FIM Supersport World Championship Kyalami, South Africa May 15, 2009 Free Practice One Results (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Honda CBR600RR), 1:42.310 2. Eugene LAVERTY (Honda CBR600RR), 1:43.070 3. Andrew PITT (Honda CBR600RR), 1:43.178 4. Cal CRUTCHLOW (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:43.582 5. Joan LASCORZ (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:43.614 6. Garry MCCOY (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:44.211 7. Michele PIRRO (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:44.621 8. Katsuaki FUJIWARA (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:44.646 9. Matthieu LAGRIVE (Honda CBR600RR), 1:45.008 10. Mark AITCHISON (Honda CBR600RR), 1:45.067 11. Doni Tata PRADITA (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:45.183 12. Russell HOLLAND (Honda CBR600RR), 1:45.263 13. Gianluca NANNELLI (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:45.282 14. Massimo ROCCOLI (Honda CBR600RR), 1:45.552 15. Fabien FORET (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:45.608 16. Gianluca VIZZIELLO (Honda CBR600RR), 1:45.667 17. Robert PORTMAN (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:45.826 18. Danilo DELL’OMO (Honda CBR600RR), 1:45.892 19. Anthony WEST (Honda CBR600RR), 1:45.988 20. Miguel PRAIA (Honda CBR600RR), 1:46.149 More, from a press release issued by Parkalgar Honda: Laverty on the pace in South Africa PARKALGAR HONDA ace Eugene Laverty is on front-running pace at the sixth round of the World Supersport Championship at Kyalami in South Africa, leading the practice times with minutes to go and eventually finishing second fastest. Miguel Praia ended the day in 18th as he got to grip with the new-for-2009 circuit on the Championship calendar. Honda’s Kenan Sofuoglu was quickest. A further practice followed by a qualifying session takes place tomorrow before the race at 1325CET on Sunday, May 17th. Eugene: “That was pretty good; I am surprised how easy the lap times came. We expected the circuit to be bumpy and my Parkalgar Honda team made some preparations to the bike that let it work straight away. It was cold in the afternoon and the front felt a little harsh but we made some changes at the end and they worked and the lap time came down again. Because it was so cold I still haven’t made a decision on which front tyre to use. The rear tyre selection is made; the harder tyre simply doesn’t work around here. We’ll have a look at the gearing and chassis this evening to see if we can find a bit more for tomorrow.” Miguel: “I spent today getting used to the track and it was more difficult than I expected. I normally take time to get used to a circuit and here I stayed out for as long as possible to gain track knowledge. Of course, this means I am doing many laps on the same tyres and saving my good ones. We are working hard on set-up at this bumpy track. We will look at the data and I am sure I will get a little help from Eugene as he is doing so well. I think my settings on the Parkalgar Honda are not so bad and tomorrow I will put in new tyres and go for it.” Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “We are happy, Eugene has a good setting with his Parkalgar Honda which is working really well and has gelled with the track. He tried three gearing changes and minor suspension tweaks but that was all, which is testament to his technicians for giving him a good bike right from the off. Miguel is still getting to grips with the circuit and he will analyse his performance with the team tonight and I am sure find time tomorrow.” More, from a press release issued by Team YZF-Yamaha: Best performance of the year for Doni Tata Pradita The young Yamaha Indonesia rider was brilliant today in the second free practice session in Kyalami. He finished 11th, only 1.9 seconds behind the fastest rider. Doni Tata Pradita displayed today the great progress he has made. For his first time on this difficult track, he finished 11th with a time of 1’45.183 in the first free session, which is his best ever performance in any practice session since he started this season in the Supersport World Championship. Of course, there is now reason to get overexcited as it’s only the first day of the weekend, but still this is a very brilliant result that can only help Doni build his confidence. He was helped by his fast R6 with the third top speed. In the second session, Doni did very well again, with the 11th position, only 1.9 from the fastest time. In 1’43.407, he was one of the top men of the practice, and his Yamaha had the second maximum top speed. Doni Tata Pradita: “Fantastic! In the beginning it was hard because I had a hard tyre and I did many slides. But I kept running to know the track. After that we checked the bike and everything was OK. I put on a new tyre and pushed harder. I was not so fast going uphill, but I was quicker in the downhill sections. I have more confidence in the back now. It was a good start today and I will try harder tomorrow to get in the front positions. We have to change the setting because I have too much engine brake. Tomorrow, we will try a new engine mapping. I am feeling strong, I have no pain and my hand is OK. I hope to continue tomorrow.” Martial Garcia (team manager): “Doni is in great shape! The problems he had