FIM Superbike World Championship Phillip Island, Australia February 26, 2011 Qualifying Results After Superpole (all on Pirelli tires): From Superpole Three: 1. Carlos CHECA, Spain (Ducati 1098R), 1:30.882 2. Max BIAGGI, Italy (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:30.895 3. Sylvain GUINTOLI, France (Ducati 1098R), 1:31.293 4. Leon HASLAM, Great Britain (BMW S1000RR), 1:31.429 5. Eugene LAVERTY, Ireland (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:31.858 6. Jakub SMRZ, Czech Republic (Ducati 1098R), 1:31.980 7. Troy CORSER, Australia (BMW S1000RR), 1:32.182 8. Marco MELANDRI, Italy (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:32.662 From Superpole Two: 9. Michel FABRIZIO, Italy (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:32.153 10. Tom SYKES, Great Britain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:32.204 11. Josh WATERS, Australia (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:32.240 12. Jonathan REA, Great Britain (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:32.708 From Superpole One: 13. Joan LASCORZ, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:32.346 14. Noriyuki HAGA, Japan (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:32.391 15. James TOSELAND, Great Britain (BMW S1000RR), 1:32.547 16. Ruben XAUS, Spain (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:32.788 The Rest of the Grid: 17. Leon CAMIER, Great Britain (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:32.847 18. Bryan STARING, Australia (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:32.883 19. Maxime BERGER, France (Ducati 1098R), 1:33.079 20. Ayrton BADOVINI, Italy (BMW S1000RR), 1:33.161 21. Roberto ROLFO, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:33.286 22. Mark AITCHISON, Australia (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:33.413 More, from a press release issued by BMW Motorrad Motorsport: Weather conditions: Sunny with some clouds in the afternoon. Temperature: Air: 22 – 25 °C, Track: 36 – 49 °C Number of riders participating: 22 from 13 teams Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) 1:31.577 min Fastest lap Superpole 3: Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) 1:30.882 min After a tough start to the first race weekend of the 2011 season, Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport is happy with today’s Superpole Qualifying result. Both riders, Leon Haslam (GBR) and Troy Corser (AUS), made it into the third and final qualifying session, with Leon starting tomorrow’s races from fourth and Troy seventh. Leon Haslam: Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: 1:32.023 min (P7) / Fastest lap FP: 1:32.184 min (P4) / Fastest lap Superpole 3: 1:31.429 min (P4) “This is a great result. If someone had offered me a front row start two weeks ago I would have been over the moon, so certainly we are all really happy. The team has pulled together and worked hard to overcome the issues we have had so far this weekend, and the end result has come at the right time. We have made good progress, but I still have a few areas I want to work on tomorrow before the races. Still as a team we are confident we have the pace to do well in the races tomorrow. Everybody in the team has worked very hard, so thanks to all the guys.” Troy Corser: Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: 1:32.520 min (P15) / Fastest lap FP: 1:32.820 min (P7) / Fastest lap Superpole 3: 1:32.182 min (P7) “We struggled at the start of the weekend with the set-up, but since then we have all worked really hard to make positive steps forward. Leon and I were having the same issues, but collectively we found a solution and we both showed clear signs of improvement. In the last session I didn’t have a new qualifying tyre to go out on, so I had to settle for a used one, but I cannot complain. Our race pace looks pretty good on paper, but a lot depends on the temperatures around here. On the whole I think we can all look forward to tomorrow.” Rainer Bäumel (Head of Race Operations): “The entire team has worked very hard over the course of the last few days. Today we are satisfied, but at the same time we know it is still a long way from where we want to be. We made some alterations on the chassis side after yesterday’s sessions, and the grip level was higher today, which helped us a lot. Both Leon and Troy made it onto the front two rows, which makes us happy.” More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki Alstare: MICHEL JUST MISSES SECOND ROW Team Suzuki Alstare rider Michel Fabrizio missed out on a second row grid position by only one tenth of a second in Superpole today at Phillip Island. It was fellow countryman Marco Melandri (Yamaha) who just pushed