This morning’s slightly cooler temperatures at the Spanish circuit of Aragon during the second qualifying session was much kinder to the Pirelli tires with lap times tumbling and half the grid was able to go under the two minute mark and it was standings leader Carlo Checa who grabbed the provisional pole ahead of this afternoon’s Superpole.
The Spaniard set a best lap of 1.
59.
183 which was just enough to keep hard charging Jakub Smrz at bay on the Effenbert branded Ducati.
Coming in a close third was reigning world champion Max Biaggi followed by Tom Sykes, who seems to have his Kawasaki properly dialed in even at Aragon.
Leon Camier was fifth after lingering in the back field, while Supersonic Ducati and rookie Maxime Berger was sixth.
Marco Melandri who led in both sessions on Friday was seventh, he bettered his yesterday’s lap times, but so did everyone else.
Ayrton Badovini was eighth after crashing early in the 45 minute qualifying practice.
The Italian was again faster that the BMW factory riders, Leon Haslam was only 13th, while team mate Troy Corser who can barely walk after last week’s highside was 16th.
Michel Fabrizio and Joan Lascorz rounded out the top ten.
Not making into the Superpole are Ruben Xaus (Castrol Honda), Chris Vermeulen (Kawasaki Racing Team), Roberto Rolfo (Kawasaki Pedercini) and Lorenzo Lanzi (BMW Motorrad Italia).
WSBK Aragon QP2 results.
1.
Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′59.
1832.
Jakub Smrz (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′59.
2623.
Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′59.
2784.
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′59.
3585.
Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′59.
4196.
Maxime Berger (Supersonic Racing Team) Ducati 1098R 1′59.
4237.
Marco Melandri (Yamaha World Superbike Team) Yamaha YZF R1 1′59.
4378.
Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team) BMW S1000 RR 1′59.
5799.
Michel Fabrizio (Team Suzuki Alstare) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1′59.
61310.
Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′59.
83011.
Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike Team) Yamaha YZF R1 1′59.
83112.
Noriyuki Haga (PATA Racing Team Aprilia) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′59.
88113.
Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 2′00.
00714.
Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 2′00.
02415.
Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 2′00.
13316.
Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 2′00.
18217.
Ruben Xaus (Castrol Honda) Honda CBR1000RR 2′00.
43218.
Chris Vermeulen (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 2′00.
50719.
Roberto Rolfo (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 2′00.
67820.
Lorenzo Lanzi (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team) BMW S1000 RR 2′00.
776