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Magny-Cours specialist Noriyuki Haga will begin the penultimate round of the World Superbike Championship from the head of the grid after taking Superpole.

The Yamaha rider, who won both races at the French circuit last year, came out last on to the track to set a lap record time of one minute 38.444 seconds - 0.06secs faster than James Toseland's record from 2007.

It is the first Superpole of the season for Haga, who nonetheless has recorded double wins at Nurburgring and last time out at Vallelunga.

Meanwhile Troy Bayliss will begin his attempt at being crowned World Superbikes champion from third on the grid after being beaten to second place by the Spaniard Fonsi Nieto.

Bayliss, who remains 79 points clear of nearest rival Troy Corser with only 100 points still to be claimed, looked set to top the grid before a mistake at the final chicane cost him his place.

Following the costly mistakes, the 39-year-old Xerox Ducati rider admitted he would have to play it safe in tomorrow's races to finally get his hands on his last title before he retires at the end of the season.

"I'm pretty happy with how the day has been, the weather has finally come good, and I'm happy to be on the front row," he told Worldsbk.com.

"My second split was not quite right and in the last chicane I didn't do a great job and missed out on the fastest time.

"I know I'm going to have to rein myself in tomorrow but I'm looking forward to a good race."

Completing the front row is Carlos Checa, while Roberto Rolfo capped off a fine weekend to take fifth place.

He was followed by Germany's Max Neukirchner, who ruined any chance of a front-row place when he lost precious tenths during the second sector.

Carlos Checa's brother David took seventh ahead of Max Biaggi in eighth, while Michel Fabrizio and Lorenzo Lanzi - who won on this course three years ago - round out the top 10.

Corser, meanwhile, will start from 12th after a slip into the gravel trap cost him a higher position.

Watch live coverage from Magny Cours on your PC via the Eurosport player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe. Or watch the action on British Eurosport - available in the UK on Sky channel 410 and Virgin Media channel 521 or British Eurosport 2 - available on Sky 411 and Virgin Media 525

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