Pitt leads the Yamaha charge in Imola

Yamaha Motor Italia's Andrew Pitt was the top R1 rider in today's first qualifying session for Sunday's penultimate round of the 2006 Superbike World Championship in Imola, ending the day seventh fastest in a close session that sees the top 14 riders covered by just over a second.

The Australian gunned his Yamaha around the long and demanding circuit in best time of 1:50.502, just 0.463 behind the day's fastest rider James Toseland (Honda). Pitt, who lifted the 2001 world supersport crown at the Italian venue, went through the usual Friday programme of testing tyres and settings ahead of Sunday's two races, working mostly with his crew chief Dave Marton and datalogging expert Carlo Luzzi to find the optimal gearbox settings for the complex Formula One circuit.

Pitt's team-mate Noriyuki Haga struggled with a wrist injury sustained in Germany three weekends ago, ending the day in 11th. The Japanese star damaged some ligaments in both his wrists and found the going tough around the bumpy circuit after failing to get the R1 set up exactly to his liking. Despite his handicap, Haga is confident that he can make some improvements to the set-up of his machine ahead of tomorrow's final qualifying sessions.

Fastest rider today was 2004 world champion Toseland, ahead of outgoing champion Troy Corser (Suzuki). Current series leader Troy Bayliss ended the day fourth, with Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) rounding out the top four. The superbike riders will have a final one hour qualifying session tomorrow morning, with the top 16 riders going through to the one-lap superpole session, which will decide the first four rows of the grid for Sunday's two 21-lap races.

Norick Abe   

Norick Abe led Yamaha Motor France's trio of riders in Imola. The Japanese former Grand Prix rider ended the day in 16th position, provisionally occupying the final slot for tomorrow's grid-deciding superpole session. Sebastien Gimbert ended the day 21st, just two seconds from pole sitter Toseland, with Shinichi Nakatomi less than a tenth of a second behind his French team-mate on his Imola debut, in 24th.

Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia) "The main thing we've been working on is finding a good gearbox setting. This place is such a compromise that when you get the gearing right for one corner it's out at the next. We had a couple of little niggling problems with the electronics but overall it's been a good day. We were able to try out a lot of different tyres and we're pretty sure what we'll be running on Sunday. Our race pace seems good and the guys ahead of us are only doing one faster lap before dropping back to the same pace, so I think we'll be right up there."

Noriyuki Haga   

Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) "We're still trying to find the right balance of the bike and tonight we'll make some changes to improve the feeling. Imola is a very physical circuit and my wrist is still quite painful, but I do not think this will be a problem because when the lights go out you forget about any problems you have."

Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France) "Not such a bad day! The bike is working ok and close to the top riders, so this is an alright result for us. I hope that tomorrow we can stay in the top 16 and qualify for the superpole. That would prepare us for a good race."

Shinichi Nakatomi (Yamaha Motor France) "This is my first time at Imola so today my priority is to learn the course and improve the set-up. Tonight we will try some things and I am quite confident that I can get faster as the weekend goes on."

Massimo Meregalli (Team Coordinator - Yamaha Motor Italia) "The times are very close today and we can still make some improvements. Andrew had a few small problems with the electronics today, while Noriyuki is still trying to find a different balance on his bike. We will make some changes tonight and see what tomorrow brings."

Circuit Length: 4959 Weather: Sunny     2006 WSB Imola 29/09/2006 Qualifying 1 Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time 1 James Toseland Honda GBR 1'50.039 2 Troy Corser Suzuki AUS 1'50.250 3 Troy Bayliss Ducati AUS 1'50.265 4 Yukio Kagayama Suzuki JPN 1'50.357 5 Alex Barros Honda BRA 1'50.388 6 Ruben Xaus Ducati ESP 1'50.468 8 Michel Fabrizio Honda ITA 1'50.553 9 Max Neukirchner Suzuki GER 1'50.659 10 Ivan Clementi Ducati ITA 1'50.768 11 Noriyuki Haga Yamaha JPN 1'50.882 12 Karl Muggeridge Honda AUS 1'50.882 13 Lorenzo Lanzi Ducati ITA 1'51.003 14 Fonsi Nieto Kawasaki ESP 1'51.077 15 Chris Walker Kawasaki GBR 1'51.227 16 Norick Abe Yamaha JPN 1'51.338 21 Sebastien Gimbert Yamaha FRA 1'52.034 24 Shinichi Nakatomi Yamaha JPN 1'52.108

QUALIFYING 1 REPORT 29/09/2006 Curtain third in first practice   Kevin Curtain   

Championship leader Kevin Curtain prepared for Sunday's penultimate supersport round by setting the third fastest time in today's first qualifying session at Imola.

The Australian set a best time of 1:53.728 around the famous Italian circuit to claim a spot on the provisional front row alongside title rival Sebastien Charpentier (Honda), Kenan Sofuoglu (Honda) and last year's Imola winner Gianluca Nannelli (Ducati). With two rounds of the series remaining it will be either Curtain or 2005 champ Charpentier who will be crowned king of the 600 class, with Yamaha Motor Germany man Curtain holding a 27 point advantage going into this weekend's race.

Yamaha Team Italia's Gianluca Vizziello, winner of the Italian championship race held at Imola last weekend, was sixth fastest, with team-mate Massimo Roccoli, who was last week crowned as his national supersport champion, tenth after taking a tumble during the session.

Curtain's team-mate Broc Parkes made a welcome return from injury to take 12th place on the provisional grid. The Australian missed the last round after breaking ribs and punturing a lung in Assen but is ready to race in Imola, albeit not at 100 percent fitness.

Final qualifying for Sunday's race takes place tomorrow (Saturday).

Circuit Length: 4959 Weather: Dry     2006 WSS Imola 29/09/2006 Qualifying 1 Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time 1 Sebastien Charpentier Honda FRA 1'52.842 2 Kenan Sofuoglu Honda TUR 1'53.081 3 Kevin Curtain Yamaha AUS 1'53.728 4 Gianluca Nannelli Ducati ITA 1'53.790 5 Robbin Harms Honda DNK 1'53.902 6 Gianluca Vizziello Yamaha ITA 1'54.202 7 Katsuaki Fujiwara Honda JPN 1'54.250 8 Yoann Tibero Honda FRA 1'54.355 9 Johan Stigefelt Honda SWE 1'54.521 10 Massimo Roccoli Yamaha ITA 1'54.718 11 Stephane Chambon Kawasaki FRA 1'54.891 12 Broc Parkes Yamaha AUS 1'54.993 13 Christian Zaiser Ducati AUT 1'55.186 14 Matthieu Lagrive Honda FRA 1'55.330 15 David Checa Yamaha ESP 1'55.402