Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Max Biaggi will start from the second row of the grid at tomorrow's third round of the Superbike World Championship at Donington Park as team mate Yukio Kagayama has been ruled unfit to ride.

Biaggi had struggled a little in qualifying, but then put in a blistering lap of 1:32.182 in the afternoon practice, over two seconds quicker than his previous best time! He then followed that by going even faster in Superpole, but many of his rivals also went quicker and Biaggi finished seventh.

Kagayama underwent a further examination this morning before practice and, although he was eager to race, the medics declared him 'unfit' and so he took no part in today's proceedings.

Troy Bayliss (Ducati) took Superpole with a lap of 1:30.370, nearly a second quicker then his nearest rival Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha). Third quickest is Regis Laconi (Kawasaki) with James Toseland (Honda) completing the front row of the grid.

Max Biaggi - 7th, 1:31.689:

"I was happier after my performance in the untimed session this afternoon, but I knew Superpole would be hard. I managed to go a bit faster on my Superpole lap, but so did some other riders and so I ended seventh. But the second row of the grid is not so bad, especially if I can make my usual good start. There are two very long races tomorrow and anything can happen, so we'll just have to see how it goes. I'll be aiming for two good starts and two good results - hopefully podiums."

Yukio Kagayama - (non-starter):

"I wanted to race today but the doctors said 'no!'  This morning my back was a bit sore but that was all. I could remember everything form yesterday, no problem. But if the doctors tell you not to race, that is that!  Now I'm looking forward to the next race at Valencia and putting these disasters behind me."

Final WSB Qualifying: 1 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:30.370, 2 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:31.084, 3 Laconi (F-Kawasaki) 1:31.377, 4 Toseland (GB-Honda) 1:31.399, 5 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 1:31.504, 6 Xaus (E-Ducati) 1:31.686, 7 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:31.689, 8 Corser (Aus-Yamaha) 1:31.132, 9 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda) 1:32.077, 10 Nieto (E-Kawasaki) 1:32.178.

SUPERSTOCK 1000:

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Xavier Simeon suffered severe tyre problems today and could only manage the 19th fastest time in qualifying.

In final qualifying his rear tyre started moving on the rim and that caused the bike to be unbalanced and suffer a lot of vibration and ended with a best lap of 1:36.613, two seconds slower then pole-setter Michele Pirro (Yamaha).

Xavier Simeon - 19th, 1:36.613:

"This is not the way I wanted to start my debut in this class at all! I am very disappointed with what happened today and I have to get myself into a positive frame of mind for tomorrow. I know that the fifth row of the grid is a long way from the front and that I am going to need the best start of my life if I am to have any chance at all of catching the leaders. There's going to be a lot of traffic to get through and that's the kind of thing that wears tyres out more quickly. But I want to do the best I can and see what happens. I cannot say what position I will be in at the end, but I'd like to think I could be in the top ten at the least."

Final Superstock 1000 Qualifying: 1 Pirro (I-Yamaha) 1:34.690, 2 Canepa (I-Ducati) 1:35.035, 3 Van Keymeulen (NL-Yamaha) 1:35.193, 4 Badovini (I-MV) 1:35.302, 5 Corti (I-Yamaha) 1:35.368, 6 Dello'Omo (I-MV) 1:35.475. 19 Xavier Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:36.613.