FIM Supersport World Championship Valencia, Spain April 10, 2010 Final Qualifying Results (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Eugene LAVERTY (Honda CBR600RR), 1:35.658 2. Joan LASCORZ (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:35.740 3. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Honda CBR600RR), 1:36.002 4. Katsuaki FUJIWARA (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:36.015 5. David SALOM (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:36.252 6. Chaz DAVIES (Triumph Daytona 675), 136.291 7. Fabien FORET (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:36.346 8. Michele PIRRO (Honda CBR600RR), 1:36.593 9. Jason DISALVO (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:36.968 10. Robbin HARMS (Honda CBR600RR), 1:37.064 11. Massimo ROCCOLI (Honda CBR600RR), 1:37.456 12. Gino REA (Honda CBR600RR), 1:37.638 13. Matthieu LAGRIVE (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:37.774 14. Miguel PRAIA (Honda CBR600RR), 1:38.027 15. Alexander LUNDH (Honda CBR600RR), 1:38.367 16. Alessio PALUMBO (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:38.993 17. Bastien CHESAUX (Honda CBR600RR), 1:39.011 18. Danilo DELL’OMO (Honda CBR600RR), 1:39.176 19. Paola CAZZOLA (Honda CBR600RR), 1:41.278 Did Not Qualify: 20. Eduard BLOKHIN (Yam YZF-R6), 1:44.000 More, from a press release issued by Parkalgar Honda: Pole and circuit record for Laverty PARKALGAR HONDA’S Eugene Laverty smashed the circuit best ever lap for a Supersport bike on his way to pole position at the third round of the World Championship at Valencia in Spain. Portuguese Parkalgar Honda racer Miguel Praia ended the day 14th after crashing on a fast lap. The race takes place tomorrow, Sunday 11th April at 1330 CET at the stadium circuit on the east coast of Spain. Find out all the behind the scenes news on Parkalgar Honda, Eugene and Miguel at www.parkalgarhonda.com. Eugene: “It was nice to get pole as it wasn’t expected. I thought I could do a 35:8 and that would keep me on the front row so I made sure I did that and when I looked at my dash it said 35:6 and I knew it was a decent lap. In morning warm-up I’ll be looking to do more laps on the rear tyre I favour to ensure it is good for the race distance. We had to go back a bit today as we worked on the rear grip of my Parkalgar Honda and to get it right is a small window so we will need to keep on top of that. I used to think of Valencia as my bogey circuit but I have worked hard on that and believe all tracks are the same, simply corners and straights and there is no reason I cannot do well here.” Miguel: “I suffered a big high-side and when I landed the bike hit me. I needed the marshals to lift it off me and it was painful at the time. I was OK when I got back to the pits but had lost any chance of improving my lap time which was frustrating. I took a little longer than I wanted to get up to speed but it was coming and I think I could have made 10th and the third row if I hadn’t crashed. Once I took off my right boot I found my foot very swollen so I am having it X-rayed and the swelling reduced with ice just to be safe. I remain confident for the race and I am sure it will be fine.” Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “That was an incredible ride by Eugene; he only used two tyres the entire session. It shows his level of confidence in his Parkalgar Honda and himself; on a worn tyre he put in some fast race laps and then switched to a new tyre. He had time for two quick laps but instead he held back for a gap in traffic and just completed one and that was all he needed. He’s in good shape for the race. Miguel is trying very hard this weekend and it is not coming together for him yet. He was up on time on his last lap but crashed in sector three which was a shame. He will be working with his crew to find something in morning warm-up and we will do all we can to support him.” Final Qualification 1 50 Laverty E. (IRL) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1’35.658 2 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’35.740 3 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1’36.002 4 37 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’36.015 5 25 Salom D. (ESP) Triumph Daytona 675 1’36.252 6 7 Davies C. (GBR) Triumph Daytona 675 1’36.291 7 99 Foret F. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’36.346 8 51 Pirro M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1’36.593 9 40 DiSalvo J. (USA) Triumph Daytona 675 1’36.968 10 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 1’37.064 14 117 Praia M. (POR) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1’38.027. More, from a press release issued by ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Racing: Team ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Racing is looking forward to the race of round 3. David Salom and Chaz Davies will start from fifth and sixth places respectively, and will battle for the podium, a result both riders are setting as goal. Jason di Salvo set the ninth fastest time. The American, who is racing his third round in Supersport, is progressively getting closer to the top riders and is hoping to continue on the same path tomorrow as well. Matthieu Lagrive, on the other hand, is still having some trouble adapting to the bike. DAVID SALOM | Triumph Daytona 675 | 5th in 1’36.252 : “My goal is to get on the podium tomorrow. I’m racing at home and I have to aim