2007 FIM Superbike World Championship Santamonica Circuit Misano June 15, 2007 Provisional Qualifying Results: 1. Troy BAYLISS (Duc 999F07), 1:36.479 2. Troy CORSER (Yam YZF-R1), 1:36.524 3. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suz GSX-R1000K7), 1:36.803 4. Ruben XAUS (Duc 999F06), 1:36.879 5. Noriyuki HAGA (Yam YZF-R1), 1:37.453 6. Fonsi NIETO (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:37.512 7. James TOSELAND (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:37.522 8. Michel FABRIZIO (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:37.594 9. Regis LACONI (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:37.645 10. Lorenzo LANZI (Duc 999F07), 1:37.692 11. Max BIAGGI (Suz GSX-R1000K7), 1:37.766 12. Marco BORCIANI (Duc 999F06), 1:38.004 13. Roberto ROLFO (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:38.012 14. Mauro SANCHINI (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:38.546 15. Jakub SMRZ (Duc 999F05), 1:38.872 16. Max NEUKIRCHNER (Suz GSX-R1000K6), 1:39.123 17. Shinichi NAKATOMI (Yam YZF-R1), 1:39.128 18. Luca CONFORTI (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:39.560 19. Christian ZAISER (MV Agusta F4-1000R 312), 1:40.078 20. Luca MORELLI (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:40.173 21. Alessandro POLITA (Suz GSX-R1000K6), 1:40.438 22. Dean ELLISON (Duc 999RS), 1:41.290 2007 FIM Supersport World Championship Provisional Qualifying Results: 1. Anthony WEST (Yam YZF-R6), 1:40.396 2. Craig JONES (Hon CBR600RR), 1:40.397 3. Broc PARKES (Yam YZF-R6), 1:40.461 4. Sebastien CHARPENTIER (Hon CBR600RR), 1:40.548 5. Pere RIBA (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:40.673 6. Katsuaki FUJIWARA (Hon CBR600RR), 1:40.905 7. Lorenzo ALFONSI (Hon CBR600RR), 1:40.930 8. Yoann TIBERIO (Hon CBR600RR), 1:40.944 9. Javier FORES (Hon CBR600RR), 1:40.970 10. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Hon CBR600RR), 1:40.975 2007 FIM Cup Superstock 1000 Championship Provisional Qualifying Results: 1. Matteo BAIOCCO (Yam YZF-R1), 1:40.193 2. Xavier SIMEON (Suz GSX-R1000K6), 1:40.406 3. Luca SCASSA (MV Agusta F4-1000R 312), 1:40.724 4. Niccolo CANEPA (Duc 1098S), 1:40.806 5. Mark AITCHISON (Suz GSX-R1000K6), 1:40.821 6. Lorenzo BARONI (Duc 1098S), 1:40.885 7. Ilario DIONISI (Suz GSX-R1000K7), 1:40.938 8. Leonardo BILIOTTI (MV Agusta F4-1000R 312), 1:41.191 9. Rene MAHR (Yam YZF-R1), 1:41.379 10. Matej SMRZ (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:41.386 More, from a press release issued by Xerox Ducati: BAYLISS TAKES FIRST QUALIFYING FOR DUCATI XEROX AT SWELTERING MISANO Misano Adriatico (Italy), Friday 15 June: Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) shrugged off sweltering temperatures at the Misano World Circuit to clinch provisional pole position in Friday qualifying. The 38 year-old Australian let all his rivals do all the work for much of the session before slipping in a quick time of 1m36.479s in the last few minutes to take the top slot. Team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi on the other hand was out of luck in the final stages as he slipped down from a provisional sixth to tenth place at the end of the session “Sometimes I wonder why you go testing because you’re a second and a half slower than what you were in the test. They’ve resurfaced the track and it’s 20° hotter as well so you might as well just go to the beach!” joked Troy. “Apart from that it went OK. My best lap was still half a second slower than what I did on my last lap of the long-run when we came here so of course I’m not so happy about that. It can’t be faster anyway when the conditions are like this. It’s really hot out there, almost 50° on the track, but there’s a lot of wind as well and there’s no feeling at all down the fast right on the back straight but everyone’s in the same boat and we just have to get on with it. I’m worn out because we’re trying to get the bike setting better from the one in the tests which didn’t work well”. “I expected a bit better because of the good results we did in the tests here a short time ago” declared Lorenzo. “It’s a lot hotter here now and we struggled a bit with the bike setting because we had to change a lot of things. Then five minutes from the end I was sixth with a good time. The others put on softer new tyres and I didn’t because I think that the track will be quicker tomorrow morning and I’m keeping an extra set of tyres to do a good time. It’s going to be tough for the race because it’s difficult to pass here, although the long fast right is really exciting in fifth gear and much better than before. I like this track but the important thing is to get things set up right tomorrow morning for the race.” A DUCATI FOR WORLD CHAMPION SWIMMER FILIPPO MAGNINI Filippo Magnini, Italy’s two-times world 100 metre freestyle swimming champion received a special gift on Friday during the first day of World Superbike action at the Misano World Circuit. Thanks to his sponsor Arena, he picked up the keys of a brand-new red Ducati 1098, the latest Superbike to come out of the Borgo Panigale factory, from WSBK champion Troy Bayliss. TIMES: 1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1m36.479s; 2. Corser (Yamaha) 1m36.524s; 3. Kagayama (Suzuki) 1m36.803s; 4. Xaus (Ducati) 1m36.879s; 5. Haga (Yamaha) 1m37.453s; 6. Nieto (Kawasaki) 1m37.512s; 7. Toseland (Honda) 1m37.522s; 8. Fabrizio (Honda) 1m37.594s; 9. Laconi (Kawasaki) 1m37.645s; 10. Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) 1m37.692s. More, from a press release issued by Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra: 2007 Superbike World Championship Round 8, Misano, Italy Friday qualifying, 15th June 2007 Circuit: 4.180 kms Conditions: Dry, mostly sunny 29-34 C PROVISIONAL FRONT ROW FOR YUKIO. FRUSTRATION FOR MAX. The new Misano circuit provided mixed fortunes for Team Alstare Suzuki Corona EXtra riders Yukio Kagayama and Max Biaggi today. Both riders were seeing the new layout for the first time – the track now runs clockwise instead of anticlockwise – but Yukio still managed to put in a superb performance this afternoon, setting the third quickest lap to end on the provisional front row of the grid. It was not such a happy return to Italy for his team mate, Max Biaggi, who suffered some bike problems in the afternoon timed qualifying and ended with the eleventh fastest lap. Troy Bayliss (Ducati) was one of many riders who tested here recently and he used that advantage well, finishing with the day’s fastest lap – 1:36.479. Second quickest is another rider who tested recently, Troy Corser (Yamaha), with Yukio third and Ruben Xaus (Ducati) fourth. YUKIO- 3rd, 1:36.803 Considering this is my first time here, I am pretty happy to be third, just behind two riders who have tested here before. It is always a bit difficult when you come to a new track because you have to learn it before you can go fast. The new layout is very technical and there are quite a few bumps, so there is a lot to discover – quickly. I knew about the bumps beforehand, so I was expecting them, but they were not as bad as I was led to believe. The grip level of the track is not bad but, as usual, when the temperature goes up the grip goes down. We made some improvements to the chassis setting today and now we have to see if we can make the bike better tomorrow. I still have to get more knowledge about the track, but I feel this could be quite a positive weekend for us. MAX – 11th, 1:37.766 Today, especially this afternoon was a little frustrating. First I had to learn the track before I could push hard. The track is OK, but it is quite bumpy and that is unusual for a new track , or a track with a new surface. The grip level is so-so, but my biggest problem this afternoon in timed qualifying was that my bike cut out a couple of times. I think there was about seven minutes until the end of timed qualifying and I wanted to set a quick lap or two, but when I was on one of my fast laps, the bike just cut out. I managed to restart it OK, but then it did it again and basically I lost any chance of improving my lap times. Afterwards I spoke with my mechanics and they think that maybe a sensor was playing up and it sent the wrong information and that’s why the bike stopped. They will check everything, look at the data and hopefully they will find the cause of the problem. It is a pity, because I feel I could’ve qualified much higher up the grid if I had not had that problem. Friday qualifying 1 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:36.479, 2 Corser (Aus-Yamaha) 1:36.524, 3 YUKIO KAGAYAMA (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:36.803, 4 Xaus (E-Ducati) 1:36.879, 5 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:37.453, 6 Nieto (E-Kawasaki) 1″37.512, 7 Toseland (GB-Honda) 1:37.522, 8 Fabrizio (I-Honda) 1:37.594, 9 Laconi (I-Kawasaki) 1:37.645, 10 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 1:37.692, 11 MAX BIAGGI (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:37.766 More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: World Superbike Championship Round eight: Misano, San Marino Friday 15 June 2007 Qualifying report one HANNspree Ten Kate Honda battles the heat at Misano The eighth round of the 2007 World Superbike Championship began today at a sun-drenched Misano World Circuit in the Republic of San Marino. The torrential rain of Silverstone was a distant memory as the riders took to the revamped 4.180km for the first day of qualifying. James Toseland completed the