Michel out of Superpole 2 and on to row three of the grid. But Michel is happy with all the work that he and the team had done today and is looking forward to tomorrow’s races, confident of good results. Carlos Checa (Ducati) took Superpole today, with a lap of 1:30.882, almost a second quicker than the lap record set by Troy Corser in 2007. Second quickest is Max Biaggi (Aprilia), with Sylvain Guintoli (Ducati) third and Leon Haslam (BMW) fourth. Michel – 9th, 1:32.153 It would’ve been good to get into final Superpole and onto the second row of the grid at least, but I missed out by a very small margin. But I am pretty happy with what we have achieved and all the hard work we have done. For my first race weekend with the team, I think we have managed a lot better than a lot of people expected. We tried many things today and got through all the work really well, ending with a good set-up on the bike. The team did really well to build me a new bike after my crash late yesterday afternoon and I would like to say thank you to them. Hopefully, I will be able to repay them tomorrow with some good results. I have two good bikes and because they are the same, I am happy to ride either. Although, I am on the third row of the grid, it will be OK as long as I get good starts. The first corner tightens up in the middle quite a bit and I don’t want to get held up there in the pack. If that happens, I will have to push a lot harder and that wears the tyres out more. I think we have decided what tyres to use in the races tomorrow and we’ll be going for a hardish front because it will last better. The soft front is good, but it moves around a bit too much. This track is quite bumpy, so you have to have the bike set up well to absorb the bumps as best you can. It’s difficult to predict what will happen tomorrow, but I am feeling fit, strong and more than ready to race. I would like to start the season strongly and a pair of good results will be what I am chasing tomorrow. More, from a press release issued by Althea Racing: TEAM ALTHEA RACING CELEBRATES ITS FIRST POLE OF THE SEASON AT PHILLIP ISLAND Team Althea Racing celebrates its first pole of the season at Phillip Island Phillip Island, 26th February 2011: The first Superpole of the 2011 season was a sight to behold, thanks above all to the performance of Althea Racing rider Carlos Checa. With a best time of 1m30.882, set in the final phase, the Spanish rider snatched not only pole for tomorrow’s races but also set a new lap record! In this morning’s second qualifiying session, in conditions very similar to yesterday (air temperature 25°C, track 48°C), Carlos continued to dominate, even if he was unable to improve on his best time set yesterday. He nevertheless concluded the session with a fastest time of 1m31.725, good enough to put him in first place. A few of his rivals were able to lower their times by a few tenths but it was Carlos’ time of yesterday that remained the fastest overall. The Spaniard therefore qualified in first position for the afternoon’s Superpole. The afternoon’s final free practice session gave the Althea Racing team a final opportunity to check the set-up of both race bikes ahead of the Superpole. With a time nearly identical to that set in qualifying, Carlos also closed this session ahead of the pack. Superpole 1 in this first 14 minute stage, Carlos made a first exit with a soft tyre, immediately recording a lap time that remained the fastest of the session, ensuring himself of safe passage to the second session. A second exit was unnecessary. Superpole 2 in the second phase, Checa decided to make use of the first qualifier available to him. This was a strategy that paid off as he was able lap in 1m31.1, a time fast enough to allow him to return to the garage and await session three. He finished this phase in first place. Superpole 3 taking advantage of the second qualifying tyre, a determined and confident Checa powered his 1198 to set his best lap of the weekend, 1m30.882, fast enough to beat the previous lap record set by Laconi in 2009. With this extremely impressive lap time, Carlos snatched a very well deserved first pole of the year. Team Althea Racing is understandably more than satisifed with today’s results. Carlos Checa “In the end it was a very hard-fought Superpole but we are of course happy to have closed in pole position. We knew that it would be more difficult with qualifiers which usually bring riders’ times closer together. To start from the front of the grid is obviously valuable but I’m aware that I also need to make a good start to the races. Let’s say that I don’t trust anyone, in the sense that tomorrow will surely be a battle! We’ll see tomorrow how best to manage the situation but