day in Valencia for HANNspree Ten Kate Honda
Following a wet second day of World Superbike qualifying
at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, HANNspree Ten Kate
Honda's James Toseland will start tomorrow's 23-lap race from
the second row of the grid. Team-mate Roberto Rolfo qualified
in seventeenth position for a fifth row place.
Both riders performed well in this morning's second qualifying
session, which was declared wet from the start. Each set a
fastest lap a piece before Rolfo settled in fourth place and
Toseland in sixth. However, the rainy conditions meant the
existing best lap times were unbeaten and the Superpole entrants
were determined by yesterday's results.
As the intermittent rain continued, the Superpole was also
declared wet and all 16 riders took to the 4km track for a
50-minute session of 12 timed laps. The ever-changing track
conditions resulted in a frustrating end to the day for Toseland.
He recorded the fifth best lap time and a place off the front
row of the grid for the first time this year.
His team-mate Roberto Rolfo qualified in seventeenth place
and therefore did not take part in the Superpole session.
However, the Italian's performance in the earlier free practice
and qualifying session has given the team high hopes that
he can turn his fortunes around in tomorrow's race.
Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager:
"Wet Superpole is always an event of its own. It's a
pity that we just missed out on the front row because James
has always been in the front row up until now. We have actually
made a huge step forward in rainy conditions with the machinery.
Now we can match the pace of the front runners. It upsetting
for Roby that he missed out on the Superpole after the bad
day yesterday. In today's wet conditions he has really proved
his capabilities. Now we just have to wait and see what the
weather will bring tomorrow, but either way we are ready."
James Toseland:
"It's been a frustrating day for all of the team today.
The track conditions kept changing all the time and the timing
in Superpole was everything. I'm starting from the second
row for the first time this year and I can't say I'm happy
about that, but tomorrow is another day so let's see what
it brings!"
Roberto Rolfo:
"I am disappointed again today to not have taken part
in the Superpole, but there was no way to beat the times set
yesterday in the dry. Despite all this, I actually had a good
feeling on the bike today. I was in the top four in the second
qualifying session, so if the conditions are similar tomorrow
as they are forecast to be, I think I have a good chance of
success."
Superpole:
1 T. Bayliss 1'51.982
2 R. Xaus 1'52.085
3 J. Brookes 1'52.199
4 T. Corser 1'52.733
5 J. Toseland 1'52.801
6 L. Lanzi 1'52.942
7 N. Haga 1'52.961
8 Y. Kagayama 1'53.634
9 M. Fabrizio 1'53.750
10 K. Muggeridge 1'54.108
- R. Rolfo DNS
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