FIM Supersport World Championship Nurburgring, Germany September 4, 2009 Free Practice One Results (wet conditions, all on Pirelli tires): 1. Cal CRUTCHLOW (Yamaha YZF-R6), 2:13.170 2. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Honda CBR600RR), 2:13.480 3. Garry MCCOY (Triumph Daytona 675), 2:15.119 4. Michele PIRRO (Yamaha YZF-R6), 2:15.120 5. Mark AITCHISON (Honda CBR600RR), 2:15.675 6. Joan LASCORZ (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 2:15.688 7. Anthony WEST (Honda CBR600RR), 2:15.861 8. Andrew PITT (Honda CBR600RR), 2:15.863 9. Eugene LAVERTY (Honda CBR600RR), 2:16.423 10. Barry VENEMAN (Honda CBR600RR), 2:17.314 11. Kevin WAHR (Triumph Daytona 675), 2:17.493 12. Arie VOS (Honda CBR600RR), 2:17.824 13. Sam LOWES (Honda CBR600RR), 2:17.887 14. Michael LAVERTY (Honda CBR600RR), 2:18.101 15. Katsuaki FUJIWARA (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 2:18.240 16. Massimo ROCCOLI (Honda CBR600RR), 2:18.642 17. Danilo DELL’OMO (Honda CBR600RR), 2:18.899 18. Miguel PRAIA (Honda CBR600RR), 2:19.150 19. Jesco GÃœNTHER (Honda CBR600RR), 2:19.241 20. Gianluca NANNELLI (Triumph Daytona 675), 2:19.478 More, from a press release issued by Parkalgar Honda: Work to do for Parkalgar Honda in Germany TODAY’S wet first practice session for the 11th round of the World Supersport Championship at the Nurburgring in Germany proved a tough test for the Parkalgar duo of Eugene Laverty and Miguel Praia who finished ninth and 18th with plenty of room for improvement. Championship leader Cal Crutchlow on a Yamaha was fastest around the 5.137km Nurburgring circuit in the tricky conditions. There is a practice and qualifying session tomorrow before the race takes place at 1325CET on Sunday, September 6th. Miguel: “My Parkalgar Honda is good but the weather conditions are very wet and cold. I took my time to settle in to the track in the rain, there is no sense pushing too hard in these conditions during practice. I am focussed on improving and challenging the top 10 again this weekend and I hope the sunshine returns for tomorrow and the race on Sunday.” Eugene: “I was trying relatively hard in that session but I couldn’t get a good sensation with the tyres as they were squirming; we need to look at pressures and I think that will solve the problem. The circuit seems less bumpy in the wet which is good but I would prefer it to be dry for the rest of the weekend. Don’t read too much into today’s position, we have work to do and will be better tomorrow.” Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “Both riders played it safe in the treacherous wet conditions – there are no points awarded today. Eugene needs to be closer to the front tomorrow and to put pressure on Cal Crutchlow; he needs to take the fight to the head of the timesheets. Miguel rode within himself and as he has proved in the last few races, he is better than 18th and we will be looking for him to improve as well. The forecast is for rain on Saturday and dry on Sunday so we will need to be sharp and on it from the off to get the best results this weekend.” Friday Practice Times 1 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 2’13.170 2 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 2’13.480 3 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 2’15.119 4 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 2’15.120 5 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 2’15.675 6 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 2’15.688 7 West A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 2’15.861 8 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 2’15.863 9 Laverty E. (IRL) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 2’16.423 10 Veneman B. (NED) Honda CBR600RR 2’17.314 18 Praia M. (POR) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 2’19.150. More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: Kenan Sofuoglu and Andrew Pitt were happy with the pace of their Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RRs at a wet Nurburgring in Germany today after the first practice session for Sunday’s 11th World Supersport championship round. Pitt was eighth fastest at the rain-lashed 5.13km circuit, as series leader Cal Crutchlow edged Sofuoglu into second place on the leader board by just three tenths of a second. The Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team has been working through the recent summer break, including undertaking two recent tests at Assen and Nurburgring itself, the latter during a general track day. The Ten Kate pairing have a further free practice session tomorrow morning before the afternoon qualifying session to determine the grid for Sunday’s 19-lap race. Kenan Sofuoglu P2, 2’13.480s I am quite happy with the performance for our first day here. I had a crash early in the session at the slow second corner when I got on the gas a little too early. It was a sign of some