The ongoing development of the Yamaha Sterilgarda team which had been evident from Assen was clear to see in this afternoon’s Superpole heats, with both riders going under the lap record set by Ben Spies last year. Toseland had been slower than Crutchlow to get on the pace this weekend, but having found the set up that works for him, he made it count where it mattered, leading the last heat temporarily before a last flying lap by his team mate saw him take the second spot on the grid. Crutchlow’s Superpole score makes it his third from six rounds this year. His time of 1'37.243 gives him the current fastest lap record for the circuit.

Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (1st, 1’37.243)
“It’s been great to take three Superpoles from six meetings so far this year, I’m really looking forward to the racing tomorrow. Yamaha have been doing a really good job in developing the bike to put us on the front row, it was unfortunate we couldn’t deliver more in Monza to repay them but we were unlucky. We’ve been up there all weekend in qualifying and practices so I think we have a good chance to deliver in the races. It’s going to be tough but I’m looking forward to taking the fight to the boys, I reckon there will be five or six up there all looking for the win, I think James is going to be one of them.”

James Toseland, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (2nd, 1’37.260)
“I’m really happy with that result, especially after this morning’s qualifying, I think we were two seconds faster this afternoon. I’ve got a few people to thank! The Mobile Clinica guys and everyone at Monza hospital for their service last weekend, and all the riders who managed to avoid me going into turn one at the second Monza race. My head was a bit lost yesterday and this morning, which made me head in the wrong direction with the team, but they recalculated and we’ve come back, two seconds faster so a big thank you to them. I haven’t done too many laps in one go here because of my neck, so I’m not sure how it’s going to be over 24 laps but when the lights go out I’m going to hang on in there until the end!”

Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team Manager
“It’s been a really good day, I was expecting a good lap from Cal, but knowing James physical condition I wasn’t expecting such a big result, I have to say he did a really good job. I know how tough it is on this circuit so congratulations to Cal and James, and also for the team for all the work they’ve done to get them there. Tomorrow will be a really tough race but here it is very important to start from the front row as it’s very difficult to overtake so we have an advantage.”

Team Suzuki Alstare rider Leon Haslam battled away to the fifth fastest time in Superpole today and will start tomorrow's pair of 24-lap World Superbike races in Kyalami in South Africa from the second row of the grid.

Although he would've liked a front-row grid place, his position is well-placed for an attack into the first turn for what promises to be yet another action-packed Raceday.

Haslam's team mate Sylvain Guintoli improved from yesterday and was charging towards the first two rows of the grid until the smallest of mistakes in Superpole 2 cost him a place in Superpole 3.

Third was Carlos Checa (Ducati) with Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) fourth on a day that saw just one second separating the top 13 riders.

Leon Haslam - 5th, 1:37.401:

"I'm pretty happy with fifth place today and I actually prefer it to fourth because it is a better place from which to attack the first turn. It's an easier run and as long as I get a good start, I'm sure I'll be there or thereabouts. I'm happy because my race pace is good and my lap times on race rubber are good. It's going to be a tough day tomorrow and any one of about six or so riders could win a race. Kyalami is a difficult track to overtake on because there's more or less only one racing line. When you get off that line, to pass somebody for example, it's easy to get on a dirty and bumpy part of the track and make a mistake. The first corner is not very far away and after that there are a series of corners where it would be impossible to pass, so good starts are vital. Tomorrow morning we'll make a few little tweaks to the bike and see if we can improve it further. But, if not, then it's ready to race and so am I."

Sylvain Guintoli - 10th, 1:37.875:

"I am disappointed with my Superpole and but for a small mistake in a final split, I'm sure that I could have got into final Superpole. That would've given me at least a place on the second row, but now I will have to start tomorrow's races from row three. The first corner is quite close and so it's very important that I make two good starts. If I don't, I'm going to be in trouble for sure and it'll be difficult making up ground.

"The good news is that I'm happy with my race set-up and very happy with my race tyres. It's a shame that I didn't qualify better, because I'm sure that it would've made my two races easier. As I said before, this Championship is so competitive and the lap times are so close and if you make the smallest of errors you get punished a lot."