Team Alstare Suzuki Corona EXtra riders Yukio Kagayama and Max Biaggi qualified seventh and eighth quickest in the 16-rider Superpole shoot-out and will start tomorrows pair of 28-lap races from the second row of the grid. Both riders had set-up problems and were unable to get completely comfortable with their bikes in practice, but know that the their performances in the races are likely to be quite different.
Yukio , Max and the team have been working hard throughout the season to develop their bike as quickly and as smoothly as possible - especially as some of their competitors seemed to have made greater leaps in progress. Reigning champion Troy Bayliss (Ducati) stormed to Superpole this afternoon, taking over one and a half seconds off the lap record in the process. Second fastest in Superpole was Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha), with local favourite James Toseland (Honda) third and Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati) fourth.
Yukio - 7th, 1:25.597
I am not happy with the set-up of my bike and that makes it difficult to push hard and also have some fun. For me, the bike is a bit difficult to control at the moment and I cannot get a good feeling exiting the corners. It is just not happening for me at the moment and this is a bit frustrating, but this is my job and I must do it as well as I can. I know everybody is working hard to help me and improve the bike, so I must do my best - as usual.
Max - 8th, 1:25.866
On my Superpole lap I tried to brake deeper in a couple of places to make up some time, but my experience of this track is not as good as most of the other riders and I was not able to set a faster time. For me some parts of the track are not so bad and other parts are OK. Its quite bumpy and that doesnt help trying to get a good set-up. At the moment, I feel that the potential of the machine has to be raised and thats what we are all working towards.
At the start of the season it was easier to go over the problem, but others have improved, maybe faster then we have. I always give my best and as the races are very long tomorrow, I am not to worried about starting on the second row of the grid. There will be enough time and laps for me to improve my position. I hope it doesnt rain though, because my experience of this track in the wet is very little. Also I dont think it would be good for the fans.
Circuit: 3.561 miles
Conditions: Dry, sunny/cloudy 13-16C
Final Qualifying:
1. Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:24.558,
2. Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:24.577,
3. Toseland (GB-Honda) 1:24.621,
4. Lanzi (I-Ducati) 1:24.819,
5. Corser (Aus-Yamaha) 1:25.164,
6. Xaus (E-Ducati) 1:25.299,
7. Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:25.597,
8. Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:25.866,
9. Muggeridge (Aus-Honda) 1:25.866,
10. Brookes (Aus-Honda) 1:26.116,
Related News
