Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Troy Corser showed just why Misano is one of his favourite circuits by setting the fastest time on the first day of qualifying for Sunday's World Superbike Championship.Despite very high temperatures in the afternoon timed session, Corser posted a lap of 1:35.717, a tenth-of-a-second faster than nearest challenger Max Neukirchner (Honda) and third-placed Regis Laconi (Ducati).
Corser's team mate Yukio Kagayama was very satisfied with seventh fastest - as it is his first time at the circuit.
The day was not without incident though: Corser crashed in the afternoon session when he lost the front in the middle of Tramonto - the corner at the end of the back straight. He wasn't injured, but was a little cross at having given his mechanics some extra work to do repairing the bike.
Troy Corser - 1st, 1:35.717:
"In the morning I felt that the track was a bit dirty and so didn't really push hard at all. In the afternoon the grip definitely improved, but it was quite a bit hotter so then it was the tyres we had to consider. My Alstare Suzuki is working pretty well round here and there's not a lot we need to do to the bike except decide on a front tyre. We started off on some tyres we didn't feel we would use, so that we could conserve what we thought we might use. That was OK this morning.
"In the afternoon I just lost the front without any warning whatsoever. One minute I was up, the next I was down - it was as quick as that. That's my first crash of the year so that's pretty good going considering. Today I have not felt confident in my front tyre so that's the direction we will be working on tomorrow. We may also try some different gearing but I do not reckon it's going to make a lot of difference."
Yukio Kagayama - 7th, 1:36.652:
"Considering that this is my first time here, I am happy to end the first day of practice in seventh position. Misano is not a very difficult track to learn but it is a track where it is hard to shave off those last few fractions-of-a-second. That requires circuit knowledge and, at the moment, I am building that up. I think the track has some depressions and that means you need a good suspension set-up here.
"For me, today was mostly about learning which way the track goes and how to ride it fast. So, I tried to put in many laps today and learn quickly! Tomorrow we will continue our job and I will try to decide which tyres to use. If it is as hot on race day as today, then tyre wear is going to be a problem, but at least it is the same problem for all of us. After my disappointment at Silverstone my target here is at least one podium - even though I know that is going to be difficult."
Friday WSB qualifying: 1 Troy Corser (Aus-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:35.717, 2 Neukirchner (D-Honda) 1:35.836, 3 Laconi (F-Ducati) 1:36.012, 4 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda) 1:36.170, 5 Toseland (GB-Ducati) 1:36.284, 6 Chili (I-Honda) 1:36.492, 7 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:36.652, 8 Alfonsi (I-Yamaha) 1:36.957, 9 Clementi (I-Ducati) 1:36.990, 10 Martin (Aus-Petronas) 1:37.106.
Source: Team Suzuki Press Office