Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Chambon leads Supersport at Silverstone

By Glenn Le Santo

Stephane Chambon took provisional pole at Silverstone as the World Supersport Championship riders got their first look at the controversial new chicane at Silverstone.

Many riders complained about the very tight chicane built in place of the fast final Woodcote turn. The modifications were forced upon the track because the original turn doesn’t have enough run-off to satisfy homologation rules. But the feeling is amongst most riders that the chicane is a ‘Mickey Mouse’ answer to a problem better solved with some obviously more expensive remodelling.

Chambon might not have been able to retain his provisional top spot if it hadn’t been for a big pile-up at the end of the session that put paid to the flying laps of the Ten Kate Honda duo, Karl Muggeridge and Chris Vermeulen. Both were out on qualifiers for a stab at pole when a three-bike pile up left the circuit covered in debris. The incident involved Sebastien Charpentier, Didier Vankeymeulen and Dean Thomas, and no-one was hurt.

World Supersport Championship
Round six, Silverstone, 13-14-15 June 2003

First Qualifying, best times:
1. S Chambon, FRA, Suzuki, 1:57.354
2. K Muggeridge, AUS, Honda, 1:57.432
3. B Parkes, AUS, Honda, 1:57.487
4. T VD Bosch, FRA, Yamaha, 1:57.580
5. S Sanna, ITA, Yamaha, 1:57.584
6. P Riba, ESP, Kawasaki, 1:57.775
7. C Vermeulen, AUS, Honda, 1:57.806
8. A Corradi, ITA, Yamaha, 1:58.071
9. R Ulm, AUT, Honda, 1:58.079
10. I MacPherson, GBR, Honda, 1:58.116


More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:

HONDA’S MUGGERIDGE ON PACE AT NEW-LOOK SILVERSTONE

Honda CBR600RR rider Karl Muggeridge continued his pace-setting style as he took second place, behind provisional pole position man Stephane Chambon, in Friday afternoon’s opening qualifying session for Sunday¹s sixth round of the World Supersport championship at Silverstone, GB.

Muggeridge, fastest for much of the session, is looking for a third successive pole position and the Australian is confident his Ten Kate CBR600RR can help him achieve that.

“I reckon I could have gone fastest but I was too aggressive, trying too hard,” Muggeridge admitted. “But I’ll take second from the opening day. We¹ve got a few small changes to make for tomorrow and try a few different suspension settings but we’re not far away from a good race set-up now.”

BKM Honda’s Broc Parkes was third quickest, the CBR600RR ace said: “I never qualify that well so to get on the front row on a Friday is good news ­ especially as I know what lap time I can do on a race tyre. Tomorrow we’ll be chasing the perfect race set-up.”

Yamaha’s Supermoto world champion Thierry van den Bosch completes the provisional front row in fourth place. Simone Sanna recorded the fifth best time with Kawasaki’s Pere Riba sixth and championship leader Chris Vermeulen seventh.

Vermeulen commented: “We had a bit of a play around with some suspension changes but I ran out of time. On what should have been my best lap there was a crash and grass on the track everywhere.”

Italian Yamaha rider Alessio Corradi was eighth with Austrian Robert Ulm, aboard the Klaffi team’s CBR600RR Honda, ninth. Ulm said: “This is my first time at Silverstone so I’m pleased with today¹s performance. I seem to be pretty quick through the new, final chicane which is where many riders are struggling.”

Iain MacPherson completes the provisional top 10, on his Van Zon Honda, the Scotsman said: “The final chicane is my only real problem. I feel like I’m losing a lot of time there, other than that everything is really good.”

MacPherson’s team-mate Werner Daemen took 13th spot, he admitted: “I got held up at the final chicane on my fast lap so I know there’s around half-a-second to come off my time yet. I was really worried this morning about set-up but we’ve got the machine working much better this afternoon.”

Sebastien Charpentier ended the day 14th fastest on his Klaffi Honda despite crashing in the closing stages of the 45-minute afternoon qualifying session.

Charpentier said: “There must have been oil down or something. I was flat out in fifth gear and the next thing I knew I was down. I’m OK though so I should be OK to improve tomorrow.”

BKM Honda’s Christophe Cogan was another victim of the crash at the end of the session, even though he stayed upright the fit-again Frenchman missed out on his final, flying lap.

“My attempt at a fast lap was ruined by yellow flags but other than that I feel pretty confident,” said Cogan. “The injuries from my Monza crashes are healed now and I¹m hoping for a good finish on Sunday.”