Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) pulled out all the stops at the end of first World Superbike qualifying at the Nürburgring, the Italian setting the quickest time of 1:55.524 seconds to take the overnight pole.

The reigning champion was sitting in second position, behind points leader Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) for most of the session, but played his winning card right at the end to take the provisional pole by 0.149 seconds.

Third quickest time, but just a fraction behind, was another championship challenger, Marco Melandri (Yamaha World Superbike Team), ahead of Michel Fabrizio (Suzuki Alstare), who crashed at the start of the session.

Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike Team) notched up the fifth quickest time from Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli (Effenbert – Liberty Racing), while Jonathan Rea eased back into competitive action after recent injury with seventh place for Castrol Honda.

Impressive privateer Maxime Berger (Supersonic Racing Team) posted a top eight time on his big vee-twin, with top Kawasaki qualifier to date Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike) ninth and his countryman Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) rounding out the opening day top 10.

Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Racing Team) powered his way to 11th in his first Superbike visit to Germany, with Guintoli’s team-mate Jakub Smrz (Effenbert Liberty Ducati) 12th. Japanese rider Makoto Tamada (Castrol Honda) stood in for the injured Ruben Xaus and was the final rider classified.

Parkalgar Honda’s Sam Lowes powered to the top of the timesheets after the first World Supersport qualifying session with the time of 1:59.771 seconds. Lowes, the only rider to dip under the two minute mark, was quickest ahead of points leader and fellow Brit Chaz Davies (Yamaha ParkinGO).

Spain’s David Salom (Kawasaki Motocard.com) was up at the front for much of the session, and finished third while his Motocard.com teammate Broc Parkes was in sixth.

Click here for detailed results