FIM Superbike World Championship Kyalami, South Africa May 15, 2009 Qualifying Session One Results (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Michel FABRIZIO (Ducati 1098 F09), 1:38.103 2. Jonathan REA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:38.506 3. Ben SPIES (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:38.600 4. Leon HASLAM (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:38.865 5. Shinya NAKANO (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:38.998 6. Noriyuki HAGA (Ducati 1098 F09), 1:39.055 7. Jakub SMRZ (Ducati 1098R), 1:39.230 8. Tom SYKES (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:39.258 9. Max BIAGGI (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 1:39.284 10. Ruben XAUS (BMW S1000 RR), 1:39.357 11. Carlos CHECA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:39.370 12. Sheridan MORAIS (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:39.388 13. Gregorio LAVILLA (Ducati 1098R), 1:39.389 14. Shane BYRNE (Ducati 1098R), 1:39.470 15. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9), 1:39.475 16. Ryuichi KIYONARI (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:39.788 17. Broc PARKES (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:39.961 18. David SALOM (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:40.105 19. Luca SCASSA (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:40.192 20. Karl MUGGERIDGE (Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9), 1:40.304 21. Tommy HILL (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:40.308 22. Fonsi NIETO (Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9), 1:40.544 23. Shaun WHYTE (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:41.737 24. Steve MARTIN (BMW S1000 RR), 1:42.015 More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: onathan Rea set the second fastest time in today’s opening qualifying session for the sixth round of the 2009 World Superbike championship at Kyalami in South Africa, earning himself a provisional front row start for Sunday’s races. The 22-year-old Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider underlined his third quickest time from this morning’s free practice session, making a small change to his Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade between the two sessions at the 4.24km Kyalami circuit just outside Johannesburg. His team-mate, Carlos Checa, second fastest this morning, was only able to set the 11th fastest time this afternoon. However, the Spaniard is confident of improvement again in tomorrow’s qualifying, free practice and Superpole sessions. Jonathan Rea P2, 1’38.506s We made a good step forward between the two sessions, just by softening up the front and adjusting the ride height. The track is really quite bumpy so a softer setting is needed, and that made things a little easier. The crew and I will have a look at the data, because we had a small chatter problem, which we’ll try to eliminate tomorrow and see where else we can improve. Carlos Checa P11, 1’39.390s This morning was fine and in the early part of this afternoon’s session but we changed bikes and I was not able to make any improvement or use the grip offered by a softer tyre. I think perhaps we went a little too soft to try to cure a small chatter problem, but that setting did not work when I tried to push harder at the end of the session, so I could not improve my time. Ronald ten Kate team manager Yes, Jonathan did a good job today and put in several quick laps in succession so there is a good level of consistency, too. Things just didn’t gel for Carlos in the afternoon session but, fur sure, we’re confident that he can make the step back up to the top again tomorrow. More, from a press release issued by Xerox Ducati: ON THE BACK OF HIS MONZA WIN, FABRIZIO (DUCATI XEROX) IS FASTEST IN FIRST QUALIFYING AT KYALAMI Kyalami (South Africa) Friday 15th May: Ducati Xerox rider Michel Fabrizio, with the bit between his teeth and undoubtedly spurred on by his maiden win at Monza last week, took to the Kyalami track today with a perceptible determination, to top the time sheets in both the morning free practice session as well as this afternoon’s first qualifying. Noriyuki Haga meanwhile concluded this first day in sixth position, having made various changes throughout the session to try to resolve problems with the front suspension. In the first qualifying session of the weekend, on a track that had cooled significantly since the morning’s practice, five riders ducked under the 1m39 barrier with Michel lapping fastest, with a lap time four tenths faster than that recorded by second-placed Honda rider Jonathan Rea. The injury that Noriyuki sustained to his right bicep during last weekend’s Monza round remains sore, and prevented him from performing at the maximum level, however the treatment that he is receiving from the doctors at the Clinica Mobile allowed him to ride without particular problems. Last here in