FIM Supersport World Championship
Assen, Netherlands
April 25, 2014
Free Practice Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Florian MARINO, France (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:38.903
2. Jules CLUZEL, France (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:38.992
3. Michael VD MARK, Netherlands (Honda CBR600RR), 1:39.087
4. Kev COGHLAN, UK (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:39.514
5. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:39.652
6. Roberto TAMBURINI, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:39.811
7. Ratthapark WILAIROT, Thailand (Honda CBR600RR), 1:39.844
8. Jack KENNEDY, Ireland (Honda CBR600RR), 1:39.845
9. Marco BUSSOLOTTI, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), 1:39.854
10. Riccardo RUSSO, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), 1:39.911
13. PJ JACOBSEN, USA (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:40.346
More, from a press release issued by Pata Honda Supersport Team:
Van der Mark second fastest on opening day at Assen
Dutch rider Michael van der Mark set the second fastest time in today’s practice sessions at Assen in the Netherlands in preparation for Sunday’s third round World Supersport race on Sunday.
Even though the Pata Honda rider was unable to improve his lap time in this afternoon’s warmer and drier conditions, the 21-year-old put his Honda CBR600RR in a provisional front row place just eight hundredths of a second behind Frenchman Florian Marino.
Van der Mark’s Pata Honda team-mate Lorenzo Zanetti ended the day 12th fastest but the Italian is positive about adjusting his braking style for tomorrow’s qualifying to suit the characteristics of the 4.542km Dutch circuit.
Michael van der Mark – P2, 1m38.989s
I had a good feeling today which started immediately when I got on the bike this morning. The set-up felt really good for the first free practice and then we put in a new tyre 10 minutes before the end of the session. I made a really nice lap time that was faster than my qualifying time last year, so that was pretty good! We changed some things on the bike for the afternoon because we had one or two little problems. Although I didn’t really make a fast lap time, we found some really good race pace and consistent lap times, which were coming quite easily. This is good for the race but I think for qualifying we just need to find a bit extra on the setting to push for one really fast lap.
Lorenzo Zanetti – P12, 1m40.057s
The weekend started not too bad this morning. Everything felt quite OK this morning, and this afternoon I got quickly to the same lap time as this morning. I don’t know why but, when I wanted to push and improve the time, it didn’t come. It started to get difficult to ride because normally I like to ride with a lot of brake pressure, but maybe it doesn’t suit this track. Maybe we can change something on the bike for the track and also find something in me so that we have a solution for tomorrow.
Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator
Michael was fast in the first session, which came surprisingly easy, without too much adjustment on the bike. We worked on race pace this afternoon but he was unable to improve on his morning time. It was only by a tenth or so, and it’s been a pretty good start for him. The morning was OK for Lorenzo and this afternoon we continued with the used tyre. He struggled to get a rhythm with it and also, when we put in a fresh tyre at the end, he wasn’t able to improve. We have some work to do there and hope for dry weather tomorrow in order to help him move forward.
More, from a press release issued by Core PTR Honda:
Film enjoys promising first practice at Assen
CORE’ PTR HONDA’S Ratthapark Wilairot was a strong eighth in first practice for Assen’s third round of the World Supersport Championship at Assen in Holland.
Familiar with the circuit from his Moto2 days, he is less than one-second from the fastest man and has plenty of ideas how to go faster in qualifying tomorrow.
Film said: “I am happy with eighth, it is a good start for the weekend. We are close on lap time, so tomorrow I hope to go faster and challenge for the front two rows on my Core’ PTR Honda.”
There is another practice session tomorrow, followed by qualification, ahead of the race on Sunday 27th April at 1140 local time.
Simon Buckmaster, Core’ PTR Honda Team Manager: “Film has done a good job today. He is working on a good setting for the race and also did a quick lap time. There is more to come from him and his Core’ PTR Honda tomorrow and we are in good shape to be challenging for his season best result on Sunday.”
First practice
1. Florian Marino FRA Kawasaki Intermoto ZX-6R 1m 38.903s
2. Michael van der Mark NED PATA Honda CBR600RR 1m 38.989s
3. Jules Cluzel FRA MV Agusta Yakhnich F3 675 1m 38.992s
4. Kenan Sofuoglu TUR Mahi India Kawasaki ZX-6R 1m 39.419s
5. Kev Coghlan GBR DMC Panavto Yamaha YZF-R6 1m 39.514s
6. PJ Jacobsen USA Kawasaki Intermoto ZX-6R 1m 39.644s
8. Ratthapark Wilairot THA Core PTR Honda CBR600RR 1m 39.844s
9. Jack Kennedy IRL CIA Insurance Honda CBR600RR 1m 39.845s
15. Raffaele de Rosa ITA Core PTR Honda CBR600RR 1m 40.601s
20. Nacho Calero ESP CIA Insurance Honda CBR600RR 1m 41.574s
More, from a press release issued by CIA Insurance Honda:
Jack looking ominous at Assen
CIA INSURANCE HONDA’S Jack Kennedy took a close ninth place after first practice at Assen in Holland for this weekend’s third round of the World Supersport Championship.
Fifth in the morning session, the Irishman feels he made an improvement in the afternoon with his race set up.
Jack said: “It feels good to be here at Assen and I enjoyed riding today. We made some changes for the afternoon and while it didn’t reflect on my lap time, I felt more comfortable on my CIA Insurance Honda. I’ll be able to go faster tomorrow.”
Third in the World Championship Raffaele De Rosa struggled for set up and crashed losing time during practice and finished an unusual 15th. Nacho Calero got faster as the day progressed and finished 20th.
There is another practice session tomorrow, followed by qualification, ahead of the race on Sunday 27th April at 1140 local time.
Simon Buckmaster, CIA Insurance Honda Team Manager: “Jack felt more comfortable in the afternoon when we were looking for an improvement that we did not achieve. We need to analyse that and find out how to progress tomorrow.
“Raffaele did not get to grips with a comfortable set up in either practice session. Saying that, he is not far off the top 10 or top six so we will be working hard to get him where he belongs tomorrow.
“Nacho has had a good Friday and his times are better than usual. If he can carry that improvement through to qualification then he is in line to challenge for points.”
First practice
1. Florian Marino FRA Kawasaki Intermoto ZX-6R 1m 38.903s
2. Michael van der Mark NED PATA Honda CBR600RR 1m 38.989s
3. Jules Cluzel FRA MV Agusta Yakhnich F3 675 1m 38.992s
4. Kenan Sofuoglu TUR Mahi India Kawasaki ZX-6R 1m 39.419s
5. Kev Coghlan GBR DMC Panavto Yamaha YZF-R6 1m 39.514s
6. PJ Jacobsen USA Kawasaki Intermoto ZX-6R 1m 39.644s
8. Ratthapark Wilairot THA Core PTR Honda CBR600RR 1m 39.844s
9. Jack Kennedy IRL CIA Insurance Honda CBR600RR 1m 39.845s
15. Raffaele de Rosa ITA Core PTR Honda CBR600RR 1m 40.601s
20. Nacho Calero ESP CIA Insurance Honda CBR600RR 1m 41.574s