I think Biaggi will be my main rival. I am however determined to bring home two great results.” Genesio Bevilacqua, General Manager of Althea Racing “Over these last days we have made progress in every session and we are convinced that we have a great set-up for the race. The only thing that worries us a little is the top speed of some of our opponents bikes, the Aprilia and the Yamaha for example are respectively 18km and 10km faster than us. But, as we know, races are not only won with top speed”¦ I would like to thank the enire team that has worked so hard even in the critical moments, a tight-knit group that has facilitated work for the two new engineers Lozej and Frigerio, thanks go to them too. Thanks above all to Carlos who, by being consistently fast, has given us all further motivation. Tomorrow we’re expecting two difficult races but we are ready to make the most of the opportunity, weather depending.” More, from a press release issued by Castrol Honda: Third row for Castrol Honda’s Rea Jonathan Rea will start tomorrow’s two opening races of the 2011 World Superbike championship at Phillip Island, Australia from the third row of the grid after setting the 12th fastest time in this afternoon’s Superpole. His Castrol Honda team-mate, Ruben Xaus, is one row behind Rea in 16th place after completing the first of three Superpole sessions this afternoon. Rea had been in confident mood going into the final qualifying shakedown for Sunday’s two 22-lappers around the 4.5km Phillip Island circuit and eased through Superpole 1 on race rubber. However, the 24-year-old from Northern Ireland crashed out of Superpole 2 at the final corner whilst on a fast lap that looked set to propel him into the final eight-rider shootout to determine Sunday’s grid positions. Fortunately, Rea did not aggravate any of the injuries sustained in his 210kph (130mph) crash on Tuesday, although he did disloca te the ring finger on his left hand once more. He braved the pain, however, and put in back in place while a marshal gave him a ride back to the pits, and, with three minutes of the session remaining, Rea went out on his spare Castrol Honda CBR1000RR to complete a 1m32s lap. Xaus had improved on his best time during this morning’s second qualifying session but could not find enough stability from the rear of his bike to attack Phillip Island’s faster turns. The Spaniard qualified for Superpole but was not able to progress beyond the first session. Jonathan Rea P12, 1m31.906s It would probably be easier to tell you which bits don’t hurt but, on a positive note, we were able to confirm that our chosen tyre works in warmer conditions. When I put my first qualifier in it was hooking up really well but I was getting stuck behind a slower rider on my fast lap and I went a little bit deep into the last turn and caught some bumps. I lost the front and went down but got back to the box with enough time go out on the other bike. To be honest, I missed my apex on turn one and that was the lap finished. Tomorrow’s a new day and I’ll try to take some positives out of all this. The bike’s feeling good and I haven’t done any further damage, which is a big bonus. It’s the first round of the championship so we’ll just dig deep for a couple of decent points-scoring finishes tomorrow, see where we end up and put last few days behind us. Ruben Xaus P16, 1m32.503s I’m suffering from the rear jumping around at the moment and I can’t seem to make the bigger tyre work that everyone else is using. I’m using the smaller tyre but when we find a setting to get more grip it seems to make the bumps problem even worse. We’ve tried to set up the bike completely differently to avo id the problem but then it goes to the front! I know that if we can eliminate this problem, I’ve got maybe six or seven tenths, which would certainly improve the position. Everything else is great the team is working well and on slower corners the bike feels fantastic and I can match the guys at the front. It’s just at the faster corners, but there are four of those here, where you are a long time on the side of the tyre, which makes it very difficult. Ronald ten Kate team manager The weekend started quite difficult with the injuries that Jonathan had, but we battled through the first couple of days quite well. Some bad luck hit us again when Jonathan seemed to be heading toward the first two rows, if not the front row. But an off at the last corner blew that story away. We’re now preparing ourselves for the race with the aim of collecting as many points as possible. Jonathan’s injuries were not aggravated any further today but, for sure, it’s not going to be an easy race. We were hoping for a better start to the season with Ruben but we have not