Ben Spies took his third Superpole position at Valencia.
Spies, who had to switch to his second bike in Superpole 2 after his first one developed a technical fault, set a record-breaking time of 1 minute 33.
270 seconds, over half-a-second quicker than Neukirchner’s best mark from last year.
With Spies on the front row will be Regis Laconi, who won in Valencia back in 1999 with a Yamaha 500.
Riders Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio placed third and fourth place respectively.
On the second row will be starting two Suzuki’s and two Honda’s, Kagayama, Neukirchner, Rea anche Carlos Checa.
The Spanish rider fell during the second shootout but managed to qualify for the next step using his second bike.
Other notables who crashed were Ruben Xaus and Shane Byrnes, who seems to have hurt his hands.
Aprilia riders lucked out today when Shinya Nakano broke his left collarbone after his RSV4 suffered a technical failure and and highsided this morning.
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He was operated on today with the aim of being ready for the next round at Assen, April 26th.
Max Biaggi missed passing the first step of the Superpole when his Aprilia suprisingly developed chattering and when he switched to his second bike that also developed a bad case of chattering.
Quotes:Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike): “I was a bit worried about having to change bikes, we had an OK second Superpole but coming in we had a problem with the bike and had to revert back to the other one.
It had a bit of a different set-up and I didn’t get to try it in the morning practice, but luckily the change worked out well.
”Regis Laconi (Ducati DFX): “I’m very happy because the bike is working really good on this track and we are ready.
I won my first race in GP ten years ago and it’s just a pleasure to be up here one more time.
A big thanks to DFX and Ducati for giving me a great bike.
I have had a couple of difficult years but I am happy now that I am back on a Ducati”Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox): “I’m very happy for the front row.
In the weekend I find a good solution for the race and I’ve already decided for the tyre.
And I am feeling confident, so tomorrow I will try to do my best and win twice and that is my target”Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox): “I’ve come from two races where I haven’t had very good results, but we found our way already on the Friday and I’m hoping for two good results tomorrow.
We made a change on the bike and the feeling is much better now, similar to what it was like in pre-season testing.
”Superpole Qualifying Times:1.
Ben Spies USA Yamaha WSB YZF R1 1min 33.
270 sec2.
Regis Laconi FRA DFX Corse Ducati 1198 1min 33.
955 sec3.
Noriyuki Haga JPN Ducati Xerox 1198 1min 34.
082 sec4.
Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1198 1min 34.
259 sec5.
Yukio Kagayama JPN Suzuki Alstare Brux GSX-R1000 1min 34.
755 sec6.
Max Neukirchner GER Suzuki Alstare Brux GSX-R1000 1min 34.
903 sec7.
Jonathan Rea GBR Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 35.
056 sec8.
Carlos Checa SPA Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 35.
346 sec9.
Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 34.
536 sec10.
Leon Haslam GBR Stiggy Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1min 34.
655 sec11.
Jakub Smrz CZE Guandalini Racing Ducati 1198 1min 34.
684 sec12.
Shane Byrne GBR Sterilgarda Ducati 1198 1min 34.
742 sec13.
Broc Parkes AUS Kawasaki World Superbike ZX-10R 1min 34.
823 sec14.
Troy Corser AUS BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1min 34.
863 sec15.
Brendan Roberts AUS Guandalini Racing Ducati 1198 1min 35.
082 sec16.
John Hopkins USA Stiggy Racing Honda CBR1000RR 1min 35.
251 sec17.
Tom Sykes GBR Yamaha WSB YZF R1 1min 35.
203 sec18.
Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia Racing RSV4 1min 35.
204 sec19.
Ruben Xaus SPA BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1min 35.
806 sec