FIM Superbike World Championship
Losail International Circuit, Doha, Qatar
October 16, 2015
Free Practice Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Jonathan REA, UK (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:58.252
2. Jordi TORRES, Spain (Aprilia RSV4 RF), 1:58.406
3. Tom SYKES, UK (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:58.637
4. Chaz DAVIES, UK (Ducati Panigale R), 1:58.656
5. Michael VD MARK, Netherlands (Honda CBR1000RR SP), 1:58.936
6. Leon HASLAM, UK (Aprilia RSV4 RF), 1:58.993
7. Xavi FORES, Spain (Ducati Panigale R), 1:59.039
8. Randy DE PUNIET, France (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:59.170
9. Alex LOWES, UK (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:59.448
10. Niccolo CANEPA, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), 1:59.820
11. Matteo BAIOCCO, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), 1:59.889
12. David SALOM, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:59.991
13. Ayrton BADOVINI, Italy (BMW S1000 RR), 2:00.050
14. Sylvain GUINTOLI, France (Honda CBR1000RR SP), 2:00.105
15. Leon CAMIER, UK (MV Agusta F4 RR), 2:00.186
16. Leandro MERCADO, Argentina (Ducati Panigale R), 2:00.974
17. Roman RAMOS, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 2:01.065
18. Christophe PONSSON, France (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 2:01.159
19. Gianluca VIZZIELLO, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 2:01.300
20. Gabor RIZMAYER, Hungary (BMW S1000RR), 2:02.341
21. Imre TOTH, Hungary (BMW S1000RR), 2:03.851
22. Alex PHILLIS, Australia (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 2:04.662
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:
Rea displaces Torres to end first Qatari night on top
Sykes, Davies and van der Mark complete the top 5.
After the opening floodlit session of the weekend, the second free practice session at the Losail International Circuit saw lap times tumble as the WorldSBK riders got up to speed around the 5.380km Qatari track, with a flurry of improving laps in the final eight minutes.
At the flag Jonathan Rea was the fastest overall courtesy of his 1.58.252s lap time set on his penultimate lap; the 2015 WorldSBK Champion powered to the number one spot by 0.154s ahead of Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) and his teammate Tom Sykes, who were second and third, respectively.
There were a number of off track moments for a number of riders including Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team), the Dutchman refusing to close the throttle as he ran off the edge of the kerb at the fast turn 16. He ended the day in a strong fifth, just behind Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team) who improved to fourth in the closing stages.
Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) had his leathers flapping in the breeze as he improved to sixth ahead of Xavi Fores (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team), Randy de Puniet and his Voltcom Crescent Suzuki teammate Alex Lowes and Niccolo Canepa (Althea Racing Ducati).
Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing), David Salom (Team Pedercini) and Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia) were 11th to 13th, respectively while Sylvain Guintoli’s evening of woe continued as he appeared to suffer another technical issue out of the final turn, causing him to run onto the grass on the inside of the circuit. The Pata Honda mechanics sprinted into action once again, pushing the CBR machine back to the garage; he was classified 14th and will be hoping for better fortune tomorrow. Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) completed the top 15.
The final round of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship began today with the two opening free practice sessions that, combined with the third one scheduled for tomorrow at 6pm local time (GMT+3) will decide the twenty riders qualifying for the Tissot-Superpole of the Pirelli Qatar Round. Here is what some of the protagonists of today’s action had to say during tonight’s official press conference.
Jonathan Rea – Kawasaki Racing Team – 1st
Twitter: @jonathanrea Instagram: @jonathan_rea Facebook: JonathanReaOfficial
“We Knew that Aprilia would be strong and Jordi seems to have pace. Chaz (Davies) too should be there on Sunday as he’s been one of the strongest riders but we will keep working on the setting for Sunday’s races. Apart from me needing a little more front-end stability the bike is working well.”
Jordi Torres – Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils – 2nd
Facebook: jordi.torres18 Twitter: jorditorres81 Instagram: JordiTorres81
“I’m happy but I’m carrying too much corner speed which is affecting my acceleration. Im A little concerned that if I don’t improve this we could get pushed back but we will work on it tomorrow. The settings from Max (Biaggi) are working well and I’m happy to be riding a superbike here at night.”
Tom Sykes – Kawasaki Racing Team – 3rd
Facebook: Tom-Sykes-66 Twitter: TheRealTomSykes
“We started strong in the first session and built on it. The heat and the conditions aren’t too much of a problem when you’re riding it’s when you stop that it hits you. We are in a good position so far but let’s see what tomorrow brings.”
Chaz Davies – Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team – 4th
Twitter: @chazdavies Instagram: @chazdavies7 Facebook: chazdavies7
“We need to continue to work in the last sector, not in terms of speed but in terms of the setting. Apart from that I think we made good improvement from the first to the second session, but we definitely have more to do tomorrow. I don’t yet feel quite ready for the race and so I’m pleased we have more time available tomorrow. We’ll try to make the most of the next sessions to test a few things so as to be prepared for race day.”