completely dialled the bike in for him yet. We just need a bit more time but I’m quite sure that he’ll battle for higher positions in tomorrow’s races. More, from a press release issued by Team Pedercini: Sunny conditions for the second day of qualifying for the Pedercini Team Superbike riders at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia. During the morning qualifying, all three of the team’s riders improved on their best lap times, but unfortunately not quite enough to be able to enter the Superpole. Staring reached eighteenth place (1’32″883) while Rolfo and Aitchison obtained respectively the twenty first (1’33″079) and the twenty second (1’33″413) position. The team is still working very hard, continuing development of the new Kawasaki Superbike, a long job that they were only able to start at the beginning of this week, during Monday and Tuesday’s testing sessions. The riders and team’s technical staff are satisfied with the improvements they achieved over the last two days. The bike’s performance is improving with each exit the riders make. In the afternoon, during the final free practice session, the riders were able to work on settings for the tomorrow 22 laps races. Phillip Island Qualifying second session : 1) Checa (Ducati) 2) Biaggi (Aprilia) 3) Sykes (Kawasaki) 4) Guintoli (Ducati) “¦”¦.18) Staring (Kawasaki) “¦”¦ 21) Rolfo (Kawasaki) 22) Aitchison (Kawasaki) Free practice second session : 1) Checa (Ducati) 2) Guintoli (Ducati) 3) Biaggi (Aprilia) 4) Haslam (BMW) “¦.. 18) Aitchison (Kawasaki) 19) Rolfo (Kawasaki) “¦. 22) Staring (Kawasaki) Bryan Staring: “I’m very disappointed for the team and myself because I was not able to achieve the lap time I needed to enter Superpole. I knew it was attainable and I pushed very hard to improve my lap time, but three times I risked a crash and so preferred not to risk any more, especially in view of tomorrow’s double race. The team has been fantastic and we have been making strong progress over the weekend. We did a good job also in the afternoon free practice, improving my bike setting, and tomorrow I’ll try my best to take some good results for my team and my sponsor”. Roberto Rolfo :”I’m definitely more satisfied today, compared with yesterday’s qualifying session. Today I was able to continuously improve my best lap time and the feeling I have with my bike is getting better. Today we made some important modifications to my bike’s set-up and now I know we are going in the right direction. Of course I’m not happy with today’s results but I’m sure that the Kawasaki has great potential and I’m more confident for tomorrow races”. Mark Aitchison: “Our second day of qualifying and practice went well. During the session I have experimented with a few different settings and I found some more comfort with the bike. The weekend here in Phillip Island is really like a test for our team and with these changes we are gathering data for the future rounds. I think I know exactly which tyre combination I will use for the race, so after warm up we will evaluate the weather condition and close the set up. I look forward to my first Superbike races tomorrow, they’ll be tough, but I’m sure I’ll have fun”. More, from a press release issued by Infront Motor Sports: New track best for Spanish ace Phillip Island (Australia), Saturday 26 February 2011 – Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) set the quickest lap ever recorded around Phillip Island on a Superbike machine when he powered his Ducati 1098R to a time of 1 minute 30.882 seconds, thus grabbing the first Superpole trophy of the year. Checa, one of last year’s winners in Australia, was just a fraction ahead of Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) who put in a quick lap towards the end, but who was eventually edged off the top slot by 0.013 seconds. Sylvain Guintoli gave the new-for-2011 Effenbert – Liberty Racing Ducati team a great championship baptism with third place on the grid, after yet another good run at Phillip Island for the Frenchman. He was almost on the podium on a four-cylinder machine last year and is set on taking a top three in one of Sunday’s races this year. Carlos Checa: “Basically we worked well all weekend, when I passed down the straight I did 1’30.8 but I didn’t know I was first until the mechanics stopped me. But the difference is very small between first and second. At the end of the day of course we like to be first, but we did a good job all weekend and that’s the best thing. We will see how I can manage the race, 22 laps here is long and we must try and keep the tyres fresh for the end and see what position we have.” Max Biaggi: I’m very happy to start 2011 qualifying in a good way. From last year to this year we’ve