FIM Supersport World Championship

Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

Victoria, Australia

February 24, 2017

Free Practice Two Results (All on Pirelli tires):

1. PJ Jacobsen, USA (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:33.318

2. Jules Cluzel, France (Hon CBR600RR), 1:33.467

3. Federico Caricasulo, Italy (Yam YZF-R6), 1:33.602

4. Roberto Rolfo, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:33.758

5. Hikari Okubo, Japan (Hon CBR600RR), 1:33.796

6. Alex Baldolini, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:33.940

7. Gino Rea, UK (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:33.948

8. Luke Stapleford, UK (Tri Daytona 675R), 1:33.949, crash

9. Kyle Smith, UK (Hon CBR600RR), 1:34.015

10. Michael Canducci, Italy (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:34.032

14. Lucas Mahias, France (Yam YZF-R6), 1:34.413, crash

19. Sheridan Morais, South Africa (Yam YZF-R6), 1:34.836

24. Anthony West, Australia (Yam YZF-R6), no time recorded

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

WorldSSP: Jacobsen leads the way on day one

American rider quickest on Friday in Australia, with Cluzel and Caricasulo also in the Friday top three

The first day of action in the 2017 season concluded with PJ Jacobsen (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) at the head of the combined WorldSSP Friday free practice timesheets, courtesy of a 1’33.087 best lap in FP1.

Jacobsen was over half a second faster than any of his rivals in the earlier session and although he could not improve in the afternoon he still ended the day 0.38s ahead of second quickest rider Jules Cluzel (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda). Frenchman Cluzel recorded his best time of the day late in FP2.

Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) completed the top three on the combined timesheets, +0.515s adrift of Jacobsen.

The FP2 session at the Yamaha Finance Australian Round was red flagged with just under 20 minutes remaining, after debris was strewn across the track at turn 3 following a heavy crash for Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team). The Frenchman was soon back on his feet but his Yamaha YZF R6 suffered significant damage in the crash and he ended up fourth overall.

FP1 had also seen Mahias crash at turn 4, though in that case without major consequence.

Roberto Rolfo (Team Factory Vamag) finished fifth fastest after being given the all clear to ride on Friday morning, following a test crash at Phillip Island earlier in the week which saw him suffer a dislocated left shoulder.

Also in the top ten and therefore going automatically into Tissot Superpole 2 on Saturday are Hikari Okubo (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda), Alex Baldolini (Race Department ATK#25), Gino Rea (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven), Luke Stapleford (Profile Racing) and Kyle Smith (GEMAR Team Lorini). They all lapped within a second of Jacobsen’s P1 time.

Stapleford was a high speed crasher in the final minutes of FP2, though the English Triumph rider was immediately back on his feet.

Italian duo Michael Canducci (Puccetti Racing Junior Team FMI) and Christian Gamarino (BARDAHL EVAN BROS. Honda Racing) were just outside the top ten in 11th and 12th respectively and will therefore try their luck again in Tissot Superpole 1 on Saturday.

Another high velocity crash with 15 minutes to go saw Matt Edwards (Euro Twins Brisbane) bouncing through the gravel but the Australian wild card rider was able to walk away after the incident. Edwards was taken straight to the Medical Centre for a check-up.

In the absence of defending champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), who will miss the opening two rounds of the 2017 championship due to a pre-season hand injury, the riders were able to complete their first official practice sessions of the new season in clear weather conditions.

The WorldSSP riders will be in action again at Phillip Island at 11am local time on Saturday for FP3, with Tissot Superpole 1 at 1.30pm and Tissot Superpole 2 at 1.55pm.

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

 CIA Landlord Insurance Honda rider Jules Cluzel recorded his best time of the opening day at Philip Island late in Free Practice 2 putting him second on the timesheet, just 0.38s behind first place man Jacobsen. Jules was held up on his fast lap in the second session and is confident for qualifying tomorrow.

Hikari Okubo made it directly to Superpole 2 for the first time in his World Supersport career with his combined result of sixth position and he feels good about his chances of improvement tomorrow.

Robin Mulhauser was frustrated not to be faster at what he admits, is not his favourite circuit but he will push hard to improve his position with the aim of a points finish in the race on Sunday.

Jules Cluzel said: “I am happy because we went fast and I want to go fast! We improved the bike and we had some good information today. This afternoon the conditions were hotter and we went faster, just one tenth from Jacobsen who was really strong this morning and in the test. So it’s good because in my fast lap I made many mistakes, one big one in the last turn and on the straight because of riders waiting. That’s going to be good for tomorrow qualifying because if I make a perfect lap it can be a high 32.”

Hikari Okubo said: “I am happy that I am in Superpole 2. My lap time is better and position six is better. Tomorrow in Superpole 2 I want a fast lap and I will push harder for a better position.”

