WSBK Kyalami Practice and Qualifying

Really looking forward to seeing WSB race here once again. Apparently Haga is amongst three current riders to have raced here before so I guess the other two must be Corser and Xaus, although I'd say Lavilla as well. Perhaps I misread it, and there are only three riders on the current grid to have ridden against Nori at the circuit.

As I remember, at the last meeting here - '02 I think, Nori suffered a bird strike of positively pterodactyl proportions during one of the races whilst dropping into the mineshaft. He'll be wanting to put that to the back of his mind after his run in with that sparrow last Sunday.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ May 15 2009, 04:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>1st Practice


Pos. Rider Team Bike Time
1 Michel Fabrizio Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1:40.067
2 Carlos Checa HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1:40.102
3 Jonathan Rea HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1:40.119
4 Leon Haslam Stiggy Racing Honda Honda CBR1000RR 1:40.137
5 Shinya Nakano Aprilia Racing Aprilia RSV4 1:40.322
6 Shane Byrne Team Sterilgarda Ducati 1098R 1:40.490
7 S. Morais Kawasaki 1:40.502
8 Gregorio Lavilla Pro Ride World Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 1:40.514
9 Noriyuki Haga Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 1:40.531
10 Tom Sykes Yamaha World Superbike Yamaha YZF R1 1:40.599
11 Max Biaggi Aprilia Racing Aprilia RSV4 1:40.623
12 Ben Spies Yamaha World Superbike Yamaha YZF R1 1:40.652
13 Yukio Kagayama Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1:40.738
14 Ryuichi Kiyonari Ten Kate Honda Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1:40.801
15 Ruben Xaus BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1:41.099
16 Jakub Smrz Guandalini Racing Ducati 1098R 1:41.317
17 Broc Parkes Kawasaki World Superbike R.T. Kawasaki ZX 10R 1:41.324
18 David Salom Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 1:41.713
19 Fonsi Nieto Suzuki 1:41.783
20 Luca Scassa Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 1:42.073

I'm guessing they don't have any video games with this track?.. I was wondering when we'd hit one he couldn't demolish due to lack of video game track knowledge.. we'll see though he seems to be pretty on par even though in 12th place... and i know its only first practice .. this should definitely be interesting, top 15 riders within a second, and who knows how many of em have revelations by raceday.. nice.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (truent @ May 15 2009, 08:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm guessing they don't have any video games with this track?.. I was wondering when we'd hit one he couldn't demolish due to lack of video game track knowledge.. we'll see though he seems to be pretty on par even though in 12th place... and i know its only first practice .. this should definitely be interesting, top 15 riders within a second, and who knows how many of em have revelations by raceday.. nice.
He was 17th in the first free practice at Valencia. He didn't have a great weekend there but still had a pole and a podium.

Spies has already been to this track during winter testing. Here is a link to day 3 of the winter test: LINK

In regards to the current practice, look at the times so far, top 14 guys are within .7 sec of each other. Lets hope for a close battle involving several players at the front.

First Qualifying practice times:
LINK

Full qualifying times (1) results for the sixth round of the World Superbike Championship at Kyalami, South Africa.

1. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1098R 1min 38.103s
2. Jonathan Rea GBR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 38.506s
3. Ben Spies USA Yamaha WSB YZF R1 1min 38.600s
4. Leon Haslam GBR Stiggy Motorsport Honda CBR1000RR 1min 38.865s
5. Shinya Nakano JPN Aprilia Racing RSV-4 1min 38.998s
6. Noriyuki Haga JPN Ducati Xerox 1098R 1min 39.055s
7. Jakub Smrz CZE Guandalini Racing Ducati 1098R 1min 39.230s
8. Tom Sykes GBR Yamaha WSB YZF R1 1min 39.258s
9. Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia Racing RSV-4 1min 39.284s
10. Ruben Xaus ESP BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1min 39.357s
11. Carlos Checa ESP HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 39.370s
12. Sheridan Morais RSA Kawasaki SRT ZX-10R 1min 39.388s
13. Gregorio Lavilla ESP Guandalini Racing Ducati 1098R 1min 39.389s
14. Shane Byrne GBR Sterilgarda Ducati 1098R 1min 39.470s
15. Yukio Kagayama JPN Alstare Suzuki GSX-R 1000K9 1min 39.475s
16. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 39.788s
17. Broc Parkes AUS Kawasaki SRT ZX-0R 1min 39.961s
18. David Salom ESP Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 40.105s
19. Luca Scassa ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 40.192s
20. Karl Muggeridge AUS Celani Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 40.304s
21. Tommy Hill GBR HANNspree Althea Honda CBR1000RR 1min 40.308s
22. Fonsi Nieto ESP Alstare Suzuki GSX-R 1000K9 1min 40.544s
23. Shaun Whyte ZIM Yamaha France GMT 94 1min 41.737s
24. Steve Martin AUS BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1min 42.015s

Regis Laconi FRA DFX Corse Ducati 1098R Did not participate

Qualifying 1st Session

edit : beat me to it

Fabrizio has found something??

Will Spies take pole?

Good to see Rea up there, and Nakano for that matter.

“We've tried to sneak in under the radar this weekend. We were working quietly yesterday perfecting our race set up and I guess we sort of snuck up on some people today.

This is a quote from Spies last week, after winning his 5th straight pole, and setting the track record.
Spies is comfortable enough that he can work on race trim and not worry about proving anything. His time in qualifying today was clocked in his last laps. I think the boy has not shown his cards yet.

time for spies to crash... 2 weekends in a row without mistake would be too much for him.

Fabio looking real fast, as he was during the winter test as well. I would pick him to get the pole at this time, but who knows what will happen tomorrow.

Great to see Rea up there, could Ten Kate finally be getting things sorted? If Rea does well Checa will no longer have his excuses. Especially given Kiyo's recent good run at Monza.

Spies and Yamaha are a focused machine, could they take a 6th pole in a row and tie the record? LINK

Good to see Haslam back on his front running form and surprising to see Nakano up there.

Go Haga!

Laconi has suffered serious head and neck injuries in his practice crash...

http://www.motogpmatters.com/news/2009/05/..._back_inju.html

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (two-stroke @ May 15 2009, 09:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Laconi has suffered serious head and neck injuries in his practice crash...

http://www.motogpmatters.com/news/2009/05/..._back_inju.html


This is not good news. Get well soon Laconi.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (two-stroke @ May 15 2009, 04:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Laconi has suffered serious head and neck injuries in his practice crash...

http://www.motogpmatters.com/news/2009/05/..._back_inju.html

Not good at all, he was having a great come back season after years languishing with Kawasucki. Hope he recovers well.

Ah Laconi He was doing so well and than this happens. This will take him a while to recover, Foret had something like this last year at Brno and it took him till now to get back to the front. realy hope he will be fine and get well soon.

fabi is doing great, would be nice to see someone else take the pole this time. Shinya is doing great aswell, looks like he recovered from his shoulder injury. Go Haga!!

Damn. another rider down get well soon Laconi!!!

Hmm, Lavilla seems to be doing better than Roberts already.

Man this really sucks with all the ........ aside i wouldn't wish this on any rider!!!! Hopefully he bounces back quick and starts where he left off (on the podium) Get well soon Laconi

Just read on a dutch site that Laconi is fighting for his life..... allot worse then i thought

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ May 15 2009, 08:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>If you have it in you guys, say a little prayer. These things can turn from good to bad .My wife works in a neuro lab and she says just when things are looking up,it can fall apart in an instant

I hope he has a speedy and full recovery.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (#27aus @ May 16 2009, 01:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>time for spies to crash... 2 weekends in a row without mistake would be too much for him.
WTF........