FIM Superbike World Championship Autodromo Algarve Portimao, Portugal November 1, 2008 Superpole Results (wet conditions, all on Pirelli tires): 1. Troy BAYLISS (Ducati 1098 F08), 1:58.548 2. Cal CRUTCHLOW (Honda CBR1000RR), 2:01.023 3. Jonathan REA (Honda CBR1000RR), 2:02.027 4. Max BIAGGI (Ducati 1098 RS08), 2:02.107 5. Michael FABRIZIO (Ducati 1098 F08), 2:02.779 6. Leon HASLAM (Honda CBR1000RR), 2:02.861 7. Troy CORSER (Yamaha YZF-R1), 2:03.014 8. Ruben XAUS (Ducati 1098 RS08), 2:03.023 9. Regis LACONI (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 2:03.494 10. Noriyuki HAGA (Yamaha YZF-R1), 2:04.420 11. Carlos CHECA (Honda CBR1000RR), 2:04.496 12. Jakub SMRZ (Ducati 1098 RS08), 2:05.250 13. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 2:05.408 14. Ayrton BADOVINI (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 2:06.354 15. Max NEUKIRCHNER (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 2:06.830 16. Fonsi NIETO (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 2:10.953 The Rest of the Grid: 17. Gregorio LAVILLA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:45.334 18. Sebastien GIMBERT (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:45.469 19. Ryuichi KIYONARI (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:45.533 20. Roberto ROLFO (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:45.659 21. Karl MUGGERIDGE (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:45.796 22. Shinichi NAKATOMI (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:45.803 23. David CHECA (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:46.010 24. Shuhei AOYAMA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:46.257 25. Tom BRIDEWELL (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:46.283 26. Makoto TAMADA (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:46.753 27. Vittorio IANNUZZO (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:47.231 28. Chris WALKER (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:47.310 29. Luis CARREIRA (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:47.675 30. Luca SCASSA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:48.898 31. Christian ZAISER (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:49.239 More, from a press release issued by Yamaha: Wet Superpole sees Corser seventh and Haga tenth A dry start to the day ended up in a wet Superpole and such were the deteriorating conditions shortly after the start of the final 50-minute session that Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) set his best time early on, to take a second row start. Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) was a little too late out of the pitbox to make the best use of the least wet track surface around the all-new 4.592km circuit, and went 10th, enough for a third row start. Each rider now has experience of wet and dry track conditions at the awesome new Portuguese circuit, as the final timed session and most of the last untimed session were dry. In the last timed period of practice, Corser was second fastest and Haga 14th. Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha GMT94) just missed out on a Superpole start, finishing 18th in final qualifying, with his team-mate David Checa (Yamaha GMT94) 23rd fastest. Shinichi Nakatomi (Team YZF Yamaha) edged out Checa to go 22nd quickest. Troy Corser (7th – 2’03.014 – Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) “I went out early but just not quite early enough. When I had started my lap it was pouring with rain around turn one. There were rivers running across the track at one stage. It was all down to how much risk you needed to take and I was hoping it would ease off, but it only stopped after the end of the Superpole session. Dry would be better for everybody tomorrow, and we tried some new things in the early session this morning, but we lost a bit of grip, so we may go back if we have to. I think maybe it was just the tyre choice we had at that time. We’ve had both wet and dry track time at least.” Noriyuki Haga (10th – 2’04.420 – Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) “We had less time to choose dry tyres than we would have wanted today but I found a good feeling in the final dry session, because this morning I didn’t have great traction. We changed the suspension and things were much better, but unfortunately in Superpole it was raining. We have a good feeling on the rain tyres too, but I want it to be dry for the races.” Massimo Meregalli (Team Manager, Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) “The best thing to do was to go out immediately in Superpole and Troy did that ending up on the second row. That’s not so bad in such poor conditions. Unfortunately Nori waited a little bit too long and started from the third row. We are in good shape in wet or dry but we would like it to be dry. The only question mark now is tyres, and we will have to wait to see how things are before we make any decisions.” Shinichi Nakatomi (22nd – 1’45.803 – Team YZF Yamaha) “I used both motorcycles during the sessions, but I did not have enough feeling. The feeling was better by the end of the practice, but I made a small mistake while following another rider and I lost some time. We are progressing step by step for the race set up. We still have a small trouble.” More, from a press release issued by Xerox Ducati: BAYLISS (DUCATI XEROX) CLOSES HIS SUPERBIKE CAREER WITH 26TH POLE AT PORTIMAO; FABRIZIO FIFTH Portimao (Portugal), Saturday 1st November: the last Superpole session of the 2008 World Superbike championship, held today at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal, was declared wet with the onset of rain just minutes before the start. Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) was one of few riders to go straight out in the first minutes of the 50-minute session and he immediately set the fastest time, a time that was unbeatable once the rain intensified. Team-mate Michel Fabrizio followed a similar strategy and recorded the fifth fastest time before the heavy rain prevented further fast times being set. In the second qualifying session that took place this morning Michel was consistently lapping fastest, registering a quickest lap of 1m43.6s, to qualify first for Superpole. Troy had a more difficult session and qualified for Superpole in eventual twelfth place, though rectified this setback during the Superpole to qualify in first position for tomorrow’s races. Troy’s Ducati 1098 today carried a special commemorative livery, with suit to match, to celebrate having won his third World Superbike championship title at Magny-Cours three weeks ago. Troy Bayliss 1m58.5s “The whole weekend has been strange and the weather has been a bit up and down. The track is dirty and wet too so it’s not been easy. I’m very glad I went straight out and got a few good laps in very early at the start of the Superpole session. I was pretty happy with the wet setting and didn’t need to go out again because it then started to rain more heavily half way through the session and no-one could match my time. I am happy to take my last ever Superpole; the 1098 has been working well as has the team, I have to thank them for all their hard work this weekend, and this season, without them I wouldn’t have taken the title.” Michel Fabrizio 2m02.7s “I am sorry I didn’t do one more lap before coming back into the box because in doing so I would probably have put myself on the front row for tomorrow but anyway, I’m pretty happy. We have gone well all weekend, I was fastest in the qualifying sessions and with the unstable weather at least we know that we are set up pretty well for both the wet and the dry. My confidence has grown in each session and I’m feeling positive. I’d prefer a dry day tomorrow of course but I guess we have to wait and see.” More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: Jonathan Rea underlined his potential as a 2009 WSBK front runner by taking a front row grid position in his debut on the HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR in Portugal today. After dry conditions during free practice this morning, the rain returned to the all-new 4.5km Autodromo Internacional do Algarve for this afternoon’s Superpole session. Each qualifying rider was allowed 12 laps and, like pole setter Troy Bayliss, Rea put his fast lap in early. His team-mate, Carlos Checa, however, missed the opportunity before heavier rain began to fall on the circuit. The Spaniard will consequently start from the third row of the grid for tomorrow’s two 22-lap races. The team’s third rider, Ryuichi Kiyonari, returning to the team after surgery on his broken collarbone, missed out on Superpole and will start from 19th on the grid. Jonathan Rea P3, Superpole (wet) 2m02.027s I think it was a really good swap between me and Kenan (Sofuoglu), who got pole on the Supersport bike today! My front row is thanks to a really big effort from the team who have worked so hard to make the bike comfortable for me. We didn’t time the Superpole laps that well and I got caught in one of the heavy showers. We’re lacking in dry time, too, but I’m sure we can be up there in the wet. It’s just fantastic to ride here and I’m looking forward to two hard races tomorrow. Carlos Checa P11, Superpole (wet) 2m04.496s We thought it might dry later in the session but, unfortunately, it just got wetter. When I finally went out the conditions were much worse than at the start of Superpole. I was able to improve with each lap but, with only 12 laps allowed, I just ran out of time. We’ve got a good feeling in the dry from this morning’s practice and it’s also pretty good in the wet, so I’ll be hoping for two good results tomorrow. Ryuichi Kiyonari P19, Qualifying (dry) 1m45.533s I keep improving every time out, but it’s not enough of an improvement compared to the other riders. We lost yesterday to the weather but, of course, it was the same for everyone else. I guess I’m just learning the circuit too slowly. But if it’s dry tomorrow, I’ll be confident of two good results certainly better than my qualifying performance. Ronald ten Kate team manager: What a debut for Jonathan today! Although we already have great confidence in his talent, I have to admit to being especially impressed by how he got to work on his debut World Superbike weekend. It’s a shame for Carlos that he missed the least wet part of Superpole, but he showed a lot of determination to go out when the rain was torrential to improve his position, so big compliments to him. Kiyo’s major problem is learning this new circuit