Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) snatched the top slot in the first qualifying session at Monza’s round of World Superbike from local hero and double 2010 race winner Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia).

Haslam put in a superhuman effort on his last flying lap around Monza to take the provisional pole slot with a time of 1:42.934 seconds.

The gap between the two was just 0.019 seconds in favour of Haslam.

“It was a very good day, and, of course, you are always happy when you are on top,” Haslam said. “I feel we have made a big step forward from Assen.

“The biggest thing I am happy with is that I feel overall we have made a step forward with the bike with the way it is working. Now I am looking forward to tomorrow.

“We have a few areas where we need to progress, but we are a lot more consistent and I am really happy.”

Third fastest time went to Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike Team) who got the better of an impressive Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team), the 2010 Superstock 1000 champion entirely in tune with the Monza track on his privateer machine.

Jonathan Rea followed up his strong morning form with fifth slot for Castrol Honda, while Noriyuki Haga did a good job for the PATA Racing Team Aprilia to get in front of Marco Melandri (Yamaha World Superbike Team).

Championship leader Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) for the moment is still off the pace of the frontrunners and is languishing down in 14th place.

Troy Corser, Haslam’s teammate, took his BMW to eighth place, while a man in his rookie season, Maxime Berger, was fastest Ducati rider on show on day one, in ninth place for the Supersonic Racing Team, only 0.745 seconds away from leader Haslam.

Leon Camier rounded out the top ten on his Aprilia Alitalia vee-four. The top 13 riders were within the same second after the first qualifying session.

In World Supersport Chaz Davies and Luca Scassa (Yamaha ParkinGO) dominated the first WSS qualifying session today, the Welshman getting the better of his Italian teammate with a time of 1:48.408 seconds.

The two Yamaha men, who have had three out of three wins so far this year, headed up two Hondas CBR600RRs, the Step Racing version of Gino Rea and Florian Marino on the Hannspree Ten Kate machine.

Broc Parkes was next up for the Kawasaki Motocard.com team in fifth with Roberto Tamburini (Bike Service Racing Team Yamaha) rounding out the top six.

Sam Lowes (Parkalgar Honda) was an impressive seventh despite still recovering from a broken collarbone suffered at Assen in the previous round.

The Superstock 1000 category saw Lorenzo Zanetti follow up his win in last weekend’s Italian domestic championship counter with provisional pole position for the BMW Motorrad Italia Superstock Team.

Australian Bryan Staring was sixth for Pedercini Kawasaki.

Young Aussie Matt Davies was quickest in the first free practice session for the second round of the European Junior Cup, all riders on identical Kawasaki Ninja 250R machines.

2011 Superbike World Championship
Round Four – Monza, Italy

Friday Qualifying:
1. Leon HASLAM, 1:42.934
2. Max BIAGGI, 1:42.953
3. Eugene LAVERTY, 1:43.265
4. Ayrton BADOVINI, 1:43.276
5. Jonathan REA, 1:43.321
6. Noriyuki HAGA, 1:43.531
7. Marco MELANDRI, 1:43.588
8. Troy CORSER, 1:43.640
9. Maxime BERGER, 1:43.679
10. Leon CAMIER, 1:43.730
11. Michel FABRIZIO, 1:43.762
12. Tom SYKES, 1:43.850
13. Sylvain GUINTOLI, 1:43.861
14. Carlos CHECA, 1:44.071
15. Joan LASCORZ, 1:44.095
16. Ruben XAUS, 1:44.232
17. Jakub SMRZ, 1:44.401
18. Roberto ROLFO, 1:44.922
19. James TOSELAND, 1:44.989
20. Mark AITCHISON, 1:45.356
21. Fabrizio LAI, 1:46.964