December when he participated in winter testing, Ducati man Michel Fabrizio topped the time sheets on each of the three days, with a fastest time of 1m39.7s, recorded on the third and final day. Team-mate Noriyuki, riding the 1198 for the first time during those tests, registered a fastest lap time of 1m39.9s. Michel Fabrizio 1m38.1s “Everything has gone well so far. After the win and second place at Monza I’ve arrived here ready for action. We were fast right from the beginning of this morning’s practice and this made it easier to improve further during the qualifying. We’ll see tomorrow but I’m sure that to remain ahead I need to go a few tenths faster than I have today. I’m aware that I’m 21 points off second place in the championship and knowing this only spurs me on further!” Noriyuki Haga 1m39.0s “Physically, I’ve not had too many problems and my arm already feels better this afternoon compared to this morning but it’s getting tired easily and I haven’t been able to put together many consecutive laps. The bike isn’t copying the uneven track surface and this puts more strain on my arm. Anyway, today the bike has felt similar to how it did during winter testing which is a good thing but tomorrow we need to try a different setting to improve on times and get us to the front of the pack.” More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: Troy Corser will not be racing in Kyalami this coming weekend. The Aussie took a severe battering in two hard crashes in Monza last weekend and it was felt that it would be better for him to give the South African round a miss and get fully fit for the USA round. Troy “There have been many crashes at the first chicane, so maybe it is about time that the circuit thought about how to change it. The crashes are always caused by somebody coming from behind, never by the front runners. One minute I was going into the corner and the next minute I was down. I guess the bike hitting my neck and back did most of the damage and perhaps I should not have gone out for the restart, but at the time I felt OK. Another crash! On Sunday evening I sat down with Berti (BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s director) and together we decided to give Kyalami a miss. I am still having problems with the cracked bone in my left hand and that makes changing the bike’s direction not so easy. Normally, this bone takes six weeks or s to heal, so racing every other weekend is not doing it any good. Also, I suffered a little concussion in the Monza crash and that together with the cracked bone is enough. Kyalami is a very physical circuit and it’s also quite bumpy and that is not good for my hand. So we decided to sit out Kyalami and give my hand a chance to get better and be in a better condition for USA at the end of the month. More, from a press release issued by Stiggy Racing Honda: Haslam Fourth in First Kyalami Qualifying Under a clear blue African sky and in mild winter temperatures, the first day of qualifying for the sixth round of the Superbike World Championship, took place at Kyalami today. Despite their absence from the official Pirelli test for factory teams last December, the Stiggy Racing Honda team remains well on track with development of their CBR1000RR Superbike, and Leon Haslam is eager to continue the momentum and mount a fresh charge at the rostrum in South Africa this weekend. Haslam opened the first free practice session by posting the fourth best time of 1’40.137s on the technical Kyalami track, and placed himself firmly between the competition in the top regions of the time sheets. In the Qualifying practice Haslam once again managed to set consistently fast lap times, and further lowered his best time to 1’39.211s. He followed Rea and Fabrizio under the 1.39s mark in the ultimate minutes of the session, and claimed a provisional front row start in a fourth fastest time of 1’38.865s. Provisional pole was taken by Fabrizio – who already showed his dominance in Kyalami during the official Pirelli test last December – followed by Rea in second and Spies in third. Haslam makes a solo performance for the Stiggy Racing Team in Kyalami as team mate John Hopkins is still on his way to recovery after his nasty crash at the Assen round, and Jake Zemke – who replaced Hopkins in the Monza round – has obligations to ride in the American Championship this weekend. Leon Haslam, 1’38.865s: ” I had a good session, especially the first free practice went really well. We were playing around with the gearing and different set-ups. This morning I had a few chattering issues, but we made some small improvements and solved the problems. I just really have to focus on trying and finding the right tyre now. I’ve been able to set good lap times on all three tyres, while the guys in front of me could only set their fast laps on the soft tyre. I feel comfortable on both tyres, we’ll just have to figure out tomorrow which one will be better over a race distance. We still have