FIM Supersport World Championship
Phillip Island, Australia
February 20, 2015
Free Practice Two (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Jules CLUZEL, France (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:33.305
2. Gino REA, UK (Honda CBR600RR), 1:33.729
3. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:33.859
4. Kyle SMITH, UK (Honda CBR600RR), 1:34.023
5. Lorenzo ZANETTI, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:34.151
6. Lucas MAHIAS, France (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:34.179, crash
7. Alex BALDOLINI, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:34.379
8. Ratthapark WILAIROT, Thailand (Honda CBR600RR), 1:34.383
9. PJ JACOBSEN, USA (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:34.412
10. Marco FACCANI, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:34.474
11. Roberto ROLFO, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), 1:34.559
12. Dominic SCHMITTER, Switzerland (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:34.856
13. Martin CARDENAS, Colombia (Honda CBR600RR), 1:35.020
14. Fabio MENGHI, Italy (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:35.045
15. Riccardo RUSSO, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), 1:35.170
16. Christian GAMARINO, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:35.712
17. Kevin WAHR, Germany (Honda CBR600RR), 1:35.919
18. Alex PHILLIS, Australia (Honda CBR600RR), 1:35.929
19. Glenn SCOTT, Australia (Honda CBR600RR), 1:35.934
20. Aiden WAGNER, Australia (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:36.335, crash
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:
Cluzel edges Sofuoglu by small margin on WSS opening day
The first official day of on track action ahead of the opening round of the Supersport World Championship on Sunday has ended with Frenchman Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) leading the way on combined times from the first two free practice sessions by a mere 0.021s.
In FP1 Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) virtually matched the existing race lap record, despite recording only 11 laps, considerably fewer than his nearest rivals.
With track temperature rising when the afternoon session began, the final timed period of the day provided some surprisingly faster laps as several of the leading riders improved. Alex Baldolini (Race Department ATK#25 MV Agusta) was the first to do so, the Italian eventually ending the day an encouraging 7th in the standings.
As FP2 ended, last year’s WSS runner-up Jules Cluzel had overhauled his Turkish rival to top the time sheet as former Moto2 rider Gino Rea (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda) completed the top 3 courtesy of his penultimate lap of the session.
Kyle Smith (Pata Honda World Supersport Team), Lucas Mahias (Intermoto Kawasaki Ponyexpres) and Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) rounded out a tightly bunched top 6 in terms of lap times, as 3 manufacturers filled to the top three places.
Aiden Wagner (Oz Wildcard Racing Yamaha) who was an impressive 6th in FP1, crashed in the early stages of FP2, the local wildcard rider eventually ending the day in 9th.
The remaining local riders Glenn Scott (AARK Honda), Alex Phillis (Lorini Honda), and Sam Lambert (Sam Lambert Racing Triumph) were 16th, 20th and 24th respectively.
FP3 will take place tomorrow morning with the one and only timed qualifying session to set the grid for the first race of the World Supersport season, scheduled to take place at 15.55 local time.
More, from a press release issued by Pata Honda:
Solid Supersport start for Smith
Pata Honda rider Kyle Smith set the fourth fastest overall time in today’s two free practice sessions for the opening round of the 2015 World Supersport championship at Phillip Island in Australia.
The 23-year-old British rider fired his Honda CBR600RR around the 4.445km Phillip Island circuit in a time of 1m34.023s, 0.7s behind provisional pole sitter Jules Cluzel.
Making his World Supersport debut on a track he rode for the first time during a two-day test earlier this week, Smith has impressed his Pata Honda team with his feedback on the CBR’s performance, as well as his speed.
Smith will return to the circuit for Free Practice 3 tomorrow morning before the afternoon qualifying session to determine final grid positions for Sunday’s 18-lap World Supersport opener.
Kyle Smith – P4, 1m34.023s
I’m really happy! I didn’t expect to be in the top five, even though that’s what I was aiming for in the race. But to be up there on the first day is really positive. I was actually third fastest this morning and third all the way through that second practice until the last couple of minutes. It’s good and I’m happy with the bike and the team and my ideal lap is a bit faster, so if can put that together, that would be good. I’ve spoken to the guys and it’s clear from the data that I do get it sideways and spinning up quite a lot, which isn’t really good for going fast or the end of the race. I’m used to much shorter Superstock races on the Fireblade where you can get away with it a bit more. So we’ll be working a bit more on my style tomorrow in FP3 but, apart from th at, it’s all good.
Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator
Kyle had a very good test here earlier this week and he continued improving this morning when he finished third fastest with a better lap time. In the afternoon session he improved a little more and ended up fourth fastest. For his first day in World Supersport I think he did a really good job and if he continues like this it looks like he’ll be fighting with three or four other riders for the last podium position on Sunday.
More, from a press release issued by CIA Landlords Insurance Honda:
GINO IMPRESSES ON OPENING DAY OF SEASON
CIA LANDLORDS INSURANCE HONDA’S Gino Rea laid down a strong marker for the weekend by taking third place at the end of Friday practice for the opening day of the 2015 World Supersport season at Phillip Island in Australia.
Gino said: “It is probably a better start than I expected. Today was my first proper test session. Monday was more of a shakedown test with the screw in my foot coming loose and then I missed Tuesday having an operation.
“I am a day behind in testing and the others have come off racing in WSS last year and some with European testing as well. I didn’t expect to be at the sharp end after one day but saying that it is really positive. I am very happy with how I am working with the team and my crew chief. We are starting to get our heads round the CIA Landlords Insurance Honda.
“My riding’s improving and I am enjoying it. My foot is sore and is holding me back where I have to push through the right foot peg. I am getting a bit of pain and having to grit my teeth for a fast lap but I am not on any medication, so that’s a good thing.”
CIA Landlords Insurance racers Riccardo Russo and Martin Cardenas are 14th and 15th respectively. Kieran Clarke on his comeback is 21st and continues to reduce his lap times.
There are further practice and qualification sessions on Saturday and then the race starts at 1310 local time on Sunday 22nd February.
CIA Landlords Insurance Honda Team Manager Simon Buckmaster said: “Gino improved all day and is looking good. His foot operation means he is not in perfect condition but we are making some set up changes to accommodate that. He’s in good shape to challenge for pole position.
“Riccardo is struggling a bit and may be trying too hard. We will look at the settings from the test and see why. We will get back on the pace in the morning.
“Martin and Kieran both improved their lap times from the test. Martin is showing he can challenge for a good grid position and Kieran continues to impress after his long lay off from racing. We will work with both of them to go faster.”