Althea Ducati boss Genesio Bevilacqua had been doing a rain dance at Monzaso the Ducati’s could recover something against the top speed of the four cylinder machines and the Gods listened to him as today’s Superpole was declared wet – it was actually damp – only it wasn’t one of his riders that got the pole, but Effenbert Liberty’s Sylvain Guintoli.
The French rider who won race 1 at Assen last week, not only took his maiden pole position, but he also stopped Tom Sykes 2012 Superpole run with his last flying lap, clearing the the Kawasaki rider by over seven tenths of a secondAfter an incredible Friday domination lead by BMW riders, only Marco Melandri managed to qualify on the front row in third after having lead the majority of the second twenty minute session and he is sitting next to a very relieved reigning World champion Carlo Checa, who can only hope for more wet in tomorrow’s double header.
Jonathan Rea was fifth followed by Aprilia’s Max Biaggi who ran off track at the Prima Variante, Jakub Smrz and Davide Giugliano.
With the tricky conditions John Hopkins grabbed the 9th spot with his slower Suzuki and ahead of Eugene Laverty whose tires were falling apart on the drying track.
The changeable weather knocked the BMW riders out after the first session and Michel Fabrizio, Ayrton Badovini, Leon Haslam will be starting in 11th, 13th and 14th respectively.
WSBK Monza Qualifying results:1.
Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′54.
2762.
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′54.
9903.
Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 1′55.
9714.
Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′56.
7935.
Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) Honda CBR1000RR 1′57.
6306.
Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′58.
6667.
Jakub Smrz (Liberty Racing Team Effenbert) Ducati 1098R 1′59.
7188.
Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 2′00.
6459.
John Hopkins (Crescent Fixi Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1′59.
48910.
Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′59.
68011.
Michel Fabrizio (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) BMW S1000 RR 1′59.
68112.
Leon Camier (Crescent Fixi Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1′59.
84513.
Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) BMW S1000 RR 1′59.
97814.
Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 2′00.
09315.
David Salom (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 2′00.
60216.
Chaz Davies (ParkinGO MTC Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 2′01.
77217.
Lorenzo Zanetti (PATA Racing Team) Ducati 1098R 1′44.
20318.
Niccolò Canepa (Red Devils Roma) Ducati 1098R 1′44.
32119.
Maxime Berger (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′44.
48920.
Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda World Superbike Team) Honda CBR1000RR 1′44.
68621.
Leandro Mercado (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′45.
15622.
Mark Aitchison (Grillini Progea Superbike Team) BMW S1000 RR 1′45.
84123.
Sergio Gadea (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′48.
085