official session as the seventh fastest rider while team-mate Roberto Rolfo finished in thirteenth position. HANNspree Ten Kate Honda’s focus for the day was on finding the correct set-up for the two CBR1000RR machines on the new Misano track. With this in mind, the team and riders have made good progress ahead of the final qualifying session tomorrow morning. By the time the Superbike qualifying took place, the air temperature had risen to 34°C, with the track surface registering at an extremely high 49°C. This made conditions uncomfortable for the riders as they battled the heat and slippery track surface to secure the best possible times. With Toseland’s concentration remaining on race tyres and set-up, his final best lap time was 1’37.522. Rolfo set the fastest lap just three minutes into the session but eventually finished with a time of 1’38.012. Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager: “On any new track and especially in hot conditions like this, it is very hard work for both riders and the team. We are making small improvements to the bike step-by-step. We decided not to go for a single fast lap today because we still have too many issues with the set-up. We are getting there and tomorrow we have to do a couple of long runs to decide what the race tyre is going to be. That will be the main thing here in the hot weather with the focus on making sure the tyre lasts for the second half of the race. That is our focus.” James Toseland: “I’m pretty happy with today. For the first time at the new circuit, the team has worked really well and we’ve found a setting on the bike in just one day so that’s not so bad. The average time was pretty good on race tyres – we didn’t use the soft tyre at the end because I wanted to concentrate on race tyres. We haven’t really found a completely comfortable set-up yet and there’s still a long way to go. However, on times we haven’t got so far to go, it’s only a second. We’ll get our heads together tonight and discuss everything about the new track and the problems we’ve got and I think then tomorrow will be good.” Roberto Rolfo: “I am not so happy this afternoon. We changed the set-up slightly after the morning practice and the feeling was better at the beginning of the session, but towards the end it was very warm and it was difficult to do a good lap time. Towards the end I had some slower riders with me and I tried to push to do a fast lap alone but it was not possible. I think we will think about what to do on the bike for tomorrow morning because the grip will be better in the morning so that will be a very important session. I like the new track, I think the only complication is when the it gets very hot it is more slippery. In any case, it’s ok and I like it.” More, from a press release issued by Pirelli: ROUND 8 MISANO, ITALY 14 JUNE 2007 RACE PREVIEW June 2007, Misano (Italy) WSBK is back in Italy for one of the most exciting events of the season. The Santamonica racetrack at Misano is located close to the Adriatic sea, where regular tourists who happen to be spending a sunny weekend relaxing on the beach will be joined by a friendly invading army of passionate bike fans and racing addicts. Misano has always been an interesting racetrack with a few peculiar corners, making it a far from easy challenge, and World Superbike raced here for the first time in 1991. Despite its frequent appearances on the calendar, it is now a ‘new’ track, however, because this year the riders will lap in an anti-clockwise direction, as the direction of racing has been ‘reversed’ and the track lengthened by some 120 metres. Because it is a new track it is not easy to try a prediction, and it will not be a straightforward obstacle to overcome while armed with the best possible machine set-up. Some riders have tested here, but mechanics, riders – everybody – will try, session-by-session, to improve their racetrack knowledge and improve the lap speeds. It is the same situation for the Pirelli technicians, who have been asked to bring a wide range of solutions, capable of covering the many different situations that can arise at any new circuit. Misano is usually the hottest race of the season, with elevated a track temperatures (sometimes into the 50s Celsius) that makes things particularly hard for the tyres, and air temperatures that complete the tough job taken on by both engines and riders. The tarmac is different compared to last season, the layout is obviously totally changed, and Pirelli technicians will be counting most of all on the incredible level of performance of the full tyre range. For the WSS class there will be two front and three different rear tyres, while the SBK riders will have at their disposal three front and three rear tyres, plus the qualifying