Quartararo, Raffin and Rodríguez head qualifying sessions at the Circuit of Albacete

Quartararo in Moto3™, Raffin in Moto2™-Superstock 600 and Rodríguez in Superbike dominated qualifying practice of the FIM CEV Repsol at the Circuit of Albacete today. The increasing heat as the day went on prevented riders improving on times set in the first session of qualifying practice in the morning.

As the only rider to go under one minute 33 seconds – 1.32,797 – in Moto3, Fabio Quartararo (FRA-Honda) adds yet another pole position to his growing resume. Rivals Jorge Navarro (SPA-Ioda Honda) and Gabriel Rodrigo (SPA-KTM) – who is also developing well this season – will start from second and third slots on the grid. Behind them come Hiroki Ono (JAP-TSR Honda), Jorge Martín (SPA-Mahindra), continuing to replace the injured Albert Arenas, and Remy Gardner (AUS-KTM).

As in previous rounds, Jesko Raffin (SWI-Kalex) was imposing. He will be joined on the front row of the grid by Sebas Porto (ARG-Kalex) and Dakota Mamola (BEL-Suter), both only a few tenths behind the pole position rider. It has not taken long for the GRT Aspar Racing Team rider – who started mid-season – to prove himself one of the top riders of the category. On the second row will be Xavi Vierge (SPA-Tech 3), Alan Techer (FRA-Tech 3) and Florian Alt (GER-Kalex), all with times in the 1.32s. In the Superstock 600 category, Ferrán Casas (SPA-Yamaha) consolidated his position as the outstanding rider.

There was something of a turn up in the Superbike class: the overall leader of the qualifying sessions was Ángel Rodríguez (SPA-Suzuki) ahead of Kenny Noyes (USA-Kawasaki). “Rodri” already knows what it is to be a champion in this championship, and became the first rider to break Noyes’ dominance of the pole position this season. Completing the first row in third slot, as in MotorLand and Barcelona-Catalunya, will be Iván Silva (SPA-BMW). New Team Stratos team member Raúl García (SPA-Kawasaki) was the best privateer rider.

Tomorrow’s race schedule is as follows:

11:00 Superbike (20 laps)

12:00 Moto2-Supertock 600 (20 laps)

13:00 Moto3 (19 laps)

14:00 Superbike (20 laps)

As ever, entry is free on Saturday and Sunday and fans who are interested can download the invitation attached to this press release. In addition, the FIM CEV Repsol fans on Sunday to go to the Accreditation Centre can collect a pass to take part in the Pit Lane walk that will take place before the start of racing. On top of that, fans attending the circuit on Sunday will be able to follow each the races closely without missing any of the action, thanks to the giant screen installed at the Curva Crivillé.

In Spain you can enjoy the racing via the Movistar MotoGP channel of Movistar TV and the Energy channel of Mediaset Spain. Both channels share the signal and broadcast live. French fans can follow the Moto3 racing live on Eurosport, and in Italy the broadcast of Moto3 race will be provided by Sky. In other countries, the races can be seen on the championship channel on Youtube.

All the results and information about the Championship are on the official website: www.fimcevrepsol.com

More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki Palmeto PL:

Qualifying Races 5 and 6 of FIM CEV International Superbike Championship

Circuito de Albacete, Spain

July 5, 2014

Noyes on Front Row for FIM CEV Superbike Races at Albacete

American Kenny Noyes, leading the FIM CEV International Superbike Championship by 14 points, will start second in the two 20-laps races Sunday (July 6) at Albacete, Spain.

Riding the Palmeto ZX10R Kawasaki, Noyes has started on the pole at the previous four races, has started on the front row at every race this season. The top six riders at the tight, 2.2 mile circuit are separated by less than eight tenths of a second.

Spaniard Ángel Rodriguez (Suzuki GSX-R 1000) will start from the pole alongside Noyes and fellow-Spaniard Ivan Silva (BMW S1000RR). Noyes´ Venezuelan teammate, Robertino Pietri, sixth in the morning, was a strong fourth in the afternoon session.

Temperatures are expected to reach 90 degrees by 2:PM when race two begins. Sunday´s two races will take the championship into the second half of the ten-race season.

Kenny Noyes:

Coming off three big GP tracks to Albacete is like in Dirt Track going from three miles to a TT. I didn´t feel comfortable all day Friday but today I’ve got to thank the team and Michelin for some big improvements.

The pole got away from us because I couldn´t find any free track. I kept getting balked and finally did my best time on the third lap with my qualifier when it was already going off. I only improved by a tenth on the Q-tire. I think I could have done a mid 1.29 if I’d had a clean run, but we´re on the front row and that´s what counts.

I think we can fight for the win in both race races but maybe not against the same rivals. I think the Dunlop guys will be fast in the cooler morning race, but I expect Silva on the BMW to be fast when the track heats up in the afternoon. I think the race will be decided over the last 6 or 7 of the each 20-lap race and fitness is going to be important.

Superbike Qualifying Albacete

1. Rodriguez (Spain-Suzuki GSX-R 1000)1m29.764

2. Noyes (USA-Kawasaki ZX10R)1m29.950+.186

3. Silva (Spain-BMW S1000RR)1m30.134+.370

4. Rivas (Spain-BMW S1000RR)1m30.296+.532

5. Barragan (Spain-Kawasaki ZX10R)1m30.549+.785

6. Pietri (Venezuela-Kawasaki ZX10R)1m30.553+.789