Haga obliterates track record to win Superpole

Series leader James Toseland finishes fifth and will start from the second row

© Yamaha Racing. From third last away in the Superpole competition Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) sent the sun-kissed Monza crowd wild after demolishing not just the previous track record but by also taking SBK racing into new Monza territory with a 1'44.941 lap - an average speed of 198.729kmph. In a day for records, Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki) had entered Superpole as the fastest rider, thanks to his final qualifying time of 1'45.593, before Haga's astonishing Superpole lap wiped it from the record books. Also during Superpole, Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) set the best ever SBK top speed during Superpole, 315kmph. In the morning session Michael Fabrizio (DFX Corse Honda) set the fastest top speed in all SBK history, breaking the 200mph mark with a best of 322kmph (200.5mph) on Monza's 1193 metre long straight.

World Champ Troy Bayliss may have used his machine's impressive aerodynamic package to register 215kmph in Superpole, but he had to give best to Haga after a blistering Superpole contest. Third fastest was the greatly improved Max Biaggi (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), who had a hard first day, but grew in confidence at Monza in every Saturday session and finished just ahead of yet another rider making a recovery from a tough first day, Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia). © Suzuki Racing.

Series leader James Toseland (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) ran too wide into the first chicane at Monza, losing time he was never able to get back as he continued to an eventual fifth place. The next rider in Superpole was Aussie privateer Karl Muggeridge (Alto Evolution Honda) who has always been a big fan of Monza. The provisional pole sitter pre-Superpole, Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse), was only seventh, despite his remarkable pre-Superpole lap. The last place on row two was secured by Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), who went eighth.

Michel Fabrizio (DFX Corse Honda) edged out the challenge of Roby Rolfo (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) to go ninth in Superpole, with Josh Brookes (Alto Evolution Honda) and Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) completing the third row.

Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) was only 13th in Superpole, Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Germany) dropped to 14th after the specialised single flying lap of qualifying. Valencia race winner Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Ducati) dashed his hopes of promotion by finishing 15th, with his team-mate for this race Marco Borciani (Sterilgarda Ducati) 16th.

POS NO. RIDER BIKE TIME
1 41 Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'44.941
2 21 Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 999 F07 1'45.345
3 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K7 1'45.415
4 11 Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'45.430
5 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.824
6 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 1'46.232
7 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'46.437
8 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K7 1'46.696
9 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'46.753
10 44 Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'46.758
11 25 Brookes J. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 1'46.948
12 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 999 F07 1'47.067
13 10 Nieto F. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'47.145
14 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K6 1'47.146
15 111 Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 999 F06 1'47.553
16 20 Borciani M. (ITA) Ducati 999 F06 1'47.721