FIM Supersport World Championship
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
Imola, Italy
May 13, 2017
Superpole Qualifying Results (all on Pirelli tires):
From Superpole Session Two:
1. PJ JACOBSEN, USA (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:51.611
2. Lucas MAHIAS, France (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.723
3. Christian GAMARINO, Italy (Hon CBR600RR), 1:51.795
4. Federico CARICASULO, Italy (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.843
5. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:52.006
6. Sheridan MORAIS, South Africa (Yam YZF-R6), 1:52.050
7. Kyle SMITH, UK (Hon CBR600RR), 1:52.125
8. Jules CLUZEL, France (Hon CBR600RR), 1:52.180
9. Kyle RYDE, UK (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:52.502
10. Hikari OKUBO, Japan (Hon CBR600RR), 1:52.594
11. L. CRESSON, Belgium (Yam YZF-R6), 1:52.637
12. Alessandro ZACCONE, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:52.803, crash
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Sofuoglu On Second Row After Imola Superpole
A fifth place finish for Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in the second Superpole qualifying session for the WorldSSP riders at Imola sees him start the 17 lap race on Sunday from the second row. Kyle Ryde, his young British team-mate was ninth in Superpole.
Turkish superstar Sofuoglu made a less than perfect tyre choice for his Superpole run, which was the main factor in taking a rare second row starting position, rather than commencing a race from the front row as he usually does. He had been fastest in the combined qualifying times before Superpole started this afternoon.
Kenan may not have been able to increase his record tally of 31 Superpole wins at this level today, but he feels he will have good race pace to go for what would be his 40th career race win in WorldSSP.
Despite falling hard in FP3, Ryde ignored his painful right shoulder and elbow in Superpole 1 to qualify for Superpole 2, and then take a third row grid spot. He would have been even better placed but for losing his very best lap time after inadvertently running out of the bounds of the track in one corner. Kyle was still the second fastest Kawasaki rider today.
Kenan Sofuoglu, stated: “I am disappointed with that Superpole session as I was in some confusion about which tyre to use and I think I made the wrong choice for qualifying. But the most important thing is the race tomorrow. I will look, with the team, at what we can do for the race because I think we still need to improve some things on the settings. It will be an interesting race and of course my motivation will be higher than today. For sure I will try to win the race again.”
Kyle Ryde, stated: “I got through to Superpole 2 and at the time I thought that’s it, day done – I was happy at that. Then Kenan said to me as we went out again to follow him. I did two laps behind him, one of which would have put me sixth on the grid – but I ran out of track and over the kerb. They cut that lap time so luckily I got another lap, in and I was finally ninth. I know I could have been on the second row so now I need to get a start like did at Assen, when I was fourth on the first lap, and I should be there or thereabouts.”
ESS rider Rob Hartog (Team Hartog Jenik Against Cancer Kawasaki) placed 15th, Gino Rea (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) 19th. Kazuki Watanabe (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) was 21st and Michael Canducci (3570 Puccetti Racing FMI Kawasaki) slotted in 22nd on the grid at his home round.
Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) was 25th and Nacho Calero (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) 27th. Lachlan Epis (Response RE Racing Kawasaki) finished up Saturday 30th from 36 riders on the grid.
More, from a press release issued by MV Agusta:
SOLID RESULT FOR MV AGUSTA REPARTO CORSE ON SATURDAY AT IMOLA
Another full sunny day welcomed the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship this saturday in Imola, with Leon Camier starting 4th on the grid and finishing 6th in a red-flagged WorldSBK Race1. Outstanding performance by PJ Jacobsen, who got his third seasonal pole position in the WorldSSP Tissot-Superpole2.
WorldSBK – Fp3, SP2, Race1
Camier, who here at Imola has continued his work on the new swingarm, gets a great 5th lap time in the FP3 session early this morning, showing off an excellent pace, second only to that of the first two Ducati and Kawasaki. The Ashford Kent (UK) rider then set the 4th time (1’46.434) in the Tissot-Superpole2, securing the 2nd row in Race 1 grid.
At the start of the WorldSBK race, Camier loses some position but he is able to stay close to the front group and, after a long battle with Eugene Laverty, he can finally pass the Irish rider by taking the top 6 position. The race will be declared red-flagged at six laps from the end due to a crash between Laverty and Lowes, with Camier ending up 6th and stepping up to the 8th place in the Championship Standings. Under the new rules, Camier will kick off Race2 tomorrow from the 3rd place on the grid.
WorldSSP – FP3, SP2
After securing the 3rd time in the early morning FP3, Patrick Jacobsen was the fastest rider in the Tissot-Superpole2 heat, with the American rider going to take his third pole in only five rounds. Bad luck for his teammate Alessandro Zaccone, who got the 12th position after being forced to retire from the Tissot-Superpole2 due to a crash after a few laps.
