FIM Supersport World Championship Miller Motorsports Park Tooele, Utah May 30, 2010 Final Qualifying Results (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Honda CBR600RR), 1:51.281 2. Eugene LAVERTY (Honda CBR600RR), 1:51.363 3. Joan LASCORZ (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:51.461 4. Kenan FUJIWARA (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:51.531 5. David SALOM (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:51.656 6. Chaz DAVIES (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:51.797 7. Michele PIRRO (Honda CBR600RR), 1:51.929 8. Fabien FORET (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:52.033 9. Robbin HARMS (Honda CBR600RR), 1:52.248 10. Jason DISALVO (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:52.287 11. Gino REA (Honda CBR600RR), 1:52.308 12. Matthieu LAGRIVE (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:52.948 13. Massimo ROCCOLI (Honda CBR600RR), 1:53.004 14. Miguel PRAIA (Honda CBR600RR), 1:53.372 15. Alexander LUNDH (Honda CBR600RR), 1:53.483 16. Tyler ODOM (Honda CBR600RR), 1:54.547 17. Bastien CHESAUX (Honda CBR600RR), 1:55.218 18. Jason FARRELL (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:57.314 19. Melissa PARIS (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:58.411 107% of 1:51.281 = 1:59.072 More, from a press release issued by Parkalgar Honda: ËœWe have more in the bag” – Laverty PARKALGAR HONDA ace Eugene Laverty missed out on pole position by less than 8/100ths of a second to fellow Honda racer Kenan Sofuoglu at the seventh round of the World Supersport Championship at Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City in the USA. Portuguese Parkalgar Honda racer Miguel Praia crashed in the morning practice but came back to improve his lap time in qualifying, ending up 14th with high hopes of finishing higher in the race now he has found a confidence inspiring set-up on his bike. The race is at 1330 local time on Monday, May 31st – Memorial Day in the USA. Eugene: “That was really close and I am surprised by just how many riders managed the quick lap times. We are consistent but I think we have more in the bag. The raise in temperature caught us out a little and we need to go further to improve my Parkalgar Honda. Basically there is a lot of grip here and we need the bike to work differently with it by improving the rear end. I am looking forward to warm-up before the race because we know what we need to do. Kenan and Joan are right there and it is going to be a hard race.” Miguel: “I crashed in practice this morning and that hurt us preparing for qualification. I ended up with the lap time I wanted and my Parkalgar Honda team stiffened the forks for me this afternoon and my bike felt much better. Now we will try something more in warm-up to go faster but I know I can run good times by myself. My starting position is not the best but I think we can get a decent result in the race.” Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “Sofuoglu dug deep to beat Eugene by 8/100ths of a second and Lascorz has closed in as well. Eugene is still looking good with very consistent and fast lap times. We expect nothing less than a big fight for the win but that is what we are going for. Miguel’s crew did a great job fixing his bike after this morning’s crash and he has improved by nearly a second today, however, his poor first three sessions are letting him down by placing him down the grid – he will need a superb first lap tomorrow to get up with the riders in front and go for a top 10 finish.” More, from a press release issued by Hannspree Ten Kate Honda: Hannspree Ten Kate Honda’s Kenan Sofuoglu will start tomorrow’s seventh round World Superpsort championship race from pole position after setting the fastest qualifying time at Miller Motorsports Park in the USA this afternoon. The Turkish ace took his tenth World Supersport pole position with a new best lap for 600cc machines at the 4.907km circuit near Salt Lake City, pipping his championship rival Eugene Laverty into second place by less than one tenth of a second. The other main 2010 championship protagonist, Joan Lascorz, will also start from the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s 18-lap race after setting the third fastest time, with Sofuoglu’s Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate, Michele Pirro, in seventh place on the second row. Kenan Sofuoglu P1 I have to admit that pole position was quite a surprise for me today! We had quite a lot of problems yesterday, espec ially with engine braking, but my team made some good changes to the clutch today, which made things much better. My goal was really only to start from the front row, because the main aim is to win tomorrow’s race. So, I have to say a big thank you to the team for working so hard today to give me a great bike to ride now we can focus on winning again. Michele Pirro P7 The bike was much better today and I had a good feeling. The front was stronger and more stable under braking and corner entry was good, too. I couldn’t put in a good enough lap time to get on the front row but I’ll will try my best for a good race tomorrow. I think our race pace is OK, but the three fast guys are in front of me. I will try to get a good start and see what happens after that. Ronald ten Kate team-manager Big compliments to Kenan and his crew for a job very we ll done today. We certainly had some things to work through after yesterday and that’s happened in today’s sessions when Kenan has been very fast, setting a new fastest lap here at Miller in the process. Michele has worked well with his team as well, and he is in a good position to fight at the front in tomorrow’s race. More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki: Great Team Effort Puts Joan and Katsuaki on the Front Row WSS, Salt Lake City, USA, 31 May 2010 Third place in qualifying for Joan Lascorz and fourth for Katsuaki Fujiwara means that both official Kawasaki riders will start Monday’s 18-lap race from the front row. At 4.907km Miller Motorsport Park is a long circuit but both Joan and Kats used their 2009 experiences of the track to the full to finish just behind the leading duo of Kenan Sofuoglu and Eugene Laverty, teeing up what is set to be a thrilling race on the American Memorial Day holiday. After a tough weekend in Kyalami last time out, the Kawasaki Supersport boys were on fine form when it counted for grid positions, and each is also confident that their race pace should be strong. Joan is going to try and reclaim the championship lead he lost by only a handful of points in South Africa, while Katsuaki is going for his first 2010 podium finish. Miller will mark his third front row start of 2010. Joan Lascorz: “I am happy with that and also to have Katsuaki on the front row. Comparing my race pace with that of the other top guys we are competitive and I think there will be the usual people at the front. Laverty and Sofuoglu will be strong but we will be as well. We did not make such a big change since Kyalami; it is just a change of racetrack. Miller is smoother, with more grip.” Katsuaki Fujiwara: “We were fast in qualifying and front row again, like in South Africa. We worked well because yesterday it was not so good, but we have made a few small changes and improved. I am really happy because we have two Kawasaki on the front row. That is really important. We have already checked the tyres and we have a good race pace.”