improved and that proves that the test we did in December gave us a lot of satisfaction. There are a few things I’d like to improve, just like my engineers, but it’s impossible to do everything. Maybe in the future but so far I’m so happy.” Sylvain Guintoli: “This is one of my best and favourite tracks, but more than this I think I’m just gelling well with the Ducati and enjoying riding this bike so much. Here really was the first time I got to ride it, without needing some tyres for the bad weather we had during testing. It’s been such bad weather testing but now I’m enjoying things. A great result for the team on its debut.” Leon Haslam: “A week ago we had a few problems and I was worried about not making the qualifying in the top 16, so to have made the progress the team has done is all credit to them, they have really put in the effort. I’m really very happy to be on the front row, hopefully I can get a good start and we can get a similar result to last year.” Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) made a great effort to take his S1000 RR machine to the fourth slot, having made many runs on race tyres in the previous practice sessions. Haslam, a race winner at Phillip Island in 2010, just managed to hold off a last-minute attempt by Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike Team) to join the fast gang of four on the front row. Jakub Smrz (Effenbert – Liberty Racing) was next up followed by a rejuvenated Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad) who was riding at his home race. Italian star Marco Melandri concluded his first Superpole with eighth place, an impressive performance from Marco as he makes a quick transition to Superbike racing. The third row of the grid is now headed by Michel Fabrizio (Suzuki Alstare), who punched his way to ninth, one place ahead of Tom Sykes’ Kawasaki Racing Team machine. Tom lost some of the pace he had recovered in the earlier qualifying session, when he had been third fastest on combined times. Aussie wildcard rider Josh Water (Yoshimura Suzuki) was once more on the top rider mix, running 11th and one place ahead of the gritty Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda). Rea had two crashes today but rallied to ride again and take a third row start. Joan Lascorz, Noriyuki Haga, James Toseland and Ruben Xaus were the first riders to exit Superpole qualifying in round one, and they now share the fourth row of the grid. Times: 1. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1’31.729; 2. Guintoli S. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1’31.880; 3. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’32.100; 4. Haslam L. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 1’32.184; 5. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1’32.317; 6. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’32.411; 7. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1’32.820; 8. Laverty E. (IRL) Yamaha YZF R1 1’32.831; 9. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’33.135; 10. Haga N. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’33.197; 11. Xaus R. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1’33.258; 12. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’33.338; 13. Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’33.344; 14.Berger M. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1’33.435; 15. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’33.435; 16. Melandri M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R1 1’33.440, etc. World Supersport David Salom (Kawasaki Motocard.com) emerged as the surprise poleman for tomorrow’s Supersport race after practice and qualifying was turning into a battle between Fabien Foret (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Broc Parkes (Kawasaki Motocard.com). Salom’s time of 1 minute 34.070 seconds came right at the very end of the session but it was good enough to earn the young Spaniard his best qualifying result so far, and his maiden pole in this class. The front row was completed by Sam Lowes (Parkalgar Honda) and Parkes in fourth, with those four riders a little clear of the rest and demonstrating good race pace. Two Italians line up in fifth and sixth on row 2, both on Yamahas, with ex-SBK man Luca Scassa (ParkinGO) just ahead of a very competitive Roberto Tamburini (Bike Service). They will be joined on the second row of the grid by full season rookie rider Florian Marino (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Chaz Davies (Yamaha ParkinGO). Danish rider Robbin Harms was a consistent ninth on his Harms Benjan Honda, the first rider to be more than a second from Salom. After two big crashes this weekend, one in which he tore a tendon in his thumb, Gino Rea could only manage tenth for Step Racing Honda, while James Ellison was one place behind on his Bogdanka PTR version, as he recovers from very recent keyhole surgery on his left knee. WSS veteran Massimo Roccoli was the 12th and last rider on row three, as he competes on his Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki for the first time in WSS. Danilo Dell’Omo was the first Triumph rider home in qualifying, in 13th place for the Suriano team. Times: 1. Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’34.070; 2. Foret F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1’34.091; 3. Lowes S. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1’34.504; 4 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’34.548; 5. Scassa L. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’34.635; 6. Tamburini R. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’34.931; 7. Marino F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1’34.994; 8. Davies C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1’35.065; etc. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha: Superpole Success Sees Second Row Start for Laverty and Melandri at Phillip Island Yamaha World Superbike Team riders Eugene Laverty and Marco Melandri experienced their first ever Superpole shoot-out this afternoon at the Phillip Island International circuit in Australia. The adrenalin fuelled short ‘qualifying heats’ quickly sort the fastest riders from the pack to decide the grid line up for Sunday’s two World Superbike races, the first of the 2011 season. Laverty continued to display the consistent form fans have seen since he first jumped on the Yamaha R1 race bike, flying through the first, second and third Superpole heats in fifth place, earning himself a second row start for his first ever World Superbike race tomorrow. Teammate and fellow World Superbike Superpole rookie Melandri was enjoying a much better day than yesterday. The Italian rider had clearly improved his set up from the day before, although was experiencing the stickier Superpole qualifier tyres for the first time this afternoon. Melandri cleared the first session in 11th place, then hung on in the second in eighth to make it through to the final session. Having used all his qualifiers in the first two sessions he couldn’t improve on his time but held on for a second row start for what is also his first ever World Superbike race. Eugene Laverty, Yamaha World Superbike Team 5th, 1’31.858 “So far so good! I’ve really been enjoying the weekend so far; everything seems to be running really smoothly. We’re still working on our set up for race distance but for the faster laps in qualifying it seems to have worked well. Superpole was a new experience for me, the qualifying tyres require quite a different style of riding so I think I’m yet to get the best out of them. Bring on tomorrow, I’m ready and really excited about seeing what we can do, I just hope it doesn’t rain!” Marco Melandri, Yamaha World Superbike Team 8th, 1’32.662 “Yesterday was a bad day for me, today was better but still difficult! The Superpole event was new for me, so I’m happy to be on the second row at the end. I really like it, it’s like having three times qualifying so it’s pretty nice. It was pretty tough initially as I’ve never tried the qualifying tyres before, so I had no time to get used to the way they feel. I’m more confident for the races now so we will see what happens tomorrow.” Yamaha World Superbike Team Manager – Andrea Dosoli “I’m happy considering both riders are rookies and they managed to get through to the final Superpole on their first attempt. Eugene continues to confirm what he showed in the past and more. Only two months ago Marco had a shoulder operation and even now is not 100% fit so his performance today was impressive. For our first race it’s ok to start from the second row. We are still working to find the best set up for both riders as the race will be very demanding on tyres so the key point will be how to save them. We need a quick start off the line, then it’s up to both Eugene and Marco to enjoy the race. It looks like it might rain tomorrow, which will obviously be difficult as we have limited wet set up knowledge here, I believe both riders, and especially Marco, can be strong in the wet so we’ll see!” More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki: Sykes Top Ten After Superpole Tom Sykes went from third in combined qualifying to tenth after the new-look Superpole contest, as he prepares to give the all new Ninja ZX-10R its first competitive outing tomorrow. Tom’s Kawasaki Racing Team team-mate Joan Lascorz was also well in the mix during qualifying at the first round of the year but he too had to settle for