Weather conditions: Hot, sunny.
Temperature: Air: 27 – 32°C, Track: 46 – 62°C
Number of riders participating: 22 from 13 teams
Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox Team) 1:58.695 min
Fastest lap Superpole 3: Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda Team) 1:58.018 min
After Troy Corser’s (AUS) heavy crash on Friday, Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport rider Ruben Xaus (ESP) gave the people in the BMW garage a reason to be happy on Saturday: In scorching conditions, the Catalan rider secured his best ever qualifying result with the young team. He will start Sunday’s races from the front row of the grid. The 32-years-old finished the Superpole qualifying fourth, only four hundredths of a second off third placed Jonathan Rea (GBR). Rea’s compatriot Cal Crutchlow will start from pole position, just in front of Italian Max Biaggi.
Ruben Xaus:
Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: 1:59.725 min / Fastest lap Free Practice: 1:59.632 min Fastest lap Superpole 3: 1:59.135 min
“First of all I hope Troy will be fit soon, and he can race in Silverstone. Obviously I am really happy with today’s result. I was not expecting fourth. I am still feeling the effects from the injury I sustained in Misano. My team has done a great job today and I must once again thank them for all their efforts and their hard work. Unfortunately I used two qualifying tyres in Superpole 2 to ensure I made it to Superpole 3. Therefore I went out in the final session with worn tyres and was unable to put in a really fast time. This really is the first time this year I have been able to benefit from the qualifying tyre, and I hope I can continue like this. We still have some areas where we can improve the bike, but overall it was incredible. I am really looking forward to the races tomorrow.”
Troy Corser:
DNS
Davide Tardozzi (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Team Manager):
“The team and I are very, very happy with Ruben’s performance today. This is the best ever qualifying position for Ruben with this team and this is what we know he is capable of. Obviously it is disappointing not to have Troy out there, but Ruben did a great job for the whole team. It is quite clear to see the bike is improving, and Ruben is developing a good feeling. I think we could see both riders challenging for the top in future races. Our aim for tomorrow’s races is the top five. So let’s wait and see.”
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