WSBK Report
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, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (1st, 1’33.615) says: "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, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (9th, 1’33.988)says: "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 says: "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!"
2010 WSB Spain – Valencia 10/04/2010 SBK 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
SBK 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
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
