Paul Carruthers | June 26, 2009
Ducati Xerox’s Michel Fabrizio went faster than Ben Spies did in this morning’s free practice session and Spies didn’t. And that was the difference as Fabrizio took over the top spot in the first qualifying session for the two World Superbike races at Donington Park on Sunday.Spies, who led this morning’s session, went slower than he did earlier in the day and dropped to third behind Fabrizio and Stiggy Honda’s Leon Haslam. Fabrizio was the only rider to drop into the 1:30s in the afternoon session, the Italian lapping at 1:30.775 to best Haslam’s 1:31.191 and Spies’ 1:31.294. This morning, Spies had lapped at 1:30.962.Fourth fastest was Gregorio Lavilla, the former British Superbike Champion at home at Donington Park and lapping at 1:31.401 on the Guandalini Ducati. He was just ahead of another former British Superbike Champion, Shane Byrne. Then came another Brit – wild card Leon Camier four of the locals slipped into the top 10.Following Camier was Misano pole sitter Jakub Smrz, the Guandalini Ducati-mounted Czech besting Italian Lorenzo Lanzi. Hannspree Ten Kate Honda’s Carlos Checa and World Championship points leader Noriyuki Haga rounded out the top 10 in today’s session.Stiggy Honda’s John Hopkins slipped from seventh this morning to 14th when it counted as his lap times slowed. Kawasaki fill-in rider Jamie Hacking ended up 25th with Blake Young 28th in his World Superbike qualifying debut. Those two had been 24th and 27th, respectively, this morning.
Friday Qualifying
1. Michael Fabrizio (Ducati) 1:30.775
2. Leon Haslam (Honda) 1:31.191
3. Ben Spies (Yamaha) 1:31.294
4. Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 1:31.401
5. Shane Byrne (Ducati) 1:31.436
6. Leon Camier (Yamaha) 1:31.454
7. Jakub Smrz (Ducati) 1:31.584
8. Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati) 1:31.705
9. Carlos Checa (Honda) 1:31.736
10. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) 1:31.76014. John Hopkins (Honda) 1:32.00725. Jamie Hacking (Kawasaki) 1:33.58728. Blake Young (Suzuki) 1:34.529
Paul Carruthers | Editor
Paul Carruthers took over as the editor of Cycle News in 1993 after serving as associate editor since starting his career at the publication in 1985. Carruthers has covered every facet of the sport in his near-28-year tenure at America's Daily Motorcycle News Source.
