FIM Supersport World Championship Magny-Cours, France October 5, 2008 Race Results (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Andrew PITT (Honda CBR600RR), 22 laps, 37:57.929 2. Barry VENEMAN (Suzuki GSX-R600), -1.250 seconds 3. Josh BROOKES (Honda CBR600RR), -1.514 4. Matthieu LAGRIVE (Honda CBR600RR), -1.685 5. Didier VAN KEYMEULEBNEL (Suzuki GSX-R600), -5.075 6. Massimo ROCCOLI (Yamaha YZF-R6), -13.171 7. Gianluca NANNELLI (Honda CBR600RR), -13.386 8. Fabien FORET (Yamaha YZF-R6), -19.563 9. Josh HAYES (Honda CBR600RR), -19.677 10. Jonathan REA (Honda CBR600RR), -21.686, crash 15. Robbin HARMS (Honda CBR600RR), -38.000, crash 26. Broc PARKES (Yamaha YZF-R6), -12 laps, DNF, crash 27. Joan LASCORZ (Honda CBR600RR), -13 laps, DNF, crash 28. Miguel PRAIA (Hon CBR600RR), -22 laps, DNF, crash World Championship Point Standings (After 12 of 13 races): 1. Pitt, 194 points * 2. Rea, 164 3. Brookes, 157 4. Parkes, 139 5. TIE, Foret/Lascorz, 105 7. Craig Jones, 100 8. Veneman, 92 9. Harms, 71 10. Nannelli, 60 23. Hayes, 13 * = clinches Championship More, from a press release issued by Parkalgar Honda: Parkalgar-Honda Latest News – Hayes goes one step better in France PARKALGAR HONDA’S Josh Hayes finished in a hard-fought ninth place to score his best ever World Supersport Championship result at the 12th round of the series at Magny Cours in France today. With only two dry qualifying sessions, Hayes started the dry race from a lowly 19th on the grid but displayed all the grit and determination that has made the American a double AMA Formula Extreme Champion to get into the top 10 and take a solid result. Parkalgar Honda’s Miguel Praia had high hopes for a strong finish starting from 17th on the grid, but never completed a lap. The Portuguese rider crashed out unhurt on the first circulation and is now looking forward to the final round of the Championship at his home circuit. Honda’s Andrew Pitt won the race and the World Championship. Parkalgar Honda goes to the final round of the World Championship at its home Parkalgar track in Portimao in Portugal on November 2nd. The purpose-built motorsport mecca’s first major event is the final round of the 2008 World Superbike Championship and the team will be looking to score the best results possible on its home turf. For tickets to the final round, visit www.autodromodoalgarve.com. Josh: “That was one tough race. I got a good start and was 12th by the end of the first lap. After that I got into my rhythm and pushed as hard as I could. A couple of changes to my bike and sheer will power made the difference today and I am glad to have taken a step forward in the race. Next time out I’ll want to be even better, I think we are good enough for the top six and I’d love to deliver that to the team at its home track.” Miguel: “I high-sided on the first lap and I am lucky to be uninjured. I think for sure I had the pace and chance to fight in the top 10 alongside Josh. At least we know we have a good bike with the performance to race in the top 10 – and we have one more chance at our home track in Portugal, I cannot wait to be racing in front of the Portuguese fans.” Simon Buckmaster, Team Manager: “To get ninth from starting 19th on the grid was a big ask but Josh dug in like the fighter he is and brought it home inside the top 10. He benefitted slightly from other riders falling but he still managed to beat his qualifying time by a quarter of a second and rode a controlled race. If we can get him starting in the top 10 then there is no doubt he is a regular finisher near the front. We also have to remember it is only his second race in the Championship he’s done a good job. “I think given Miguel’s pace in qualifying he should have been in the points today and we are all bitterly disappointed for him. He’ll come back more determined than ever for the next round of the Championship at our home track in Portimao, Portugal. “I have been to the Parkalgar circuit recently and it really is impressive. If you are a bike racing fan then you need to get yourself to the final round of the Championship at the start of November the circuit layout should make for hot racing and I’m sure the weather will match it.” More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: Andrew Pitt today won the 2008 World Supersport championship by taking victory in a thrilling 12th-round race at Magny-Cours in France. Pitt’s second world title he was the last non-Honda rider to win the title in 2001 is the seventh successive championship for the Ten Kate team and the Honda CBR600RR machine. Pitt and his HANNspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate, Jonathan Rea, started the 22-lap race from the front row of the grid, separated by 11 points at the head of the championship table. However, Rea was taken out of contention at the tight Adelaide hairpin on lap nine, whilst lying in third place. Pitt was involved in a thrilling, race-long battle with Suzuki’s Barry Veneman and fellow Honda rider, Josh Brookes. But the 32-year-old Australian eased away in the latter stages of the race, winning by more than one second at the flag. Rea, meanwhile, remounted and, despite losing first gear in the crash, was able to climb back to tenth place. He retains second place in the series, with the final race due in Portugal on 2 November. Andrew Pitt P1 Well, you can’t say I didn’t win a race with this championship! Jonny missed out today and I’m sure it would’ve been a tough battle right to the end. I didn’t actually know that he was out until I worked it out by looking at the big TV screen! I needed a bit of luck, having been taken out myself a couple of times this season. But I have never enjoyed a season as much as this the team is