Yamaha dominates Kyalami Superpole with a one-two from Crutchlow and Toseland

  Yamaha riders Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland put the hammer down in Superpole today, leaving no doubt of the potential of the 2010 R1 in their hands as they took pole and second on the grid respectively ahead of tomorrow's two races at the Kyalami circuit. The ongoing development of the Yamaha Sterilgarda team which had been evident from Assen was clear to see in this afternoon's Superpole heats, with both riders going under the lap record set by Ben Spies last year.

Toseland had been slower than Crutchlow to get on the pace this weekend, but having found the set up that works for him, he made it count where it mattered, leading the last heat temporarily before a last flying lap by his team mate saw him take the second spot on the grid. Crutchlow's Superpole score makes it his third from six rounds this year. His time of 1'37.243 gives him the current fastest lap record for the circuit.



Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (1st, 1'37.243)

"It's been great to take three Superpoles from six meetings so far this year, I'm really looking forward to the racing tomorrow. Yamaha have been doing a really good job in developing the bike to put us on the front row, it was unfortunate we couldn't deliver more in Monza to repay them but we were unlucky.

We've been up there all weekend in qualifying and practices so I think we have a good chance to deliver in the races. It's going to be tough but I'm looking forward to taking the fight to the boys, I reckon there will be five or six up there all looking for the win, I think James is going to be one of them."
 

James Toseland, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (2nd, 1'37.260)

"I'm really happy with that result, especially after this morning's qualifying, I think we were two seconds faster this afternoon. I've got a few people to thank! The Mobile Clinica guys and everyone at Monza hospital for their service last weekend, and all the riders who managed to avoid me going into turn one at the second Monza race.

My head was a bit lost yesterday and this morning, which made me head in the wrong direction with the team, but they recalculated and we've come back, two seconds faster so a big thank you to them. I haven't done too many laps in one go here because of my neck, so I'm not sure how it's going to be over 24 laps but when the lights go out I'm going to hang on in there until the end!"


Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team Manager

"It's been a really good day, I was expecting a good lap from Cal, but knowing James physical condition I wasn't expecting such a big result, I have to say he did a really good job. I know how tough it is on this circuit so congratulations to Cal and James, and also for the team for all the work they've done to get them there. Tomorrow will be a really tough race but here it is very important to start from the front row as it's very difficult to overtake so we have an advantage."


Circuit Length: 4263
Weather: Sunny
Lap Record: 1'42.178 (Noriyuki Haga, 01/01/2002)
Fastest Lap Ever: 1'37.243 (Cal Crutchlow, 17/05/2010)
Last Years Winner: Noriyuki Haga 
2010 WSB South Africa - Kyalami 15/05/2010



Superpole

1    Cal Crutchlow Yamaha GBR    1'37.243
2    James Toseland Yamaha GBR    1'37.260
3    Carlos Checa    Ducati    ESP    1'37.296
4    Michel Fabrizio    Ducati    ITA    1'37.368
5    Leon Haslam    Suzuki    GBR    1'37.401
6    Jakub Smrz    Ducati    CZE    1'37.561
7    Max Biaggi    Aprilia    ITA    1'37.613
8    Leon Camier    Aprilia    GBR    1'38.148
9    Luca Scassa    Ducati    ITA    1'37.756
10    Sylvain Guintoli    Suzuki    FRA    1'37.875
11    Jonathan Rea    Honda    GBR    1'37.953
12    Tom Sykes    Kawasaki    GBR    1'38.206
13    Troy Corser    BMW    AUS    1'38.210
14    Sheridan Morais    Aprilia    RSA    1'38.404
15    Ruben Xaus    BMW    ESP    1'38.471



Qualifying 2


1    Jakub Smrz    CZE    1'39.027    1'38.292
2    Michel Fabrizio    ITA    1'38.477    1'38.765
3    Cal Crutchlow GBR    1'38.529    1'39.031
4    Jonathan Rea    GBR    1'38.687    1'38.665
5    Leon Haslam    GBR    1'38.951    1'38.856
6    Carlos Checa    ESP    1'38.954    1'38.878
7    Troy Corser    AUS    1'38.896    1'39.147
8    Max Biaggi    ITA    1'39.094    1'38.904
9    Sylvain Guintoli    FRA    1'39.834    1'39.156
10    Leon Camier    GBR    1'39.621    1'39.228
11    Luca Scassa    ITA    1'39.288    1'39.249
12    Shane Byrne    GBR    1'39.281    1'39.351
13    Noriyuki Haga    JPN    1'39.630    1'39.306
14    Tom Sykes    GBR    1'39.336    1'39.467
15    Sheridan Morais    RSA    1'39.798    1'39.399
17    James Toseland GBR    1'39.656    1'39.939



Yamaha Racing , Amsterdam -