Carlos Checa and Tom Sykes have proved to be the danger men after today's opening World Superbike qualifying session which could well prove to be in the high 1'38s bracket tomorrow.
The pair are the most consistent in terms of laptimes with Checa doing eight laps in the 1'39s bracket and two in the 1'38s in 18 laps. Sykes has six in the 1'39s but three in the 1'38s and two of those were late on in his total of 19 laps.
Marco Melandri, who is riding with ribs that are taped up in order to lessen the discomfort of the ribs he broke at Portimao, put in three laps in the 1'39s and two in the 1'38s in a total of 16.
Series leader Max Biaggi was unable to break the 1'39s barrier, doing six in that bracket from a total of 20. Sylvain Guintoli did one more lap in the 1'39s than Biaggi from the same total, so he is a threat also. Eugene Laverty was also fast in the 1'39s, putting in eight as did Leon Haslam from a total of 16.