high. The practice I did with race setup turned out very positive as it was teaming up with Chaz when we helped each other exploiting one another’s wake. I’m a bit disappointed I didn’t get the front row, but I still have a very good starting position”. CHAZ DAVIES | Triumph Daytona 675 | 6th in 1’36.291 : “We found a very good setup and this gives me confidence for the race. It’s important that I have a good start and if I can get in the leading pack from the beginning, I think I can score a very good result”. JASON DI SALVO | Triumph Daytona 675 | 9th in 1’36.968 : “I’m particularly happy with my fastest lap. I still have some doubts though, mainly what tyres to choose. I’ll use the warm up session to make up my mind and hopefully will perform at my best”. MATTHIEU LAGRIVE | Triumph Daytona 675 | 13th in 1’37.774 : “I’m still having some trouble understanding the bike, when I push I’m not very efficient. I hope I’ll do better in race tomorow”. More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki: Lascorz and Fujiwara On The Valencia Front Row Both Kawasaki Motocard.com riders, Joan Lascorz and Katsuaki Fujiwara, challenged for pole today and took front row starts as a welcome reward for their combined efforts. Joan, riding in his home event in Spain, was on course for his second pole of the year with what was a new track best Supersport lap at the time, until Eugene Laverty went 0.082 seconds faster at the very end of the second and final qualifying session. Fujiwara used all his experience and skill to go fourth fastest today, and earn a front row start at one of his favourite circuits. His record at Valencia is formidable and he is in determined mood for Sunday’s 23-lap race. Weather conditions have been kind throughout practice, and those conditions are expected to continue into raceday. Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki rider Fabien Foret was seventh fastest and starts the race from row two of the grid. Joan Lascorz: “I was very close to the pole and it would have been nice to take it again, but the most important thing is to start on the front row. We had some small problems with the rear during practice but we worked hard and have improved it a lot. I think we know which tyre to use for tomorrow and the weather conditions should be the same as today. I think there will be four or five people in with the chance to win, including Katsuaki. It is good that he is on the front row as well, it is a strong team effort.” Katsuaki Fujiwara: “We made the front row and that is very important here – the perfect place as it is hard to overtake. To start from the front row is great. We improved our best lap time a little more today as well. We have completed many laps, working on set-up to prepare for the race. We set some good lap times, even at the end of the long runs. To have two Kawasakis on the front row is a nice reward for everyone’s hard work.” More, from a press release issued by Hannspree Ten Kate Honda: Kenan Sofuoglu set the third fastest time in this afternoon’s second qualifying session, taking a prized front row slot for tomorrow’s third round World Supersport championship race at Valencia in Spain. Pole position was set by Honda’s Eugene Laverty as Sofuoglu’s Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate, Michele Pirro, struggled to repeat his own third place performance from yesterday. The Italian will start from the second row, having set the eighth fastest time. Fresh from his victory at Portimao in Portugal last time out, Sofuoglu set the fastest time in this morning’s free practice, but changes in track conditions with higher temperatures in the afternoon, affected grip levels with his Honda CBR600RR. Pirro scored his debut World Supersport podium at the last round, but the 23-year-old acknowledges that more work will be required overnight if he is to challenge for a top position in tomorrow’s 23-lap race around the 4.005km Ricardo Tormo circuit. Kenan Sofuoglu P3, 1’36.002s I’m very happy, even though I was held up by some slower riders at the end of the qualifying session. My aim was to get a front row start and that is what we achieved today. Yesterday was very difficult and we changed a lot on the bike, which allowed me to be the fastest in practice this morning. This afternoon I found it easy to do fast laps so I am confident for the race tomorrow. It will be a big fight with the Kawasakis and Laverty, but I know that my bike is good enough to win. Michele Pirro P8, 1’36.593s Today was very difficult for me and we couldn’t find the right set-up for the bike. It’s hard to say where the problems are so we will need to have a look at the data and a long talk tonight with the technical guys to make a plan and find a way for tomorrow. If we had to race now, I would find it very difficult and we are struggling even to match the times from the winter test. But tomorrow is another day and we will use warm-up to try some new ideas. Then I will do my best in the race to repeat the result from last time. Ronald ten Kate team manager Of course, our mission for today was to have both riders on the front row for tomorrow’s race. The plan has half worked but setting up the CBR600RR around the circuit here is quite a difficult job. The track conditions change from one session to the next because of the changes in temperature. But we’ve closed the gap to the front runners and we’re looking forward to some good, close racing tomorrow.