TROY ONCE MORE TOP BOY: World Championship leader Troy Corser (Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki) scored the provisional pole time at Misano, despite suffering a late fall as he tried to improve his best lap still further. His eventual quickest lap was one of only two inside the 1’35 barrier, a 1’35.717.

MAX ATTACK: Despite still feeling ill effects from the thumb injury he suffered at round three in Spain, Max Neukirchner (Klaffi Honda) soared up the time sheets with a best time of 1’35.836, good enough for second, behind the vastly experienced Corser. The young German’s ride to fame continued apace on Friday, showing respect – but no fear – towards his illustrious colleagues.

PROVISIONAL FRONT ROW COMPLETE: Championship runner-up in 2005 Regis Laconi (Ducati Xerox 999F05) was third fastest on day one, followed by 2005 SBK rookie Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda), the latter putting in an outstanding early showing. Winner of the Misano WSS race in 2004, Muggeridge had the better of his troubled team-mate Chris Vermeulen, who could only finish an unexpectedly low 14th, having not set as many laps as expected in the untimed morning session.

TOSELAND HEADS UP SECOND ROW CHARGE: World Champ James Toseland was second in the unofficial morning session, and followed that up with fifth best time in the afternoon, setting a 1’36.384. Pierfrancesco Chili (Klaffi Honda CBR1000RR), host of a pre-practice volleyball tournament on Thursday evening, at his private beach in Misano, was sixth - putting two Klaffi machines in the top six.

ROOKIE RIDERS SET MORE HIGH MARKS: The vast experience of Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki) does not run to a full season in World Superbike and thus he is a rookie rider in technical terms. Sitting second in the championship chase thus far, he was seventh quickest in the opening timed session, ahead of another rookie, Lorenzo Alfonsi (DFX Extreme Yamaha). The local rider is the reigning European Superstock Champion, being given his first chance in the top class this season. He was best Yamaha rider on the day.

TOP TEN COMPLETED BY SURPRISE PACKAGES: Ivan Clementi (Team Pedercini Ducati 999RS) forced his big twin-cylinder machine into ninth place at his local circuit, while the top ten was rounded out by the first of the Petronas three-cylinder machines, ridden by Aussie charger Steve Martin.

YAMAHA WORKS MEN MAKING PROGRESS: A slow start from the main Yamaha entries once more saw Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia) one place ahead of his team-mate Noriyuki Haga; Pitt 11th and Haga 12th. With his team down to a single man after Sebastien Gimbert’s Silverstone injury, Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France Ipone) was 24th.

BRIGHT START FOR WALKER FADES IN TIMED SESSION: Chris Walker (PSG-1 Kawasaki ZX-10R) suffered a crash in the early sector of the timed hour and thus his best efforts were held back to 19th, three places behind his team-mate Mauro Sanchini. Ben Bostrom (Renegade Honda) was 20th, The Petronas of Garry McCoy was only 31st of 34 entries.

SUPERSPORT: Local hero Gianluca Nannelli (SC Ducati 749R) put an early smile on the Misano spectators’ faces in the opening Supersport session, taking the fastest lap of the day with his last circuit of the 4.060km Santamonica track. Another late posting, from Katsuaki Fujiwara placed him second on his Winston Ten Kate Honda, with another CBR, that of 2003 race winner Fabien Foret (Team Italia Megabike), slotting into third. Foret’s team-mate Michel Fabrizio was fourth, with the top Yamaha that of Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany), fifth fastest in the glorious hot and sunny conditions which blessed the first day. The tight qualifying session saw the top five all within 0.237 seconds.

Final qualifying and Superpole take place on Saturday 25th; the races themselves on Sunday 26th.