Assen WSB: Carlos Checa on pole

World Superbike championship leader Carlos Checa has continued his dominance of the 2011 season by taking his third successive pole position at Assen today.

Checa set pole with a fastest lap of 1’35.292 ahead of Jakub Smrz and factory Yamaha rider Eugene Laverty in third. Pata Aprilia rider Noriyuki Haga completes the front row in fourth.

Despite setting the fastest time in qualifying, Jonathan Rea was unable to match the blistering pace of Checa in the final superpole session and starts the race tomorrow at the head of the second row in fifth.

Reigning world champion Max Biaggi starts from sixth, with Tom Sykes and Marco Melandri completing the second row.

Leon Camier just missed out on the final superpole session, he starts from ninth ahead of Troy Corser, Joan Lascorz and, surprisingly, Leon Haslam down in 12th.

1. Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 1’35.292
2. Jakub Smrz (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 1’35.560
3. Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike Team) Yamaha YZF R1 1’35.580
4. Noriyuki Haga (PATA Racing Team Aprilia) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’35.920
5. Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) Honda CBR1000RR 1’36.138
6. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’36.302
7. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’36.351
8. Marco Melandri (Yamaha World Superbike Team) Yamaha YZF R1 1’37.036
9. Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’35.903
10. Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 1’35.954
11. Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’35.983
12. Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 1’36.089
13. Michel Fabrizio (Team Suzuki Alstare) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’36.148
14. Ruben Xaus (Castrol Honda) Honda CBR1000RR 1’36.260
15. Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 1’36.361
16. Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team) BMW S1000 RR 1’36.920
17. Maxime Berger (Supersonic Racing Team) Ducati 1098R 1’37.272
18. Chris Vermeulen (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’37.501
19. Barry Veneman (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team) BMW S1000 RR 1’37.569
20. Roberto Rolfo (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’37.676
21. Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’37.794