Michael van der Mark – Pata Honda World Superbike – 5th
Twitter: @mickeyvdmark Instagram: michaelvdmark Facebook: michael.vandermark.3
“The Honda is working well here and I really enjoyed today. My setting is not perfect but we know the direction we need to go and to get to the front isn’t such a big step. My ideal lap was much faster so I can’t wait for tomorrow.”
More, from a press release issued by Pata Honda:
Provisional second row for van der Mark after first night in Qatar
Michael van der Mark set the fifth fastest overall time in this evening’s opening two free practice sessions for the final round of the 2015 World Superbike championship at Losail in Qatar.
The 22-year-old Dutch ace, who has been in superb form in the last two WSBK rounds, powered his Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP around the 5.380km Losail circuit in a time of 1m58.936s, just 0.6s off the provisional pole time of 2015 champion Jonathan Rea.
By contrast, van der Mark’s team-mate Sylvain Guintoli endured a difficult evening under the Losail floodlights. The outgoing world champion suffered a mechanical problem in the opening 45-minute free practice session on just his second timed lap.
In FP2, with temperatures still above 30ºC despite the clock approaching midnight, Guintoli suffered what appeared to be a sensor failure, again preventing the 33-year-old French rider from completing any meaningful laps.
The third free practice session will start at 18.00 tomorrow evening (local time, GMT+3) from which the 10 fastest riders will progress directly to Superpole 2 at 21.10, riders 11 to 20 going in Superpole 1 at 20.45.
Michael van der Mark – P5 1m58.936s
We started quite well this evening and immediately I had a really good feeling with the CBR and we were able to stay top five for most of both of the sessions. I was quite happy with FP1 but we needed to change some things on the bike for the second session. We didn’t find the perfect set-up yet but I had a good flow with fast and consistent lap times so I’m really happy with P5 today. I really enjoy riding the bike on this track and it’s just a completely different experience under the lights.
Sylvain Guintoli – P14 2m00.105s
It’s not been a good day today. We had a mechanical issue after two laps in the first session and then what seemed like an electronics problem early in session two. It didn’t feel right from the start and then it just stopped, so that was that. It’s just one of those days – or nights, I guess – so hopefully tomorrow, when everything is working properly, we can start work again and get up to speed as quickly as we can.
More, from a press release issued by Althea Racing:
Team Althea Racing on track for the SBK season finale at Losail
Doha (Qatar) 16 October 2015
The World Superbike season is coming to an end, with Team Althea Racing on track at the Losail International Circuit this weekend for the final round of 2015.
The weekend’s opening session took place this evening on a floodlit track and in hot and dry conditions (air temperature 31°C, track 35°C). Rider Niccolò Canepa proved to be immediately comfortable on the Qatari track, getting into a good rhythm and recording some interesting lap times that placed him ninth at the session’s end (2’00.315).
Matteo Baiocco, having not raced at Losail since 2009, and never at night, spent time getting to grips with the floodlit circuit, working with his technicians to adapt his Panigale R to the track. Improving lap after lap, he was lying twelfth by the end of the session, thanks to a best time of 2’00.791.
In the second timed practice, which got underway at 11pm local time, both Althea Racing riders continued to work on set-ups with their respective teams. Canepa made a good step in the later stages, to conclude in tenth place with a fastest time of 1’59.820. His teammate Baiocco also improved on both his time and his position to close eleventh, having set a best time of 1’59.889. The Althea Racing pair are both confident ahead of tomorrow, knowing there is room and potential for improvement.
The Italian squad will return to the track tomorrow evening for the final timed practice session, free practice and the Superpoles.
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike riders Davies and Forés position fourth and seventh after day one at Losail
Doha (Qatar), Friday 16 October 2015 – The World Superbike season finale is underway at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar, with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team and riders Chaz Davies and Xavi Forés finishing the first two times practice sessions in fourth and seventh position.
The first session of the weekend took place this evening in hot and dry conditions, giving riders a first chance to get to grips with the floodlit Qatari circuit. Davies was immediately at ease, working systematically with his technicians and recording a series of fast laps to position fifth at the session’s end, thanks to a best time of 1’59.807. Forés began to build confidence with recent evolutions introduced by Ducati, adapting his Panigale R to a track at which he hasn’t raced since 2011. Unfortunately the Spaniard suffered a crash in the first part of the session, losing the rear at Turn 15. He was fortunately unhurt but, missing out on almost the entire session as a result, Xavi closed thirteenth. (2’01.608).
In the second of the day’s sessions both Davies and Forés were able to improve almost immediately on their earlier performance. Making some setting changes together with his squad, Chaz made good progress during the 45-minute session. The Welshman concluded in fourth place, thanks to a best of 1’58.656. Familiarising himself with the bike he hadn’t ridden since Assen and continuing to build confidence with the track, Xavi improved on his earlier time by over 2.5 seconds, closing this first day with a best lap of 1’59.039 that saw him position seventh.
