Santander Yamaha’s Noriyuki Haga whipped pole position away from under the nose of Fonsi Nieto at Magny Cours World Superbikes this afternoon, going just over a tenth quicker then the Spaniard.

Alstare Suzuki’s Nieto was fourth from last to go out and pinched pole from Althea Honda’s Robbie Rolfo with a 1’38.574. Neither Ten Kate Honda’s Carlos Checa or Xerox Ducati’s Troy Bayliss could match Nieto’s time and it was left to Haga to challenge for pole.

The Japanese rider’s team-mate Troy Corser, in his penultimate appearance for the team, crashed out on his lap, losing the rear and then running in too hot on the brakes and losing the front after being fastest in both the time splits.

It’s Haga’s first pole of this season and it was majectical. He was fastest in both time splits around the track and saw himself half a second up through the second. However, he lost almost all of his advantage in the final sector, and squeaked home just a tenth in front.

Strilgarda’s Max Biaggo made the early running, setting a 1’39.606 but he was deposed by the second of the Checa brothers, David, who went more than half a second quicker and was the first man to dip under the 1’40s mark.

Nieto’s team-mate Max Neukirchner then grabbed fastest time despite a major out-of-the-seat moment halfway round his lap and held onto the number one spot until Rolfo rolled down pitlane.
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