Laverty fifth as Sofuoglu takes pole

By Burning Rubber on Feb 28, 09 01:52 PM

World Supersport Qualifying, Phillip Island.

Eugene Laverty heads the second row for Sunday's World Supersport race while Kenan Sofuoglu has taken pole in Australia.

The 2007 champ smashed the circuit record with a blistering lap of 1.34:320min, putting the 24-year-old at the top of the timesheets and giving him his seventh career pole.

Laverty meanwhile ended the session in an impressive fifth, just one place behind fellow Brit Cal Crutchlow.

And Laverty, whose team-mate Miguel Praia will start in 14th spot, believes he could have ended up third had it not been for a tiny slip-up during his hotlap.

"On my fast lap I was on for third but ran off-line at the hairpin and ended up fifth; I am happy enough with that, heading the second row is a good place to be," he said.

"Overnight we changed the gearing and that was a big improvement on my Parkalgar Honda. We also tried a new setting on my rear shock that helped.

"My riding is right on the pace and I am as consistent as anyone for the race - posting the same lap times as second place Lascorz on race rubber.

"My launch control is working well and the plan is to get away with the lead group and see what happens. It would be nice to step onto the podium but the top five or six and I'll be happy."

Eugene's race kicks-off tomorrow morning at CET 03:25 and will be broadcast live on British Eurosport - so get stocked-up with the strong coffee or at the very least make sure you set the box to record!

Full Qualifying times:

1 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1'34.320
2 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'34.689
3 1 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'34.786
4 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1'34.875
5 50 Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 1'34.962
6 99 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'35.063
7 51 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'35.086
8 24 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 1'35.187
9 8 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'35.263
10 77 Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 1'35.401
11 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 1'35.466
12 13 West A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'35.585
13 69 Nannelli G. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 1'35.644
14 117 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 1'35.680
15 14 Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1'35.795
16 21 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'35.862
17 105 Vizziello G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'35.871
18 55 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'36.028
19 5 Pradita T. (INA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'36.341
20 96 Smrz M. (CZE) Triumph Daytona 675 1'36.350
21 83 Holland R. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'36.379
22 19 Szkopek P. (POL) Triumph Daytona 675 1'36.546
23 7 Vostárek P. (CZE) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.021
24 9 Dell'Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.075
25 30 Günther J. (GER) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.170
26 28 Vos A. (NED) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.344
27 32 Lai F. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.719
28 78 Geronimi S. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R600 1'38.590
29 71 Morillas J. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 1'38.638
30 88 Guerra Y. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 1'38.977