FIM Supersport World Championship Donington Park, England June 26, 2009 Free Practice One Results (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Cal CRUTCHLOW (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:33.323 2. Joan LASCORZ (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:33.650 3. Eugene LAVERTY (Honda CBR600RR), 1:33.871 4. Fabien FORET (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:33.928 5. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Honda CBR600RR), 1:34.175 6. Katsuaki FUJIWARA (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:34.219 7. Mark AITCHISON (Honda CBR600RR), 1:34.578 8. Garry MCCOY (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:34.986 9. Anthony WEST (Honda CBR600RR), 1:35.015 10. Barry VENEMAN (Honda CBR600RR), 1:35.061 11. Miguel PRAIA (Honda CBR600RR), 1:35.141 12. Andrew PITT (Honda CBR600RR), 1:35.209 13. James WESTMORLAND (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:35.248 14. Michele PIRRO (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:35.253 15. Robbin HARMS (Honda CBR600RR), 1:35.267 16. Gianluca NANNELLI (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:35.405 17. Gianluca VIZZIELLO (Honda CBR600RR), 1:35.507 18. Massimo ROCCOLI (Honda CBR600RR), 1:35.667 19. Danilo DELL’OMO (Honda CBR600RR), 1:35.975 20. Michael LAVERTY (Honda CBR600RR), 1:36.115 More, from a press release issued by Parkalgar Honda: Good start for Parkalgar Honda in the UK PARKALGAR HONDA racers Eugene Laverty and Miguel Praia were third and 11th in the opening rain-interrupted practice session for the ninth round of the World Supersport Championship at Donington Park in the UK. The rain started to fall with 18-minutes remaining and effectively foiled any attempts to improve lap times. With rain forecast for tomorrow’s practice and qualifying and dry weather for race-day the set-up data gathered today may be crucial to determining a race set-up. Yamaha’s Cal Crutchlow was quickest. The race takes place at 1325 on Sunday, June 28th at Donington Park in the UK. Miguel: “That was a good session, perhaps our best one so far. I like Donington, it suits my riding style and the Parkalgar Honda chassis felt strong from the off. Through the slow sections the bike is excellent but I need a bit more help through the fast changes of direction. We tried a new Pirelli tyre but I preferred our normal race tyre and when I put it in my lap times tumbled. I am already faster than my best lap time from 2008 so we are happy.” Eugene: “We tried all the tyres today in case it rains tomorrow and know which front and rear we will use if it is a dry race. Towards the end we decided to try a spring change in the front forks of my Parkalgar Honda but it rained and we didn’t get a chance to ride. I am not pushing hard yet but the lap times are fast which is encouraging. We will look at the data now and see where we can cut the lap times further. I would prefer a dry race on Sunday because when it is wet here the surface is very slippery, but either way we are in good shape.” Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manger: “Miguel has had a good session and is performing well. The top 10 result last time out has boosted his confidence and there is more to come from him. Eugene missed the chance to try a change to the front of his Parkalgar Honda but he is comfortable and recording fast lap times so that’s good as well. On both sides of the garage we have had a good start and know the directions we want to go to improve.” Practice 1 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1’33.323 2 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’33.650 3 Laverty E. (IRL) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1’33.871 4 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’33.928 5 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1’34.175 6 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’34.219 7 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1’34.578 8 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 1’34.986 9 West A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1’35.015 10 Veneman B. (NED) Honda CBR600RR 1’35.061 11 Praia M. (POR) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1’35.141. More, from a press release issued by ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Racing: Team ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Racing is at Donington Park for the manufacturer’s home round, given the fact that the Triumph headquarters is only 30 miles from the circuit. In the first practice session, the riders tried to find a good setup for the entire weekend. However, the session was interrupted by rain which had been forecast and both McCoy and Nannelli had to take the way of the pits prematurely. GARRY McCOY | Triumph Daytona 675 | 8th in 1’34.986 : “We had only 30 minutes to practice but it was enough to make some changes setupwise, there’s more to do though. However, the weather is supposed to improve tomorrow and so we hope this will allow us to work with continuity”. GIANLUCA NANNELLI | Triumph Daytona 675 | 16th in 1’35.405 : “We’re eager to do well at Triumph’s home track. We know what we have to do for the next days but we still have to improve. Today’s 30 minutes were very useful, we have gathered the data that will hopefully allow us to perform at our best in qualifying tomorrow”. Free Practice 1st Session: 1 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1’33.323 2 