just a fantastic bunch of guys to work for and the way everyone pulled together yesterday to put my bike back together was just typical of the spirit here. I’d like to thank Ronald and Gerrit (ten Kate) for having the faith in me and giving me such a competitive machine. I’m happy to repay that faith today. Jonathan Rea P10 I felt I could have run at whatever pace I wanted today. I just found it difficult to pass Andrew down the straights and I doubt I would have broken away. I’ll put what happened down as a racing incident, and I’m not one to bear a grudge it’s just a shame I won’t be able to battle for the title in Portugal. But congratulations to Andrew, who’s been on it all season. He’s a worthy champion and I’m really happy for him and the whole team. Ronald ten Kate team manager It’s been another roller coaster of a World Supersport race but I’m just so happy it’s done now. Big congratulations to Andrew and the whole Supersport crew for winning the title in such style. This makes number seven, of course, and they have all been truly magnificent. I feel sorry for Jonny being taken out of the race and having his title chances taken away from him. But we are still one and two in the points table and we’ll be doing everything we can to keep it that way in Portugal. More, from a press release issued by Triumph Italia Be1 Racing: Ivan Clementi takes points in the penultimate round of the World Supersport Championship at Magny Cours while the Aussie rider Mark Aitchison has been forced to give up before the start due to a crash in the morning warm-up which caused him bruises at the elbow and shoulder; the mobile clinic declared him unfit for the race. At the green light Ivan Clementi lost some positions and finished the first lap in 17th place. Then the Italian rider began to lap very quick for several laps and he recovered up to the 13th position on the half of the race. Clementi succeeded to perform a great recovery despite he missed the tip of the gears lever. Unfortunately just that hitch caused him to be not able to defend his position from the attack of Vostarek on the ends of the race. The Italian rider took the 14th final place. IVAN CLEMENTI | Triumph 675 | 14th Classified: “I would have been able to finish in the top-10 without any difficulty because the bike was quick and I was in a good form as I showed in the first laps when I recovered many positions. Then I lost the tip of the gears level on the third laps. I carried on my race anyway and I recorded good times but I could do nothing against rivals attacks”. MARK AITCHISON | Triumph 675 | Retired: “I’m really sorry I had to give up before the race start. I was sure to have what it takes to get a good result since I performed well in the qualifying . On the contrary I was forced to follow my team-mate from the pits. I hope I can get my revenge in the final round at Portimao the next month”. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha: Fabien Foret (Yamaha World Supersport Team) made a great return to World Supersport competition at his home race, finishing eighth after ending the first lap down in 15th place. Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport Team) was running with the leading group until he was knocked off by a crash between two other riders on lap ten. Parkes returned to the pits but his machine was too damaged to continue with any chance of scoring a point, and he retired from the race, losing his last chance of taking the world title this season. Andrew Pitt won the title today, by winning the 22-lap race. Foret’s result was remarkable on many levels, and even through he finished the race exhausted by his intense race experience, he finished higher in the order than he had dared dream after being out since the Brno race in July. Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) had a great ride to sixth, leading Nannelli home in tight midfield race. He was the top Yamaha finisher today. David Salom (Yamaha Spain World Supersport) was 17th and just missed out on a point. Fabien Foret (8th – Yamaha World Supersport Team) “Eighth place and I am really happy with that. One month ago I was at home with a neck brace on and feeling not so good, but today has made me glad I came back for this race. In the middle I had a lot of pain but I was fighting and I did not want to give up. I made some small mistakes because I am not so relaxed, a bit rigid on the bike and not so confident, but it was a good result. I can go home now and get ready, because we have one month until the next race.” Broc Parkes (DNF – Yamaha World Supersport Team) “The crash was really not what we needed and there was nothing I could do to avoid it. I felt good and knew we were going to be competitive if we could have finished the race. We just have to look to the final race now and finish as well as we can.” Wilco Zeelenberg (Team Manager, Yamaha World Supersport Team) The bike was too badly damaged for Broc to carry on without repairs. He would not have scored points even if he started again. It is a shame. It was a bad move at a bad moment and the Championship has been decided by it. We are happy for Fabien; he really improved and he even did a 1’43.6 lap near the end, which is almost as fast as the leaders. Eighth is a great position when he was not sure if he could even finish the race. He will be mentally and physically stronger at Portimao. I think it was a pity to end our championship challenge this way because there could have been a good battle still with the other guys and Broc, but Andrew deserved it because he won even when Rea was well down.” Massimo Roccoli (6th – Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) “That was a good result for us today and I was pleased to come out on top of the fight with Nannelli. I had a bit of a problem with some other riders on the first laps but after three or four laps I got a good rhythm going and ended up with the best result of the year.” More, from a press release issued by Honda: Pitt Wins The Race And the Championship Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) won his fifth WSS race of the 2008 season and in doing so took the overall World championship win, with one round remaining. It was Pitt’s second title in this class, and his first Honda championship victory makes it seven straight riders’ titles in this class for Honda, all for riders from the Ten Kate Team. Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) started the day only 11 points from Pitt, but after he was knocked off in a crash at the Adelaide hairpin on lap ten, when Robbin Harms ran in too hot and clipped Rea’s back tyre, his championship hopes were dashed. Rea remounted to finish tenth, having qualified second, one place ahead of Pitt. Josh Brookes (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsports Honda CBR600RR) could not quite get into contention with Pitt on the last few laps, but took a strong third place, behind the new champion and Barry Veneman. Brookes will now dispute second in the series with Rea at the final round at Portimao, on November 2. The points total at the top of the standings, with one race to go, reads Pitt 194, Rea 164, Brookes 157 and Broc Parkes 139. Behind the leaders, Gianluca Nannelli (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR600RR) secured seventh place after qualifying tenth, but his team-mate Russell Holland (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR600RR) crashed, remounted and finally limped home in 21st place. Josh Hayes, (Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR) had a remarkable ride from 19th on the grid to ninth. Robbin Harms (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsports Honda CBR600RR) remounted after his collision with Rea and took 15th, and a single championship point. Pitt said: “Well, you can’t say I didn’t win a race with this championship! Johnny missed out today and I’m sure it would’ve been a tough battle right to the end. I didn’t actually know that he was out until I worked it out by looking at the big TV screen! I needed a bit of luck, having been taken out myself a couple of times this season. But I have never enjoyed a season as much as this the team is just a fantastic bunch of guys to work for and the way everyone pulled together yesterday to put my bike back together was just typical of the spirit here. I’d like to thank Ronald and Gerrit (Ten Kate) for having the faith in me and giving me such a competitive machine. I’m happy to repay that faith today.” Rea said: “I felt I could have run at whatever pace I wanted today. I just found it difficult to pass Andrew down the straights and I doubt I would have broken away. I’ll put what happened down as a racing incident, and I’m not one to bear a grudge it’s just a shame I won’t be able to battle for the title in Portugal. But congratulations to Andrew, who’s been on it all season. He’s a worthy champion and I’m really happy for him and the whole team.” Brookes said: “It has been a difficult weekend for me and not finding the right settings on my bike in qualifying left me starting from eighth place on the grid. Also, this morning, I had a crash, which meant I had to use my second bike for the race. Once things settled down, I felt good on the bike and everything was working really well. I was able to push harder and harder every lap and gradually worked my way up. Pitt, Veneman and I then fought for the lead, but I got stuck behind Veneman in third place and couldn’t get past him again. A win would’ve been great, but I’m really happy with my podium today.” Harms said: “The bike was feeling OK and I got a good start from my seventh place on the grid. But after a couple of laps I started having grip problems. The bike was sliding pretty badly here and there, but I wanted to stay in the front group, so I pushed hard to keep up the pace. But on one lap I missed my braking point. I thought I could save it, but instead I ran into Rea in front of me. I’m really sorry that it happened. It was not my intention at all; it was just an honest mistake. I got back in the race and managed to finish in 15th place, but I don’t feel it was a good weekend for us.” Nannelli said: “My start was not so good so I did my best to push in the race. My pace was pretty fast at the beginning but after a few laps I felt some problem on my rear tyre. The same thing I felt during the practices. I fought with Roccoli in the last laps and I reached the seventh position, but I’m not satisfied with my final result, because today we lost a good opportunity to take an important result.” Hayes said: “That was one tough race. I got a good start and was 12th by the end of the first lap. After that I got into my rhythm and pushed as hard as I could. A couple of changes to my bike and sheer willpower made the difference today and I am glad to have taken a step forward in the race. Next time out I’ll want to be even better, I think we are good enough for the top six and I’d love to deliver that to the team at its home track.” Holland said: “I am really disappointed with today’s result of course. My race had been going well until my crash. I had a good start and I was fighting with Vizziello for tenth position. I was faster in some parts of the track, but when I tried to overtake him suddenly my front lost grip and I crashed. I started again because my bike was not damaged but I was only able to pass one rider in front of me before the end of the race.”