Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Foret does it again

Fabian Foret took pole position in dominant fashion at the Lausitzring today, despite some stiff opposition from defending champion Andrew Pitt.

The French Ten Kate Honda rider went to the top of the timesheet on his first flying lap. He was pushed back down by a number of riders, but with about 10 minutes remaining he posted a lap of 1:43.807 which no one could beat. The provisional pole changed hands a number of times in the middle of the session, but Foret was at the top when it mattered.

Pitt on the Kawasaki pushed very hard but at the end of the session he had to settle with second position with a time of 1:43.865. He said after qualifying that he thought he had the right package for the race; “My bike isn’t the quickest out there,” said Pitt, “but I think I can be the most consistent in the race.”

Foret saw it differently: “I was a bit disappointed with my times and felt sure someone would beat me. I’m hoping for a dry race and I am sure I can go even better on this track.”

Katsuaki Fujiwara had taken provisional pole at the start of the session but he soon found himself languishing back in the middle of the pack. In the closing minutes he put in a flying lap which will see him start from third place for tomorrow’s race.

Piergiorgio Bontempi rounds off the front row on his NCR Ducati. The Italian produced a lap of 1:44.014 to hold off a charging Jamie Whitham who, despite holding provisional pole briefly, could only manage fifth fastest. Whitham had been one of several riders to crash during the session, which was red flagged early on after dirt was strewn on the racing line by a faller.

Karl Muggeridge, Stephane Chambon and Christian Kellner round off the second row for tomorrow’s race.

Final World Supersport Qualifying Results:

1. Fabien Foret, Honda CBR600F, 1:43.807
2. Andrew Pitt, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:43.865
3. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:43.963
4. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Ducati 748R, 1:44.014
5. James Whitham, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:44.075
6. Karl Muggeridge, Honda CBR600F, 1:44.218
7. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:44.415
8. Christian Kellner, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:44.433
9. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR600F, 1:44.449
10. Kevin Curtain, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:44.569
11. Jorg Teuchert, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:44.580
12. Christophe Cogan, Honda CBR600F, 1:44.590
13. Paolo Casoli, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:44.804
14. Christian Zaiser, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:44.995
15. Robert Ulm, Honda CBR600F, 1:45.111
16. Stefano Cruciani, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:45.312
17. Iain MacPherson, Honda CBR600F, 1:45.316
18. Matthieu Lagrive, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:45.654
19. James Ellison, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:45.670
20. Alessio Corradi, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:46.045

More, from a Ten Kate Honda press release:

Fabien Foret takes pole position again!

The Ten Kate Honda team had a day of extremes at Lausitzring during Saturday’s final qualifying. While Fabien Foret rocketed onto pole for the third time this season his team mate Iain MacPherson struggled.

“I was surprised to get pole,” said Foret afterwards, “I thought my time wasn’t the best I could do and felt sure another rider would go faster. I feel I can go quicker around this circuit. I am hoping for a dry race on Sunday, but if it rains, then at least I am at the front and hopefully can avoid too much spray!”

Meanwhile MacPherson was angry with himself’ “There’s no problems with my tyres or set up, I just made too many mistakes,” admitted MacPherson who qualified down in 17th place. “My race plan for Sunday is simply to ride absolutely flat out from the start and try to make up as many places as quickly as possible. I feel that I can do better here and I am mad with myself for slipping down the grid like that.” At least if it does rain we know that MacPherson can go at Lausitzring in the wet, he was a provisional second on the grid after Friday’s wet session.

The results produced mixed emotions for team manager Ronald ten Kate; “Of course I am overjoyed at Fabien’s brilliant performance, to come from 21st on yesterday’s grid to pole is the high point of the day for me. But the low point is to see Iain going in the opposite direction.But I know he’s a real fighter and he’ll throw 110% effort into his performance on Sunday. I think we’re in for another exciting World Supersport race!”

The weekend has presented special challenges for the team and their partners at Pirelli Tyres and WP Suspension. The changing conditions make life very difficult when setting up the bikes. “The positive thing for us,” said Eddie Roberts from Pirelli, “is that these are just the sort of conditions a street rider will experience. And because at Pirelli we use information gained from racing directly in our street tyres, the road rider benefits most from these weekends of difficult weather.”

The forecast for Sunday’s race is dry, but experience has taught the Ten Kate Honda team to be ready for anything as far as the weather’s concerned!