KAGAYAMA 3RD ON ASSEN SUPERBIKE FIRST DAY

Team Suzuki Alstare Brux rider Yukio Kagayama ended the first day of practice and qualifying for the fourth round of the World Superbike Championship at Assen in Holland with the third quickest time of the day and is hoping to consolidate that position tomorrow and be ready to challenge for a podium on Sunday.

His team mate Max Neukirchner finished seventh fastest today, but is confident of further improvement tomorrow.

American Ben Spies (Yamaha) was the fastest rider today, with Jakob Smrz (Ducati) second and Carlos Checa (Honda) fourth.

Yukio Kagayama - 3rd, 1:39.128:

"I am quite happy to finish today third, but my aim is to still be third or higher after qualifying and Superpole and then challenge for a podium on race day. This is something that I will try very hard to do because I do not want to be low down the grid and have to fight to get through the field at the start of the race.

"Today the grip level was not so good in the morning, but it was better in the afternoon; maybe because more rubber was down on the track. We need to do some more work on improving the engine braking and try and reduce the chattering at the rear end, but we have some ideas and we will try them out tomorrow."

Max Neukirchner - 7th, 1:39.265:

"Today was not so bad and I am quite happy with what we did. I got into a good, quick rhythm this morning and put in quite a few good laps. The grip was better in the afternoon for sure; probably because more rubber was down and it was a good session for us. Tomorrow we will continue working on the set-up and deciding which tyres to use for the races. It's important to find a tyre that has good grip and lasts ok and that's what we try and sort out the best way."

Friday WSB Qualifying: 1 Spies (USA-Yamaha) 1:38.747, 2 Smrz (CZ-Ducati) 1:39.055, 3 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare Brux) 1:39.128, 4 Checa (E-Honda) 1:39.141, 5 Fabrizio (I-Ducati) 1:39.238, 6 Laconi (F-Ducati) 1:39.246, 7 Max Neukirchner (D-Suzuki Alstare Brux) 1:39.265.