FIM Supersport World Championship Donington Park, England May 12, 2012 Final Combined Qualifying Results (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Jules CLUZEL, France (Honda CBR600RR), 1:30.931 2. Sam LOWES, UK (Honda CBR600RR), 1:31.155 3. Broc PARKES, Australia (Honda CBR600RR), 1:31.320 4. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:31.338 5. Glen RICHARDS, Australia (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:31.496 6. Sheridan MORAIS, South Africa (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:31.615 7. Billy McCONNELL, Australia (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:31.668 8. Massimo ROCCOLI, Italy (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:32.005 9. Valentine DEBISE, France (Honda CBR600RR), 1:32.036 10. Fabien FORET, France (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:32.049 30. Josh DAY, USA (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:34.245 More, from a press release issued by Bogdanka PTR Honda: BOGDANKA PTR HONDA’s Sam Lowes will start from second on the grid for tomorrow’s fifth race of the World Supersport Championship, his home round at Donington Park in the UK. World Supersport rookie, Mathew Scholtz on the other Bogdanka PTR Honda made more progress today, improving on his Friday’s times by 1.4secs to qualify on the fourth row, in 15th position. Bogdanka Honda PTR’s Kieran Clarke, again standing in for the injured Pawel Szkopek, will start from 21st and targets another point scoring finish when the lights go off at 13:30 local time tomorrow. Sam Lowes: “I was on a fast lap at the end of the qualifying session, three tenths of a second ahead after the last split but unfortunately lost the front in the last corner. I’ve injured a finger in my hand but straight away went to get it checked so hopefully it won’t be a problem tomorrow. I didn’t get much sleep last night due to a bad case of food poisoning but I’ve managed to put in some decent laps today. We’re on the front row, the Bogdanka PTR Honda is working well and I have good pace so I’m looking forward to my home race tomorrow.” Mathew Scholtz: “We focused on finding the best setup today as I was struggling a bit yesterday. I went out there for the second qualifying and kept improving with every single lap so I’m feeling quite confident for tomorrow’s race. Even though I’m 15th on the grid, I’m only six tenths from eighth position so as long as we can keep improving it will be good. After the last few races I need to score a good result tomorrow and bring home some points.” Kieran Clarke: “We improved quite a bit still I’m slightly disappointed. We could’ve done with a couple of extra tenths on my fastest lap to put us inside the top 15 in the qualifying but it’s alright. I’ll give it all that I’ve got tomorrow, try to pass as many people as I can and I’m going to leave not stone unturned while I’m out there.” Simon Buckmaster, Bogdanka PTR Honda Team Manager: “Sam was on an incredibly fast lap when he crashed at the final corner. He has hurt his smallest finger on his left hand but should be fine to race. He is more motivated than anyone here at his home round and has the pace to challenge tomorrow. Mathew is on a steep learning curve and is actually riding well but losing time in the final sector. He can score points here and with a good start can challenge inside the top 10.” More, from a press release issued by PTR Honda: Jules sets new best lap on way to pole PTR HONDA’S Jules Cluzel set a new best lap on his way to securing a superb pole position at the fifth round of the World Supersport Championship at Donington Park in the UK, a home round for the team. Ronan Quarmby on his PTR Honda was set for a start on the front two rows before a technical problem cut his session short and he ended 11th – but he is upbeat for the race. Riders PTR Honda racer Martin Jessopp slashed his lap times but lost grid places and will start from 19th. PTR secured the second grid position with Bogdanka racer and home favourite Sam Lowes. The race starts at 1330 local time tomorrow, Sunday, May 13th. Jules: “I am very happy with pole position. We made some changes that didn’t work on suspension and tyres and then went back to an earlier setting and I was able to go faster. I think I could have gone faster by pushing at every corner but we lost tyre pressure on my last laps. We have a tyre and setting that is good for the whole distance but I know it will be a hard race – I will be doing my best and I hope to get on the podium.” Ronan: “I am disappointed not to be on the second row but my session ended early with a technical problem. Just before that I had recorded my fastest sectors and was looking good for a lap well into the 31s that would have put me easily on the second row. We had just made a change to the bike and it was great, doing exactly what I wanted. That is good and I know I can run good times for the race. My starts are good and I got a podium from the third row at Imola – so I’ll be giving it my all tomorrow.” Martin: “I am losing a lot of time in the final sector and need to get my head round that. I am very happy to take half a second off my lap times but other people made improvements as well so I dropped grid places. I know I can run those lap times all day long so tomorrow I want to get a good start and follow some riders and see what happens over race distance.” Simon Buckmaster, PTR Honda Team Manager: “That was a great effort by Jules and a new best lap as the only rider to go under 1m31secs. He is approaching the weekend calmly and has very good race pace and we expect him to be in contention for the victory. Ronan was improving and looking like the first two rows were possible when a technical fault brought his session to an end. He is positive and knows he can run quick lap times so will be looking for a good start and he is capable of a good top six finish. Martin continues to improve and over race distance should be challenging for a points scoring result.” More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki: Front Row For Sofuoglu As Morais Qualifies Sixth WSS, Donington Park, Europe, 12 May 2012 Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki DeltaFin Lorenzini) took his Ninja ZX-6R to fourth place on the grid at Donington and in doing so earned himself a front row start for the fifth round of the season. Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki DeltaFin Lorenzini) worked well at Donington to go sixth on the grid and take a second row start, while Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Intermoto Step Racing) qualified tenth. Fabien had a fall and suffered a light head knock, but still improved his time in the second qualifying session. His team-mate Romain Lanusse was 23rd in qualifying. Track time at this round has been enjoyed in dry and often sunny conditions which have allowed the riders and teams to find a consistent set-up and all the main Kawasaki WSS riders were able to improve their best lap times today. After two recent rounds blighted by rain, all in the overall SBK paddock will hope that the dry conditions encountered so far carry through to what is expected to be a dry raceday. On Sunday Sofuoglu will be going for his second race win of 2012, while Morais is looking for a first podium. Kenan Sofuoglu: “I think it is always my goal to be front row in qualification and the results were not bad; getting faster. I think I was consistent in my pace, not just over one fast lap, because I am consistent in my lap times. We know what to do with our tyre choices and I am happy with that side of things. I am ready for the race and I am sure the race story will be different from the qualification story. The bike is strong and I am strong so we will see what is going to happen tomorrow.” Sheridan Morais: “A top six is OK. I did not think I would be happy with a second row start but there was a lot of traffic out there. I banged in some consistent lap times out there. We are not normally set for single fast laps, so there was no way I was going to knock a second off of my best lap times, but I was only half a second from pole and I can do that pace consistently. I would not have wanted to be any worse than second row, but the times are really close. I am looking forward to tomorrow and I hope it is a good race this time.”