FIM Supersport World Championship Magny-Cours, France October 1, 2010 Qualifying Session One Results (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Katsuaki FUJIWARA, Japan (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:41.872 2. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Honda CBR600RR), 1:41.949 3. Fabien FORET, France (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:42.006 4. David SALOM, Spain (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:42.091 5. Eugene LAVERTY, Ireland (Honda CBR600RR), 1:42.229 6. Gino REA, Great Britain (Honda CBR600RR), 1:42.240 7. Michele PIRRO, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), 1:42.424 8. Broc PARKES, Australia (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:42.467 9. Massimo ROCCOLI, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), 1:42.477 10. Florian MARINO, France (Honda CBR600RR), 1:42.782 11. Mark AITCHISON, Australia (Honda CBR600RR), 1:42.803 12. Roberto TAMBURINI, Italy (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:42.919 13. Vittorio IANNUZZO, Italy (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:43.140 14. Julien ENJOLRAS, France (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:43.168 15. Robbin HARMS, Denmark (Honda CBR600RR), 1:43.335 16. Chaz DAVIES, Great Britain (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:43.388 17. Miguel PRAIA, Portugal (Honda CBR600RR), 1:43.726 18. Axel MAURIN, France (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:44.106 19. Alexander LUNDH, Sweden (Honda CBR600RR), 1:45.636 20. Imre TOTH, Hungary (Honda CBR600RR), 1:46.012 More, from a press release issued by Hannspree Ten Kate Honda: Sofuoglu feeling confident in France World Supersport championship leader, Kenan Sofuoglu, set the second fastest time in today’s opening qualifying session for Sunday’s championship decider at Magny-Cours in France. The Turkish ace was less than one tenth of a second behind pace setter, Katsuaki Fujiwara today, but is confident that a small change in the set up of his Honda CBR600RR will enable him to leap-frog the Japanese rider tomorrow. Sofuoglu has a lead of 16 points over Honda-mounted Eugene Laverty as the pair, who have battled closely throughout the year, head into the final race of the season at the 4.411km Magny-Cours circuit in central France. Laverty was fifth fastest today. Sofuoglu’s Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate, Michele Pirro, winner of the penultimate race at Imola in Italy last Sunday, set the seventh fastest lap this afternoon. However, the Italian is also confident of an improvement in his machine’s set up at Magny-Cours in tomorrow’s practice and qualifying sessions. Kenan Sofuoglu P2 1m41.949s Yes, it was not bad today. Still we are searching for a better set up on the bike, so I can’t say that we are happy. There is a bit of a problem with the rear but we already see what the problem is so we will change the balance of the bike for tomorrow. I think when it’s working, it won’t be difficult to put in a faster time because even with the problem, I am still one of the fastest. Only Fujiwara is faster by less than one tenth, so if we go in the right direction tomorrow, everything will be under control and it should be possible to take pole. Michele Pirro P7 1m42.424s This track is very difficult for my wrist because it is pushed very hard under the brakes at the hairpin. The feeling in the bike is not so good at the moment and there is a problem with rear grip w hich makes it a little bit harder for me. Maybe tomorrow we can try a new solution and I am confident that we can improve. I hope the weather is still good to allow this. Ronald ten Kate team-manager It’s been a good start to the weekend for Kenan, who is not only fast over one lap but for many, many laps. For sure there is some room for improvement, so we have to keep on working hard to put him in a good position for the race on Sunday. Michele is struggling a little at the moment but after we compare data, we’ll find some more speed for him tomorrow. I also have to mention Florian Marino, who has had a great season this year in Superstock 600. We’ve rewarded him with a World Supersport ride this weekend and to be in the top 10 in his first qualifying session is just great to see. What is even greater is the big smile on his face! More, from a press release issued by Parkalgar Honda: Parkalgar Honda targets end of season victory PARKALGAR HONDA’S Eugene Laverty is provisionally fifth on the second row of the grid for the 13th and final round of the World Supersport Championship at Magny Cours in France while team mate Miguel Praia is 17th after suffering a high-speed crash. Eugene is 16 points behind his title rival Kenan Sofuoglu and with a maximum of 25 points to be won in the final race the World Championship will be decided this weekend. The race takes place at 1330 CET on Sunday October 3rd. Eugene: “All is OK despite only being fifth on the provisional grid. I need to work on my riding in a few areas and there is a little to come from my Parkalgar Honda as well. I am losing a lot on the final split with the tight corner which needs you to stop the bike and fire it out of the exit. Saying that there is very little between me and pole position so let’s see what we can do tomorrow. I am going for the win here, it would be good to finish the season on a high for the Parkalgar Honda team.” Miguel: “I am basically OK after a high speed crash. I was pushing everything I could and left my braking late for the corner and it didn’t work. Luckily I am OK and will have no problem riding tomorrow. I have been struggling with direction changes here and this afternoon before the crash it was getting better. I think it is possible to go faster so will spend this evening having a deep look at what we are doing and improve tomorrow.” Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “Miguel had a huge crash today, fifth or sixth gear going into a corner we are lucky he is relatively unscathed but his bike has been extensively damaged and his crew will dig in and get it ready for the morning. We will work with him to get him back up to speed and where he belongs as we all want a strong top 10 finish for him on Sunday. Eugene needs to improve his final sector and if he does that he will be competing for pole position he’s OK right now and our target of the race win remains realistic.” More, from a press release issued by ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Racing: The last racing weekend of the year kicked off in the best possible way for the ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Racing team as David Salom went very fast yet again, despite the broken rib suffered in the Quarnby crash at Imola five days ago . He set the fourth quickest time, less than a tenth of a second from the pole position. Vittorio Iannuzzo slightly improved compared to the morning practice to take thirteenth place, a little over a second behind his team mate Salom. Julien Enjolras, who replaced Matthieu Lagrive, made a positive debut to post the fourteenth fastest time. In fact, the four-time World Endurance champion was not allowed to race in the last round as he was also competing in the aforementioned competition. Chaz Davies had it tougher than usual and was sixteenth. The Brit did not find the right feeling with the track but will retry tomorrow. DAVID SALOM | Triumph Daytona 675 | 4th in 1’42.091 : ” I’m still in a lot of pain, so this result means a lot to me. I preferred not to get any infiltrations today, I will use them only if necessary, possibly for the race. I’m sure everybody will improve tomorrow and so my goal is to stay in the front two rows”. VITTORIO IANNUZZO | Triumph Daytona 675 | 13th in 1’43.140 : “I tried some different set-up solutions and made a big step forward. I’m on the right path and if I am able to exploit the morning practice session and finish setup, I think I can get a good starting position on the grid”. JULIEN ENJOLRAS | Triumph Daytona 675 | 14th in 1’43.168 : “I was comfortable on the bike today, it’s very different from the one I race in the French championship, despite both being Triumph machinery. It’s very agile and I like the engine too. I managed to set good qualifying times right away, but I’m sure there’s room for much more improvement with more work put into it”. CHAZ DAVIES | Triumph Daytona 675 | 16th in 1’43.388 : “I wasn’t able to do what I usually do quite easily: finding a good feeling with the track. It was basically a bad day, which means I will not make any changes on the machine, but I’m sure I’ll climb quite a few positions tomorrow”.