This afternoon’s first qualifying practice at Assen, continued to see Jakub Smrz on top of the timesheets, confirming his good form on the Ducati after his second place in race 1 at Donington.
The Czech rider put in a best lap of 1.
36.
058, again in the dying minutes of the session, that pushed him ahead of reigning World Champion Max Biaggi by 0.
229s.
Biaggi who is sporting a chicken on his helmet a la Valentino Rossi, was followed by fellow countrymen Marco Melandri and Michel Fabrizio, both Italians improving dramatically from this morning’s free practice and less than half a second from the Effenbert-Liberty Racing Ducati riderThe fifth spot was taken by Tom Sykes and he was the only Kawasaki rider to break the top ten.
BMW team mates Troy Corser and Leon Haslam were sixth and seventh respectively.
Eighth went to Eugene Laverty, while Jonathan Rea was only 9th followed by Noriyuki Haga in 10th.
Strangely enough Carlos Checa was only 11th and the first time out of the top ten since the championship begun.
WSBK Assen QP1 Results:01- Jakub Smrz – Effenbert Liberty Racing – Ducati 1198 – 1’36.
05802- Max Biaggi – Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 0.
22903- Marco Melandri – Yamaha World Superbike Team – Yamaha YZF R1 – + 0.
43604- Michel Fabrizio – Team Suzuki Alstare – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – + 0.
49205- Tom Sykes – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 0.
68906- Troy Corser – BMW Motorrad Motorsport – BMW S1000RR – + 0.
81807- Leon Haslam – BMW Motorrad Motorsport – BMW S1000RR – + 0.
93108- Eugene Laverty – Yamaha World Superbike Team – Yamaha YZF R1 – + 0.
96609- Jonathan Rea – Castrol Honda – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 1.
00510- Noriyuki Haga – PATA Racing Team Aprilia – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 1.
04811- Carlos Checa – Althea Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 1.
05612- Joan Lascorz – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 1.
30613- Leon Camier – Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 1.
31514- Ruben Xaus – Castrol Honda – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 1.
36615- Ayrton Badovini – BMW Motorrad Italia – BMW S1000RR – + 1.
55516- Barry Veneman – BMW Motorrad Italia – BMW S1000RR – + 1.
65817- Maxime Berger – Supersonic Racing Team – Ducati 1198 – + 1.
79518- Sylvain Guintoli – Team Effenbert Liberty Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 1.
84119- Chris Vermeulen – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 2.
39420- Roberto Rolfo – Team Pedercini – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 2.
42921- Mark Aitchison – Team Pedercini – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 2.
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