in the previous race are over. He doesn’t have cramps in his hand anymore as we use a longer brake lever. He likes the track very much, especially the blind corners. He is progressing constantly very well.” The Kyalami track Kyalami was built in 1961 and hosted its first F1 GP in 1967. It was modified in 1987 and 1991. Length is 4.246 km and minimum track width is 13 meters. The circuit is far from flat and maximum gradient is 8.80%. The start/finish straight is 470 meters long. Kyalami is 1500 meters above sea level. This altitude means reduced air quality which has a negative impact on engine performance. It also has an effect on tyre performance. Track layout is challenging with a wide variety of turns, from slow corners with a 15 meter radius to fast 162.485 meter radius turns. Some turns are flat but in others the track has camber. All this, plus Kyalami’s hilly nature means that riders have to make sure they stay fully focused for the whole lap. At Kyalami tyres wear very evenly. Grip level is good and the track is fairly even, plus the straights aren’t too fast. It’s a difficult track where the altitude means that engines don’t work as well as normal. Some of the South African riders who did well recently are Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki Superstock 1000 Pedercini in 2006 and 2007), Hudson Kennaugh (Yamaha) 5th at Donington in Supersport in 2008 and Lance Isaacs, 31st in WSBK in 1999 on a Ducati, 12th at Imola and 33rd in 2000 still on a Ducati, 12th at Laguna Seca. More, from a press release issued by Stiggy Racing Honda: Tough Kyalami Practice for Supersport Team The beautiful Kyalami track, located on the outskirts of South-Africa’s largest city Johannesburg, proved a hard track to tackle for the Stiggy Racing Honda Supersport Team in the opening Free Practice sessions today. A slighlty altered time schedule in force at Kyalami today, allowed the Supersport riders to get to grips with the track in two 45-minute long sessions, and prepare their machines for tomorrow’s official Qualifying Practice. West is eager to find form again and launch his attack at the South African podium this weekend to hold on to his fifth place in the championship. The Australian faced a tough two rounds in Assen and Monza, but is expected to make his much anticipated return to the top of the sheets in Kyalami this weekend. In the first free practice session West set his fastest time at 1’45.988s, and took a disappointing 19th place in the sheets. In the afternoon’s second practice West improved his time by a mere 1.6 seconds to 1’44.290s, but still found himself languishing at an unsatisfying 19th place. Team mate Gianluca Vizziello, found himself in the middle of the field in 16th place, after he set his best time in he improved his best time to 1’43.837s. Gianluca Vizziello, 1’43.837s: ” I am satisfied with my opening sessions here today, we have been able to locate the problem area’s and can now work on a solution. I am convinced we can improve a couple of positions in tomorrow’s qualifying. We have tried some different gearing in the sessions, and I’m happy with the improvement it made. Tomorrow I will work towards a better position on the grid for the race on Sunday. Anthony West, 1’44.290s: ” I had a tough session here today. I do not know why we struggle to set the same pace as the guys in front. I know I am capable of running consistently fast lap times, but we just could not put it together today. I hope I will have a better session tomorrow. It’s a technical track here and I want to qualify on the first rows to be able to ride a good race here on Sunday “. Johan Stigefelt, Teammanager: ” We have been struggling for answers here today. It is a new track for our team, but we should be able to close the gap, and not be too far behind the competition. At the moment we are running off the pace set by the fast guys. The team has analysed the gathered data, and will work on a solution to improve the pace tonight. Hopefully the results will pay off in tomorrow’s sessions “. Results FP2: 1. Sofuoglu 1’41.566s 2. Laverty 1’41.812s 3. Crutchlow 1’41.969s 16. Vizziello 1’43.837s 19. West 1’44.290s Introducing S2 Racing Swiss-based S2 Racing – the Holding Company of the Stiggy Racing Team – specialises in initiating and developing Sponsor, Marketing and Event strategies for the Motorsports Business. Gianluca Barbagallo, Vice President of the holding: ” S2 Racing and the Stiggy Racing Team have set up a partnership that targets to compete at the top of the Motorsport World Championships. For this year we have set our goal on achieving a top position in the Superbike World Championship”. Johan Stigefelt, Stiggy Racing Team Manager: ” Partnering with S2 Racing provides the solid foundation for our team and enables me to fully concentrate on the technical aspects. We have managed to put a great package together and are targeting to achieve the best possible results”. More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: Kenan Sofuoglu put the disappointment of Monza firmly behind him today by setting the fastest time on the opening day of round six of the World Supersport championship at Kyalami in South Africa. The Turkish Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider, admits it has taken a while to adapt to the new 2009 CBR600RR, but