World Superbike: rain interrupts qualifying at Magny-Cours
Session only lasts 17 minutesThe opening practice session at the penultimate round of the Superbike World Championship in France has lasted just 17 minutes before rain lashed the Magny-Cours circuit.
After the downpour, no riders ventured our onto the track again, with Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) setting the fastest time ahead of Australia’s Troy Bayliss (Ducati), with Spanish duo Carlos Checa (Honda) and Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki) making it four separate manufacturers on the provisional front row.
Bayliss is 79pts in front of Corser with four races to go in this year’s championship, and is on track to wrap up the title at Magny-Cours, perhaps in Sunday’s opening race.
Haga won both races at Magny-Cours in 2007, and is in brilliant form after a clean sweep in the last round at Vallelunga.
In Supersport it was an exciting end to first qualifying as at least seven riders were on their quickest laps after the first split, but in the end the provisional pole went to Jonathan Rea (Honda), who edged out Australian Broc Parkes (Yamaha).
The other Aussies – Andrew Pitt (Honda), Josh Brookes (Honda), Mark Aitchison (Triumph) and Russell Holland (Honda) – were sixth, ninth, 16th and 19th respectively.
Pitt, who leads the title by 11pts over teammate Rea, crashed on his hot lap, but will be okay for final qualifying.
Parkes and Brookes also remain in the championship hunt.
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