FIM Supersport World Championship

Losail International Circuit, Qatar

November 1, 2014

Qualifying Results (all on Pirelli tires):

1. Jules CLUZEL, France (MV Agusta F3 675), 2:01.851

2. Michael VD MARK, Netherlands (Honda CBR600RR), 2:02.223

3. Lorenzo ZANETTI, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), 2:02.245

4. Rathapark WILAIROT, Thailand (Honda CBR600RR), 2:02.261

5. Jack KENNEDY, Ireland (Honda CBR600RR), 2:02.356

6. Lucas MAHIAS, France (Yamaha YZF-R6), 2:02.408

7. Kev COGHLAN, UK (Yamaha YZF-R6), 2:02.474

8. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 2:02.492

9. Roberto ROLFO, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 2:02.934

10. Roberto TAMBURINI, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 2:02.981

12. PJ JACOBSEN, USA (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 2:03.196

More, from a press release issued by Pata Honda:

Front row in Losail for both Pata Honda CBRs

Michael van der Mark and Lorenzo Zanetti will both start tomorrow’s final 2014 World Supersport championship race from the front row of the grid after setting the second and third-fastest times respectively in this evening’s final qualifying session at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.

Van der Mark, who was crowned 2014 World Supersport champion in September, has been dominant in all sessions but was pipped to pole position by French rider Jules Cluzel in the closing stages of qualifying.

The Dutch ace worked together with his Italian Pata Honda team-mate during the early stages of this evening’s session and the pair lapped within three hundredths of a second of each other on their Honda CBR600RR machines.

Tomorrow’s 15-lap final race of the season at the 5.380km Losail circuit, in which Zanetti is still aiming for a top-three championship finish, will start at 20.15 local time (GMT +3).

Michael van der Mark – P2, 2m02.223s

The day has gone really well, I think. We made a few changes to the bike and they worked really well – they were just what was needed. I did a long run in the third free practice which was at quite a good pace. Then, in qualifying, I was fast and worked a bit with Lorenzo but, when it came to putting in my fastest lap, I missed a little on the slipstream on the long straight and lost two or three tenths. But in the end I’m really happy – we are fast and, I think, more consistent than the other guys, so I’m really looking forward to the race tomorrow.

Lorenzo Zanetti – P3, 2m02.245s

I wasn’t really happy after FP3 because I was a bit slower on the harder tyres. For qualifying I came back to the SC1 and the feeling was a lot better. Mikey and I helped each other a bit with the slipstream but I am so happy that I was able to make the fast lap by myself. That is important to me and means I can fight for the podium tomorrow. I need to do some more work with the team to improve the rear grip because, after some laps, it drops off a bit. Maybe it’s a problem for the other riders, too, but I want to finish this last race on the podium. I need to be there to stand any chance of finishing third in the championship.

Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator

Michael was leading qualifying right until the last moments after setting his fastest time at the beginning of the session. He is in second place but his pace is really good and he has been strong in all sessions, so he can go for the win tomorrow. Lorenzo has had more of an up and down weekend but, in the end, he did a similar lap time to his team-mate by himself. Second and third on the grid is good and tomorrow both guys can fight for the podium so well done to them.

More, from a press release issued by CIA Insurance Honda:

FIFTH FOR FAST IMPROVING JACK

CIA INSURANCE HONDA’S Jack Kennedy made a step up in performance to take a strong fifth on the grid for the final round of the World Supersport Championship at Losail in Qatar.

The Irish ace enjoyed a blistering lap in qualifying. Jack said: “I worked well with Film during the session and that helped me to get on to the second row. It shows good teamwork. I am very close to the riders in front and want to finish the year with a podium. I am up for the fight tomorrow.”

Local racer Nasser Al Malki, standing in for Martin Cardenas, on only his fourth session on a CIA Insurance Honda, qualified in 20th. He has an opportunity to compete for points in the race.

Nacho Calero took another two seconds from his yesterday best lap time. There is a further warm up session ahead of a floodlit race at 2015 local time, Sunday, November 2nd.

CIA Insurance Honda Team Manager Simon Buckmaster said: “Jack has been struggling all weekend but we worked with him to improve his set up. We compared his settings with Film and were able to improve his settings and he made a big step forward to get fifth. We want to challenge for the podium tomorrow.

“Nasser came in to ride for us right at the last minute and is racing his own Superbike as well. Tomorrow he can concentrate on the WSS race and hopefully he can get into the points.

“Nacho struggled yesterday but we have worked hard and he has improved. It’s going to be tough for his last race of the season.”

More, from a press release issued by Core PTR Honda:

FILM AT FRONT OF SECOND ROW

CORE” PTR HONDA’S Ratthapark Wilairot took a superb fourth place in qualification for the final round of the World Supersport Championship at Losail in Qatar, missing out on the front row by just 0.016secs.

Clearly enjoying his time at a track he knows well, Film said: “I have been looking forward to this race for a long time and we have had good pace all weekend. I am very happy with fourth on the grid and want to finish the season with a podium. Thank you to PTR for all their support and giving me such a good bike.”

There is a further warm up session ahead of a floodlit race at 2015 local time, Sunday, November 2nd.

Core” PTR Honda Team Manager Simon Buckmaster said: “Film has had fantastic pace all weekend and narrowly missed out on the front row. He has a really good chance to fight right at the front of the race.”

More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:

Sofuoglu Fastest Kawasaki Runner In Losail Qualifying

Three-time World Champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki San Carlo Puccetti Racing Team) was the best placed of the Kawasaki WSS riders at Losail in a tight qualifying contest that put him eighth for Sunday’s 15-lap race.

Sofuoglu and his crew made set-up improvements from day one to day two at the 5.308km circuit in Qatar and although Sofuoglu pushed hard he could not put together a perfect lap in qualifying. He ended up 0.641 seconds from pole, but only 0.3 seconds from the second placed rider.

Behind Sofuoglu the other top Kawasaki riders filled the grid places from ninth to 12th. Roberto Rolfo (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki) was the ninth placed rider and Roberto Tamburini (San Carlo Puccetti Racing Kawasaki) was tenth, and just over a second from pole.

Florian Marino (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) sits 11th on the grid, with American Patrick ‘PJ’ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) 12th after a late session off-track excursion.

Regular runner Christian Gamarino (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki) was one place ahead of one-event entry Marco Faccani (San Carlo Puccetti Racing Kawasaki) who ended up 14th on the grid, which means he will be starting the race from the middle of the fifth row. Mason Law (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) qualified 17th.

Sunday’s 15-lap race is scheduled for 20.15, local time in Qatar.

Kenan Sofuoglu: “Qualifying proved to be very difficult but this morning we had improved the bike compared to the first day and things looked good. It was quite tight in qualifying in the afternoon. I tried a couple of times to push hard and I think maybe I pushed a bit too much. Generally the bike set-up is good but I just could not put it all together. Eighth place is not a place we like to be after qualifying but this is not the race, the race is tomorrow. In the race everything can change and hopefully we are going to make a surprise result. With a used tyre, normally I am one of the fastest and I am confident for our race pace. Hopefully for us tomorrow will be a better day.”