just five days after finishing in an uncharacteristic ninth place in Italy, Sofuoglu is enjoying being back at the top of the timing sheets. His team-mate, Andrew Pitt, is equally satisfied with progress on the new bike and set the fourth fastest time in today’s two 45-minute sessions the World Supersport riders being given an additional session because the championship has not visited Kyalami since 2002. Kenan Sofuoglu P1, 1’41.566s I know everyone else will go faster than today, but so can I no problem! Am very happy and feel that we have really made a big step forward with the new bike today. There are some areas we can look at still to make another improvement tomorrow, but it’s the first time I have really felt that I am working well with this CBR and being at the top again is a very nice feeling. Andrew Pitt P4, 1’42.511s We’re definitely getting there and we’ve found a level of consistency which allowed me to do a lot of laps. That was our main strength last year and it’s looking promising that we’ve found that again. Kenan has also shown that the new CBR has the outright speed as well so it’s looking good. Yes, we tested here in December but everyone got two sessions today so I think we’re close enough. I’ll just do a load more laps tomorrow but we’re definitely closer to where we want to be. Ronald ten Kate team manager It’s taken us a while to find our way with the new CBR600RR but that was definitely a good start to the weekend. It seems like we’ve started to dial in the machine now both on single fast laps and with consistency over longer runs. It’s good that we’re back at the top and we’ll look tonight to see where we can find some more improvement tomorrow. But, for now, it’s good to see some smiles back on faces. More, from a press release issued by ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Racing: Team ParkinGo Triumph BE1 Racing’s South African weekend kicks off in the best possible fashion as Garry McCoy and Gianluca Nannelli took sixth and seventh time respectively. The two riders set almost identical times: they both had a good feeling with the track in the morning practice and managed to find the right setup for their Daytona 675 later in the afternoon. However, both riders will try to repeat their performance and possibly top it tomorrow, when the starting grid will be decided. GARRY McCOY | Triumph Daytona 675 | 6th in 1’42.735 : “I believe I did a pretty good job today especially because I set a time of 1’43” after 25 laps with the same tyre. I later decided to get back to the pits, put on a hard tyre and keep the soft ones for tomorrow. Nevertheless, I managed to improve and, had I not found traffic, I could’ve even done better. I’m sure I can be faster by at least a second when I put on the soft tyre”. GIANLUCA NANNELLI | Triumph Daytona 675 | 7th in 1’42.797 : “I only vaguely remembered this track from the times I made my debut in the WSS in 2002. I have to say this is a track that fits my characteristics and as a result I did well with help from our great crew who is always working hard on the bike”. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha: Yamaha Supersport in the top five for free practice Yamaha World Supersport riders Cal Crutchlow and Fabien Foret took advantage of two free practice session in Kyalami today to test out some tyre choices for race weekend and work on their set-ups with the team. Crutchlow got straight onto the pace and was quick again on a new circuit for the British rider, ending the second session in third position just .25 of a second behind leader Sofuoglu. Team-mate Foret took longer to get up to speed today, having been upset by the morning crash of good friend and fellow French rider Regis Laconi who fell in the Superbike free practice. Foret went on to pick up his pace in the second session and ended the day fifth quickest, a second off the pace leader. Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha World Supersport Team, (3rd, 1’41.969) “It was good to get started learning the circuit and I’m really pleased that we’re still up there in the time sheets. We need to work on the settings for tomorrow so we can look to improve on the times. I managed to go quicker on the same tyres over the session so hoping for a couple steps better tomorrow as a result.” Fabien Foret, Yamaha World Supersport Team (5th, 1’42.597) “Today was a really tough day for me. It was very sad to see my good friend crash this morning, and it also reminded me of my crash last year in Brno. I managed to clear my head and found a good rhythm on the track. I need to come back tomorrow and pick up the pace again for the qualifying session.” Wilco Zeelenberg, Yamaha World Supersport Team “For Kyalami we have used more or less the set up from Monza. It looks that we still have a good base set up which adapts very quickly which is great. Cal seems to have found the pace straight away. Sofuoglu is currently faster but I think on fresh tyres, so we are happy with the first day’s progress. Tomorrow we have some new things to try and see if we can up the pace a bit. Today was difficult for Fabien, this morning was marred by his good friend Laconi crashing. In the second session he picked up and was a lot faster with his pace so it wasn’t so bad in the end and there’s more to come tomorrow I think.”