Crutchlow scores with second consecutive Superpole

QUALIFYING 2 REPORT 10/04/2010 Crutchlow scores with second consecutive Superpole Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike rider Cal Crutchlow put the challenges of yesterday's qualifying behind him today, calmly working through the Superpole sessions to lay down the fastest lap of the third heat and claim his second consecutive Superpole of the 2010 season. Unlike many of his rivals Crutchlow saved his Qualifier tyres for the second and third sessions, delivering fast enough laps on a race tyre to make it through the first heat. Team mate James Toseland was on equally impressive form, making it calmly through the first session without using a qualifying tyre. The second heat saw him switch to his first of the sticky tyres, putting in a solid 1'33.988 to claim third with five minutes to go. Unfortunately a flurry of competitive laps as the session closed saw him drop to ninth, a mere one thousandth of a second off eighth and a chance to compete in the third session. A breakdown of the timing screens at the end of the session added to the confusion, making it unclear for some time whether he was through or not. Cal Crutchlow Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (1st, 1'33.615) "It was good last year in Supersport, we had ten poles in total and we've now started the tally with two for this season which is great. The team have worked really hard this weekend as it's been difficult for us, quite like Australia, the grip level is not so good which is where we struggle. We went to Portugal and we had a lot of grip and the bike was fantastic, we've come here and it's hard work again but we're getting there. We'll have another late night tonight and then I'll look forward to the race tomorrow, it's alright doing one fast lap but 23 is a different story. I think we surprised a few people today, I used the same tyres in the first qualification session today as I used yesterday, finishing in 15th but I wasn't so worried. I knew if we could work through the stages we would be ok for the pole." James Toseland James Toseland, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (9th, 1'33.988) "Lady luck doesn't seem to be shining on me at the start of this season! To lose out by one thousandth is a frustrating blow, especially as I knew the time was there. I wanted to save my second qualifier for the last Superpole session, for sure we could have done a similar time to Cal. It was definitely possible. Congratulations to Cal for another pole position, putting the bike where it should be. I'm disappointed for the team because we've worked really well this weekend and improved the bike again. To lose out on the top eight by such a small time and then the confusion when the screens went down is very frustrating. We've come a long way with the package so we just need to get a good start tomorrow because we know we have the race pace." Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team Manager "We made a really good improvement from yesterday to this afternoon with both bikes. I'm so sorry for James, to lose the last Superpole by only one thousandth is something we were not expecting. By the time we realised, it was too late to do anything and go out again. I'm also really impressed with Cal, he made a very good last lap. Tomorrow I think it will be different but we're starting from pole so we will see!" Circuit Length: 4005 Weather: Hot and Sunny Lap Record: 1'35.007 (Neil Hodgson, 23/04/2003) Fastest Lap Ever: 1'33.270 (Ben Spies, 05/04/2009) Last Years Winner: Noriyuki Haga 2010 WSB Spain - Valencia 10/04/2010 Superpole Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time 1 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha GBR 1'33.615 2 Carlos Checa Ducati ESP 1'33.840 3 Max Biaggi Aprilia ITA 1'33.860 4 Leon Haslam Suzuki GBR 1'33.961 5 Troy Corser BMW AUS 1'34.059 6 Sylvain Guintoli Suzuki FRA 1'34.073 7 Jonathan Rea Honda GBR 1'34.235 8 Lorenzo Lanzi Ducati ITA 1'34.261 9 James Toseland Yamaha GBR 1'33.988 10 Michel Fabrizio Ducati ITA 1'34.021 11 Noriyuki Haga Ducati JPN 1'34.100 12 Shane Byrne Ducati GBR 1'34.246 13 Leon Camier Aprilia GBR 1'34.273 14 Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 1'34.280 15 Luca Scassa Ducati ITA 1'34.730 Qualifying 2 Pos. Rider Nat. QUAL I QUAL II 1 Max Biaggi ITA 1'34.771 1'34.218 2 Carlos Checa ESP 1'34.220 1'34.433 3 Jakub Smrz CZE 1'34.502 1'34.239 4 Shane Byrne GBR 1'34.690 1'34.265 5 Leon Haslam GBR 1'34.780 1'34.286 6 Michel Fabrizio ITA 1'34.886 1'34.356 7 Noriyuki Haga JPN 1'34.935 1'34.427 8 Lorenzo Lanzi ITA 1'35.049 1'34.441 9 Sylvain Guintoli FRA 1'35.189 1'34.442 10 Jonathan Rea GBR 1'35.232 1'34.458 11 Troy Corser AUS 1'35.279 1'34.476 12 Max Neukirchner GER 1'35.555 1'34.836 13 James Toseland GBR 1'35.203 1'34.894 14 Luca Scassa ITA 1'35.467 1'34.933 15 Cal Crutchlow GBR 1'35.052 1'34.938 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 © Copyright Yamaha 2010 | Unsubscribe