FIM Supersport World Championship Monza, Italy May 9, 2008 Provisional Qualifying Results: 1. Josh BROOKES (Hon CBR600RR), 1:50.334 2. Fabien FORET (Yam YZF-R6), 1:50.774 3. Broc PARKES (Yam YZF-R6), 1:50.817 4. Andrew PITT (Hon CBR600RR), 1:50.969 5. Gianluca NANNELLI (Hon CBR600RR), 1:51.361 6. Craig JONES (Hon CBR600RR), 1:51.392 7. Jonathan REA (Hon CBR600RR), 1:51.411 8. Gianluca VIZZIELLO (Hon CBR600RR), 1:51.497 9. Barry VENEMAN (Suz GSX-R600), 1:51.609 10. Massimo ROCCOLI (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.855 11. Katsuaki FUJIWARA (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:51.963 12. Robbin HARMS (Hon CBR600RR), 1:51.981 13. Chris WALKER (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:52.114 14. Cristiano MIGLIORATI (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:52.157 15. Angel RODRIGUEZ (Yam YZF-R6), 1:52.174 16. Matthieu LAGRIVE (Hon CBR600RR), 1:52.314 17. Vesa KALLIO (Hon CBR600RR), 1:52.346 18. Joan LASCORZ (Hon CBR600RR), 1:52.421, mechanical 19. Miguel PRAIA (Hon CBR600RR), 1:52.728 20. Mark AITCHISON (Tri Daytona 675), 1:52.737 21. David SALOM (Yam YZF-R6), 1:52.760 22. Garry MCCOY (Tri Daytona 675), 1:52.825 23. Didier VAN KEYMEULEN (Suz GSX-R600), 1:52.982 24. Lorenzo ALFONSI (Hon CBR600RR), 1:52.985 25. Danilo DELL’OMO (Hon CBR600RR), 1:52.991 More, from a press release issued by Parkalgar Honda: Fast forward for Parkalgar Honda PARKALGAR HONDA racers Craig Jones and Miguel Praia finished first qualifying in sixth and 19th places for the fifth round of the World Supersport Championship at Monza in Italy and both are delighted with the performance of their CBR600 race bikes. British ace Craig and his Portuguese team mate Miguel led each other round and benefited from drafting at the high-speed 5.793km circuit. The Parkalgar Hondas were amongst the fastest bikes through the traps and that gives both riders high hopes for Sunday’s race. “The lap here is so fast it is all about top speed and our Parkalgar Hondas are faring really well – we are the fastest Hondas on the track,” said Craig. “Because the lap is so long it is quite easy to make time up, so today was all about getting up to speed rather than outright lap times. “For tomorrow we will make some minor changes to the gearing and then I want to improve my qualifying position, get on the front row and then back on the podium on race day.” Miguel is delighted with his race bike and has asked his technicians not to change anything; he expects to find more time from within himself. He said: “My Parkalgar Honda is quick and really well set-up for me. I need to find more time from my riding style. “I think riding with Craig today has helped and given me some ideas to consider – I am learning a lot. Tomorrow I will do all I can to improve and be within the top 15, I think this is possible as my bike is so fast and that is important at this track.” Parkalgar Honda Team Manager Simon Buckmaster said: “All the hard work on the engines and on the bench is really showing here at Monza in the performance of our Parkalgar Hondas. “We know we have fast bikes and tomorrow we will be concentrating on race set-up and race runs so we have the best package possible to compete on Sunday. With rain forecast for the race time, it is going to be an exciting weekend.” Honda’s Josh Brookes is on provisional pole position. There are further practice and qualification sessions tomorrow, followed by the race on Sunday, May 11th, at 1320 CET. It can be viewed live on www.worldsbk.com. For more information on Parkalgar Honda, qualifying and race reports, a unique view on racing from Team Manager Simon Buckmaster and free to download images, visit www.parkalgar-honda.com. More, from a press release issued by Scuderia Triumph-SC: RUGGERO SCAMBIA SUBSTITUES ILARIO DIONISI (Monza Italy May 9, 2008) Starting from the next round at Monza the young rider Ruggero Scambia will be the substitute rider for Ilario Dionisi on the Team Triumph-SC Daytona 675 Supersport. Team manager Stefano Caracchi commented: “Following personal requirement of the rider as well of the team we are unfortunately forced to stop our co-operation with Ilario Dionisi, who will be substituted by Ruggero Scambia. Hereby I wont to thank sincerely Ilario for his zeal during the difficult starting time of the championship and I’m confident to intent to have his contribute in an early future. For the moment I could just wish him all the success that his talent merits.” Ruggero Scambia was born in Orvieto (Umbria) in October 24, 1985 and started racing in 2005 riding an Aprilia 125 Production in the Coppa Italia series, a trophy that contested also in the following season winning a rece in Magione circuit, finishing four times on the podium and ending at the 3rd position in the final ranking. During the 2007 season, after some event on a 125GP, moved to 600 Superstock, on which he showed a promising potential in the national events. More, from another press release issued by Scuderia Triumph-SC: DIFFICULTIES FOR TRIPLES AT MONZA IN THE FIRST PRACTICE DAY (Monza Italy May 9, 2008) The ultra fast Monza circuit gave hard difficulties to the English three cylinder machines in this first day of the Italian round of the WSBK Championship on the 5793 meters of the historical circuit situated in Milano’s hinterland. After a free practice session full of mechanical and electric troubles fr the afternoon qualifying the bike of Garry McCoy performed a little better, but the Australian “King of Sliding” has been not able to do better as 22nd position, clearly far from the leaders. That was the day’s comment of Garry McCoy: “Today has been a very difficult day, characterized by a lot of problems suffered by both the machines during the morning’s session. A little better has been in the afternoon, but the final result isn’t exciting, also because I always rode alone, whitout the possibility of slipstream aid, that is a heavy disadvantage looking at the top speed. Now the team is working to find a solution, but I’m afraid to have a difficult week end.” The debut day of the newcomer Ruggero