By Glenn LeSanto
The World Supersport championship is back in Europe on the modified Monza circuit, near Milan in Italy. After heavy overnight rain the clouds cleared and the sun shone down on the historic venue, described by the Monza circuit manager Enrico Ferrari as the “cathedral of motor cycling.”

Frenchman Fabien Foret showed the rest of the field the way through Monza’s new chicanes, setting a time of 1:54.260, nearly half-a-second faster than his Ten Kate Honda teammate and Championship leader Pere Riba. Vitto Guareschi, riding for the British based Dienza Ducati Racing team, was third fastest at 1:54.988. Belgarda Yamaha riders Paolo Casoli and James Whitham made up the top five. Current runner-up in series points, Kevin Curtain, crashed early in the session. Although he was unhurt, he ran out of time and didn’t rejoin the session and ended the session 21st-fastest.

World Supersport World Championship.
Monza, Italy
First Qualifying, session times

1. Fabien Foret, France, Honda, 1:54.260
2. Pere Riba, Spain, Honda, 1:54.676
3. Vitto Guareschi, Italy, Ducati, 1:54.988
4. Paolo Casoli, Italy, Yamaha, 1:55.137
5. Jamie Whitham, Great Britain, Yamaha, 1:55.175
6. Corradi, Italy, Yamaha, 1:55.298
7. Bontempi, Italy, Yamaha, 1:55.590
8. Pitt, Australia, Kawasaki, 1:55.711
9. Cogan, France, Yamaha, 1:55.734
10. Iannuzzo, Italy, Suzuki, 1:55.747