Quotes after the day’s sessions:
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team #7) – 4th (1’58.656)
“We need to continue to work in the last sector, not in terms of speed but in terms of the setting. Apart from that I think we made good improvement from the first to the second session, but we definitely have more to do tomorrow. I don’t yet feel quite ready for the race and so I’m pleased we have more time available tomorrow. We’ll try to make the most of the next sessions to test a few things so as to be prepared for race day.”
Xavi Forés – (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team #112) – 7th (1’59.039)
“The first 45 minutes didn’t go to plan; maybe I made a mistake on the second lap and I crashed but it was strange, I don’t really know how it happened. Unfortunately I lost a lot of time and was only able to go back out in the last five minutes. In session two we worked with the tyres and, by changing the compound, I was able to do better. The problem is that I was not feeling totally confident after the crash. Anyway, tomorrow I think that the track conditions will be better and that I’ll be able to make good progress.”
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:
JORDI TORRES IS FAST STRAIGHT AWAY WITH HIS APRILIA IN QATAR
LEON HASLAM HAS PLENTY OF POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVEMENT
Doha (Qatar), 16 October 2015 – The artificial lighting at the Losail International Circuit illuminated a great performance by Jordi Torres, fast straight away on his RSV4 RF in the two practice sessions today, the prelude to the WSBK races on Sunday. The Spanish rookie dominated FP1, placing more than half a second between himself and his closest rival. In the second session Jordi worked on tyre duration and the search for a better feeling, especially on a couple sections of the track where he feels that he can improve further. The stopwatch confirmed the good sensations that the Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils rider has, second in the combined standings and very effective in terms of race pace.
A less than perfect start in FP1 conditioned Leon Haslam’s first day. In the second session, on the other hand, the rider from Derby improved consistently, shaving more than a second off his time by the end of the day. His sixth place in the combined standings, together with the wide margin of potential for improvement, makes Leon optimistic for the practice and Superpole sessions tomorrow.
Jordi Torres: “This is a track where I have raced before, although the speed with the Superbikes is different. It definitely adapts well to my riding style and the characteristics of the RSV4, which is always extremely fast. Since it’s such a wide track I don’t have to push hard even in the narrow turns, which are usually a bit of a struggle for me. I’m not singing victory because I know that tomorrow the others will be pushing harder so I’ll have to give it my all to keep improving. Finishing the season well is fundamental. It would also be a nice gift for my team which has always done a fantastic job.”
Leon Haslam: “To be honest it was a rather difficult first day. In the first session we struggled more than we had expected to, even trying different tyre solutions and settings. In FP2 there was a clear improvement in terms of pace, although there is still plenty of room to get better. We’ll work hard tonight and hopefully improve more tomorrow.”
More, from a press release issued by Voltcom Crescent Suzuki:
De Puniet heads the charge for Voltcom Crescent Suzuki on Qatar first day
Voltcom Crescent Suzuki’s Randy de Puniet concluded his first Superbike World Championship night practice with a strong eighth place at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar today.
Starting with the settings from the Malaysian race in early August, de Puniet continued to fine-tune his Yoshimura-powered GSX-R, feeling confident with the engine braking and chassis settings from the outset. The Frenchman set his fastest time – 1’59.170 – on his penultimate revolution of the evening, improving by just under a second from his opening best.
Both Suzuki racers got off the blocks with a positive start in the first free practice sitting sixth and seventh in the times after the 45-minute session – Alex Lowes just 0.050 ahead of his teammate with a best lap of 1’59.999. Utilising race two settings from last year’s visit to the Losail track, Lowes improved his time in the late-night second-stint to a 1’59.448 to claim ninth in the combined times, despite only completing 10 laps in the final session as he struggled to gel with his GSX-R1000. The British racer will return to the set-up used in recent rounds from tomorrow’s final timed free practice in a bid to regain his rhythm and confidence ahead of Sunday’s final 17-lap contests.
Air temperatures still registered 31°C with a track high of 35°C despite the late evening start times, with Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea setting the fastest time of the night – a 1’58.252 – to claim control of the times heading into Saturday’s qualifying. Lowes and de Puniet will be back on their Suzuki GSX-Rs for free practice three at 18:00hrs local time (16:00BST) tomorrow while a reversal of the usual order sees Superpole commence at 20:45 (18:45BST) before the final free practice hits the track at 23:45 (21:45BST).
Randy de Puniet:
“A good first day for me in Qatar! I’m really happy because the feeling with the bike was good which is great for the last race weekend. I like this track and since the beginning I have felt confident with engine brake, traction control and the chassis – all were good but we have made little improvements with them all this evening. We had some small problems with tyre-life during the session but at the end I managed to do a good lap time. Now we need to work on the life of the rear tyre because this is really critical for Sunday and is our main point for tomorrow I would like to stay in the top 10 and be in SP2 directly so I will try for a good lap time in FP3 tomorrow, but in the beginning we will work on the race distance.”
Alex Lowes:
“It was a difficult day today. We were struggling on a number of issues which has meant we haven’t been able to complete enough laps and therefore find a good rhythm. We have a lot to work to do tomorrow but as always we will put our heads down and start with a new direction from FP3.”