rear. Due to the track changes there will be only 190/65 rear tyres on track this weekend, while in the previous seasons in Misano a 200 section rear tyre was used, in order to have a wider contact patch that brought forth an improvement in the second part of the old racetrack, which was the key to the overall lap time. Last year in Misano Bayliss won race one while in race two he crashed, finishing 12th, with a gap of more than 20″ from the race winner, Pitt. In WSS Massimo Roccoli took his first victory, preceding another Italian rider, wild card Simone Sanna, who was replacing Fujiwara in the Honda Megabike team. Again an Italian took the STK1000 win in 2006 – Polita – now competing in WSBK, and in STK600 the race win went to Giugliano, promoted to the status of a full-time WSS rider. More, from a press release issued by FGSport: 2007 SBK CORONA EXTRA SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP® MISANO – 8th ROUND – 15th, 16th and 17th June FIRST QUALIFYING PRACTICE Misano, Friday 15th June 2007 BAYLISS FASTEST AFTER FIRST TIMED OUTING AUSTRALIANS DOMINATE BY GOING BACKWARDS FAST 2001 and 2006 World Champion Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) proved to be the fastest competitor when it came to riding Misano in ‘reverse’, setting the quickest time of day one with a 1’36.479. In doing so he narrowly beat the fastest rider up to that point, his countryman Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia). Corser was only 0.045 seconds down after the hour of timed qualifying at the 4.180km circuit, near the Adriatic coast of Italy. An established rider emerging from the relative shadows was third, Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) making a recovery from lingering injury and recent lowly showings. Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Ducati) was fourth on his Ducati, hoping to repeat the result of his Valencia race win on Sunday. HAGA FIFTH FASTEST AT MISANO CAULDRON Air temperatures of 34°C and track temperatures hitting 50°C made the first day of Misano practice hard work for all, even those like Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) who have tested on the new track layout. He crashed in the morning session, and both he and his team recovered well to post a top five time. The hot temperatures and a having a new track to race at maybe even helped Spaniard Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) break into the top six, while James Toseland (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) learned the new circuit quickly for one who had not tested, posting seventh best time. Local rider Michel Fabrizio (DFX Corse Honda) scored the last place on the provisional second row. LACONI NINTH AHEAD OF LANZI Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) slotted into ninth place on day one, 1.166 seconds from Bayliss, and 0.051 seconds faster than Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox). Max Biaggi (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) spent his first day of SBK qualifying at Misano getting used to the layout and the available grip, scoring 11th best time from the 22 riders in total. An old on-track friend of SBK, and still a current team-owner, Marco Borciani (Team Sterilgarda) scored 12th place on the stopwatches. Roby Rolfo (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) finished his first Misano day an unlucky 13th, ahead of third PSG-1 Kawasaki rider, Mauro Sanchini. POS NO. RIDER BIKE TIME 1 21 Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 999 F07 1’36.479 2 11 Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 1’36.524 3 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K7 1’36.803 4 111 Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 999 F06 1’36.879 5 41 Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 1’37.453 6 10 Nieto F. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’37.512 7 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’37.522 8 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’37.594 9 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’37.645 10 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 999 F07 1’37.692 WORLD SUPERSPORT – WEST TAKES PROVISIONAL POLE Anthony West (Yamaha World SSP Racing) fell in the opening qualifying session but returned to the circuit to score the fastest lap of the first day, a 1’40.396. In a savagely competitive qualifying session, British rider Craig Jones (Revè Ekerold Honda Racing) only lost out on provisional pole by 0.001 seconds, while the first 18 riders qualified within a second of pole. West’s team-mate Broc Parkes was third fastest, 2005 and 2006 Champion Sebastien Charpentier (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) fourth, but still only 0.152 from