but for tomorrow, wet or dry, I’m expecting some good results from all three riders. More, from a press release issued by Team Alstare Suzuki: After yesterday’s difficult conditions, Team Alstare Suzuki was happy to see a dry track and sunshine in this morning’s timed qualifying for the final round of the World Superbike Championship in Portugal. But all the good work in the session at the new Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimao was of no use in the afternoon 16-rider Superpole shoot-out because the heavens opened and the 4.592 kilometre track was drenched in water. So Superpole was declared a “Wet Superpole”, with the top 16 riders all having a maximum of 12 laps in 50 minutes to post their fastest laps and take their grid positions. The riders who went out at the beginning managed faster laps than the riders who waited, hoping for the conditions to improve. But instead, the rain fell even heavier and the deluge meant that many parts of the track had standing water. Suzuki Alstare riders Fonsi Nieto and Yukio Kagayama ended with the 16th and 13th quickest laps respectively with Alstare Suzuki rider Max Neukirchner 15th. And, if that wasn’t bad enough all three suffered falls in the treacherous conditions, but fortunately all escaped without injury. Troy Bayliss (Ducati) took Superpole with Cal Crutchlow (Honda) second, Jonathan Rea (Honda) third and Max Biaggi (Ducati) fourth. Yukio Kagayama – 13th, 2:05.408: “This afternoon’s Superpole was very wet and slippery and not easy at all. There was a lot of standing water on the track and that made things very tricky. My crash happened without me knowing about it! I was letting off the brakes with the bike almost upright and suddenly I was on the floor! Tomorrow is going to be very hard because I am on the fourth row of the grid and I do not have a very good feeling for the bike – in either dry or wet conditions. We need to find some solution in the morning warm-up and then I need two good starts if I am to end the season with good results. But, I will try my hardest, as usual, and see what happens.” Max Neukirchner – 15th, 2:06.830: “In the dry this morning we found a set-up that was not so bad, but we didn’t find a good front and rear tyre combination. Because this track is so new, there is not enough rubber down to give good grip and as soon as you go off-line you can get into trouble. We learned more about the feeling of the bike in the wet this afternoon, but even so I am hoping that tomorrow will be dry and we can have some good races. I am not happy with my fourth-row grid position, but I will try and make two really good starts and fight for good results.” Fonsi Nieto – 16th, 2:10.953: “I do not like this track in the wet and I found it very slippery. I had a small crash in the rain but I wasn’t hurt at all. I could not get a good feeling with my bike in these conditions at all, so I am hoping that tomorrow will be dry. I have been on the fourth row of the grid before this season, so this situation is not new for me. I know that whatever the conditions tomorrow I need to get two good starts and that’s what I will be aiming for. ” Final WSB Qualifying: 1 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:58.548, 2 Crutchlow (GB-Honda) 2:01.023, 3 Rea (GB-Honda) 2:02.027, 4 Biaggi (I-Ducati) 2:02.107, 5 Fabrizio (I-Ducati) 2:02.779, 6 Haslam (GB-Honda) 2:02;861, 7 Corser (Aus-Yamaha) 2:023.014, 8 Xaus (E-Ducati) 2:03.023, 9 Laconi (F-Kawasaki) 2:03.494, 10 Haga (J-Yamaha) 2:04.420. 13 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare) 2:05.408, 15 Max Neukirchner (D-Alstare Suzuki) 2:06.830, 16 Fonsi Nieto (E-Suzuki Alstare) 2:10.953. WORLD SUPERSPORT: RES Software Hoegee Suzuki’s Barry Veneman put his Suzuki GSX-R600 K8 on the front row again, finishing in third place for tomorrow’s final round of the World Sup0ersport Championship. Team-mate Didier Van Keymeulen will start from 17th position after a difficult final session. Veneman showed his speed on the Portuguese track and after the second qualifying session he was more than satisfied about today’s result. The day went less successfully for Van Keymeulen. After free practice in the morning, when he ended up tenth, the team changed some settings on the bike hoping to improve it. However, they made matters worse. He hopes to fight his way up to the front with a good start tomorrow. Marc Hoegee – Team owner RES Software Hoegee Suzuki: “It is great news that Barry is on front row again. He used a different set-up in the afternoon to the one tried in the morning but that didn’t work out well for either rider. I think had we kept the settings the same; we could have battled for pole position, but of course third position is a great result for Barry. Didier had problems with the set-up today but the difference in time is not so great. When we are able to make him more comfortable with the set-up, I am sure he can fight for a top-10 position. I am looking forward to finishing this successful season with a great result for both our boys.” Barry Veneman: “I really like this circuit and now I have tried the track in the dry it is even more fun! I had a small crash this morning because I went too hard into a corner, but it wasn’t a heavy fall. Today I found the right lines and I am perfectly prepared