World Superbike - Toseland destroys track record for Magny Cours Superpole

World SuperBikes: Toseland destroys track record to take SuperPole

(Worlds SuperBike Release) Magny Cours: Tosleand Destroys Track Best to Take Superpole Win

2004 CHAMP TAKES UPPER HAND INTO FINAL DAY OF THE SEASON After a thrilling Superpole contest James Toseland (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) took a narrow win, albeit at record pace, to secure his second pole of the season; the fourth of his career. He is thus in the perfect position to defend the 29-point lead he takes into the final pair of 23-lap races in the 2007 season tomorrow, especially after his two main rivals had far from ideal runs in Superpole.

Stand-in rider in the Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra team, Max Neukirchner was one of six riders to go faster than the previous best lap from 2006, and he finished only 0.023 seconds down on Toseland, and starts the races from second place. Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) was only 0.123 seconds from his 41st career pole; his team-mate Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) was fourth fastest, some 0.396 seconds from pole, but second fastest in regular qualifying.

ROW TWO HEADED BY FORMER MAGNY-COURS RACE WINNER 2005 Magny-Cours race winner Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox), fastest man after the first day, went fifth fastest in Superpole, one place ahead of title challenger Max Biaggi (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra). Italian Superstar Biaggi was only tenth fastest in pre-Superpole qualifying, and thus keeps himself in touch with Toseland and Haga, his two rivals for the championship itself. After a superb performance in qualifying before Superpole, Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) started and fastest rider, and was thus last away on his Superpole lap. He did not put in his usual top-quality Superpole ride, however, and thus went seventh on the grid. He is nonetheless the top Superpole qualifier of the 2007 season, with six poles to Corser's two, Haga's two, Toseland's two and Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse's) one. The last place on the second row was earned in aggressive style by the hometown hero of the French fans, Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse), after the 11-time SBK race winner scored eighth best time.

THIRD ROW RIDERS LED OFF BY NIETO Fonsi Nieto won the battle of the Spanish competitors, with Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Ducati) tenth, one place up on Roby Rolfo (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda).. Michel Fabrizio (DFX Corse Honda) was a faller earlier in the day and ran out Superpole qualifying in 12th place.

MARTIN MAKES A MARK ON MIDFIELD Steve Martin (Celani Team Suzuki Italia) ended Superpole 13th fastest, holding the ebullient Yoann Tiberio (Alto Evolution Honda) at bay. Tiberio was competing in his first Superpole and went 14th fastest, with Jakub Smrz (Caracchi Ducati), just behind and Karl Muggeridge (Alto Evolution Honda) last in the Superpole chase, after making a couple of small errors on his flying lap.. Shinichi Nakatomi (Yamaha YZF Team) just missed out on Superpole qualification, with Guillaume Dietrich (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 18th on Neukirchner's regular year-old bike.

WORLD SUPERSPORT - SOFUOGLU SETS NEW TRACK BEST AFTER TENSE SESSION In a dry session held under grey skies, new world champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) set a new track best of 1'42.057 to score his fifth pole position of the season. Just behind - 0.156 seconds to be precise - was top Yamaha runner Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport Team) with Sebastien Charpentier (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) only 0.008 seconds behind Parkes. Parkes temporary team-mate Tommy Hill scored his first WSS front row qualifying today, with fourth best time overall. Fighting to keep second in the championship, Fabien Foret (GIL Kawasaki) was fifth fastest for his home race, scheduled for 22-laps on Sunday.

SUPERSTOCK 600 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP - BERGER WINS FINAL RACE French rider Maxime Berger (Trasimeno Yamaha) ripped his way to yet another win in the 2007 season to underline his status as new champion, and in doing so ends the year with a total of 204 points. Second place in the title fight was taken by Andrea Antonelli (Team Italia Megabike Honda AX) after he secured second in the race, one place up on British rider Greg Black (Capaul Black Racing). Michele Magnoni (Bevilacqua Yamaha) was fourth in the race and thus ends the season third in the standings, on 155 points to Antonelli's 162. Black is finally fourth overall, on 118 points.

POS NO. RIDER BIKE TIME
1 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'38.501
2 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K7 1'38.524
3 11 Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'38.624
4 41 Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'38.897
5 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 999 F07 1'38.955
6 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K7 1'38.982
7 21 Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 999 F07 1'39.174
8 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'39.638
9 10 Nieto F. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'40.129
10 111 Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 999 F06 1'40.150
11 44 Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'40.199
12 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'40.390
13 99 Martin S. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K6 1'40.834
14 32 Tiberio Y. (FRA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'41.106
15 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 999 F05 1'41.391
16 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 1'41.462