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’33.650 3 50 Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 1’33.871 4 99 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’33.928 5 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1’34.175 6 21 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’34.219 7 8 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1’34.578 8 24 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 1’34.986 9 13 West A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1’35.015 10 77 Veneman B. (NED) Honda CBR600RR 1’35.061 11 117 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 1’35.141 12 1 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1’35.209 13 4 Westmorland J. (GBR) Triumph Daytona 675 1’35.248 14 51 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’35.253 15 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 1’35.267 16 69 Nannelli G. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 1’35.405 17 105 Vizziello G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1’35.507 18 55 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1’35.667 19 9 Dell’Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1’35.975 20 25 Laverty M. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1’36.115 More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: Hannspree Ten Kate Honda riders, Kenan Sofuoglu and Andrew Pitt, finished in fifth and 12th place after today’s opening free practice session for Sunday’s ninth round World Supersport championship race at Donington Park, UK. As the Hannspree duo continued testing new suspension parts and combinations, it was Britain’s Cal Crutchlow who set the fastest time at the end of today’s hour-long practice session. Sofuoglu was the more comfortable of the two Hannspree Ten Kate riders and was preparing for a quicker lap time before rain began to fall with ten minutes of the session remaining, forcing the Turkish rider to shelve his plans until tomorrow. Kenan Sofuoglu P5, 1’34.175s We were going in a good direction since the race in America, but today we were still testing different suspension components. I’m quite happy with the package and was ready to go for a faster time, but the rain came at the end of the session. Tomorrow, we’ll keep going in the good direction and aim for a good grid position for Sunday’s race. I’m confident because I’m back with my 2006 mechanic Rutger this weekend, while Gert and his wife wait for their new baby. I send them all my best wishes and good luck! Andrew Pitt P12, 1’35.209s It’s been difficult today because I haven’t really been able to grab any brakes without the rear coming round and trying to overtake me. In fact, there’s a bit of a problem with the rear generally, both on entry and exit when I’m trying to get the power down. It feels like I’m using a cold tyre for the whole lap, so we’re still looking for the right balance at the moment. We’ll keep looking in the morning and keep pushing forward. Ronald ten Kate team manager I think Kenan is already pretty much happy with everything, so we will use tomorrow for fine tuning and to get a good starting position for Sunday’s race. On Andrew’s side of the garage, there is a bit more work to do but we’re used to hard work and will spend a lot of time tonight seeing where we can improve things for tomorrow. More, from a press release issued by Stiggy Racing Honda: West confident after first day of qualifying at Donington Stiggy Racing Honda Supersport squad started the opening day of the ninth round at Donington with a messy Supersport session. Just three minutes into the session the red flag was raised following a crash by series leader Cal Crutchlow. The rain halted the restarted session halfway, and the remaining part of the 60-minute session was finished in wet conditions. Both riders continued to make progress with the set-up of their machines, with Anthony West setting his day in the ninth fastest time of 1’35.015s, followed by Gianluca Vizziello in 17th, with a best time of 1’35.507s. West still finds himself 1.6s off the pace run by fastest man Cal Crutchlow, but is confident of further improvement this weekend. Anthony West, 1’35.015s: “The session went fine. We have made a big step forward with the set up, and might have found what the problem has been all year. I am happy with that, even though the position I am in at the moment is still not good. I feel like I can still go a lot faster now with what we just found, instead of feeling I am already at the limit. I hope our solution will work tomorrow, will either see if it does or not, we’ll have to put it into practice. I am confident we can make a step forward.” Gianluca Vizziello, 1’35.507s: “It went reasonably well today, but we will have to change some things for tomorrow. I am expecting more progression tomorrow, and hope I can keep my pace consistent. My 17th place is not satisfying and I will push myself further forward tomorrow. Hopefully I will be feeling fit again, as I have not been feeling well at all today.” Johan Stigefelt, Team Manager: “The conditions in the Supersport session were not very good. It started to rain and we stayed in the garage for the last ten minutes of the session. The guys just need to find their confidence with the bikes here at this track. We are not there yet, but it is getting there step by step, even though I think it is a little too slow. But we are working on it and will try to push further in tomorrow’s sessions.”