for tomorrow’s race. I think on this track it will be hard to pull away from the front group so we will probably have a lot of riders racing closely together. It is also a track where you can overtake pretty easily so I am really looking forward to the race!” Didier Van Keymeulen: “We tried several things today but unfortunately we were not able to improve the bike. I noticed immediately this afternoon, that we had gone the wrong way with the settings, so after one lap I went back into the pit box but we didn’t have enough time to revert to the original set-up. We changed some suspension settings and after that I improved to 12th position for a while but it was still not good enough. Now we have to make sure that we get the right set up which will make it possible for me to ride a competitive race tomorrow.” More, from a press release issued by Team YZF Yamaha Bayliss in pole, Nakatomi 22nd For his last race in the Superbike World Championship, Troy Bayliss (Ducati) was the fastest during a very wet Superpole on the brand new circuit of Portimao. Shinichi Nakatomi qualified 22nd after having difficulties to find the right set up because of the rain. All the riders were very happy with the lay out of the track in the hills surrounding Portimao in the Algarve. With a lot of downhill and uphill sections, this new circuit is really beautiful and the riders love it. Unfortunately, it rained a lot sometimes during the first two days of practice, which made it hard to tune the machines adequately. Troy Bayliss used his great experience to be the fastest not only on the wet but also on the dry. The organisers are expecting a huge turn out tomorrow, with many spectators from Portugal but also fro the South of Spain. Shinichi Nakatomi: “I used both motorcycles during the sessions, but I did not have enough feeling. The feeling was better by the end of the practice, but I made a small mistake while following another rider and I lost some time. We are progressing step by step for the race set up. We still have a small trouble.” Martial Garcia (team-manager): “The practice sessions have been complicated because of the rain on Friday. It was difficult to find the right setting. But we are progressing and we have good hope for the race.” Qualifying results: 1- Bayliss (Ducati), 2-Crutchlow (Honda), 3-Rea (Honda), 4-Biaggi (Ducati), 5-Fabrizio (Ducati)”¦22- Nakatomi (Yamaha) World Championship standings: 1- Bayliss (Ducati) 410 points, 2- Haga (Yamaha) 325, 3- Corser (Yamaha) 316, 4- Neukirchner (Suzuki) 298, 5- Checa (Honda) 284″¦19- Nakatomi (Yamaha) 48 Team YMF Yamaha Superstock YZF Yamaha Junior Team FIM Cup Superstock 1000 Superstock 600 European Championship Baz on first row, Barrier 10th Loris Baz was 4th in the 600 cc qualifying practice that was a triumph for the Yamaha R6 with the top 5 positions; with the quickest time for Gino Rea. Like in the bigger categories, the riders enjoyed the track a lot. They have great sensations and they like the technical parts. Loris Baz, the 2008 Superstock 600 champion, dominated on the first day. On Saturday, he was fourth and will start from the front row. He is very confident for the race. In the Superstock 1000 cc class, Brendan Roberts was the fastest on his Ducati, while Sylvain Barrier was 10th on his Yamaha R1. This is a good result for Sylvain who raced only once since he came back after hurting himself in Brno. The last qualifying session was wet and nobody could improve the times of the first session. Tomorrow, the 2008 title will be decided between four riders: Simeon (Suzuki), Polita (Ducati), Berger (Honda) and Roberts (Ducati). Sylvain Barrier: “This track is easy to learn. In the first qualifying session, I did not use a new tyre and I qualified 10th. Then I was 7th in the next free practice session. I feel I am back in shape, like before my accident. On the rain I felt that I progressed.” Loris Baz: “It’s a beautiful track, one of the best in Europe with Brands Hatch. I put a new tyre yesterday and I was in pole position with a 1 second lead. Today I did not use a new tyre. I was fast, but the setting of the front suspension was not perfect. For the race, it will be OK.” Martial Garcia (team-manager): “Loris Baz is on the front row with the 4th position. He used a new tyre a little bit too early. I am not worrying; he will be ready for the battle. Sylvain Barrier could not go faster in the last session because of the rain. He is back in shape and I trust him.” FIM Cup Superstock 1000 qualifying results: 1- Roberts (Ducati), 2-Seaton (Suzuki), 3-Pirro (Yamaha), 4-Smrz (Honda), 5- Simeon (Suzuki) FIM Cup Superstock 1000 standings: 1-Simeon (Suzuki) 131 points, 2-Polita (Ducati) 127, 3-Berger (Honda) 124, 4-Roberts (Ducati) 122, 5-Pirro (Yamaha) 89″¦22-Barrier (Yamaha) 13 Superstock 600 European Championship qualifying results: 1- Rea (Yamaha), 2-Gines (Yamaha), 3- Linfoot (Yamaha), 4- Baz (Yamaha), 5- Bussolotti (Yamaha) Superstock 600 European Championship standings: 1- Baz (Yamaha) 166 points, 2-Vostarek (Honda) 121, 3- Bussolotti (Yamaha) 118, 4- Linfoot (Yamaha) 112, 5-Rea (Yamaha) 107 More, from a press release issued by Sterilgarda Go Eleven: Against all expectations the rain has fallen also in the second decisive day of qualifying of the last WSBK round at Portimao. The rain