Nurburgring World Superbikes: Max Neukirchner takes pole for home round

German Max Neukirchner scorched to a sensational Superpole lap and will line up in pole position for tomorrow’s two World Superbike races at Nurburgring.

The Alstare Suzuki man stunned even himself with his incredible 1min 55.47sec circuit in front of his passionate home fans.

Carlos Checa was the early pace setter and when he set a 1min 55.888sec lap it seemed unlikely that anyone would beat it, but Neukirchner produced a faultless ride and an incredible second split to take pole.

On form Ducati man Troy Bayliss did his utmost to beat the German and became one of only three men to dip into the 1min 55sec bracket to take second spot.

Noriyuki Haga will round out the front row and looks to have the race pace to run at the front in tomorrow’s two races.

The second row comprises of Michel Fabrizio, Troy Corser, Lorenzo Lanzi and Max Biaggi, which should make it an intriguing and hard fought battle tomorrow.

Alstare Suzuki man Yukio Kagayama didn’t take part in Superpole after suffering a crash in free practice. The Japanese star has damaged his hand and has been taken to hospital for further checks. At time of writing it remains unclear if he will be fit enough to race tomorrow.

Nurburgring World Superbike superpole results:

1 Max NEUKIRCHNER GER Team Alstare Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’55.471
2 Troy BAYLISS AUS Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 1’55.791
3 Carlos CHECA ESP Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’55.888
4 Noriyuki HAGA JPN Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 1’56.401
5 Michel FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 1’56.436
6 TroyCORSER AUS Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 1’56.522
7 Lorenzo LANZI ITA R.G. Team Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’56.574
8 Max BIAGGI ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’56.918 1’56.918
9 Karl MUGGERIDGE AUS D.F. Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1’58.976 1’56.980
10 Ruben XAUS ESP Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’58.258 1’57.053
11 JakubSMRZ CZE Guandalini Racing by Grifo’s Ducati 1098 RS 08 1’57.112
12 Ryuichi KIYONARI JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’57.143
13 Regis LACONI FRA Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’57.301
14 Fonsi NIETO ESP Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’57.491
15 Sebastien GIMBERT FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 1’57.514
16 Yukio KAGAYAMA JPN Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’57.714
17 David CHECA ESP Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 1’58.180
18 Gregorio LAVILLA ESP Ventaxia VK Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1’58.322
19 Shinichi NAKATOMI JPN YZF Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1 1’58.512
20 Kenan SOFUOGLU TUR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Jr. Honda CBR1000RR 1’58.542
21 MakotoTAMADA JPN Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’58.568
22 Ayrton BADOVINI ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’58.654
23 Russel HOLLAND AUS D.F. Racing – Bertocchi Honda CBR1000RR 1’59.427
24 Shuhei AOYAMA JPN Alto Evolution Honda Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 1’59.488
25 R. ROLFO ITA Hannspree Honda Althea Honda CBR1000RR 1’59.690
26 Vittorio IANNUZZO ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’59.789
27 Jason PRIDMORE USA Alto Evolution Honda Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 2’00.465
28 Loic NAPOLEONE FRA Grillini PBR Team Yamaha YZF-R1 2’01.062