Max Biaggi took his second Superpole of the season after a crash in this morning’s Q2 session left him with bruises on his hand. The Roman Emperor set down a blazing lap of 1′54.595 at the Nurburgring circuit that was more than enough to leave an ultra competitive Carlos Checa in second and just 0.026s from the top spot.

Biaggi needs just 40 points more than Leon Haslam in tomorrow’s races to win the World Superbike Championship with two rounds to go.

The third spot went to James Toseland who was able to out qualify his team mate Cal Crutchlow, who is this year’s Superpole specialist, but the Brit couldn’t get past the second stint and will take off on the starting grid in 10th behind Michel Fabrizio. It seems that Toseland will be out of a ride at the end of the season, with Marco Melandri to take his place (read separate story).

An amazing fourth place for Sylvain Guintoli who in all the practice sessions could never break the top ten and ended up faster than team mate Leon Haslam on the Alstare Suzuki. Jonathan Rea qualified sixth and he was followed by Noriyuki Haga and Tom Sykes, the best Kawasaki rider on the grid and it seems that Skyes contract will not be renewed at the end of the season.

This Superpole was a big disappointment for Troy Corser and Shane Byrne. Both riders were very strong during the practice and qualifying sessions. Corser set a new lap record during the second free practice before falling and then ended up crashing twice during the hour long Superpole. The Australian crashed during the first stint at the Castrol-S turn and a second time in Superpole2 at the Arena chicane. Despite his two crashes, Corser was able to qualify 14th. BMW team mate Ruben Xaus also crashed in SP2, but he’ll be taking off from the 11th spot on the grid.

Shane Byrne was only able to qualify 17th after a fall at the Dunlop turn during the first stint.

WSBK Nurburgring Superpole Results:

1. Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing (RSV4) 1:54.595
2. Carlos Checa ESP Althea Ducati (1198) 1:54.621
3. James Toseland GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda (YZF-R1) 1:54.909
4. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alstare Suzuki (GSX-R1000) 1:54.934
5. Jonathan Rea GBR Ten Kate Honda (CBR1000RR) 1:55.138
6. Leon Haslam GBR Alstare Suzuki (GSX-R1000) 1:55.161
7. Noriyuki Haga JPN Ducati Xerox (1198) 1:55.276
8. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki SRT (ZX-10R) 1:55.378

9. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox (1198) 1:55.264
10. Cal Crutchlow GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda (YZF-R1) 1:55.295
11. Ruben Xaus ESP BMW Motorrad (S1000RR) 1:55.375
12. Lorenzo Lanzi ITA DFX Ducati (1198) 1:55.524
13. Jakub Smrz CZE PATA B&G Racing Aprilia RSV-4 1:55.577
14. Troy Corser AUS BMW Motorrad (S1000RR) 1:55.599
15. Max Neukirchner GER Ten Kate Honda (CBR1000RR) 1:55.735
16. Luca Scassa ITA Supersonic Ducati (1198) 1:55.908

17. Shane Byrne GBR Althea Ducati (1198) 1:56.457
18. Roger Lee Hayden USA Team Pedercini Kawasaki (ZX-10R) 1:57.613
19. Ian Lowry GBR Kawasaki SRT (ZX-10R) 1:57.935
20. Leon Camier GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing (RSV4) DNP

21. Fabrizio Lai Echo CRS Honda (CBR1000RR) 1:58.812
22. Matteo Baiocco ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki (ZX-10R) 1:59.875

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