rear grip problems that we had early on but we managed to make some steps towards solving that problem. I could have gone faster for sure, but I prefer to keep making small steps forward and save a quick lap for tomorrow’s qualifying. But wet or dry, I’m happy with where we are and very happy to be back on the bike. Andrew Pitt P8, 2’15.863s I’ve actually got a smile on my face because the bike is working really well and the feeling is coming back. My last lap was going to push me up the leader board but it got a little messed up by a slower rider. Kenan tried a new engine mapping to improve acceleration, which is an area where we’ve been struggling. He seems really happy with it, so we’ll try that on our bike tomorrow and see how that goes. But the important thing is my confidence is growing with every lap and I’m enjoying riding the bike again. Ronald ten Kate team manager It’s a promising start to the weekend and it seems that we’re definitely making some good steps forward with our electronics and suspension set up. The recent tests have been very important for that. Both Kenan and Andrew are smiling again at the end of a session, which is a strong indicator of the amount of progress we have made. More, from a press release issued by Stiggy Racing Honda: After a six-week summer break it was back to business for Stiggy Racing Honda Supersport rider Anthony West as he set the seventh fastest time in his first outing in unfavorable wet and cold conditions at the Nurburgring in Germany today. Anthony West – an expert in the rain – managed to significantly lower his times in every lap despite running his machine on rough wet settings. The team will be testing new parts for their CBR600RR machines this weekend, and the Australian remains confident of being able to close the gap to fastest man Cal Crutchlow in the qualifying session. The single 60-minute practice session proved not enough for Gianluca Vizziello to master the German weather conditions and push out a fast lap time. His fastest time leaves him a couple of seconds off the pace, but the Italian rider is looking to improve the set-up of his machine and lower his lap times in qualifying session. Anthony West – 2’15.861s: 1C;It’s a bit of a shock to be riding in these cold conditions after spending my summer break in Australia. Today’s session did not go as well as I would have liked it, but I am not too far off. We have found the first rough set up for the wet at the moment. Will have to see what the weather does tomorrow and we’ll keep running to learn the track and make laps. I am confident I can improve a lot here on this track.” Gianluca Vizziello – 2’19.883s: 1C;It was important for me not to crash in these circumstances today. We have to understand the behaviour of the bike in these conditions. It looks like the weather is not going to change this weekend. The team is looking at the data now to see where we can make the improvements for tomorrow’s session. I still have some difficulties with the acceleration of the bike. We are on the right path, but will have to improve to make the connection with the front of the field.” Johan Stigefelt – Team Manager: “We have a good day here considering the cold and wet conditions. After a six-week break everyone is coming back into action. The riders pushed hard to improve their times today. Anthony had some issues with the setting of his machine, but he is confident there is a lot more to come in tomorrow’s session. Gianluca just needs some more time on-track to improve his lap times. We have some new engine parts to test here this weekend and I hope we will be able to get both riders to perform well in the race.” More, from a press release issued by ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Racing: Team ParkinGo Triumph BE1 Racing had a great day 1 as Garry McCoy set the third fastest provisional time on a wet track at the end of the first practice session at Nürburgring. Despite the rain, everything went as planned as the riders got to grips with the track. Gianluca Nannelli instead did not find a good setup and finished twentieth but is not worried. In fact, weather forecast predicts good weather and this should change things in the grid. GARRY McCOY | Triumph Daytona 675 | 3rd in 2’15.119: “My only goal today was to race as much as possible to get confident with the track and see how the bike would react on the wet track. I’m happy how things turned out. I set a very good time so the bike is competitive. I just hope the weather will be as forecast so I can fight for the top spot on dry surface as well”. GIANLUCA NANNELLI | Triumph Daytona 675 | 20th in 2’19.478: “I didn’t get a good feeling with the bike in the wet, especially on the forecarriage. I hope to perform better in qualifying tomorrow but in order to do so we have to make the right decisions in the morning practice session to get the right setup for my racing style”.