FIM Supersport World Championship

Magny-Cours, France

October 4, 2014

Qualifying Results (all on Pirelli tires):

1. Jules CLUZEL, France (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:40.550

2. Lucas MAHIAS, France (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:41.009

3. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:41.036

4. Michael VD MARK, Netherlands (Honda CBR600RR), 1:41.151

5. Roberto TAMBURINI, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:41.338

6. PJ JACOBSEN, USA (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:41.451

7. Massimo ROCCOLI, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:41.517

8. Florian MARINO, France (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:41.719

9. Jack KENNEDY, Ireland (Honda CBR600RR), 1:41.721

10. Lorenzo ZANETTI, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), 1:41.894

23. Martin CARDENAS, Colombia (Honda CBR600RR), 1:43.616

More, from a press release issued by CIA Insurance Honda:

KENNEDY LOOKING FOR EXTRA PACE

CIA INSURANCE HONDA’S Jack Kennedy qualified ninth and is looking to improve for tomorrow’s 10th round of the World Supersport Championship at Magny Cours in France.

Jack said: “Today has been a bit disappointing given how we started yesterday and I need to find some extra speed. We still have a great bike that can challenge for the podium and I am riding well. I’ll need a good start to latch on to the front group tomorrow, but I’ll be fgiving it my all.”

CIA Insurance Honda debutant Martin Cardenas cut his lap times significantly to qualify 23rd. The Colombian is getting quicker with every lap and a top 20 result is his target for his first weekend with the team.

Nacho Calero qualified 25th in a very competitive field. A better racer than qualifier, the top 20 is his target for the race, which starts at 1140 local time on Sunday, October 5th.

CIA Insurance Honda team manager Simon Buckmaster said: “We are going to work hard with Jack to find four tenths of a second per lap to give us a chance to fight for the podium. After that the plan is simple for the race; get a good start and as far up the front as possible in the first two laps and then see what he can do after that.

“It’s never easy coming into a new team and Championship but for Martin to be less than two seconds behind Jack is quite an achievement so far. There is more to come from him and it will be interesting to see how he goes over the race distance.

“Nacho had a decent day yesterday but didn’t improve as much as we hoped today. We will work with him to see what we can do to improve his situation for the race and hopefully he can challenge the top 20.”

More, from a press release issued by Core PTR Honda:

FILM GETTING QUICKER

CORE” PTR HONDA’S Ratthapark Wilairot slashed his lap times from yesterday to qualify 13th for tomorrow’s 10th round of the World Supersport Championship at Magny Cours in France.

Just over 1.6secs from pole position, Film is getting better as he adjusts to his WSS bike. Film said: “I am starting to feel more comfortable with my Core” PTR Honda and the speed is coming back. I would have liked to qualify a bit better but if I want to make another step forward tomorrow, then the aim is to finish well inside the top 10.”

There is a warm up session tomorrow morning before the race takes place at 1140 local time on Sunday, October 5th.

Core” PTR Honda team manager Simon Buckmaster said: “Film has made good progress with his lap time and set up on his bike today. Qualifying 13th is not where he should be though, he is a better rider than that. Every session he rides he is getting faster, so hopefully he can compete inside the top 10 tomorrow. It is never easy to race in two series at the same time, so that would be a reasonable result all considered.”

More, from a press release issued by Pata Honda:

Van der Mark heads row two at Magny-Cours

Michael van der Mark will start tomorrow’s tenth round World Supersport championship race from the head of the second row after setting the fourth fastest time in this afternoon’s qualifying session at Magny-Cours in France.

The Pata Honda rider had been fastest in both free practice sessions yesterday but suffered a small crash this afternoon and was unable to put together a single fast lap in today’s sessions.

However, the 21-year-old Dutch ace, who has already secured this year’s World Supersport championship title, is happy with his race pace for tomorrow’s 19-lap encounter at the 4.411km French circuit.

His Pata Honda team-mate Lorenzo Zanetti was frustrated with his own feeling at Magny-Cours today and will start from the fourth row after setting the tenth fastest time today.

Michael van der Mark – P4, 1m41.151s

I made a mistake today and had a crash, which lost me a bit of time. But I’m quite happy with the race pace and I was able to do some consistently fast laps today. I’m really happy with that and, even though fourth place is not where I want to be, if you look at the race pace I must be happy.

Lorenzo Zanetti – P10, 1m41.894s

Definitely not such a good day, especially since I did not finish yesterday so well either. We tried many settings today but nothing really worked and even when I thought we had a solution there was a lot of traffic. I was especially disappointed with my last outing because I could not put one good lap together. All season I have started in the front two rows but tomorrow I must start from the fourth row. I need to find a really good rhythm to go forward and fight for a top three championship position.

Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator

Lorenzo has not been in really good shape in the sessions here, despite trying many things. He didn’t really make forward steps and ended up tenth, which is not where he should be. Michael is fourth without any major dramas, in spite of his crash. But his race pace is really good and I think tomorrow he can go for the victory.

More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:

Sofuoglu On The Front Row After Supersport Qualifying

Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki San Carlo Puccetti Racing) took his Ninja ZX-6R to third place in qualifying at Magny Cours and with a strong race pace all round he is looking forward to the 19-lap race on Sunday, irrespective of possible weather conditions.

A three-time world champion, Sofuoglu was the top Kawasaki rider in qualifying, with his team-mate Roberto Tamburini in fifth place and Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres rider Patrick Jacobsen in sixth.

Riding at his home track Florian Marino (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) pushed hard but was unable to get closer than eighth in the pre-race order. Rookie rider Alessandro Nocco (San Carlo Puccetti Racing Kawasaki) slotted into 12th place as he grows in pace and confidence.

Experienced rider Roberto Rolfo (Team Go Eleven) placed 17th of the 28 riders on show, with new Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres inductee Mason Law in 22nd place on the grid. Go Eleven Kawasaki rider Christian Gamarino was 26th.

Track conditions on Sunday may change from the warm and dry conditions that have blessed most of the practice and qualifying sessions so far, with some chance of rainfall forecast at an inopportune time.

Kenan Sofuoglu: “We made a real improvement compared to yesterday and that means we are already on a good pace. It looks like someone did a really fast lap to take pole but if you look at the race pace I am sure we are one of the fastest. My Kawasaki is back now and San Carlo Puccetti Racing is doing a very good job to prepare the bike for the sessions, so I have to say thanks for the team. I am very happy about the power of my bike and I have to say thanks to Kawasaki for helping us to reach this level now. A front row start is always the goal for me, and we have achieved that goal. It looks like it will be a rain race tomorrow but it doesn’t matter. Wet or dry we have the aim to win the race.”