The first qualifying session at Donington saw Max Biaggi take over the lead from a rampant Carlos Checa.
The Aprilia Alitalia rider stopped the clock at 1.
28.
794 which was only 0.
047s faster than Marco Melandri on the Yamaha R1Checa was third and an even four tenths of second from the top of the timsheet, but like at Phillip Island, he has a constant race pace that will definitely put him into the running on Sunday’s two races.
Eugene Laverty on the other R1 claimed the fourth fastest time, ahead of Jakub Smrz and Leon Haslam, who had a technical problem on his BMW during the hour session.
No technical issues for team mate Troy Corser who grabbed the seventh spot followed by Ruben Xaus and Leon Camier who were eighth and tenth respectively, with Kawasaki’s Joan Lascorz sandwiched between the two.
Leon Camier who is testing his fitness after his bout of glandular fever closed out the top ten.
Jonathan Rea slipped back from third to a lowly 16th, while Alstare Suzuki’s Michel Fabrizio was 17th after a crash.
Superbike Donington QP1 Results:01- Max Biaggi – Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – 1’28.
79402- Marco Melandri – Yamaha World Superbike Team – Yamaha YZF R1 – + 0.
04703- Carlos Checa – Althea Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 0.
40004- Eugene Laverty – Yamaha World Superbike Team – Yamaha YZF R1 – + 0.
58505- Jakub Smrz – Team Effenbert Liberty Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 0.
60306- Leon Haslam – BMW Motorrad Motorsport – BMW S1000RR – + 0.
67807- Troy Corser – BMW Motorrad Motorsport – BMW S1000RR – + 0.
68208- Ruben Xaus – Castrol Honda – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 0.
81909- Joan Lascorz – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 0.
84310- Leon Camier – Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 0.
84511- Noriyuki Haga – Pata Racing Team Aprilia – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 1.
02012- Maxime Berger – Supersonic Racing Team – Ducati 1198 – + 1.
05713- Tom Sykes – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 1.
06614- Sylvain Guintoli – Team Effenbert Liberty Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 1.
21415- Ayrton Badovini – BMW Motorrad Italia – BMW S1000RR – + 1.
37516- Jonathan Rea – Castrol Honda – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 1.
55417- Michel Fabrizio – Team Suzuki Alstare – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – + 1.
58918- Roberto Rolfo – Team Pedercini – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 1.
88619- Mark Aitchison – Team Pedercini – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 2.
32320- Chris Vermeulen – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 2.
691