CIA Landlord Insurance Honda Team Manager, Simon Buckmaster said: “Fantastic job by the team today. We had some issues getting Jules comfortable initially and we found the air control valve was sticking making the engine braking inconsistent. We solved that and he went into the 33s, second fastest in Free Practice 2 and second fastest overall.

It is the first time Hikari has gone straight to Superpole 2 and the first time in the top six. A really good push from him and he has done a really good job working with his crew. We are really pleased going into qualifying tomorrow. It is only the end of the first day and we can’t get too excited but we are in a really good position. We need to look at our data so that we can set ourselves up for the race because it’s points that count, there are no prizes for qualifying but it’s great to see Jules and Hikari do such a good job.

Robin didn’t go quicker this afternoon. He had the potential to but then on the run he was put off by some spots of rain at the last corner. There’s a lot more to come from him. He has more practice in Superpole 1 tomorrow and he is going to have to push and do his absolute best to get into Superpole 2. Our aim is to get him into the points and challenge for the top ten in his first race for CIA Landlord Insurance Honda and I believe we are on course for that.

So overall we are very happy with today’s results and we will work together to keep the momentum for tomorrow’s qualifying.”

More, from a press release issued by MV Agusta:

JACOBSEN ON TOP AT PHILLIP ISLAND OPENING DAY 

The first day of action for the 2017 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship officially got underway at Phillip Island circuit, in Australia, with Patrick “PJ” Jacobsen getting the best lap time on the WorldSSP Free Practice sessions and Leon Camier finishing 13th due to a technical problem.

Leon Camier closed in 13th position in the combined WorldSBK FP1-2 sessions, with a lap time of 1’31.405 marked in the morning FP1. The British rider was unable to improve his lap time in the afternoon FP2 session due to a technical problem suffered after only 3 laps. Leon, that in the last test on this circuit got the 6th position, tomorrow will start from the Tissot-Superpole1 (12:30 local time) in search of the best grid position for Race 1 (15:00 local time).

After setting the fastest time in the two-day test earlier this week, Patrick Jacobsen remained in command of the WorldSSP time sheets in both Free Practice sessions on Friday, confirming the very positive feeling with his MV Agusta Reparto Corse F3 675 machine. Jacobsen, at the first WorldSSP race with the MV Agusta brand, today set a best lap of 1’33.087, and tomorrow will lead the Tissot-Superpole2 session scheduled for 13:55 local time.

Leon Camier #2 WorldSBK rider – In the first laps I did this morning the bike was really good and lap time came very easy. I am not so far away even considering we didn’t lap this afternoon. I am confident we can go faster tomorrow, we just need to figure out what the problems are and push hard in tomorrow’s Superpole1.

Patrick Jacobsen #99 WorldSSP rider – This day went really well for us, we tried a lot of things on the bike this morning and we did a great time. In the second session we didn’t have the chance to lower our time but we did a good time considering our 16-lap tyre. I am very happy and I can’t thank my crew enough for their great job. Thanks MV Agusta and all the fans came to support us.

More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:

Top Four Qualifying For New Yamaha YZF-R6 First Time Out

Free practice

The first competitive qualifying outing of the Yamaha YZF-R6 in the FIM Supersport World Championship ended with GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team riders Federico Caricasulo and Lucas Mahias earning third and fourth best lap times respectively.

Running on good track conditions, and after two days of positive testing earlier in the week, both riders started strongly today, aiming for full race set-ups as a priority but finding real single lap pace as well.

2017 signing Caricasulo ? who was a podium finisher at Phillip Island last season – completed a positive 13-lap long-run on the all-new Yamaha. He intends to continue his race-oriented strategy on Saturday, having already qualified for Superpole 2.

Mahias has also been on fast form since he joined the new official team last winter but his good work today was suddenly ended when a tyre issue led to a fast crash at turn three. Lucas escaped with only an injured finger and no fractures, but his bike will have to be completely rebuilt overnight due to the significant damage suffered after such a high speed fall.

Now the aim of each rider is to qualify well in Superpole 2 and work towards the fight for podium places in the first race of the new season on Sunday 26th February.

Lucas Mahias 

4th / 1’33.625 / 33 laps

It was very difficult day because this morning was good, the second session was also positive and we worked to improve the settings. In the afternoon I tried a simulation of the race but after eight laps there was a problem in turn three. I had a fast highside crash and I injured my finger but it is not broken. It was not my fault but my bike was completely destroyed.

Federico Caricasulo 

3rd / 1’33.602 / 52 laps

I improved my lap time this afternoon but the most important thing was that I worked a lot on pace over race distance. I tried to do a race simulation but I did 13 laps. The race is 18 so I hope it will be good for the final few laps too. I think I can be competitive and fighting for the podium. I took a podium at Phillip Island last year but things in that race happened to my advantage. I was not as fast as the first three riders but I was little bit lucky with my first podium. I hope to repeat it this year but because I am fast enough to do it.