Scambia has been of course totally focused to get confidence with the bike and the ambience: “What could I say? I’m satisfied that I haven’t cause damages! Today I moved my first pace on this bike and the day has been totally spent to learn the bike and its reactions, so I could only be satisfied. Tomorrow I’ll look for something more, but I believe that the small paces politic would be the better in my situation.” More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: Foret and Parkes well placed after day one at Monza Yamaha World Supersport Team riders Fabian Foret and Broc Parkes finished second and third respectively after the first day of qualifying at Monza, after a busy period of action at the classic Italian parkland venue. Air temperatures hit 28°C during the qualifying session, in which 37 riders attempted to qualify for Sunday’s race. Foret was held up at the Lesmo corners on his fastest lap, losing some time to fastest qualifier Joshua Brookes.Foret is happy with his basic machine set-up and aims to take his first win of the year on Sunday. Parkes was unsure if he could ride at all even one day before the start of qualifying. Despite his recent left hand, elbow and wrist injuries, suffered during an Assen practice crash and a subsequent fall from a mountain bike in training, Parkes gritted his teeth to take a strong third, only 0.043 seconds behind Foret. Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) was the next best Yamaha rider on day one, securing tenth place at his first home event of 2008. Angel Rodriguez continued to show strong form as replacement rider for regular Yamaha Spain World Supersport rider David De Gea. He qualified 15th overall, with his team-mate David Salom 21st today. Both are hopeful of improvements for tomorrow’s final qualifying session. Fabien Foret (2nd – 1’50.774 – Yamaha World Supersport Team) “I’m reasonably happy so far, but I expected to do a little bit better. On my fast laps I found Lascorz, who was pushing hard but just going slower than me, and I could not pass him before the Lesmo corners. I lost some speed there. I kept pushing anyway and got a 1’50.7, but I think there was more to come, maybe two or three tenths. Tomorrow should be OK, and the main thing is get ready for the races. I would be happy with a normal start in the race on Sunday, never mind a good one!” Broc Parkes (3rd – 1’50.817 – Yamaha World Supersport Team) “I have no power at all in my left arm and I can’t change direction properly. I am very pleasantly surprised at my result today because yesterday I didn’t even know if it was possible to ride the bike. I was already very happy with a top ten in free practice this morning so to be top three this afternoon was unbelievable. Every day my condition improves.Sunday will be tough, but I feel I can get a little bit better and stay in the slipstream in the races. That aspect is possible because of our bike, which is quite fast. We put some padding on the back of the fuel tank and some grip panels on the side, so I can use my knees to help under braking, but I just feel I can’t move around.” Wilco Zeelenberg (Team Manager, Yamaha World Supersport Team “Broc was good today considering he is carrying a couple of recent injuries. He is less than a tenth from Fabien, and they both like the track here. The bikes are running well and we have no real issues so far, so it is a case of following the path we are on, joining up the dots tomorrow. We can see in the times that no-one will be able to break away so it is a case of making sure our riders will be in there on Sunday. We need to be near the front at the start of the race because all things are possible at Monza when you get away with the front group.” Massimo Roccoli (10th – 1’51.855 – Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) “I had a little problem today with the front of the bike chattering and pushing me wide so tomorrow we will change to another tyre choice to see if that makes the difference. With better settings I know we can go faster.” Angel Rodriguez: (15th – 1’52.174 – Yamaha Spain) “This is my first race at Monza. I don´t know the track, and I´ll need to know every corner, every part, for the race. Unfortunately, I crashed this morning during the free session and we had to use the second bike for the qualifying session. Even so, I improved my time by more than a second.” David Salom: (21st – 1’52.760 – Yamaha Spain) “I hope to improve my time and go faster tomorrow. I like this circuit, it’s fun to ride, fast, with heavy braking and a mix of fast and slow corners. My injured hand is better, it gives me just a little pain under braking, but it’s not an excuse. Tomorrow we´ll improve for sure.” More, from a press release issued by Triumph BE1 Racing: Triumph BE1 Racing spent the first day of qualifying at Monza working on the base setting. The riders tested several setting on a track on which they haven’t any previous marker. Ivan Clementi tried a long final sprocket which changed the geometry of the bike, but it wasn’t enough to get a satisfying result. Tomorrow the Italian rider will set back the trim which gives him the opportunity to record the sixth best time in Assen, and he said to feel confident about recovering some position on the starting grid. On the other hand Mark Aitchison liked the setting made by the team and he will resume the work tomorrow. The free practice session of the second day will be crucial for both the riders. IVAN CLEMENTI | Triumph 675 | 29th time in 1’53.580: “I tested a new type of rear shock, coupled to a longer lever arm, but on this track it didn’t work. We already know what we are going to change tomorrow in order to recover some rear girp. The lack of it, indeed, gave me a lot of problems today”. MARK AITCHISON | Triumph 675 | 20th time in 1’52.737: “It has been a good Friday. I was a little bit worried about the speed gap to Honda and Yamaha. On the contrary my bike was the quickest one of the first timed session and I want to thank my engine-man Daniele Corradini. Tomorrow my goal will be to finish into the first three rows of the starting grid”.