Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda) proved that his is back to his best with a fine ride in Superpole, promoting himself to the second row with the seventh best time in the session, putting himself just one place ahead of his team-mate James Toseland (Winston Ten Kate Honda). Muggeridge was forced to miss the previous Valencia round as he recovered from spinal injuries, but has bounced back in fine style at one of his favourite circuits.

Toseland was fifth fastest after regulation qualifying, with Muggeridge then ninth, before Superpole altered their fortunes somewhat. Toseland could not improve on his best previous time, unlike the majority of the other top riders, including Muggeridge. Pole position was taken by Troy Corser, from Troy Bayliss.

Each rider faces two tough 18-lap races on Sunday, but each has good race form at this circuit, and the Honda CBR1000RR delivers an enviable performance package in race conditions at the 5.793km Monza circuit.

Ronald Ten Kate - Team Manager
“To be honest, I was hoping, almost expecting, to be on the front row with at least one of the riders. But we will have to make do with second row starts from both of our riders. We also know it will be slipstreaming all along through the races; even in practice we have seen it. James and Karl have been up there in terms of race times all weekend, so I would say we are in a good position for sure. It is going to be exciting from start to finish. Karl did a really good job, he is just being confidence step by step, not doing crazy things and not pushing too hard. So the atmosphere in the garage once again is very good.”

Karl Muggeridge – Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider
(7th – 1’47.082)
“To go seventh after what had happened with my accident was not too bad. The second row start is OK, and so far our weekend has gone pretty much OK. My health is good, and my body is not giving me any problems so I’m quite confident for tomorrow. I like the track and I think our bike will suit it.”

James Toseland – Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider
(8th – 1’47.133)
“I’m not too happy because yesterday we had the bike much better and even this morning it was good. But in the free practice this afternoon we tried some new settings and modifications and I didn’t improve my time. I think that affected my Superpole lap and I didn’t use my qualifying tyre in the best way. So we will change the settings back tomorrow and I believe we can get good results.”

Supersport

Once more the Supersport qualifying sheets were dominated by the imperious figure of 2005 World Champion Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) and once more he scored pole with a new record lap time. He improved his peerless first day pace with an outstanding lap of 1’50.580, earning himself his fourth straight pole position of the 2006 season, one day before he goes for his fourth straight win. Charpentier’s time was over a second in front of his closest challenger, Gianluca Vizziello. Even a morning crash could not hold back Charpentier’s latest march into the record books.

Charpentier’s pole was also the 30th consecutive Honda pole in World Supersport and Charpentier’s 15th career pole. It now makes him the equal best ever WSS pole setter, alongside former champion Karl Muggeridge.

Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda) will start his Monza race from the second row, having secured the seventh fastest time, thanks to his Friday qualifying best of 1’52.313. Both Charpentier and Sofuoglu will have to negotiate 16 laps of the fast Monza circuit in Sunday’s race.

Ronald Ten Kate - Team Manager
“We worked quite hard today on Sebastien’s bike, to make it even better than yesterday, when we had a few little problems getting him round. We improved it quite a bit today and that showed with yet another new best lap. It was a simply awesome time. So I think we are in good shape for the race. For Kenan I am happy to finish with him on the second row, and I’m sure he can be in the front group, fighting for the slipstream. I am sure he will bring a good result for the team and himself tomorrow. The bike is very fast and the slipstreaming should be pretty fast as well. ”

Sebastien Charpentier – Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider
(Pole Position – 1’50.580)
“Today is fantastic because it was a very good lap, the 1.50.5 was very nice for everyone in our team. We made a strong challenge after my small crash this morning and now I am ready for the race tomorrow. I lost the front on the entry at the Ascari chicane and I was not happy about that, but it is finished now and I look to tomorrow. I hope for the same weather as we had today, because it did not rain, even though we expected it. We now have four poles from the start of the season, a fantastic result for us. Thanks very much to my mechanics and for the tyres because everything was so good.”

Kenan Sofuoglu – Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider
(7th Position – 1’52.313)

“Again I am in the second row but I really wanted to get a front row start. So I have to make a good start again tomorrow and then we will see. We worked on the brakes today but I think it was myself more than the bike. The bike is not perfect but I will try to improve again in warm-up and make sure I have a good race.”