Leon Camier #2 WorldSBK – Definitely a good race and a great qualifying session. I am very happy with this result, especially because the bike worked really well for all the weekend so far. Maybe the weather will change a bit tomorrow and we have to work again on the bike’s setting; also we need to be stronger at the beginning of the race. I love this track, people here are amazing and I really look forward to another big race tomorrow.
Patrick “PJ” Jacobsen #99 WorldSSP – I am absolutely happy with my result today because this is an home race for MV Agusta and I really wanted this pole position, for my team and myself. The race tomorrow will be tough but I feel I can still improve my pace and I will be do my best to achieve the best result for all the MV Agusta fans.
Alessandro Zaccone #61 ESS – Definitely too bad crashing in qualifying session. We are improving day by day here at Imola and this means that we finally found the right direction with the setting of the bike. I start having fun and I feel I can ride my bike the way I like the most. Now we have to settle back for tomorrow’s race and hopefully we could achieve our best result here in Imola.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:
WorldSSP: Jacobsen charges to third pole of 2017
American to head grid for Sunday’s WorldSSP race in Italy, in front of Mahias and Gamarino on front row
In excellent weather conditions at the Motul Italian Round on Saturday PJ Jacobsen took pole for the fifth race of the season with a 1’51.611 lap around the 4.936km Imola track. He will be joined on the front row on Sunday by Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) and top Italian qualifier Christian Gamarino (BARDAHL EVAN BROS. Honda Racing).
At his team’s home Round MV Agusta Reparto Corse rider Jacobsen registered his third pole of 2017 and he will strive to record his first race win of the season in Sunday’s 17 lap race.
Championship leader Mahias was delighted to finish in second place in the Tissot Superpole 2 session and celebrated with a big ‘endo’, whilst Gamarino will be pleased to line up on the front row for his home race.
Taking their places on the second row will be another Italian Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team), Turkey’s WorldSSP champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and South African rider Sheridan Morais (Kallio Racing).
Two Brits in seventh and ninth respectively, meanwhile, Kyle Smith (GEMAR Team Lorini) and Kyle Ryde (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), sandwich eighth placed
Frenchman Jules Cluzel (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) on row three.
The fourth row is set to feature Japanese rider Hikari Okubo (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda), Belgian Loris Cresson (SC Racing-RPM84) and Alessandro Zaccone (MV Agusta Reparto Corse).
Zaccone was taken to the medical centre for a check-up after crashing towards the end of SP2. Ryde and Cresson were the two riders to have made it through from SP1.
The WorldSSP riders will race at 11am local time on Sunday at Imola in front of the Italian fans.
Pole Position – PJ Jacobsen (MV Agusta Reparto Corse)
“It would be great to get the win but I’m not putting myself under too much pressure, getting on the podium is the next target tomorrow, but tyre wear and consistency will play a huge part of our race tomorrow. If we can get a good start off the line I think we can put up a good fight.”
More, from a press release issued by Kallio Racing:
Morais ready to attack in Imola
The first day on track at Imola, Italy for the World Supersport World Championship was good for Kallio Racing and its riders. Especially Sheridan Morais has the speed with his Yamaha R6 and he’s ready for the race.
“We started off strong and kept on making small improvements throughout our two hours of track time. By the end of the day we had a strong race pace and I’m happy with that. Good first day on the bike for me and the team”, Morais said.
Niki Tuuli has had a small problem with riding, but he still felt good after the first day.
“I feel quite good with the bike and I just try relax a bit. I feel confident for the race”, Tuuli said.
Team Manager Vesa Kallio is happy how things are going with the team.
“Sheridan is riding really good at the moment. We’ve been working hard with the setups of the bike and improving all the time. We have to work hard and I hope Niki can find his smoothness and can get a great race as well”, Kallio said.
In the smaller 300 class riders are getting better and better every race and both Kimi Patova and Renzo Ferreira are looking forward for the race on Sunday.
“I just love the track, it amazing. I feel really good and I will try my hardest to get the good position on Sunday”, Patova said.
Ferreira took the time to learn the track and is reaching the top 15 position.
“Everything’s going better than last race at this time, so I feel good and ready to race.”
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Mahias & Caricasulo Turn Up the Heat in Qualifying at Imola
Qualifying
The GRT Yamaha Official WSSP Team pulled off a stunning result in SP2 at round five of the 2017 FIM Supersport World Championship in Imola. Under the baking hot Italian sun championship leader Lucas Mahias secured his second front row start of the season after qualifying in second, while his teammate Federico Caricasulo will line up at the head of the second row in fourth after a brilliant effort from both riders, and the team.
