WSB : Front row for Pitt, Haga ready to race
Round: 6 - Misano
Circuit: Misano
Date: 24 June 2006
Temp: 30ºC
Weather: Sunny

Andrew Pitt will start tomorrow's two-race sixth round of the Superbike World Championship from the front row of the grid after qualifying his Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 third in today's superpole session at a hot Misano.

The Australian set his best lap of the weekend in the one-lap qualifying run to the delight of his Yamaha Motor Italia squad. The former supersport world champion has run strongly throughout the practice sessions and was able to make minor improvements to give greater feedback from the front tyre. The Australian was able to do a race simulation in the afternoon session, running consistent times over 20 laps in preparation for tomorrow's two races. The superpole result sees Pitt equal his best qualifying position in the class. Having started third on the grid at this year's opening race in Qatar, where he went on to secure his first podium finish in the class.

Pitt's team-mate Noriyuki Haga made big improvements with the set-up of his machine to go into the superpole session as the sixth fastest rider in regulation qualifying. After ending Friday practice in 12th, the Yamaha Motor Italia squad changed the geometry and gear ratios of Haga's YZF-R1 to improve the acceleration and steering of the machine. Although the Japanese star could not improve his grid position in the one-lap shootout, he is confident of challenging at the front in tomorrow's races - having completed a successful race simulation in the practice sessions.

There were mixed fortunes for the Yamaha Motor France squad in Misano. Shinichi Nakatomi had his best qualifying of the season, ending regular qualifying in 16th place to make superpole for the first time. The Japanese rider put in his best lap of the afternoon on his flying lap - moving him up to 13th on tomorrow's grid.

Team-mate Sebastien Gimbert will start one row behind his Japanese team-mate after ending qualifying 20th. Norick Abe again struggled at a circuit he openly dislikes. He ended the day a further row behind, in 22nd, although if there is any consolation for the former Grand Prix rider then it is that he starts three places higher than in last year's Misano races, where he managed to fight through to make the top 15.

Pole position for tomorrow's two 25-lap races goes to James Toseland (Honda) who set a time of 1:33.833 on his qualifying run. World champion Troy Corser (Suzuki) and Steve Martin (Petronas) make up the front row alongside Pitt.

Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia)
"I was actually a little bit surprised at how good the lap time was in superpole because I made a small mistake and that must've cost me a little time. The bike has been working really well all weekend so to get a front row start really tops things off and puts us in good shape for the race tomorrow. We've made a few improvements to the bike today to improve the feeling and give better tyre life. Pirelli has brought along a wider rear tyre for this race and although it seems to work on our bike and gives more grip, it does work the front tyre more. We'll decide in the morning if this is our best tyre option."

Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia)
"Second row is ok. The bike is working better today and is much easier for me to ride over the race distance. I was able to do a good race simulation and I'm confident that we're ready for the fight tomorrow!"

Shinichi Nakatomi (Yamaha Motor France)
"I am very happy to have made superpole and I think that it shows the progress we have made. I didn't really notice the pain in my arm today as I was so focused on my riding, although I think that it will be hard for me to be at 100 percent throughout both races tomorrow. It is important that I do not crash and make the injury worse but I will be trying hard in the races to get the best result possible."

Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha Motor France)
"We had some front end grip problems which seems to be caused by the set-up of the front fork. We made some improvements in the afternoon and hopefully we can find more for the races. I had a crash in the afternoon session and have hurt my ankle, although nothing is broken."

Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France)
"It's the same problem for me, I just can't seem to get any traction. I tried hard to make a better lap time but it just didn't happen. We will try a few things tonight and I hope that I can get some good starts in the races."

Massimo Meregalli (Team Coordinator - Yamaha Motor Italia) "I'm quite satisfied with how things have gone so far. I'm pleased with Andrew's performance and not just with the fact that he has got on the front row. His time was very impressive and close to Toseland's pole time, which will give him a lot of confidence. He's in good shape for the race, as is Nori. He was able to do a good race simulation with 10 or 11 laps very similar to what Bayliss and Toseland were doing. Second row is ok for Nori as we know what he is capable of doing in the race."
22 N. Abe Yamaha JPN 1' 36.625 1' 36.061

WSS : Yamaha takes pole in Misano
Round: 6 - Misano WSS
Circuit: Misano
Date: 24 June 2006
Temp: 35ºC
Weather: Sunny

Broc Parkes demonstrated why Misano is one of his favourite circuits by taking pole position for tomorrow's sixth round of the Supersport World Championship, held at the Italian seaside venue.

With reduced grip levels, due to the warm temperatures, all of the supersport riders struggled to match their times from April's test at the same venue. Parkes had been the fastest rider on display in April, posting a 1:36.411 lap time, although he was unable to go faster today. The 24-year-old Yamaha Motor Germany rider was one of only two riders to break the 1:37 barrier, setting a best time of 1:36.876 to take the second pole position of his career. Simone Sanna (Honda) will start from second on the grid.

Confirming the latest YZF-R6's performance at Misano, Yamaha riders filled the next three positions on the grid. Local rider Massimo Roccoli and Yamaha GMT94's David Checa both topped the timesheets during the afternoon session but ended the day third and fourth respectively. Roccoli's Yamaha Team Italia colleague Gianluca Vizziello will lead the second row, in fifth, with Spanish YZF-R6 privateer Xavi Fores making it five Yamahas on the first two rows.

Kevin Curtain will start from an uncharacteristically low fourth row on the grid after ending the day down in 14th position. The experienced Australian, who currently lies second to the absent Sebastien Charpentier (Honda), in the championship crashed mid-session and was forced to use his spare machine, which had different suspension settings and did not allow him to push as hard as on his preferred machine.