Spies takes incredible third consecutive pole in Valencia
In a drama filled day of incidents Ben Spies again proved his incredible riding skills, taking his third consecutive pole position start in the 2009 championship and smashing the Ricardo Tormo lap record in the process. Spies was the fastest rider in the morning qualifying session with a time of 134.709, team-mate Sykes was slower onto the pace, qualifying in 16th position. Spies is the first rider to score three consecutive poles at the beginning of the World Championship season since Scott Russell in 1994.
Spies bike suffered a fault at the end of the second Superpole, leaving him no choice but to head out on the back-up bike for the final session. The different bike set-up proved to be a winning combination, Spies set a blistering pace and qualified on pole position with a time of 133.270, setting a new lap record in the process. The Superpole session did not go so well for team-mate Sykes, he initially qualified in 6th position on race tyres however as other riders changed to qualifiers he was bumped down the field with no time to go out again.
Ben Spies, Yamaha World Superbike Team (1st, 133.270)
The first session was good for us. We still have some things were working through but even now the race pace seems good and we seem fast and thats what matters. Superpole was good, we went out and got through the first two sessions and was going well until the end of the second session when we had a problem with the bike and had to switch to the back-up bike. When I got out there I knew the set-up was good and actually think weve found something for the race tomorrow. Obviously we dont get points for pole but its good to get three in a row. I guess in the end its about having a couple more feet on everyone else just for that start.
Tom Sykes, Yamaha World Superbike Team, (17th, 135.203)
This morning was a steady session because we had some things to work out. I shouldnt really have been that low on the Superpole, I started on a race tyre and had an ok time and thought I was quite safe in the top six, unfortunately the other riders switched to qualifiers. Its difficult because now you can get stuck behind riders in the race that you wouldnt normally be behind and wouldnt be a problem. So weve got a lot of work to do tomorrow, I was hoping we were going to have a good position to start but it doesnt look that way now.
Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha World Superbike Team Manager
we had a good result one side of the garage, the other side a bit less. Unfortunately Tom lost the ability to do the2nd and 3rd superpole sessions. Ben did a really good lap, he broke the old lap record and he also had a really good race pace. As usual we will make some more changes overnight and check everything in the morning ready to race.
WSB Valencia – qualifying 2
1 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1’34.709
2 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1’34.714
3 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’34.775
4 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’34.817
5 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’34.839
6 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1’34.851
7 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1’34.908
8 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1’34.939
9 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’34.955
10 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’34.968
11 24 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 1’34.997
12 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1’35.051
13 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.117
14 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.139
15 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1’35.236
16 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1’35.270
17 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1’35.416
18 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’35.416
19 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.437
20 121 Hopkins J. (USA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.556
21 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’35.718
22 33 Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.890
23 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’35.909
24 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.030
25 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.119
26 94 Checa D. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R1 1’36.581
27 86 Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.745
28 77 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’36.813
29 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.826
30 88 Resch R. (AUT) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’37.820
WSB Valencia Superpole
1 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1’33.270
2 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1’33.955
3 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1’34.082
4 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’34.259
5 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’34.755
6 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’34.903
7 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.056
8 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.346
9 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1’34.536
10 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’34.655
11 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1’34.684
12 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1’34.742
13 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’34.823
14 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1’34.863
15 24 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 1’35.082
16 121 Hopkins J. (USA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.251
17 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1’35.203
18 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’35.204
19 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1’35.806
20 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’35.416
21 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’35.718
22 33 Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.890
23 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’35.909
24 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.030
25 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.119
26 94 Checa D. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R1 1’36.581
27 86 Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.745
28 77 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’36.813
29 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.826
30 88 Resch R. (AUT) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’37.820
Crutchlow takes superb pole in flawless Valencia qualifying
Cal Crutchlow powered his YZF-R6 to an impressive second pole position start in a row in the Valencia sunshine today. The British rider was rarely out of the top two for the session putting in consistently quick laps to take pole 0.16 seconds ahead of local Spanish rider Lascorz (Kawasaki).
Crutchlows team-mate Fabien Foret struggled to find the ideal race pace but improved over the qualifying session to take a place on the 2nd row of the grid in 8th position for tomorrows World Supersport race.
Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha World Supersport Team, (1st, 135.865)
we had a good session today, I think were still showing what we can do. Weve always said the bike is good over a couple of laps so hopefully well be able to maintain that over race distance. Im looking forward to the race, I think weve got a good pace to be able to stay up there and theres no reason why we cant be running at the front and well see what happens. I think Lascorz is probably the main threat, its his home circuit and hes fast here but Im not going to count out West, Pitt or Laverty either!
Fabien Foret, Yamaha World Supersport Team, (8th, 137.013)
We stuck on one tyre for the session and in hindsight and it looks like another one may have been better for more front feeling and confidence for me. Its ok though, Im on the second row for tomorrow and I feel confident I can find the race pace to stay with the front .
Wilco Zeelenberg, Yamaha World Supersport Team Manager
it was a good qualifying session and Im as happy as I was yesterday. Its good to be on pole and to have two of those laps being flying laps from Cal. We found some things to improve at the end of the session for Cal and Fabien but Fabien struggled a bit to get the pace and the speed. Hes on the 2nd row though and thats where he started from in Qatar and Cal is on pole like Qatar so lets see what happens tomorrow.
WSS Valencia qualifying
1 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1’35.865
2 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’36.033
3 13 West A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1’36.664
4 21 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’36.754
5 51 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’36.812
6 8 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1’36.910
7 14 Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1’36.918
8 99 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’37.013
9 1 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1’37.063
10 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 1’37.188
11 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1’37.220
12 77 Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 1’37.290
13 50 Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 1’37.403
14 55 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1’37.457
15 69 Nannelli G. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 1’37.667
16 105 Vizziello G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1’37.702
17 24 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 1’37.744
18 5 Pradita T. (INA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’37.866
19 117 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 1’37.984
20 83 Holland R. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1’38.244
21 30 Günther J. (GER) Honda CBR600RR 1’38.245
22 9 Dell’Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1’38.334
23 7 Vostárek P. (CZE) Honda CBR600RR 1’38.512
24 28 Vos A. (NED) Honda CBR600RR 1’38.581
25 96 Smrz M. (CZE) Triumph Daytona 675 1’38.768
26 32 Lai F. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1’38.935
27 88 Guerra Y. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 1’39.826
28 78 Geronimi S. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R600 1’42.025