CRUTCHLOW TAKES SIXTH POLE

YAMAHA Sterilgarda World Superbike rider Cal Crutchlow wrapped up his final Superpole in World Superbike in style, taking his sixth pole position start of the year at Magny Cours, lapping under Ben Spies' 2009 pole record in the process.

Having set the fastest time of the Superpole sessions, Crutchlow stayed out for a further three laps on his qualifier tyre, shadowing rival Max Biaggi to ensure the Italian rider did not get away and take a faster time.

The previous pole record of 1m 37.709s was set by 2009 World Superbike Champion Ben Spies on the Sterilgarda Yamaha R1 last year.

Crutchlow's fastest time was a 1m 37.699s. Crutchlow's team mate James Toseland started Superpole well, making it through the first session in tenth using a race tyre before switching to the qualifiers for the second heat. Unfortunately the British rider's front tyre was unable to match the grip offered by the super sticky rear, leaving him unable to break into the top eight for the final session. As a result Toseland will start from fifteenth on the grid for tomorrow's two races at the Magny Cours circuit.

"It's nice to be going in to my last Superbike race before I head off to MotoGP with a pole position," said Crutchlow. "It's a good reward for Yamaha they've put their trust and faith in me for the next two years so it's good to deliver for them. I want to make it two race wins tomorrow for sure. It's taken a while to find race pace this weekend, maybe we've found something in the Superpole, we'll see tomorrow and I'm hoping for two good races. I sat behind Max, if he tried to go and take pole away I was going to try and get ahead of him into one of the hairpins and go faster."