Team Alstare Suzuki rider Max Neukirchner was in sensational form today, posting the day’s fastest lap in this afternoon’s qualifying session at Monza. The young German blitzed the 5.793 kilometre circuit in 1:45.990, breaking the lap record in the process. Over three tenths of a second behind is series leader Troy Bayliss (Ducati) with Suzuki Alstare rider Yukio Kagayama third. Completing the provisional front row is Japanese rider Makoto Tamada (Kawasaki). It was not such a good day for Suzuki Alstare rider Fonsi Nieto. He crashed in the qualifying session, fortunately without injury, and lost time when most of the riders were setting their quick lap times. Fonsi ended eleventh and he and the team know that a lot of good work will have to be done tomorrow to get a good grid position.
Max - 1st, 1:45.990 I’m happy with how things worked out today and happy because I think we have a pretty good bike set-up. We’ll make some small adjustments tomorrow to see if we can improve the bike, but it will not be anything major. Tomorrow we’ll do some work on the electronics and maybe the engine-braking to try and get the best possible set-up for raceday. I want to say thank you to Yukio for helping me do my fast lap today. At Monza you need help if you want to set a really good time and Yukio was great.
Yukio - 3rd, 1:46.371My feeling today is good. We started the day with the settings from Assen and they worked pretty well really. I had some small problems braking, but that was because of front fork settings, not the brakes themselves. The team made some changes and the bike improved. Towards the end of this afternoon’s qualifying, I was using hard tyre - for a test - but I’m sure I could’ve gone faster if I had used a softer tyre. Maybe I could’ve been second or even first! Although slipstreaming is very important here, I would prefer to be on my own because then I can push much harder. I think Monza might be good for us and that is what I am hoping for.
Fonsi - 11th, 1:46.990I am not so happy today because I had a small crash, lost some time in the qualifying session and that meant I missed the chance to go for a quick lap time. The crash happened at the Parabolica when I went into the gravel. The tyre wall was approaching, so I had no choice but to lay the bike down. Luckily I didn’t hurt myself or do any further damage to my left knee. It is a bit sore when I’m on the bike, but it will not affect me in the race.
Circuit: 5.793 kms
Conditions: Dry, mostly sunny 22-26C
Friday Qualifying:
1 Max Neukirchner (D-Alstare Suzuki) 1:45.9902 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:46.359
3 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare) 1:46.3714 Tamada (J-Kawasaki) 1:46.404
5 Smrz (CZ-Ducati) 1:46.604
6 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda) 1:46.750
11 Fonsi Nieto (E-Suzuki Alstare) 1:46.990