a lower final grid position than his real race pace suggests. He qualified ninth going into Superpole but came out 13th, and now starts from the fourth row of the grid. He missed a certain third row start by only 0.058 seconds. Superpole has now reverted to a contest for the top 16 riders in regular qualifying, but is still split into three parts. Both Kawasaki official WSBK riders worked well with a real race set-up on the Ninja ZX-10R but changes in track temperature, and therefore track conditions shortly before Superpole, played a part in the final grid positions each achieved. Neither rider could get the best out of their qualifying tyres in the warm conditions, which are key to any challenge for a front row starting position. Sunday’s races will be Joan’s first in World Superbike, after a strong recent career as a Kawasaki official rider in WSS. Joan impressed all with his pace in the early qualifying sessions, having clearly made a swift transition to the demands of Superbike racing. Now the team will compare data to arrive at a final machine set-up and the most likely tyre choices will be tried out in warm-up tomorrow morning. Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate overnight, but recover in time for Sunday’s two 22-lap races at the classic 4.445km circuit on the south coast of Australia. Tom Sykes: “We made good progress earlier today but in the hotter conditions in the afternoon we were not able to use the best of the softer race tyres and qualifying tyres, which bumped us down the final order a bit. We are going to have to work on that, and try to find a good harmony in suspension and chassis in those conditions. It was frustrating to go from third in combined qualifying to the third row, but it is one of those things, and tomorrow is another day. It’s the only day that counts for real. We need to have some points in the bag from these races and continue our strong development programme. I was really pleased to be top three after combined qualifying, it shows our true potential.” Joan Lascorz: “We had different settings on the bike because the conditions changed and it proved difficult in Superpole. I used a qualifying tyre but it made no real difference to the lap time. We could do the same on the race tyres. We will see how the races are tomorrow but I am quite tired now and will rest and recover before warm-up. I am looking forward to the first races in this class and if we can find good settings for the conditions, I will be happy.” More, from a press release issued by Team Pata: Noriyuki Haga placed himself on a fourth row on the starting grid tomorrow. A result due to a technical problem during the Superpole that didn’t allow the Japanese rider to gain positions on the starting grid. Both the rider and the team look positively at the two rounds. The chattering problems had during the qualifying 1 have been solved, and to the Japanese rider to improve his time and his race’s step. Between Haga’s best skills there’s the ability to start and face in an effective way the first laps, so that we can expect a great improvement during the two rounds, tomorrow. Noriyuki Haga Aprilia RSVR #41 ” The Superpole wasn’t that good. When I stopped to change and to set the qualifiying tyre we got a problem that didn’t allow to go back on track with the same motorbike. The tyre has been set on the second motorbike that were prepared with a different stability and with which I couldn’t improve my time and move to the Superpole following session. The motorbike, anyway, got better compared to yesterday, most of all on a race-stability. I’m certain I’ll be able to face the two rounds with good results.” Marco Borciani team manager ” We are sure to be on the right way, we are disappointed about the Superpole, where we could have gain one or a couple of row on the starting grid. But we trust Nori’s talent and skills to refine the set-up further on, during the warm up tomorrow morning to achieve two good places.” More, from a press release issued by Supersonic Racing Team: Second qualifying day at Phillip Island for the Supersonic Team It was a sunny and dry track today at Phillip Island for the second day and second official practice. After the difficult practice from yesterday, the Supersonic Team pushed again the limits in the second qualifying session held this morning. A crucial session, to define the sixteen riders who would have access to the first Superpole of the new season. Unfortunately, Maxime Berger was ranked on the nineteenth place (1’33 “079), missing access to the Superpole for just over two tenths of a second. Tomorrow, the Supersonic Team rider will start from the fifth row on the grid during the two twenty-two laps races. In the afternoon, during