FIM Supersport World Championship
Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
May 14, 2016
Qualifying Results (all on Pirelli tires):
From Superpole Session Two:
1. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 2:08.055
2. Randy KRUMMENACHER, Switzerland (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 2:08.155
3. Gino REA, UK (MV Agusta F3 675), 2:08.410
4. PJ JACOBSEN, USA (Honda CBR600RR), 2:08.425
5. Zulfahmi KHAIRUDDIN, Malaysia (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 2:08.475
6. Ayrton BADOVINI, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), 2:08.771
7. Jules CLUZEL, France (MV Agusta F3 675), 2:09.259
8. Roberto ROLFO, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), 2:09.518
9. Ondrej JEZEK, Czech Republic (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 2:09.622
10. Nico TEROL, Spain (MV Agusta F3 675), 2:09.684
11. Federico CARICASULO, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), 2:09.770
12. Lorenzo ZANETTI, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), 2:10.278
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Confident 1-2 Superpole Qualifying For Sofuoglu And Krummenacher
In dry conditions for Superpole qualifying in the WorldSSP class at Sepang Kawasaki Puccetti Racing riders Kenan Sofuoglu and Randy Krummenacher finished first and second respectively, in readiness for Sunday’s 14-lap race.
The two Kawasaki riders duelled it out for the right to be the fastest rider pre-race, with Sofuoglu taking his third pole of 2016 in the final lap. This was Kenan’s 26th pole position, extending his leading position in the record books.
Krummenacher is new to the Supersport World Championship in 2016 but has ridden at Sepang many times in his Grand Prix career. He approached the recently resurfaced circuit in positive fashion and was only 0.1 seconds from his team-mate, and 0.255 seconds ahead of the next nearest challenger.
Both official Kawasaki riders were under the previous circuit best in qualifying. Now their attention turns to converting their pre-race pace into race results on Sunday, on the new and quite abrasive track surface at Sepang.
The race takes place at 14.20 local time in Malaysia, on Sunday 15th May.
Kenan Sofuoglu: “Superpole was quite good and we had to work very hard, especially as the track was getting faster and faster, and everybody going faster and faster because if it. So we did not know where we would finish at the end. So I am very happy to have taken Superpole. In the last lap I did a very fast lap time and I am sure more was possible but I had no time to change my front tyre for a new one. If I had changed it and got a couple of tenths it would have helped me for sure but anyway we won Superpole and probably I am ready for the race. I feel confident but I am sure it is not going to be easy because it is very hot and there is a big question mark over tyres for everybody. I am not worried because anybody can have a tyre problem, and the reason is that we have not had the chance to make a long run. On Friday there was rain and on Saturday everybody only went for lap times. Anyway, I think we are in a good position at the moment,”
Randy Krummenacher: “It was a really positive day but this morning was a little bit better when I was fastest! But in general I can be very happy with our qualifying because I have a very consistent pace, which is good for the race. The race gives points so I am very confident for tomorrow. It feels easy for me to do consistent laps and that gives me so much confidence. I come from Moto2 and the Supersport bike definitely suits me better. I can control the tyre very well and I think that is going to be my advantage tomorrow. I love to play with the bike and I can really play with it here, so that is such a good feeling for me.”
Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) was a popular fifth in Superpole 2 at his home round, as he looks forward to raceday maybe even more than any other rider. Ondrej Jezek (Team GoEleven Kawasaki) was ninth on the grid, the last rider on row three.
Jezek’s team-mate Christian Gamarino sits 13th after Superpole 2. Nacho Calero (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) qualified 19th and Lachlan Epis (Response RE Racing Kawasaki) 22nd.
More, from a press release issued by Honda:
Jacobsen claims fourth place on the grid after Sepang Superpole
Round 6 – Malaysia
Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
Honda WorldSSP Team’s rider PJ Jacobsen will start tomorrow’s 14-lap sixth-round FIM Supersport World Championship race from the second row of the grid, after finishing fourth in today’s Superpole 2 at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. Last year’s WorldSSP Vice Champion continues on his string of positive qualifying results, having never qualified outside the top-4 so far this year.
Jacobsen logged a 2’08.425 in his last attempt before the end of Superpole 2, coming only 0.015 seconds short of what would have been a front row qualifying. After topping yesterday’s timesheet and finishing second in this morning’s free practice three, the American rider has again showed his skills aboard the Honda CBR600RR #2 machine and he is now looking forward to the Malaysian encounter, which takes place tomorrow at 14:20 local time (GMT +2).
Patrick Jacobsen 2
4th
In Superpole I did a mistake on the last sector of my final lap that cost me the front row; too bad, because I think I was in the condition to go for pole as I have usually been faster than Kenan in the final split. Overall, a fourth place is definitely not bad and I’m looking forward to tomorrow, because I think there is a chance to fight for top honours.
Pieter Breddels
Technical Manager
In Superpole we went for a small change that didn’t work out, so we went back to what we knew was working the right way. PJ did a great job anyway and got on row two for tomorrow. Surely a front row start would have been ideal, but we are not concerned about our grid position and we are definitely confident for tomorrow, because we reckon he can stay with Sofuoglu and Krummenacher.
More, from a press release issued by CIA Insurance Honda:
Okubo targets Championship Points at Sepang
Sat, 14 May 2016
CIA Landlord Insurance Honda rider Hikari Okubo has his first Supersport World Championship points firmly in his sights in the race at Sepang tomorrow. With the track dry for the Superpole 1 session Hikari improved by 2 seconds on his previous lap time to qualify 16th.
Hikari:
“I know half of the Sepang track from racing in the Asian Championship so I could push harder from the start of the weekend. I got the best setting from the last round at Imola so it was easy to make adjustments. I am not satisfied with 16th position, tomorrow I will push harder. I want a top 10 finish.”
Kyle Smith paid the price for not optimising his performance in Free Practice 1. His lap times in SP1 improved into the 2’09s for the first time during the weekend but it wasn’t enough for him to qualify higher than 15th.
Stefan Hill qualified 23rd. His lap times improved dramatically throughout the sessions and he is looking to improve again in tomorrow’s warm-up with the aim of finishing inside the top 20.
Christoffer Bergman is still adjusting his riding style to the CBR600RR in this year’s highly competitive Championship and improved steadily throughout the weekend qualifying 20th.
CIA Landlord Insurance Honda Team Manager, Simon Buckmaster:
“A great job by Hikari, he is in with a good chance of a scoring points tomorrow. I believe he will fight for it in the race. It was not the best qualifying for Kyle. We made some changes to improve his front feel but he must relax and let his massive natural talent shine through. Stefan has shown much more control and consistency at this round. His aim is a top 20 finish. This is the first track that Christoffer has no previous Stock 1000 experience of to affect his riding the 600 machine and he can expect to finish in the top 20.”
The lights go out for the World Supersport race on Sunday at 14:20 local time (GMT +8).