Championship leader Kevin Curtain prepared for Sunday's penultimate supersport round by setting the third fastest time in today's first qualifying session at Imola. The Australian set a best time of 1:53.728 around the famous Italian circuit to claim a spot on the provisional front row alongside title rival Sebastien Charpentier (Honda), Kenan Sofuoglu (Honda) and last year's Imola winner Gianluca Nannelli (Ducati). With two rounds of the series remaining it will be either Curtain or 2005 champ Charpentier who will be crowned king of the 600 class, with Yamaha Motor Germany man Curtain holding a 27 point advantage going into this weekend's race.
Yamaha Team Italia's Gianluca Vizziello, winner of the Italian championship race held at Imola last weekend, was sixth fastest, with team-mate Massimo Roccoli, who was last week crowned as his national supersport champion, tenth after taking a tumble during the session.
Curtain's team-mate Broc Parkes made a welcome return from injury to take 12th place on the provisional grid. The Australian missed the last round after breaking ribs and punturing a lung in Assen but is ready to race in Imola, albeit not at 100 percent fitness.
Final qualifying for Sunday's race takes place tomorrow (Saturday).
Circuit: Length: 4959
Weather: Dry
Qualifying 1: 1 Sebastien Charpentier Honda FRA 1'52.842
2 Kenan Sofuoglu Honda TUR 1'53.081
3 Kevin Curtain Yamaha AUS 1'53.728
4 Gianluca Nannelli Ducati ITA 1'53.790
5 Robbin Harms Honda DNK 1'53.902
6 Gianluca Vizziello Yamaha ITA 1'54.202
7 Katsuaki Fujiwara Honda JPN 1'54.250
8 Yoann Tibero Honda FRA 1'54.355
9 Johan Stigefelt Honda SWE 1'54.521
10 Massimo Roccoli Yamaha ITA 1'54.718
11 Stephane Chambon Kawasaki FRA 1'54.891
12 Broc Parkes Yamaha AUS 1'54.993
13 Christian Zaiser Ducati AUT 1'55.186
14 Matthieu Lagrive Honda FRA 1'55.330
15 David Checa Yamaha ESP 1'55.402
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