Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) ended up on the top slot in Friday’s World Superbike qualifying session at Silverstone with a time of 1:36.024 seconds, half-a-second quicker than Cal Crutchlow’s lap record set during last year’s race.

Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) went head-to-head with Checa for much of the session, but any last-minute attempt by the Italian to oust his rival from the top was thwarted by a crash by Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad) four minutes from the end that interrupted proceedings.

In the crash Corser suffered a bang on his head and was taken to the medical centre for checks but the Australian should be okay for tomorrow.

The session was completed a short time afterwards, with Corser ending up fifth fastest at a circuit where he holds the qualifying record.

Two more Italians are behind Biaggi, Marco Melandri (Yamaha World Superbike Team) and Michel Fabrizio (Alstare Suzuki), with Melandri’s teammate Eugene Laverty completing the top six.

Jakub Smrz (Effenbert–Liberty Racing Ducati) pushed his way to seventh on his big twin, one place up on the Aprilia Pata machine of Noriyuki Haga. Sylvain Guintoli, Smrz’ teammate went ninth, with the top 10 being rounded out by Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike), with six different manufacturers represented in the top ten places.

Top Honda rider was Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) in 12th, while comeback kid Chris Vermeulen (Kawasaki Racing Team) finished his first day at Misano in 22nd place.

In a close qualifying session the top 21 riders were within 1.5 seconds of the top spot. Final qualifying and the Tissot Superpole contest take place on Saturday 11th June.

Pedercini Kawasaki’s Mark Aitchison was 21st, with factory Kawasaki rider Chris Vermeulen 22nd on his return to the series.

In World Supersport, Sam Lowes made a clear impression on the rest of the field at the Misano World Circuit as the Parkalgar Honda man went quickest in the first qualifying session.

Lowes’ time of 1:39.618 seconds was good enough to take the provisional pole away from points leader (equal with Luca Scassa) and Yamaha ParkinGO’s Chaz Davies.

Two Kawasaki Motocard.com machines were next up with David Salom and Broc Parkes in third and fourth, while former champion Fabien Foret (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was fifth. Mitch Pirotta was 33rd.

In the Superstock 1000 class, Australian Superbike Champion Bryan Staring was 11th for Pedercini Kawasaki, while Beau Beaton was 22nd on his BMW

The Superstock 600 ranks saw Australia’s Jed Metcher off to a solid start for the weekend, fifth during Friday’s proceedings.

2011 Superbike World Championship
Round Six – Misano, Italy

Friday Qualifying:
1. Carlos CHECA, 1:36.024
2. Max BIAGGI, 1:36.149
3. Marco MELANDRI, 1:36.482
4. Michel FABRIZIO, 1:36.546
5. Troy CORSER, 1:36.656
6. Eugene LAVERTY, 1:36.683
7. Jakub SMRZ, 1:36.713
8. Noriyuki HAGA, 1:36.728
9. Sylvain GUINTOLI, 1:36.753
10. Tom SYKES, 1:36.793
11. Leon HASLAM, 1:36.810
12. Jonathan REA, 1:36.824
13. Leon CAMIER, 1:36.984
14. Ayrton BADOVINI, 1:37.059
15. Matteo BAIOCCO, 1:37.073
16. Joan LASCORZ, 1:37.080
17. Ruben XAUS, 1:37.093
18. Alessandro POLITA, 1:37.290
19. Roberto ROLFO, 1:37.412
20. Maxime BERGER, 1:37.432
21. Mark AITCHISON, 1:37.433
22. Chris VERMEULEN, 1:37.754
23. Lorenzo LANZI, 1:38.003