a few minor changes to make in the suspension, and maybe some changes to the gearing, but overall I am pretty happy with the results so far and feel very confident “. Johan Stigefelt, Teammanager: ” Leon has some knowledge of the track as he tested here in 2006. We have been competitive in both sessions today, and have even been able to make some long runs. We just have to make some small adjustments to the bike for tomorrow’s sessions. At the moment everything is looking really good. The bike is still not set-up for the full 100 percent, but we will work on it tonight and make some further improvements to give Leon a better feeling and improve his lap times in tomorrow’s qualifying sessions “. More, from a press release issued by InFront Motorsports: KYALAMI 6th ROUND 15TH, 16TH AND 17TH MAY 2009 Kyalami, Friday 15th May 2009 Fabrizio leads the way in opening Kyalami qualifying Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) continued his recent run of positive form as he powered to the provisional pole in the opening qualifying session for the sixth round of the Hannspree FIM Superbike World Championship at Kyalami. The 24-year-old Italian, who dominated the pre-season testing session here last December, set a new official benchmark of 1 minute 38.103 seconds around the 4.246 km circuit. Second place went to Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), the British rider four-tenths of a second behind Fabrizio, as he continued his good form of late. Texan rookie sensation Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike) moved up from 14th to third in the last few minutes of the session, while Leon Haslam (Stiggy Racing Honda) was back up at the front with the final provisional front row slot. Shinya Nakano was next up for Aprilia, followed by points leader Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox), whose arm is still swollen following last Sunday’s incident at Monza. Jakub Smrz (Guandalini Ducati), Tom Sykes (Yamaha World Superbike), Max Biaggi (Aprilia) and Ruben Xaus (BMW) make up the top 10, while South African champion Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki World Superbike Racing Team) caused a few eyebrows to be raised at one point as he was running in an impressive third place before ending the session in twelfth. Suzuki Alstare riders Yukio Kagayama and Fonsi Nieto, in for the injured Max Neukirchner, struggled today, finishing in 15th and 22nd position respectively During the first lap of the morning’s free practice session, Regis Laconi (Ducati DFX) crashed in the section between Turn 11 and Turn 12. Unfortunately in the crash the French rider, despite not hitting any obstacle, suffered a severe trauma to the cervical vertebrae. Transported by helicopter to the nearby Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg, Laconi is reported as being on the danger list. The serious injuries suffered mean that an operation will be required, which will be carried out by a neurological specialist in the next few hours. Times: 1. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’38.103; 2. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’38.506; 3. Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1’38.600; 4. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’38.865; 5. Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’38.998; 6. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1’39.055; 7. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1’39.230; 8. Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1’39.258; 9. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’39.284; 10. Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1’39.357; Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1’39.370; 12. Morais S. (RSA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’39.388; 13. Lavilla G. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1’39.389; 14. Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1’39.470; 15. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’39.475; 16. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1’39.788 World Supersport There was a spectacular three-way battle for the quickest time of the day in the Supersport category. It looked as if it was going the way of Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha World Supersport), but then Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) and Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) managed to dip under his time. In the end the quickest mark was set by the 2007 Supersport champion Sofuoglu with a time of 1 minute 41.566 seconds. Fourth place went to reigning champion Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), the Australian almost a second behind his team-mate. Fabien Foret’s positive form is continuing for Yamaha World Supersport, as the Frenchman took his R6 to fifth place, where can also be found the two ParkinGo Triumph Be1 machines of Garry McCoy and Gianluca Nannelli. Season revelation Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Provec) was also on good form in eighth position, while major progress was made by Indonesian rider Doni Tata Pradita (YZF Yamaha), who was eleventh quickest. Times: 1. Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1’41.566; 2. Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 1’41.812; 3. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1’41.969; 4. Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1’42.511; 5. Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’42.597; 6. McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 1’42.735; 7. Nannelli G. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 1’42.797; 8. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’42.823. More, from a press release issued by BMW Motorrad Motorsports: RUBEN IN TOP TEN! Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport rider Ruben Xaus rode superbly on the first day of qualifying at Kyalami and put his S1000 RR into the top ten. Ruben’s lap of 1:39.357 was less than 1.3 seconds slower than the provisional pole time of 1:38.103 set by Michel Fabrizio (DucatI), but was just one of his many consistent laps. Ruben’s team mate this weekend, Steve Martin, used today to get familiar with the bike, try different set-ups and gain confidence. Ruben – 10th, 1:39.357 Considering that this is our debut year, to finish in the top ten on day one is very good, especially when you see how close the lap times are. I’m happy because I have gone 2.7 seconds faster today then when we tested here in December. I think I have also adapted to the bike better now and, as far as I am concerned, everything is improving. And, good news, because finally I didn’t have a ‘black Friday!’ Steve – 24th, 1:42.015 Generally I am quite happy with how the day has gone and there have been no problems. I managed to feel what’s going on with the tyres and try different set-ups. I haven’t raced in World Superbikes for four years, so there are no expectations on me. Since the first time I tested the bike (in spring last year) it has come on in leaps and bounds and it is still getting better. All we’re really missing is time on the bike to try different things and improve it. It’s always hard to do that at the racetrack, especially when you consider how competitive the championship is this year. Berti Hauser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director) The team have worked hard and done a good job today. I am very happy with Ruben’s performance, especially as he didn’t have his usual ‘black Friday’. He did consistently good laps and was able to still be fast at the end, which is perfect. Steve has also done a good job and he will improve the more track time he gets. He is giving the team good information and feedback and we are very happy to have him deputising for Troy this weekend. STEVE MARTIN – THE PERFECT DEPUTY Steve Martin was born in Australia, but now lives in Switzerland with Sandra and their two and a half years old son, Axel. In World Superbikes, Steve is a very well-known and popular figure. Currently he is one of the live commentators on World Superbikes for InFront and is heard in USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. But that’s not his only work this year, for he is also taking part in the World Endurance Championship. He insists that he does this championship just for fun, but he did win this year’s Le Mans 24 hours. Now aged 40, Steve raced in World Superbikes from 2001, when he was employed as a test rider (in a race team) and helped develop the tyres for Pirelli before they became the sole tyre supplier to the championship in 2004. Steve won the Australian Superbike Championship in 1999 and was runner-up in the World Endurance Championship in 2008. He has been Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s test rider since spring last year and did not have to think too hard when he was offered the job of standing in for fellow countryman Troy Corser in Kyalami. More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki Press Office: The first day of practice and qualifying for the sixth-round World Superbike Championship at Kyalami in South Africa was a difficult one for Team Suzuki Alstare Brux. Yukio Kagayama struggled with the bumpy nature of the 4.263 kilometre circuit and finished 15th while Fonsi Nieto, standing in for injured Max Neukirchner, has never raced at the track before or ridden the new GSX-R1000 K9 Suzuki: He used the day to learn the bike and the track and ended with the 22nd best time. