Marco Melandri fastest in QP1 SBK at Motorland Aragón

Rider Marco Melandri is the provisional poleman for the Superbike World Championship at the Motorland Aragón Circuit, where the eighth round of the season will be contested this weekend. There was plenty of excitement in the first qualifying practice, tomorrow will see QP2, and finally the battle for the Superpole among the best riders.

Melandri was the fastest, beating Max Biaggi, who had held the top position for many minutes. This first day of action was very much an Italian affair, with Melandri 1st with a lap time of 1:58.608, while Biaggi finished just over three tenths behind the leader. Furthermore, the #3 crashed in the final minutes of the session and was unable to continue riding. Closing out the top positions were Tom Sykes in 3rd, Eugene Laverty in 4th and Leon Haslam in 5th.

For his part, the top ten positions went to Badovini in 6th, Fabrizio in 7th, Davies in 8th, Camier in 9th and Checa in 10th. Our #7 did not push from the start; today was run in very hot conditions, and it’s a matter of taking things step by step, corner by corner. The other Spanish rider, David Salom, suffered a crash that left him unable to do much in this second official practice session. It is undoubtedly difficult, but he will fight on, and he has shown it by getting back out on track to give his all in the final moments of the official session.

For now, only Melandri and Biaggi have managed to lap in 1:58 at Motorland Aragón, but times are approaching the figures that were once thought possible. Now we have to wait and see QP2 and who will advance from here to the Superpole.

Photo | PlusMoto.com