Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) boomed his factory machine to Superpole victory at Brands Hatch, scoring a new track best time of 1'25.449. Having posted the fastest pre-Superpole qualifying lap, he was last away and made up time from the very start against eventual second place rider Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia). Team-mates Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda) and James Toseland (Winston Ten Kate Honda) rode to pre-race front row positions, after finishing third and fourth fastest respectively.
Corser Heads Up Second Row Troy Corser (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) had set a new track best earlier in the day, but could only finish fifth overall in Superpole, earning a second row start on his GSX-R. The 1996 and 2005 World Champion has been fast all weekend, and is heavily tipped to feature in the leading groups in Sunday's races. Another 2006 season race winner, Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia) continued his good form with sixth fastest time in Superpole. Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) pushed himself to the top Kawasaki spot, with his team-mate Chris Walker just one place behind at his local circuit.
Brno Double Winner Ninth After SuperpoleYukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) could not hide his disappointment at finishing Superpole in only ninth place, despite just beating his previous best qualifying time. He nonetheless fended off the Silverstone Superpole winner, Tommy Hill (Virgin Mobile Yamaha) who took a still impressive top ten in his second wild card ride of the year. Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) and Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse - who is not a fan of the Brands layout) rounded out the third row.
Big Sbk Names Fill Fourth RowMultiple-SBKrace winner Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Berik Ducati) starts the SBK races from the first spot on row four, ahead of Brno sensation Michel Fabrizio (DFX Treme Honda), series regular Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha Motor France Ipone) and former Brands Hatch race winner, Pierfrancesco Chili (DFX Treme Honda).
Barros Misses Superpole At Tough British Track Despite his instant admiration for the classic Brands Hatch circuit on his first visit, Alex Barros (Klaffi Honda) could not get his suspension sorted enough in practice to make Superpole, mistiming his final run for a qualifying time by just enough to stop him posting one final fast lap. He ended up 18th, one place behind Steve Martin (Petronas FP-1) with Martin experiencing machinery issues that hampered his attempts at qualifying. Kurtis Roberts (Pedercini Ducati) crashed today, at Dingle Dell, and ended up 27th and last in qualifying for his first SBK race in Pedercini colours.
Supersport World Championship Broc Parkes (Yamaha Motor Germany) scored his second pole position of the season at Brands Hatch, adding to his pre-race primacy at Misano. Current world championship leader Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) proved to be second fastest after a late flurry of speed, easing out his number one championship challenger Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) to third. The front row Yamaha/Honda homogeny continued with the second Winston Ten Kate Honda rider, Kenan Sofuoglu, scoring fourth spot. Always a force at his favoutite circuit of Brands Hatch, Stephane Chambon (Gil Motorsport Kawasaki) was fifth fastest, easily his best qualifying of the season.
Wildcard Northpoint Ekerold Honda riders Cal Crutchlow and Leon Camier ended up sixth and seventh respectively, just up on Misano race winner, Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia).
Superstock 1000 FIM CupAyrton Badovini (Biassono Unionbike MV Agusta) made pole in the ever-competitive Superstock 1000 class, ahead of fastest man on day one, Brendan Roberts (HP Racing). With the leading two the only riders into the 1'29s, Denis Sacchetti (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) scored third, with the front row completed by Luca Scassa (EVR Corse Ormeni Racing). Championship leader, Alessandro Polita (Celani Suzuki Italia) went 6th.
Superstock 600 European Championship Niccolo Canepa (Ducati Xerox) and Xavier Simeon (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) continued their battle for 600 Superstock supremacy with Canepa on pole and Simeon second. It was Canepa's fourth pole of the year. The 'junior' Superstock race takes place at the end of Sunday's race card.
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