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) posted the day’s fastest lap with a time of 1:38.103. Second quickest was Jonathan Rea (Honda) with Ben Spies (Yamaha) third. Yukio Kagayama – 15th, 1:39.475: “We started with the set-up we used when we tested here last December, but my bike didn’t work as well. The track feels bumpier to me and that meant I could not push as hard as I wanted. We improved the bike in the afternoon, but many other riders went faster, so I ended 15th. My main problem today was the bumps, but the rear tyre was also spinning in a couple of corners, so tomorrow we will try some suspension changes to see if we can make any improvements.” Fonsi Nieto – 22nd, 1:40.544: “New track, new bike and a lot to learn today for me. Fortunately I know the team very well and they have helped me a lot. I am very happy to be back in World Superbikes and I feel as if I have never been away because this team is so good. The K9 bike is very different to last year’s bike, but I hope to learn everything fast and keep on improving. I don’t particularly like this track because for me it is very bumpy and dangerous in some places.” More, from a press release issued by Team Sterilgarda: Team Sterilgarda shows signs of recovery as Shane Byrne finished fourteenth at Kyalami in the first qualifying practice session, at only one second and three tenths behind Michel Fabrizio, who powered to the provisional pole today, and at four tenths of a second away from fifth place. It was a positive result, given the fact that the Englishman is one of the few riders of today’s top 15 who does not know the South African track, unlike most of the official riders who tested at Kyalami last winter. In spite of everything, Byrne improved his time from the first session by a second. SHANE BYRNE | Ducati 1098R | 14th in 1’39.470: “We figured out what was the problem that prevented us from scoring a good result last weekend at Monza. However, we kept working hard and it looks like the results are getting slightly better. I like this track a lot but we have to improve and with a good setup we can definitely do well both in the Superpole and in the race”. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha: Spies and Sykes hunt for the perfect set-up in South Africa Yamaha rider Ben Spies had a steady first day of qualifying at the Kyalami circuit in South Africa today. Spies spent the day working through some small issues to improve the set-up of the bike in advance of tomorrow’s second qualifying session and afternoon Superpole heats. Although hunting for the perfect set-up, Spies was still very strong in the session, ending in third position, behind Rea and Fabrizio. Team-mate Tom Sykes managed to find a relatively good pace from the outset today, although he did struggle with the set-up of his bike and will work on larger changes in advance of Saturday’s sessions to ensure he gets a faster pace and move further up the pack. He finished the first qualifying session in eighth position, ahead of Aprilia rider Max Biaggi. Issues facing both riders in finding a good set-up include corner entry speed, and the surface of the Kyalami track itself. There are a large number of bumps on the circuit, making it difficult to fine tune the set up for race day. The World Superbike Championship is back in South Africa and the Kyalami circuit this weekend for the first time since 2002. The championship has undergone major changes since the last visit, including a single tyre rule and a wealth of new team entries. Only three riders in this weekend’s line up were present at the last race, Noriyuki Haga, Broc Parkes and Rueben Xaus, making it a more level playing field for Yamaha rookies. The Yamaha team also tested in Kyalami last year, meaning they come to the track with valuable data and a good set up to start with, although the bike they ran here previously was a far less developed machine than the current incarnation of the 2009 R1 race bike. Ben Spies, Yamaha World Superbike Team, (3rd, 1’38.600) “We’ve been going through the motions today, working things out with the bike as we’ve struggled with a couple of points. We haven’t really gone crazy but been steady, and will make some more changes now so we can get ready to turn it up tomorrow and get on it.” Tom Sykes, Yamaha World Superbike Team (8th, 1’39.258) “We’ve been working out a couple of changes for tomorrow, we’re going to change the geometry of the bike to help around the circuit, which should make me quicker. I’m looking forward to being stronger on the circuit and faster as a result. We tried some good tyres today and found a good race pace. I’m looking to be the fastest though so with the changes for tomorrow we should be in for big improvements.” Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha World Superbike Team Manager “We have been working on the bike set up today, it’s not perfect yet. We’ve also been working with the race tyres, both riders have done lots of laps on the same tyres which we think we’ll use in the race, they’ve been performing well and the pace is pretty good. Tonight we’re going to go through the feedback from the riders, and analyse the data we’ve gathered and work on improving the bike set up for tomorrow’s qualifying sessions and Superpole.” The Yamaha France GMT 94 IPONE Team will have South African rider Shaun Whyte in place of David Checa for the Kyalami race weekend.