West. Championship leader Kenan Sofuoglu, Charpentier’s team-mate, was tenth, some 0.579 seconds down on the lead. More, from another press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: World Supersport Championship Round eight: Misano, San Marino Friday 15 June 2007 Qualifying report one Supersport hots up at Misano The Republic of San Marino played host to the first day of qualifying at round eight of the 2007 World Supersport Championship today. It was a mixed day for HANNspree Ten Kate Honda as both riders familiarised themselves with the revamped 4.180km Misano World Circuit. Sébastien Charpentier soon got to grips with the new track direction and layout, setting a fastest lap of 1’40.548 during the official qualifying this afternoon. The Frenchman remained at the top of the timesheet until the dying minutes, when slow traffic on the track forced him into fourth position. The result secures him a place on the provisional front row for Sunday’s 24-lap race. Team-mate Kenan Sofuoglu was less fortunate as he struggled to cope with the extremely hot conditions. As the air temperature soared to 32°C, the track reached an unusually high 45°C. The Turkish rider fought hard but was unable to complete a fastest lap during the 45-minute session. He finished in tenth position with a time of 1’40.975, but remains positive that he can improve on this tomorrow. Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager: “We had a quite a good start this morning, getting the bikes dialled in very quickly. The qualifying session didn’t bring us what we were hoping for. Sébastien got caught up in some traffic and Kenan just couldn’t get one good lap in. There is definitely room for improvement with machines and riders tomorrow and hopefully we can get both the boys on the front row.” Sébastien Charpentier: “I am pretty happy with today. This morning was strange because of the new layout of the track – the logic is a little bit strange. This afternoon we have worked in a good direction, the bike is really nice for my riding style and I hope we can carry this on tomorrow. In the last five minutes of the session I hit some traffic and couldn’t get another fast lap. Anyway, we have a lot of information from the session that we can use to improve for tomorrow. I am very relaxed in my head and I am looking forward to the second session.” Kenan Sofuoglu: “Today was not very good for me. It is difficult in the hot conditions because I kept losing concentration. I think that I am capable of doing a very fast lap here, but I just couldn’t get it today. For sure we have to work very hard tomorrow morning to be ready for qualifying. Today was more about finding the set-up and testing the gearing etc. Tomorrow for qualifying I am ready to go.” More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: TROY HAPPY WITH SECOND ON DAY ONE In high temperatures at Misano today, Troy was happy enough to finish with the second fastest time in this afternoon’s qualifying session. Troy ended with a lap of 1:36.524, just a tenth of a second behind provisional pole setter Troy Bayliss (Ducati). Third quickest is Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki), with Ruben Xaus (Ducati) fourth. TROY – 2nd, 1:36.524 I’m pretty happy with how today has gone and part of that is because we tested here recently and managed to get quite a lot of useful information. The temperature today was pretty similar to that test, so we were able to get a reasonable set-up right from the off. The track temperature changed by 15 degrees from the morning to the afternoon and when it’s that hot the grip level goes down. My only real concern is regarding tyre wear and the number of laps we’re going to be doing in this kind of heat. At the moment the tyres are wearing out after too few laps because of the high track temperature, but I know we’re not the only ones in the same boat, so it’s going to be a problem for everybody. I am so glad that we tested here recently because, now that they have reversed the direction the track runs, it’s a completely new circuit. The surface has been changed as well, so all the work and time we spent in this tests is already reaping dividends. We’ll have to see how hot it is over the next couple of days, but I get the feeling that Sunday is going to be pretty similar and that’s going to make for two long, hard, interesting races for sure. More, from a press release issued by Scuderia SC Caracchi: START THE ENGINES AT MISANO After Silverstone’s flood a splendid Mediterranean sun welcomed the Superbike at the renewed circuit of Misano Adriatico. Excluding the teams present at May test the Santamonica track is unknown for all, so the most of this first session day has been spent for learning the new racing lines. Jakub Smrz