Mahias had to miss the whole of the FP3 session due to a technical issue with his bike. The French rider knew he had an uphill task ahead of him in qualifying due to the lost track time, but undeterred he set about his task with admirable determination after his team had worked around the clock to get his Yamaha YZF-R6 ready for SP2. The 28-year-old set an incredible lap of 1:51.723 to secure second on the timesheets, just 0.112s off the pole man PJ Jacobsen. Mahias, who has a 20-point lead in the championship standings, was delighted with the result and is feeling confident he can pull off a good result after running a full race simulation on Friday.
His teammate Caricasulo was not to be outdone. The Italian has been quick all weekend at Imola, his home race, and is clearly enjoying putting on a show for the fans as he turned on the style to set a 1:51.843. This was good enough to secure fourth on the grid, only 0.120s off the pace of his teammate. The 21-year-old only missing out on the front row by just 0.048s despite a slight issue with the front end of his bike, and with his passionate home crowd spurring him on he feels confident he can fight for the race win tomorrow.
The lights go out on Sunday’s 17-lap race at the iconic Imola circuit at 11:30 local time.
Lucas Mahias
GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team
“I am very happy! In the beginning of the session I wasn’t confident, because in the morning I had a few problems with my bike that stopped me from riding in FP3. During qualification, I pushed a lot and I didn’t follow any other riders, so I am happy. It was a big surprise! I came back in the box and looked at my mechanic and he said ‘Second place!’ I thought, ‘Wow, this is good!’ This is very good for the race tomorrow, because yesterday I had a good race simulation in the hotter conditions and qualification was under the same conditions. I am confident for tomorrow, my target is to take the maximum points. Thank you to Yamaha and my team, because they worked a lot after FP3 on the bike and they didn’t even get to eat.”
Federico Caricasulo
GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team
“It is a sham to miss out on the front row, but it is a good position for the race. I think I have a good rhythm for the race and can’t wait for tomorrow. It is a good motivation for me, racing in front of my home fans, and their support will help me tomorrow. I will do my best.”
Fillippo Conti
GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team Manager
“That was incredible! Both riders did a brilliant job. It was a brilliant effort from Lucas and he managed a fantastic time. We had some technical issues this morning with Lucas?s bike this morning, but we made a strategy and got a result. We managed to match our expectations in qualifying and so it has been a job well done! At the same time, Federico also put in a great lap, he just had a slight issue with the front of the bike, but we will fix that for tomorrow. I am very happy for all the effort the team and the riders have put in. We have a fantastic package that allows us to always fight at the front.”
More, from a press release issued by CIA Landlord Insurance Honda:
Top Ten start for Okubo at Imola
CIA Landlord Insurance Honda’s Hikari Okubo set his fastest lap of the weekend in Superpole 2 today in perfect weather conditions at the Motul Italian Round of the World Supersport Championship.
Okubo’s qualifying time of 1’52.594 puts him in 10th position on the grid for round 5 at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola. Hikari said: “In this morning’s session I tried a new setting but I wasn’t happy with it so we went back to the same as yesterday. I tried to push more in Superpole 2 but I made many mistakes. I got my best lap this weekend in SP2 but my position is one down. Last year I was 25th or 26th so this is better and I am happy. I want to finish in the top 6 so I need to push more in the race tomorrow.”
Taking his spot on the 3rd row of the grid will be Jules Cluzel in 8th position after a disappointing qualifying session. Cluzel is always strong in the race and is confident of being in the fight when it matters tomorrow.
Robin Mulhauser unfortunately had a slight technical problem at the end of his first run in Superpole 1 and was unable to do his second run so will line up on the grid for the 17 lap race in 26th position.
Hiromichi Kunikawa improved his time again by nearly a second in Superpole 1 taking him into the 55s and to 31st place. He is looking for the best possible finish, as close to the top 20 as possible in his first race at Imola.
CIA Landlord Insurance Honda Team Manager, Simon Buckmaster said: “Good job by Hikari and his team today. He has found his confidence again and is pushing towards the front where we want him to be. He is in a really good position to challenge in the top ten for a top six finish in the race tomorrow.”
“That was a disappointing session for Jules in 8th. We need to look at everything and improve the bike a bit for warm up. The race tomorrow will be tight and exciting and I’m confident that Jules will be in the fight for the podium as he has been all year.”
“Robin has struggled this weekend and we need to find a big chunk of pace, at least a second a lap for him to fight for a points finish tomorrow.”
“Hiromichi has improved in every practice session and in qualifying. He continues to learn the bike and the Championship. We will continue to work with him for the best possible results.”
The World Supersport race from Imola will start at 11am local time on Sunday.