came on the track on the end of the Superbike free practice session; as consequence, rain rules were set for the first sixteen riders entering the Superpole: 50 minutes of qualifying and a maximum of 12 laps to record the best time. At the end of the day the positions have been reshuffled once again. Tomorrow Max Biaggi will start from the forth place while Ruben Xaus from the eighth position. In Superstock1000 the rain caused big problems to Alex Polita who is going to challenge for his second title tomorrow. The “pirate”, who spent yesterday qualifying working on the set-up, closed the first timed session in 18th place. He hoped to capitalize his work during the second timed session, and he showed to have what it takes during the morning free practice recording the fifth best time on dry track. Unfortunately today the rain denied to him to take to the track in order to improve his time. That’s a further hindrance on the way of the final victory. MAX BIAGGI | Ducati 1098 RS | 4th qualified in 2’02.107: “Today we have done a good work in both the sessions. If tomorrow will be dry, we’ll have to spend the warm-up focusing on the traction which is still not excellent. During the wet Superpole I understood the conditions of the track and I got the first line. I hope in two dry race tomorrow; my goal will be to fight in the leading pack”. RUBEN XAUS | Ducati 1098 RS | 8th qualified in 2’03.023: “During the Superpole I slid because of a lack of anti-spin which caused me difficulties on the rear. Anyhow I’m pretty satisfied with my starting position. I will sprint from the second line and I will attempt to enter the battle for the first positions in order to leave the team with two good results”. ALEX POLITA | Ducati 1098R | 18th qualified in 1’57.338: “I’ve been not lucky. This morning I worked so fine and if the rain did not come back I would have had the chance to start from the first positions. Starting from the middle of the grid is quite difficult but I’m ready to give all my best to catch the win. Tomorrow the start will be crucial”. More, from a press release issued by Team Pedercini: Team Pedercini is ready to face the last round of the season 2008. The Italian team lines up Ayrton Badovini on the forth line of the starting grid and Vittorio Iannuzzo on the seventh one. Badovini has entered today his fifth seasonal Superpole and tomorrow his goal will be to close his first SBK season finishing both the race into the points. On the other hand Vittorio Iannuzzo will face the two race without any particular goal except closing the season with a good performance after one year influenced by the bad injury occurred in Australia. He will be at the top of his condition for the 2009 season. In Superstock1000 times have not changed due to the rain fallen during the afternoon which restrained all the riders to capitalize the work done this morning on a dry track in the free practice. AYRTON BADOVINI | Kawasaki ZX-10R | 14th qualified in 2’06.354: “I’m happy to have entered the Superpole once again, although the rain denied me the chance to go for broke. The starting position have been defined by 50 minutes under the rain in which I grabbed the 14th pace. It’s a good starting position by which entering the battle for the top-ten also thank to a good bike tuning which gave me the opportunity to record good times during the afternoon free practice too”. VITTORIO IANNUZZO | Kawasaki ZX-10R | 27th qualified in 1’47.231: “Today we have done a good work. I improved my times constantly but just when my feeling with the track was good , the rain started to fall once again during the free practice and it stopped our work. Nevertheless my spirit is good and I will take it easy tomorrow, thank to a good feeling with the track and the bike”. More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: SECOND ROW FOR TROY After yesterday’s difficult conditions, today started dry and Troy was able to end the second qualifying session with the second fastest time. Although the afternoon free practice began dry, the rain came down just before the end and continued and Superpole was declared a “Wet Superpole”. The rain then fell more heavily and the riders who went out at the start of the 12-lap, fifty minute session, were able to set the best times of the session. Troy wasn’t able to go out as early as he wanted and so ended with the seventh fastest time. Troy Bayliss (Ducati) took Superpole, with Cal Crutchlow (Honda) second, Jonathan Rea (Honda) third and Max Biaggi (Ducati) fourth. Troy – 7th, 2:03.014 In the dry this morning, it wasn’t too bad and the more laps we did put down more rubber and the grip improved. We made small small changes for the afternoon session but couldn’t match the lap times. We’re not exactly sure why and maybe it was just a tyre problem. It was very wet in Superpole and parts of the track had water cascades and there were also areas of standing water. The track is very dark and so it’s not easy to see how much water is where and that made it very difficult. Also, the rain doesn’t seem to disperse very quickly and reminds me of Lausitzring. The forecast for tomorrow is dry conditions and I think everybody is hoping that will be right and we can have two good races. I hope so, for myself, for all the riders and for the fans.