FIM Supersport World Championship
Phillip Island, Australia
February 16, 2015
Day One Test Times (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:33.743
2. Jules CLUZEL, France (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:34.012
3. Lorenzo ZANETTI, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:34.431
4. PJ JACOBSEN, USA (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:34.946
5. Gino REA, UK (Honda CBR600RR), 1:35.041
6. Aiden WAGNER, Australia (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:35.055
7. Roberto ROLFO, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), 1:35.143
8. Marco FACCANI, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:35.195
9. Riccardo RUSSO, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), 1:35.377
10. Kyle SMITH, UK (Honda CBR600RR), 1:35.561
11. Alex BALDOLINI, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:35.815
12. L. MAHIAS, France (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:35.838
13. Kevin WAHR, Germany (Honda CBR600RR), 1:36.360
14. D. SCHMITTER, Switzerland (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:36.394
15. Rathapark WILAIROT, Thailand (Honda CBR600RR), 1:36.421
16. F. MENGHI, Italy (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:36.481
17. Martin CARDENAS, Colombia (Honda CBR600RR), 1:36.497
18. C. GAMARINO, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:36.615
19. Glenn SCOTT, Australia (Honda CBR600RR), 1:37.739
20. Alex PHILLIS, Australia (Honda CBR600RR), 1:38.154
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:
The penultimate day of World Supersport testing ahead of the season opener ended earlier today with Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) coming out on top after two 110 minute sessions.
In the opening session of the day it was former champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) who emerged on top 0.699s ahead of 2014 Phillip Island race winner and the 2014 vice champion Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), the pair several tenths ahead of the rest of the pack.
The later afternoon session saw the morning head wind on the Gardner Straight subside resulting in brace of faster times and with a lap time within a second of circuit lap record it was Sofuoglu who goes into tomorrow’s final test session in top spot.
Commenting on his pace during the day the Turkish rider was clearly buoyed by the his team’s ability to ensure tyre durability so early in the weekend – “It’s hard to make a tyre a last even 10 laps here, so to complete so many laps at the pace we did is encouraging for us. The team did a great job”.
Behind Sofuoglu, Jules Cluzel improved his time to consolidate 2nd position overall ahead of the improving Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and American PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpress) who elevated himself to 4th on his final lap.
Gino Rea (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda), who is returning to the WorldSBK paddock after three seasons in Moto2 took an impressive 5th on his first competitive ride on a Supersport machine since 2011, the Londoner confident of further improvement as the test continues tomorrow.
Local wildcard rider Aiden Wagner (Oz Wildcard Racing) completed the top six.
The top ten were rounded out by Roberto Rolfo (Lorini Honda), Marco Faccani (San Carlo Puccetti Racing), Riccardo Russo (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda) and Kyle Smith (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) respectively.
Australian Glenn Scott (AARK Racing) took his Honda CBR600cc machine to 19th overall while Alex Phillis substitute rider for Alessandro Nocco (Lorini Honda) was 20th. The second local wildcard entry of Sam Lambert powering his Triumph Daytona machine to 22nd in the combined classification.
Kyle Smith was the only faller today, the Englishman should be back in action tomorrow.
Of the 24 entered riders, the CATBIKE/exit Kawasaki pairing of Nacho Calero and Marcos Ramirez failed to record a time in either session, the team preferring to ensure everything is 100% with the machine preparation before allowing the riders to take to the track while Thai rider Ratthapark Wilairot (CORE Motorsport Thailand) managed only 20 laps after there was a delay in receiving his riding gear.
The final two 110 minute timed test sessions will take place tomorrow at 1120 and 1540 local time.
More, from a press release issued by CIA Landlords Insurance Honda:
CONFIDENT START FOR GINO IN AUSTRALIA; WILL MISS SECOND DAY OF TEST
CIA LANDLORDS INSURANCE HONDA’S Gino Rea finished a promising fifth in the first day of testing at Phillip Island in Australia on his return to the World Supersport Championship after a three-year absence. He will miss tomorrow’s second test day as he goes for surgery to remove a screw from his right foot.
A screw in Gino’s right foot started working its way loose and nearly broke through the skin during today’s test. A result of a crash at Sepang in 2014, Gino will now have surgery to get the screw removed rather than ride tomorrow. It means he will be fully fit for the start of the opening round on Friday at Phillip Island.
Gino said: “It feels good to be back in World Supersport and it’s been a productive first day given the circumstances with my foot.
“I could only do a limited run of laps. Even wearing a boot 2.5-sizes too big, it was still rubbing on the screw. I had to be so careful through the right-handers and couldn’t move my weight on the bike the way I wanted to either.
“Lap times were good as we didn’t chuck tyres at the bike and just worked on the base setting, clutch and electronics. It’s definitely the best WSS bike I’ve ever ridden.
“I am working on my self and learning the CIA Landlords Insurance Honda. I am comfortable with the lap times and will be happy to get the screw removed so I can be fully fit and ready for the opening round. It only started to work its way loose over the last couple of days.”
Riccardo Russo took ninth place on his CIA Landlords Insurance Honda, working on race set up. Martin Cardenas was 17th and Kieran Clarke 21st as they got up to speed with their new race bikes.
There is another day of testing tomorrow before the opening round at the same Phillip Island circuit starts on Friday with practice, followed by practice and qualification on Saturday and then the race at 1310 local time on Sunday 22nd February.
CIA Landlords Insurance Honda Team Manager Simon Buckmaster said: “Gino lost some time this morning with a technical problem and then struggled with the screw coming loose in his foot when on track. He has made the right decision to get it removed tomorrow because it will give him much more mobility for the opening round.
“We are really happy with his pace given the issues challenging him today and it is clear he has the speed to race at the front. We are all confident he can compete for the top three this weekend.
“Riccardo, Martin and Kieran all got to grips with their 2015 bikes today and will be able to progress tomorrow.”