Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Hodgson snatches last minute provisional pole

Neil Hodgson grabbed provisional pole from Troy Bayliss as the pair tussled for supremacy in the last minutes of final qualifying at Lausitzring.

On a track that had finally began to develop a real dry line, the pair toppled Ben Bostrom who had dominated the final half of the session. Bayliss and Hodgson swapped places at the top of the timesheet on a lap by lap basis as they found more and more grip on the drying track. In the last minute six riders posted the lead lap time.

As the session came to an end it was Hodgson who pushed hardest and put in an awesome lap at 1:41.274 compared to Bayliss’ 1:41.411. Edwards then snatched third from Bostrom by lapping at 1:41.595. Bostrom ended the session in fourth at 1:41.945. Ruben Xaus took fifth.


Saturday World Superbike Qualifying Times:
1. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 998F01, 1:41.274
2. Troy Bayliss, Ducati 998F02, 1:41.411
3. Colin Edwards, Honda RC51, 1:41.595
4. Ben Bostrom, Ducati 998F02, 1:41.945
5. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 998F02, 1:42.310
6. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:42.545
7. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, 1:42.764
8. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, 1:42.914
9. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, 1:42.914
10. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia RSV1000, 1:42.939
11. Chris Walker, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:43.094
12. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, 1:43.282
13. James Toseland, Ducati F01, 1:43.315
14. Broc Parkes, Ducati 998RS, 1:43.711
15. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, 1:43.732
16. Alex Hofmann, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:44.559
17. Peter Goddard, Benelli Tornado 900, 1:44.829
18. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:45.034
19. Mark Heckles, Honda RC51, 1:45.113
20. Alessandro Antonello, Ductai 998RS, 1:45.185