Feb 23 : Biaggi Grabs Qatar Front-row Start

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Max Biaggi stunned everybody by storming to
second place in Superpole for tomorrow's opening World Superbike Championship round
in Qatar - despite never ever having done a Superpole lap before.
 

He was fifth overall in regular qualifying, but a super-smooth lap of 1:58.724 saw
him finish just behind Troy Corser (Yamaha). Third quickest was James Toseland
(Honda) with Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) fourth.

Biaggi's team mate Yukio Kagayama made a few mistakes on his Superpole lap but
claimed seventh and will start tomorrow's pair of 18-lap races from the second row
of the grid.


Max Biaggi - 2nd, 1:58.724:

"Superpole was another new experience for me and I can tell you that I was a bit
nervous before I started it. I didn't want to make any mistakes or crash, so I tried
to ride as smoothly as I could and get round in the best time. I am very happy
because my Superpole lap was the fastest lap I've done this weekend and it means
that I am well-placed on the front row of the grid. The bike is working well and I
am enjoying all these new experiences, but what matters now is what happens in the
races tomorrow. I think we can make a good result and for that I have to thank my
Alstare team for all the work they've done. I am just sorry that Francis Batta is
not here to see us and I hope he watches it on TV and we can give him a good
result."


Yukio Kagayama- 7th, 1:59.964:

"I think I made small mistakes almost all round the circuit in my Superpole lap and
that lost a lot of time. That was mainly because I did not have a good feeling with
the qualifying tyre. Maybe I was a bit too aggressive in the first part and by the
time I smoothed myself out, it was too late. But my set-up for the race is good -
better than for Superpole - and I am confident that I can make good results. After
all, second row at this track is not so bad because the first turn is a long way
from the start. As long as I make a good start, I can be on the podiums."

Final Qualifying:1 Corser (Aus-Yamaha) 1:58.402, 2, Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki
Corona Extra) 1:58.724, 3 Toseland (GB-Honda) 1:59.005, 4 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:59.294,
5 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 1:59.537, 6 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:59.668, 7 Yukio Kagayama
(J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:59.964, 8 Neukirchner (D-Suzuki) 2:00.098, 9 Nieto
(E-Kawasaki) 2:00.240, 10 Rolfo (I-Honda) 2:00.414.