Yukio Kagayama back with a bang

Alstare Suzuki’s Yukio Kagayama made an impressive return to the WSB paddock by posting the fastest time in this mornings free practice session.

Kagayama broke his collarbone at Qatar in February and got his first ride back on the bike in Valencia two weeks ago and looked back to his old self with a fast 1m 34.913s lap.

The only man to also lap in the 34’s was Ten Kate Honda rider Carlos Checa who like Kagayama completed last months two day test.

Troy Bayliss spent the majority of the session languishing outside the top 15 before a run of consistent laps in the final ten minutes saw him jump up to third spot, 0.4 seconds slower than Kagayama.

Max Biaggi made a promising start and ended up 12th fastest first time back since his monster crash at Phillip Island where he sustained a broken left wrist and ligament damage.

The Italian Sterilgarda Ducati rider completed 23 laps with his best time coming on lap 19. At the end of the session Biaggi was clearly in some discomfort with ice being applied to his wrist to try and control the swelling.

First qualifying begins at 14.15 CET

1 34 Y. KAGAYAMA JPN Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’34.913

2 7 C. CHECA ESP Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’34.955

3 21 T. BAYLISS AUS Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 1’35.338

4 76 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER Team Alstare Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’35.416

5 57 L. LANZI ITA R.G. Team Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’35.437

6 44 R. ROLFO ITA Hannspree Honda Althea Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.708

7 11 T. CORSER AUS Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 1’35.767

8 111 R. XAUS ESP Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’35.792

9 31 K. MUGGERIDGE AUS D.F. Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.887

10 23 R. KIYONARI JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.901

11 96 J. SMRZ CZE Guandalini Racing by Grifo’s Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’35.954

12 3 M. BIAGGI ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’36.104

13 41 N. HAGA JPN Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 1’36.107

14 10 F. NIETO ESP Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’36.146

15 16 S. FUERTES ESP Team Suzuki Motorrad Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’36.239

16 55 R. LACONI FRA Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’36.340

17 36 G. LAVILLA ESP Ventaxia VK Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’36.352

18 94 D. CHECA ESP Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 1’36.523

19 38 S. NAKATOMI JPN YZF Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1 1’36.612

20 131 C. MORALES ESP L’Oreal Men Expert Laglisse Yamaha YZF-R1 1’36.614

21 100 M.TAMADA JPN Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’36.727

22 54 K. SOFUOGLU TUR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Jr. Honda CBR1000RR 1’36.795

23 194 S. GIMBERT FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 1’36.977

24 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 1’37.074

25 77 L. NAPOLEONE FRA Grillini PBR Team Yamaha YZF-R1 1’37.214

26 37 D. LOZANO ORTIZ ESP Honda Joe Darcey Honda CBR1000RR 1’37.434

27 86 A. BADOVINI ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’37.811

28 83 R. HOLLAND AUS D.F. Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1’38.272

29 88 S. AOYAMA JPN Alto Evolution Honda Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 1’38.516

30 22 L. MORELLI ITA Alto Evolution Honda Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 1’39.281