Crutchlow sets up on the front row for Misano race day

  In a second day of qualifying with high temperatures and hot track conditions Cal Crutchlow scored himself a fourth place start for tomorrow's two Misano World Superbike races on the front row of the grid. Crutchlow flew through the first two Superpole sessions, recording the fastest time in each to arrive at the final heat.

Impressively, his fastest time recorded in the second Superpole heat was on a used race tyre, as he saved both qualifier tyres for the final session.


Crutchlow's team mate James Toseland cruised through the first Superpole in 12th position with a race tyre, then set out with a qualifier for the second. Unfortunately the bike set up was focused on using a harder front tyre for race pace so struggled to match the softer qualifying rear tyre in the heat. Toseland was unable to make it through to the final heat and starts tomorrow's races from the fourth row of the grid in 13th position.



Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (4th, 1'35.683)

"It was disappointing not to get pole but to be honest I think we were going as fast as we could. It was a good enough Superpole session and I'm pleased to be on the front row, keeping my tally of front rows going.

It's going to be a close battle tomorrow, we're still deciding on race tyres, but I think most people are. We've made some improvements from yesterday and I'm feeling confident we can be up there and fighting for the win."
 

James Toseland, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (13th, 1'36.216)

"It's been a tough Superpole session as far as position is concerned and also for the earlier qualifying. I've been really concentrating on a good race pace and race set up and that's definitely not a problem. Unfortunately when we tried to go 0.3 or 0.4 of a second faster we struggled.

It's so close but it means the difference between front row and fourth row and I just missed out. I know the pace is there for the race we just need to work hard now to make sure we've got a good setting to get past people and get up to the front."



Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team Manager

"Troy Corser put together a really unbelievable lap. We took the first row with Cal which is very important here because the Misano circuit is not an easy place to overtake on.

Unfortunately James had an issue which didn't work well this afternoon so he will start from the fourth row which will make his life harder tomorrow. He is a good fighter and is capable of moving through the pack."


- Yamaha Amsterdam -