Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Alstare) confirmed his positive early season form by setting the quickest time in today's first qualifying session for the IDS Italian Round of the HANNspree FIM Superbike World Championship at Monza.

The one-hour session was marked by a qualifying duel between Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) and Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki), but three minutes from the end the 25-year-old German clinched provisional pole with a time of 1 minute 45.990 seconds that his rivals were unable to match.

Makoto Tamada, who is making his debut at the Autodromo Nazionale, also looked impressive on the PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki machine on the long Monza straights, the Japanese rider clocking fourth quickest time.

Row 2 also produced a few surprises, with Jakub Smrz (Guandalini Racing Ducati), Karl Muggeridge (DF Racing Honda) and Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) finishing ahead of Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox)), recovering well from his recent operation to reduce arm-pump.

The day was a disappointing one for last year's double winner Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB), who could go no better than 12th quickest, while Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was a further two places behind in 14th. Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati rider Max Biaggi's difficult moment appears to continue as for the moment the Italian lies just outside the Superpole cut-off point in 17th place.

World Supersport

The first day of Supersport action was dominated by Joshua Brookes (Hannspree Stiggy Motors Honda), quickest in both free practice and qualifying.

The Australian grabbed the overnight pole in the final stages of the session with a time of 1 minute 50.334 seconds, a new best lap for the Monza track. On the pace all day were the Yamaha World Supersport pairing of Frenchman Fabien Foret and his Aussie team-mate Broc Parkes, who are joined on the provisional front row by Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda).

Italian Gianluca Nannelli (Hannspree Honda Althea) was fifth quickest ahead of British riders Craig Jones (Parkalgar Racing Honda), Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Italian Gianluca Vizziello (Berry Racing Honda).

Points leader Joan Lascorz (Glaner Motocard.com Honda) could only manage the 18th quickest time as the Spanish rider searches for the right set-up on his CBR600RR.

© CAPSIS International