Our very own Ben Spies has done it again and won the Superpole for the second time this year at the second round of World Superbike in Qatar, braking the lap record at the Losail circuit. Spies took his Yamaha YZF-R1 to a best time of 1.57.280 ahead of Guandalini Ducati rider Jakub Smrz,the Czech earning his first front-row start of the season. Aprilia’s Max Biaggi also put the RSV4 on the front row for a second successive race.
When asked about his Superpole victory and record setting time, Spies commented:
“The most important thing is being on the front row with this many fast guys. I almost ruined my lap but we eventually got the job done. Race pace is looking promising, which is important but I feel sure it’s going to be a hard race tomorrow. You still have to search for the speed and find the limit in Superpole, I don’t know anything different, it’s the only one I’ve done but it’s working well for me so far.”
Once racing starts tomorrow, Spies is definitely looking like the man to beat, while Johnny Rea, who could have pushed Spies had he not been knocked out of Superpole early, will have to fight his way through the field to contend for a maiden win. Nori Haga, however, is likely to be travelling in the opposite direction. It is conceivable he managed to disguise a lack of grip with a sticky qualifying tire, which he certainly used to devastating effect. But he will need more than that on race day if he wants to retain his comfortable lead in the championship. At least his current rival for the lead, Max Neukirchner on the Alstare Suzuki, is unlikely to cause Haga much trouble, starting from the 5th row.
We find out for sure on Saturday, when the flag drops, and racing starts for real.
World Superbike Superpole Results from Round 2 at Qatar:
| Pos. | No. | Rider | Country | Bike | Time |
| 1 | 19 | B. Spies | USA | Yamaha YZF R1 | 1’57.280 |
| 2 | 96 | J. Smrz | CZE | Ducati 1098R | 1’57.384 |
| 3 | 3 | M. Biaggi | ITA | Aprilia RSV4 | 1’57.694 |
| 4 | 41 | N. Haga | JPN | Ducati 1098R | 1’57.850 |
| 5 | 66 | T. Sykes | GBR | Yamaha YZF R1 | 1’57.878 |
| 6 | 56 | S. Nakano | JPN | Aprilia RSV4 | 1’58.755 |
| 7 | 7 | C. Checa | ESP | Honda CBR1000RR | 1’59.090 |
| 8 | 67 | S. Byrne | GBR | Ducati 1098R | 2’00.021 |
| 9 | 44 | R. Rolfo | ITA | Honda CBR1000RR | 1’58.734 |
| 10 | 84 | M. Fabrizio | ITA | Ducati 1098R | 1’58.919 |
| 11 | 55 | R. Laconi | FRA | Ducati 1098R | 1’59.044 |
| 12 | 9 | R. Kiyonari | JPN | Honda CBR1000RR | 1’59.055 |
| 13 | 23 | B. Parkes | AUS | Kawasaki ZX 10R | 1’59.074 |
| 14 | 71 | Y. Kagayama | JPN | Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 | 1’59.134 |
| 15 | 111 | R. Xaus | ESP | BMW S1000 RR | 1’59.435 |
| 16 | 11 | T. Corser | AUS | BMW S1000 RR | 1’59.454 |
| 17 | 65 | J. Rea | GBR | Honda CBR1000RR | 1’59.713 |
| 18 | 91 | L. Haslam | GBR | Honda CBR1000RR | 1’59.882 |
| 19 | 76 | M. Neukirchner | GER | Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 | 1’59.926 |
| 20 | 33 | T. Hill | GBR | Honda CBR1000RR | 2’00.108 |
| 21 | 31 | K. Muggeridge | AUS | Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 | 2’00.738 |
| 22 | 100 | M. Tamada | JPN | Kawasaki ZX 10R | 2’00.839 |
| 23 | 25 | D. Salom | ESP | Kawasaki ZX 10R | 2’01.047 |
| 24 | 24 | B. Roberts | AUS | Ducati 1098R | 2’01.165 |
| 25 | 77 | V. Iannuzzo | ITA | Honda CBR1000RR | 2’01.560 |
| 26 | 86 | A. Badovini | ITA | Kawasaki ZX 10R | 2’01.561 |
| 27 | 99 | L. Scassa | ITA | Kawasaki ZX 10R | 2’01.607 |
| 28 | 15 | M. Baiocco | ITA | Kawasaki ZX 10R | 2’02.663 |
Source:
Comments