Magny Cours World Superbikes: Noriyuki Haga takes pole

Yamaha Italia rider Noriyuki Haga has taken pole at the penultimate round of the championship in Magny Cours.

Noriyuki Haga continued his recent run of good form, snatching pole position from Suzuki rider Fonsi Nieto.

Noriyuki Haga’s team-mate Troy Corser was on course to set the fastest lap as he was 0.474 of a second faster than Nieto at the second split, but Corser low sided part way through the third split.

Championship leader Troy Bayliss looked set to push Nieto off the top spot but lost it all in the final split. Troy Bayliss qualified third.

Spaniard Carlos Checa managed to qualify in fourth spot after taking some unorthadox lines on his first visit to the French circuit.

Robbie Rolfo took an impressive fourth spot on his Hannspree Honda Fireblade, the same bike which Briton Tommy Hill will ride in 2009. 

David Checa had a good ride to qualify seventh ahead of former 250GP champion Max Biaggi. Max Neukirchner qualified sixth.

Top 16

1. Noriyuki Haga JPN Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 1min 38.444secs
2. Fonsi Nieto SPA Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000  1min 38.547secs
3. Troy Bayliss AUS Ducati Xerox 1098 F08  1min 38.667secs
4. Carlos Checa  SPA Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 38.765secs
5. Roberto Rolfo  ITA Hannspree Honda Althea CBR1000RR 1min 39.349secs
6. Max Neukirchner GER Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000  1min 39.480secs
7. David Checa  SPA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 YZF-R1 1min 36.514secs
8. Max Biaggi ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098 RS08 1min 39.606secs
9. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1098 F08  1min 39.627secs
10. Lorenzo Lanzi  ITA RG Racing 1098 RS08  1min 39.957secs
11. Ruben Xaus  SPA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098 RS08 1min 40.006secs
12. Troy Corser AUS Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1  No Time
13. Sebastien Gimbert FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 YZF-R1 1min 40.147secs
14. Kenan Sofuoglu TUR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 40.149secs
15. Yukio Kagayama JPN Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000  1min 41.892secs
16. Gregorio Lavilla SPA Ventaxia VK Honda CBR1000RR 1min 40.631secs

17. Martin Bauer  AUT Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 42.848secs
18. Karl Muggeridge AUS D.F. Racing CBR1000RR 1min 43.036secs
19. Shinichi Nakatomi JPN YZF Yamaha YZF-R1  1min 43.139secs
20. Ayrton Badovini  ITA Team Pedercini ZX-10R  1min 43.244secs
21. Regis Laconi  FRA PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse ZX-10R 1min 43.851secs
22. Makoto Tamada JPN PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse ZX-10R  1min 44.903secs
23. Chris Walker  GBR Ventaxia VK Honda CBR1000RR 1min 45.064secs
24. Christian Zaiser AUT Grillini PBR Team YZF-R1 1min 45.095secs
25. Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA Team Pedercini ZX-10R 1min 45.490secs
26. Jakub Smrz  CZE Guandalini Racing by Grifo’s 1098 RS08 1min 45.660 secs
27. Ivan Silva  SPA D.F. Racing CBR1000RR  1min 45.976 secs