the free practice session, the Italian team continued its program of work to define the best development for the Ducati 1198 for the two races at Sunday. Maxime Berger ended the session at the fourteenth place with a time of 1’33″435. Maxime continues on a positive way his first step in World Superbike and is ready and anxious to start his first race. It will not be easy for him, Maxime used to perform races with less than 13 laps, starts tomorrow with two heats of 22 laps each, but certainly Maxime and the team will give the best they can during the first 2011 World Superbike round. Phillip Island – Saturday Qualifying practice: 1) Checa (Ducati) – 2) Biaggi (Aprilia) – 3) Sykes (Kawasaki) – 4) Rea (Honda) – 5) Guintoli (Ducati)………….19) Berger (Ducati) Free practice : 1) Checa (Ducati) – 2) Guintoli – 3) Biaggi (Aprilia) – 4) Haslam (BMW) – 5) Smrz (Ducati)………….14) Berger (Ducati) Danilo Soncini: “Of course it could been better and yes, there is now a little disappointment not to be qualified for Superpole. But team and rider will continue working hard and improve, even if Maxime is a little fatigue riding on the technical track and being new in Superbike. This morning we had the first fifteen riders in less than nine tenths of a second. We are not far from the fastest group and need only a few tenths to get into Superpole. During the practice in the afternoon, we worked mainly on the basis of the two races tomorrow. We think we have found suitable tires and trust in the enthusiasm and ability from Maxime to perform two good races.” Maxime Berger: “I’m sorry for not being able to do what we wanted for my first Superpole in my career. In qualifying this morning, after trying the new engine, we mounted softer tires, but unfortunately I could not grab one of the sixteen positions. I feel disappointed, but also satisfied, my bike improved again and we collected a large amount of data that will be useful for the two races tomorrow. Tomorrow is the day of my debut in World Superbike and certainly I give the best for me and my team, these days they gave me a huge help.” More, from a press release issued by Alitalia Aprilia: AT PHILLIP ISLAND MAX BIAGGI WILL START FROM THE FIRST ROW: ONLY 13 THOUSANDTHS KEPT HIM FROM IS FIRST SUPERPOLE OF THE SEASON Phillip Island (Australia), 26 February 2011 The number 1 on his fairing was honoured by World Champion Max Biaggi, riding among the top players on the Australian track at Phillip Island in Superpole. In the first two races for the 2011 WSBK season the Corsair will start from the second spot on the grid after ending just 13 thousandths of a second behind Carlos Checa’s fastest time. The Superpole clock saw Max come through the first two sessions easily, with determination and without any uncertainty. In the third session the battle of the top eight was conducted in the best way possible by the Team Aprilia Alitalia rider. After ten tense and fascinating minutes the clock stopped for Max at 1’30.895, second best lap at only 13 thousandths behind Checa (Ducati) and in front of Guintoli (Ducati) and Haslam (BMW) “Wow! Thirteen thousandths are nothing commented a smiling Max Biaggi – It means that even on this track which has never favoured us we have improved a lot compared to the last two years, coming close to the best. I am truly happy with this result which is to the merit of the team’s hard work coming here and testing during the off season. Those tests allowed us to better understand our problems, so we worked hard on the details, small adjustments which can make the difference. The engineers were very good. We are not the fastest, but one thing for sure is that for the races we’re competitive. Tomorrow the weather conditions will be important, the temperature and the tyres we choose as a consequence. Then, as always, we’ll be ready to give it our all.” At the moment it’s a difficult weekend for Leon Camier: his poor health continued to keep him out of Superpole. Then, in the last session of free practice, the English rider showed encouraging improvements in times, but tomorrow will be a tough start from the fifth row (17th time). But if Leon’s physical condition improves, hopes for a comeback would not be unfounded. Leon Camier is understandably dissatisfied: “It’s frustrating not being able to ride, especially for the first race. Quite simply my cough and general weariness hinder my concentration and consequently from focusing on what I’m doing. At the moment the fever is not the biggest problem, but I feel very tired and even just walking I’m not able to breathe properly, so just imagine after 3-4 laps. At this point I just hope I’m feeling better. Unfortunately tomorrow I’ll start from way back and it will be truly difficult”.