Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Troy Corser was more than a second under the official lap record but still had to settle for the second fastest time in World Superbike Superpole at Misano in San Marino this afternoon.

A slightly cautious start in the first turn lost the World Champion some time but, from then on in, he stormed back into contention losing out by the narrowest of margins in the end to James Toseland (Honda).

Corser’s team mate Yukio Kagayama finished in 10th position after suffering with a brake lever problem that he couldn’t adjust in his flying lap.

Third quickest is Andrew Pitt (Yamaha) with Steve Martin (Petronas) fourth. Three out of the first four are Aussies, but surprisingly series leader Troy Bayliss is not amongst them.

Troy Corser - 2nd, 1:33.866:
“I know it sounds a bit funny but I’m a bit disappointed not to have taken Superpole today. Before I started the lap, I felt that I could do a mid 1:33 but maybe I was a bit too cautious going into the first turn and that cost me some time. But, at the end of the day, being on the front row is the important thing because if you are not in with the leaders when you go into the first left-hander, it’s easy to lose a lot of time. Today, I had a lot of wheelspin or maybe lack of grip exiting the turns. Part of that might have been due to the very high track temperature out there today. I just can’t seem to get sufficient grip where I want it. We’ll look at the telemetry and see if we can make some adjustments in the morning warm-up. After my recent illness my energy levels are not back up to 100%. At the moment I’m ok for about 12-15 laps, but then it becomes a bit of a struggle. It’s going to be a very long, hard day tomorrow for sure.”

Yukio Kagayama - 10th, 1”34.685:
“I had a little problem with my brake lever on my Superpole lap. Going into the left-hander at the end of the back straight, the lever came almost all the way back to the bar! As I was on a Superpole lap there was not enough time to adjust it so I had to just ride it as best as I could. It was not so easy! It was very difficult but I didn’t want to stop, so I kept going and brought the bike back home.
In normal qualifying I had some problems with wheelspin - especially when the bike is banked over and I’m trying to get on the gas. My problem tomorrow for the races is my grid position. Misano is not a good track to be so far down the grid as you lose a lot of time because the left turns just before the back straight. So I must make the best start in the world in both races!”

Fabien Foret - 18th, 1:35.694:
“I am disappointed because I am so far down the grid - and I am very disappointed because I did not qualify for Superpole. In the end, I think I missed Superpole by a tenth-of-a-second or less. I think it was all because of a little problem with my suspension setting and if we had managed to get it working better, then qualifying for Superpole would not have been a big problem. Now I have a tough day tomorrow because I need two very good starts if I am to have any chance of getting a good result. Of course, that’s what I shall be going all-out for in both 25-lap races.”