Australia’s dual Superbike World Champion Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) posted a brilliant 1:35.001 seconds to take the new track best lap and BMW’s first ever Superpole win at Misano in Italy on Saturday.

In doing so he extended his own record of pole wins in WSBK racing to 43 and he did it in some style, finishing half a second clear of his nearest rival.

“I’m very happy with what we did today, it’s been a long time since I was on pole, but the team has put in a lot of work since Miller and this is a really good result,” Corser beamed. “I am happy with the set-up of the bike, it’s easier to ride and it has a more balanced position.

“It was very hot this afternoon and the surface was a bit more slippery but it is the same for everybody. If we get a good start tomorrow I will go from the front and see what happens.”

Second on the grid for Sunday’s races will be championship leader Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) who was surprised and delighted to be so far forward at a circuit like Misano.

Third went to Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) and fourth to the charging Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda). BMW, Aprilia, Ducati and Yamaha machines share the front row places, after the usual close competition for grid places in a class with seven competing manufacturers.

Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) was not able to get into contention with Corser and Biaggi in the final Superpole contest and went fifth, but Sylvain Guintoli overcame the result of an earlier qualifying collision with Corser to put his Alstare Suzuki sixth on the grid.

Leon Haslam, second in the championship, took his Alstare Suzuki machine to seventh place in a tough Superpole for man and machine.

Luca Scassa (Supersonic Racing Ducati) put in another great performance for a privateer rider as he posted a top eight time; he now starts Sunday’s races as last man on row two.

Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox) battled hard to go ninth, just missing the final Superpole knockout session; Pata B&G Ducati privateer Jakub Smrz was tenth.

James Toseland (Yamaha Sterilgarda) struggled in qualifying and Superpole and thus went 13th fastest, joined by fellow British riders Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia), Shane Byrne (Althea Ducati) and Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda).

Once again Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) was top Kawasaki rider, 18th, while his team-mate Chris Vermeulen was 21st fastest.

Michele Pirro (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) set a new Supersport track best at the very end of the final qualifying session to take pole position at Misano, his 1:38.444 seconds proving to be not just unbeatable but also very well timed.

Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) had to settle for second on the grid, with local wildcard rider Roberto Tamburini (Bike Service Yamaha) an impressive third.

Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Motocard.com) earned a top four place, with Gino Rea (Intermoto Czech Honda) a positive fifth, one place up on series points leader, Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda). Welshman Chaz Davies (ParkinGo Triumph BE-1) made it onto the second row behind Sofuoglu, but one place ahead of Massimo Roccoli (Intermoto Czech Honda).

A new Superstock 1000 track best of 1:39.190 seconds put Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia STK) firmly into pole position in Superstock 1000 making this his fourth pole start of the current campaign.

Lorenzo Baroni (Ducati Pata B&G) was second on his big vee-twin and Maxime Berger (Team Ten Kate Junior) proved to be top Honda rider in third place.

Andrea Antonelli (Team Lorini Honda) finished in the top four, as Michele Magnoni (Team Shiner Honda) earned a fifth place grid spot. Eddi La Marra (Team Lorini Honda) went sixth fastest, and was one of seven Italian riders in the top eight places.

In Superstock 600, Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Racing Yamaha) set a new lap record on lap eight as he chased down long-time leader Florian Marino (Ten Kate Honda Junior) then improved the lap record again on lap nine, eventually taking the lead in the final few corners and winning by 0.577 seconds.

Spain’s Nacho Calero Perez (Orelac Racing Yamaha) was a clear third, but behind him a four-rider fight eventually saw Davide Fanelli (All Service System by QDP Honda) hold off his rivals in a thrilling fashion and take fourth place.

In the championship, Guarnoni now has 111 points, with Marino on 86 after five rounds.