Chaz Davies took pole position for round four of the World Supersport Championship at Monza, giving him a great opportunity to take the championship lead.
The Yamaha ParkinGO rider set a lap of 1:47.809 to lead fellow Briton Sam Lowes, who put the accident at Assen firmly behind him.
Broc Parkes will start alongside in third, but the Australian was thankful for a long stoppage after sliding off the circuit after running over oil.
“I feel happy with where we ended up and we always aim to get on the front row”, he said. “I had a bit of an off today on someone else's oil on the track and we were pretty lucky that we had enough time to fix the bike while they were cleaning the oil spill on the track. I was happy on a soft tyre at the end and I made such a big jump using it that maybe we need to sit down and look at that. A good start is needed tomorrow and I think there will be a big group of us. There may be a big freight train tomorrow and as long as nobody gets a break up front it may be a very interesting race!”
After making a mistake in first qualifying on Friday, Fabien Foret made a big step forward to complete the front row for Hannspree Ten Kate Honda. The Frenchman feels he is well placed to challenge for victory.
“I am much happier than I was yesterday, but I was pretty sure then that we had something for the front row – I just ran out of time. As long as I can get away well here, then I'm sure we can be near the front when it's important. I like this place, and the bike and the team are working really well so I'm looking forward to fine-tuning things a little bit in warm-up tomorrow and seeing what we can do in the race.”
Roberto Tamburini is fifth on the grid while current series leader Luca Scassa will start his home race from sixth, and will renew hostilities with Florian Marino, the rider who he collided with at Assen.
The teenager bemoaned traffic which cost him the chance of getting on the front row, but he is hopeful he can make that up in the race.
“I am very happy because we found a good way forward today, especially to improve the bike under braking. I'm also happy because I rode by myself and the lap times were coming quite easily which gives me more confidence for the race tomorrow. When I tried to go for a faster time to put me up a little higher, I came across some slower riders which meant I could not get on the front row. But I think that if I can get away with the leading group tomorrow then I can challenge at the front again like at Assen.”
James Ellison will start in eighth place for Bogdanka PTR Honda while Gino Rea completed an excellent qualifying session for the Brits in ninth.