has been one of that, but during the afternoon session the Czech rider did improve clearly his lap time, joining the Superpole area. “I spent the morning session to study the track, that in some point is very demanding.” related Jakub Smrz at the end of the practices “Just during the afternoon I pushed a bit, but the surface is quite waved and sliding. The bike looks to be OK and tomorrow morning, for the final qualifying session, the temperature should be cooler and I’m confident to get a better lap time. If the temperature will go on to be so high it will be rather hard to race the two legs.” Alessio Brugnoni found more difficult as the expected his world debut. For the Umbrian rider were totally unknown both the track as the bike, so his approach has been very quiet, looking especially to avoid any mistake. “At the first beginning I felt like a fish out of water.” confessed Alessio Brugnoni back at the pit. “The bike has a fantastic engine, but owing we couldn’t make any previous test I use the throttle with prudence, also because the track is quite sliding. However is a bike exciting to ride. For tomorrow, with two more practice sessions, I hope to get a better confidence and have a better result”. More, from a press release issued by Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra: 2007 Superstock 1000 FIM Cup Round 6, Misano, Italy Friday qualifying, 15th June Circuit: 4.180 kms. Conditions: Dry, hot, mostly sunny 25-34C. XAV SECOND QUICKEST. Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Xavier SImeon ended the first day of qualifying at the new Misano circuit with the second fastest time and is feeling confident about the weekend ahead. This is the first time that Xav has ridden the new layout (the track now runs clockwise instead of anticlockwise) and he, like many of his rivals, had to learn the circuit in the first practice. In the afternoon, Xav became more and more happy with his GSX-R1000 Suzuki and is now looking for further progress tomorrow. Matteo Baiocco (Yamaha R1) finished with the day’s quickest lap, just two tenths of a second ahead of Xav. Third fastest is Luca Scassa (MV), with Niccolo Canepa (Ducati) fourth. XAV – 2nd, 1:40.406 Certainly the track is a big change from last year and the first thing I had to do today is try and learn it. I think the grip level is good, though there a quite a few bumps in some places. Also the asphalt just after the end of the back straight felt different in the afternoon compared to the morning. In the morning it felt a bit slippery, but as the day went on and many bikes went out, it began to feel a bit better. Today the bike felt very good and I have to thank my team for that. The work we did in our recent tests in Lausitz has already proved so worthwhile. I have a good set-up, a good feeling with the bike and I’m happy because I think there’s more to come. Friday qualifying 1 Baiocco (I-Yamaha) 1:40.193, 2 XAVIER SIMEON (B-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:40.406, 3 Scassa (I-MV) 1:40.724, 4 Canepa (I-Ducati) 1:40.806, 5 Aitchison (Aus-Suzuki) 1:40.821, 6 Baroni (I-Ducati) 1:40.885, More, from a press release issued by Kel Edge Photography: 2007 Suzuki GSX-R European Cup Round 5, Misano, Italy Friday qualifying Circuit: 4.180 kms Conditions: Dry, hot 31 C. THE VETERAN AND WILD CARDS LEAD THE WAY. Former Supersport World Champion Fabrizio Pirovano showed the youngsters the way round the new Misano circuit today and took provisional pole with a time of 1:42.370. Pirovano is a ‘wild card’ here at MIsano, as is the second quickest rider here – Valerio Vitiello. Third fastest this afternoon is yet another ‘wild card’ Emanuelle Magnatelli, with regular GSX-R Cup competitor Davide Bastianelli fourth. Fabrizio Pirovano – 1st, 1:42.370 I don’t do many races a year, but every time I get on a bike I have fun. The Misano track is a completely new circuit and it is so different to before – not least because it now runs the other way round. As usual, my bike ran very well today and I’m happy with the set-up and the tyres. It’s great fun racing with all these young riders but I’m sure that they’re going to give me a hard time tomorrow and on Sunday. Valerio Vitiello – 2nd, 1:43.465 This track is very technical and difficult but I am fortunate because I have raced this new layout in a Suzuki Trophy 600 race not long ago, so at least I knew which way round it went! I think it is a wonderful track and although it’s not so difficult to learn, it is very hard to find those last fractions of a second. I think the grip is very good and the only problem is that there are quite a few bumps. But it’s the same for everybody. I am enjoying this ‘wild card’ ride a lot and it’s great fun racing against Pirovano. I hope I can beat him this weekend!