FIM Supersport World Championship

Chang International Circuit

Buriram, Thailand

March 11, 2017

Superpole Results (All on Pirelli tires):

From Superpole Session One:

1. Jules Cluzel, France (Hon CBR600RR), 1:37.683

2. Chalermpol Polamai, Thailand (Yam YZF-R6), 1:38.130

3. Lucas Mahias, France (Yam YZF-R6), 1:38.156

4. Decha Kraisart, Thailand (Yam YZF-R6), 1:38.182

5. Zulfahmi Khairruddin, Malaysia (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:38.205

6. Kyle Smith, UK (Hon CBR600RR), 1:38.226

7. Federico Caricasulo, Italy (Yam YZF-R6), 1:38.290

8. Hikari Okubo, Japan (Hon CBR600RR), 1:38.349

9. Christian Gamarino, Italy (Hon CBR600RR), 1:38.436

10. Kyle Ryde, UK (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:38.481

11. PJ Jacobsen, USA (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:38.661

12. Gino Rea, UK (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:39.423

From Superpole Session One:

13. Nikki Tuuli, Finland (Yam YZF-R6), 1:38.324

14. Sheridan Morais, South Africa (Yam YZF-R6), 1:38.641

15. Robin Mulhauser, Switzerland (Hon CBR600RR), 1:38.789

16. Aiden Wagner, Australia (Hon CBR600RR), 1:38.879

17. Michael Canducci, Italy (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:38.882

18. Thitipong Warokorn, Thailand (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:38.936

19. Kazuki Watanabe, Japan (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:39.172

20. Lachlan Epis, Australia (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:39.472

More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:

WorldSSP: Cluzel shows his mettle for pole position

Frenchman on pole at Round 2 after crash in Australia

Saturday’s WorldSSP action at the Chang International Circuit saw Jules Cluzel (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) produce a lap of 1’37.683 for pole position, in a Tissot Superpole 2 shootout which took place in scorching hot (36°C) conditions.

Despite suffering a fracture of the sacrum bone in a final lap crash at Phillip Island at Round 1, Frenchman Cluzel demonstrated his tenacity to lap quicker than the rest of the field in the intense Thai heat. Just behind him on the grid is impressive local wildcard Chalermpol Polamai (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team), who lapped +0.447s behind Cluzel.

French rider Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) completes the front row having qualified +0.473s behind his compatriot Cluzel, with another Thai wild card Decha Kraisart (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team) heading a second row which will also feature Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) and Kyle Smith (GEMAR Team Lorini).

Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team), Hikari Okubo (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) and Christian Gamarino (BARDAHL EVAN BROS. Honda Racing) are on row three, with Kyle Ryde (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), PJ Jacobsen (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Gino Rea (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) on the fourth row. Rea appeared to have technical issues towards the end of Tissot Superpole 2 and lapped +1.74s off P1.

From the earlier Tissot Superpole 1 session Caricasulo and Khairuddin were the riders to make it through to Superpole 2. Meanwhile Kallio Racing colleagues Niki Tuuli and Sheridan Morais (Kallio Racing), along with Robin Mulhauser (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda), were just behind Khairuddin in Superpole 1 and therefore start the second WorldSSP race of 2017 on row five.

Indeed Sunday’s WorldSSP race in Thailand will commence at 2.30pm local time at the Chang International Circuit.

Pole Position: Jules Cluzel – CIA Landlord Insurance Honda

“We were faster by half a second, so I am happy! I really feel good; I did after my first run, but I was out on track alone. I feel like the first session was warm up, and the second I just pushed. I wanted to push as I thought I was a little bit behind the Thai rider, but I did a good lap. I enjoyed a lot and I think tomorrow will be even better, well I hope so!”

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

Cluzel takes Pole Position in Thailand

CIA Landlord Insurance Honda’s Jules Cluzel took pole position in the World Supersport Tissot Superpole 2 at the Chang International Circuit with a blistering lap of 1’37.683 in the equally scorching track conditions.

Despite the injury he suffered in the crash at the previous round in Australia; Frenchman Cluzel displayed his determination and grit to record the quickest lap of the weekend; and the first pole position for the team under the CIA Landlord Insurance banner.

Jules said: “I am really happy with this qualifying. The first lap I did I was 5th with a 38.4 but I felt really comfortable and strong. When I came in I said to my crew that I have the 37 in my hand but I wasn’t expecting 37.6. It was not so difficult; I could push as much as I can, which I like to do. Most important is the race tomorrow, we have a good race pace and I need to concentrate and ride an intelligent race. I want to thank my crew because I have the best bike I can have for the race tomorrow.”

Hikari Okubo will start the race from 8th position on the grid and is seeking a top six finish in tomorrow’s 17-lap race.

Robin Mulhauser improved once again in the Superpole 1 session getting into the 38s for the first time this weekend. He qualified in 15th position and is looking to challenge well inside the points at his first visit to the Chang International Circuit.

