Crutchlow and Toseland score first and second row starts in Superpole

QUALIFYING 2 REPORT 27/02/2010 Crutchlow and Toseland score first and second row starts in Superpole Cal Crutchlow British riders Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland demonstrated the big steps forward in bike set up on the 2010 R1 today, challenging through all three Superpole sessions to take first and second row starts respectively. Both riders had used their qualifier tyres by the end of the second session, using race rubber for their final heat. In an amazing turn of speed Crutchlow put in an incredible 1'31.642 to secure third whilst team-mate Toseland put his head down to secure eighth a row behind. The qualifying session earlier in the day saw again more improvement from the Yamaha team. Without any of the chatter problems from the test to be seen the increased power on the new bike was evident. Crutchlow ended the second qualifying heat in third, just over two tenths of pole whilst Toseland defied the pain in his hand from yesterday's highside to secure fifth, again less than three tenths off pole. These impressive performances by both riders gave an overall qualifying position of fourth for Crutchlow and sixth for Toseland prior to Superpole. Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (3rd, 1.31.642) "This morning wasn't too bad for me, I'm pleased enough with the race pace. I think we're struggling for the podium but that's what I'm aiming for as always. If we can be somewhere near I'll be happy! We managed to get a good lap out at the end of Superpole and I was pleased with that. Going into the weekend we weren't even in the points, Yamaha has done a really good job this week and we've worked some stuff out. Hopefully we can keep the cooler conditions as they'll help us tomorrow. Let's see what we can do." James Toseland James Toseland, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (8th, 1'32.019) "I was annoyed with myself for the highside yesterday, we had some issues with the electronics which caught me out so today was damage limitation for that. The balance and the bike itself has improved a lot over the weekend but the electronics now need to catch up a bit. I hurt my hand in the fall which is quite painful, especially as this is a really physical circuit and you need your strength to get round it. I made a mistake on my first tyre in Superpole this afternoon which forced me to use the qualifier in the first session, so I had to use a race tyre for the last session. I knew if I could get into the last eight then I'd be happy with the second row. We've got quite a lot more to do with the bike, but to see where we were before the weekend and to now be Cal on the first row and me on the second just shows you what a good job the team has done. They've put us in a position where we can have a go." Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team Manager "We have made a really good improvement over the last few days. In the beginning we were struggling but we've found a way to solve everything. Slowly we've been improving the performance with both bikes. To achieve the first two rows for the first race of the season with new riders, especially Cal coming from Supersport, is a great result. Tomorrow we'll have to see the weather forecast and decide which tyres we want to use for the race. We are satisfied for today!" Circuit Length: 4445 Weather: Overcast Lap Record: 1'32.402 (Troy Bayliss, 01/01/2006) Fastest Lap Ever: 1'31.069 (Ben Spies, 01/03/2009) Last Years Winner: Ben Spies 2010 WSB Australia - Phillip Island 27/02/2010 Superpole Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time 1 Leon Haslam Suzuki GBR 1'31.229 2 Michel Fabrizio Ducati ITA 1'31.245 3 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha GBR 1'31.642 4 Carlos Checa Ducati ESP 1'31.671 5 Sylvain Guintoli Suzuki FRA 1'31.696 6 Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 1'31.757 7 Jonathan Rea Honda GBR 1'31.912 8 James Toseland Yamaha GBR 1'32.019 9 Lorenzo Lanzi Ducati ITA 1'32.205 10 Noriyuki Haga Ducati JPN 1'32.229 11 Max Biaggi Aprilia ITA 1'32.293 12 Tom Sykes Kawasaki GBR 1'32.398 13 Troy Corser BMW AUS 1'32.430 14 Chris Vermeulen Kawasaki AUS 1'32.561 15 Ruben Xaus BMW ESP 1'32.842 Qualifying 2 Pos. Rider Nat. QUAL I QUAL II 1 Carlos Checa ESP 1'32.155 1'32.227 2 Michel Fabrizio ITA 1'32.162 1'33.099 3 Leon Haslam GBR 1'32.373 1'32.436 4 Cal Crutchlow GBR 1'33.038 1'32.446 5 Sylvain Guintoli FRA 1'32.902 1'32.448 6 James Toseland GBR 1'33.422 1'32.455 7 Jonathan Rea GBR 1'32.884 1'32.460 8 Chris Vermeulen AUS 1'33.389 1'32.500 9 Leon Camier GBR 1'33.296 1'32.548 10 Jakub Smrz CZE 1'32.905 1'32.571 11 Lorenzo Lanzi ITA 1'33.454 1'32.620 12 Shane Byrne GBR 1'32.635 1'33.695 13 Troy Corser AUS 1'33.512 1'32.684 14 Noriyuki Haga JPN 1'32.703 1'32.751 15 Tom Sykes GBR 1'33.492 1'32.806 Yamaha Racing Communications Hoogte Kadijk 61 HS / 1018 BE Amsterdam / The Netherlands T. +31 (0) 20 330 2709 / F. +31 (0) 20 420 9470 E. office@yrc.nl W. www.yamaha-racing.com