Today was back to work for the World Superbike Championship following the summer break and the Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team wasted no time in getting back into the swing of things. Within a short space of time both Corser and Haga had found their usual form to take provisional second and fourth respectively in the first day of qualifying at the EuroSpeedway track in Germany. The morning session was uneventful with all riders taking it steady in the damp conditions. Haga finished third with a 1'39.773 and Corser ended the free practice session just behind in fourth. With the conditions improved for the afternoon session both riders went out intent on progress. Corser went fastest within the first seven minutes although Haga took the top slot briefly before Corser re-took it, knocking his team mate to second. The positions remained unchanged until Kagayama slid in between the Yamaha riders with 15 minutes to go. Then in the last minute Bayliss claimed the provisional pole pushing Corser into second and Haga into fourth.
Team Yamaha YZF rider Shinichi Nakatomi had a good day back at the office. Following his crash during the last race weekend at Brands, Nakatomi found out he had broken five ribs and has been spending the summer break resting and recovering. He started well this morning in free practice and went on to take two seconds off his time in this afternoon's qualifying to finish in 15th.
With a mixed weather forecast for tomorrow all eyes will be on the skies for tomorrow's final qualifying session and tyre choices will become all important.
Troy Corser (2nd - 1'38.780 - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team)"Today has gone well with everything feeling pretty good. We've spent the day trying different set-ups and just making small changes with the engine balance. We've got some small adjustments to make for the tyres; the front is too hard and the rear is too soft at the moment but we're confident we can resolve it tomorrow. I've also been testing a new brake lever today, which feels different but I like it. It's good to be back on the bike again after the break and I'm pleased to find that we're further ahead today than I thought we'd be."
Noriyuki Haga (4th - 1'39.011 - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team)"Today I have worked on engine settings and balance, although the real focus has been tyres because the weather forecast for tomorrow is mixed and we need to make quick progress in that area. I've found a front tyre but I've still got a couple of rear options to test. I've found a nice soft rear that'll do race distance but if it rains on Sunday that'll be no good. This morning was just spent getting used to the bike and riding again after a nice rest but I'm back in the saddle now!"
Massimo Meregalli (Team Coordinator, Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team)"It has been a good day for us. Neither rider had any problems; they both made good runs and lap times. They made some changes and every time the changes were in the right direction and will continue along this route. The forecast is for tomorrow and Sunday to be wet and I feel we will be ready for it."
Shinichi Nakatomi (15th - 1'40.745 - Team Yamaha YZF)"I'm happy with my result today and the feeling of the bike. I feel we have more improvements to make during tomorrow and I'm hoping to climb higher up the starting grid for the race. It's been good to have a few weeks to rest and recover after Brands and my injuries are feeling better, even if I'm still not 100%."
Circuit Length: 4265
Temp: 19
Weather: Dry
Qualifying 1 - WSB Lausitzring:1. Troy Bayliss - Ducati - AUS 1'38.569
2. Troy Corser - Yamaha - AUS 1'38.780
3. Yukio Kagayama - Suzuki - JPN 1'38.980
4. Noriyuki Haga - Yamaha - JPN 1'39.011
5. James Toseland - Honda - GBR 1'39.086
6. Ruben Xaus - Ducati - ESP 1'39.127
7. Max Biaggi - Suzuki - ITA 1'39.433
8. Michel Fabrizio - Honda - ITA 1'39.487
9. Karl Muggeridge - Honda - AUS 1'39.525
10. Lorenzo Lanzi - Ducati - ITA 1'39.639
11. Fonsi Nieto - Kawasaki - ESP 1'39.767
12. Max Neukirchner - Suzuki - GER 1'39.828
13. Regis Laconi - Kawasaki - FRA 1'40.077
14. Roberto Rolfo - Honda - ITA 1'40.094
15. Shinichi Nakatomi - Yamaha - JPN 1'40.745
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