CIA Landlord Insurance Honda Team Manager, Simon Buckmaster said: “What can I say other than what an absolutely fantastic job by Jules and the whole team. That was a great last lap especially as he had to overtake someone and make time in the last sector to be over four tenths of a second clear. He has got good race pace and is in superb shape to challenge for victory tomorrow; I couldn’t ask for more.

Hikari did a good job today; he is still losing a bit of time in the last sector so we will look at how we can improve that for the race tomorrow. Robin has got faster all weekend and we are hoping for a points finish for him in the race.”

The lights go out for the World Supersport race in Thailand at 14:30 (local time) at the Chang International Circuit.

More, from a press release issued by MV Agusta:

P8 FOR LEON CAMIER IN WORLDSBK RACE1 AT CHANG INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT 

Leon Camier closed 8th in Race1 at Chang International Circuit, Thailand. At the end of the WorldSSP Tissot-Superpole2, Patrick PJ Jacobsen set the 11th position close to the Top 10.

WorldSBK – FP3, SP1, SP2, RACE 1

Although it was the rider who has lapped less on track in the WorldSBK FP1-FP2 sessions, Leon Camier has ended up in 1st place the Tissot-Superpole1 heat, entering the Tissot-Superpole2 and getting the 11th position on starting grid.

When the light goes out in Race 1, the British held his position and engages a long battle for the top 10 of the race. Although the high local temperatures do not fit in any way the MV Agusta F4 RC setting, Camier still managed to keep an aggressive pace, closing 8th under the checkered flag. Leon tomorrow will start from the 5th position on grid, in accordance with the new Championship regulations.

WorldSSP – FP3, SP2

This morning PJ Jacobsen took advantage of the third free practice session of WorldSSP in order to further improve the feeling with his MV Agusta F3 675, managing to set the best time of the session (1’38.677). In Tissot-Superpole2 the American wasn’t able to replicate the morning’s excellent result, ending up 11th because of the traffic on track. PJ will start from the 4th row on the grid in tomorrow’s race.

Leon Camier #2 WorldSBK Rider – Considering the difficult weekend we had, I am really happy with this result today. We have made a very positive step forward with chassis and electronics and now we can count a good package for the race. For sure it remains a difficult track for us but I think we definitely made the best we could have done. Tomorrow we have a few things we can improve and I look forward to get another good results in Race2.

Patrick PJ Jacobsen #99 WorldSSP Rider – Of course today we have struggled a bit in qualifying but I am really confident everything will be fine for tomorrow’s race. My team is working really hard and we know which direction we need to take for the race.

More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:

Top Ten Qualifying For Ryde In Thailand

Kyle Ryde (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) will start Sunday’s FIM Supersport World Championship race in Thailand from tenth place on the grid after Superpole 2 qualifying, where he set his best weekend lap of 1’38.481. His team-mate for this round Thitipong Warokorn (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 18th after competing for his gird position in Superpole 1.

In the heat and humidity of the Chang International Circuit Kyle Ryde set himself the goal of qualifying well in Superpole 2 and he finished his second day on track in tenth grid position, on the fourth row, for Sunday’s WorldSSP race.

On his official Kawasaki Ryde was involved in a battle for grid places with 11 other riders in Superpole 2. With one clear leader out front the rest of the grid was closely packed after an intense 15-minute session in the heat of the early afternoon.

Joining Ryde for this race Warokorn was 18th after Superpole 1, unable to make it into Superpole 2, but starting his home race as a stand-in rider for Kenan Sofuoglu from the sixth row.

The race on Sunday, the second of the year, will be over 17-laps of the 4.554km circuit, located close to the city of Buriram.

Kyle Ryde, stated: “That was not too bad in Superpole. I was a bit away from the fastest rider but I only lost a few tenths of seconds to the next group. I got in with the right bunch of riders when going for a fast lap. My best time in Superpole was my best of the weekend so we are improving the set-up. I just need to make a good start tomorrow, stay in the leading group and then see what happens, because it will be a very hot race.”

Thitipong Warokorn, stated: “The bike had been coming good early on Friday but then I only did two laps in FP2. I still needed time to take some feeling after that. In FP3 it was coming better for us again. In Superpole 1 I had learned the bike a bit more and then set my best lap time. Tomorrow I think it will be better. This is my home track but it is a learning experience for me on this bike. Many thanks to the Puccetti team and Kawasaki and I am really lucky to ride in this team this weekend.”

Malaysia’s Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) was the best Kawasaki rider in Superpole qualifying, going fifth overall.

Gino Rea (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) was 12th in Superpole 2. Michael Canducci (Puccetti Racing Junior Team FMI Kawasaki) placed 17th, at the head of a run of Kawasaki riders that comprised Warokorn, Kazuki Watanabe (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven), Lachlan Epis (Response RE Racing Kawasaki) and Nacho Calero (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki).