Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) notched up his fifth Superpole of the season in ten races and the 23rd of his career, at the end of a Brands Hatch Superpole session which was held in changeable weather conditions. With 50 minutes and 12 timed laps available, the Australian recorded a time of 1 minute 25.656 seconds, just a fraction away from the new circuit best lap of 1.25.416 he had set previously in free practice. The 39 year-old Australian will be joined on the front row of the grid by his eternal Brands Hatch rival, Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB), two-hundredths of a second down, and by another Japanese rider, reigning BSB champion Ryuichi Kiyonari (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), two-tenths away from the pole mark.
Troy Bayliss: "I'm quite happy with the way things are working this weekend. The first day was a little bit disappointing because we struggled a bit with grip on entry into the curves, but today we changed a few things. This was an excellent pole, it's really a great achievement for us to take pole in such mixed conditions, so hopefully I'm looking forward to a nice couple of results tomorrow."
Noriyuki Haga: "Before Superpole I was a little bit worried because it was raining, and I really feel much happier when it is getting dry because I don't like the rain. Anyway I try and do my best for tomorrow, for sure the races will be really tough. Troy is always there with me at Brands Hatch, but this time Ryuichi-san also so we will see tomorrow."
Ryuichi Kiyonari: "I am very happy with the result today. Even though I did not set pole, I have been quick all weekend and I managed to continue that form today. My bike is very fast and competitive. Superpole conditions were very difficult but for me it is a really good feeling to be on the front row of the grid at Brands Hatch."
Jakub Smrz (Guandalini Ducati) continued his good qualifying form with fourth place to clinch the final front row grid slot, with the top four the only riders to lap under 1m26s. The second row is made up of Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB), wild card Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki), one of the most promising young British riders, Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) and Max Neukirchner (Alstare Suzuki).
Neither Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) nor Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) were able to emerge today and they line up side-by-side on row 3. Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) was the only faller in Superpole, which relegated the Spaniard to the 15th slot.
Times: 1. Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 1'25.656; 2. Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'25.679; 3. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'25.840; 4. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'25.960; 5. Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'26.021; 6. Sykes T. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'26.166; 7. Biaggi M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'26.169; 8. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'26.226; 9. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'26.501; 10. Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'26.688; 11. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'26.751; 12. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 F08 1'26.807; 13. Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'27.148; 14. Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'27.217; 15. Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'27.246; 16. Muggeridge K. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 1'27.580.
