FIM Superbike World Championship Autodromo Algarve Portimao, Portugal October 31, 2008 Provisional Qualifying Results (wet conditions, all on Pirelli tires): 1. Troy CORSER (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:55.791 2. Leon HASLAM (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:57.214 3. Michel FABRIZIO (Ducati 1098 F08), 1:57.440 4. Ruben XAUS (Ducati 1098 RS08), 1:58.115 5. Cal CRUTCHLOW (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:58.327 6. Chris WALKER (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:58.557 7. Jonathan REA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:59.356 8. Carlos CHECA (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:59.676 9. Regis LACONI (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:59.939 10. Troy BAYLISS (Ducati 1098 F08), 2:00.012 11. Noriyuki HAGA (Yamaha YZF-R1), 2:00.152 12. Fonsi NIETO (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 2:00.194 13. Max NEUKIRCHNER (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 2:00.263 14. Max BIAGGI (Ducati 1098 RS08), 2:00.288 15. Jakub SMRZ (Ducati 1098 RS08), 2:00.362 16. Ayrton BADOVINI (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 2:00.643 17. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 2:01.154 18. Ryuichi KIYONARI (Honda CBR1000RR), 2:01.332 19. Gregorio LAVILLA (Honda CBR1000RR), 2:01.750 20. Karl MUGGERIDGE (Honda CBR1000RR), 2:01.923 21. David CHECA (Yamaha YZF-R1), 2:02.086 22. Shuhei AOYAMA (Honda CBR1000RR) 2:03.695 23. Sebastien GIMBERT (Yamaha YZF-R1), 2:04.094 24. Christian ZAISER (Yamaha YZF-R1), 2:04.278 25. Tom BRIDEWELL (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 2:04.298 26. Roberto ROLFO (Honda CBR1000RR), 2:04.410 27. Shinichi NAKATOMI (Yamaha YZF-R1), 2:04.570 28. Luis CARREIRA (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 2:05.322 29. Luca SCASSA (Honda CBR1000RR), 2:05.846 30. Makoto TAMADA (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 2:06.495 31. Vittorio IANNUZZO (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 2:09.040 More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: Jonathan Rea made his HANNspree Ten Kate Honda World Superbike debut at the all-new Autodromo Internacional do Algarve at Portimao in Portugal this afternoon. The 21-year-old immediately impressed the paddock by setting the seventh fastest time in this afternoon’s wet opening qualifying session for Sunday’s two final races of the 2008 season. Rea spent most of the afternoon near the top of the leaderboard and was the first rider to opt for an intermediate rear on the drying 4.592km track. He immediately took provisional pole position, but a suspected technical problem late in the session prevented him from maintaining his position. Carlos Checa was eighth fastest this afternoon, while Ryuichi Kiyonari, returning to the team after surgery on his recently fractured collarbone, set the 18th fastest time. Jonathan Rea P7, 1m59.356s I was enjoying myself out there but something felt wrong as I downshifted for the hairpin in my final stint, so I parked it there. The bike is such a pleasure to ride and I knew as soon as I went out this morning that next season is going to be a lot of fun. The weather was bad today but, if it’s dry tomorrow, we should be able to get more of a base setting and push forward. The track is really nice and a lot of fun to ride. On wet and intermediate tyres, I know we can be near the front. The challenge is going to be keeping it there if it’s dry tomorrow. Carlos Checa P8, 1m59.676s We didn’t have the best conditions in which to learn a new circuit or set up the bike today. It’s particularly difficult to get the right setting with so many ups and downs. But, for sure it’s more fun this is one of the most fun circuits I’ve ever ridden! We used wet settings today and were using intermediates at the end. If it’s dry tomorrow, of course it will be completely different. Ryuichi Kiyonari P18, 2m01.332s Yes, it’s a nice circuit, but I don’t like it yet. Not until I can go fast on it. The weather was difficult today and I couldn’t learn the track very fast in those conditions. It’s difficult to get the right setting because it will feel different from one lap to the next at the same part of the track. I hope for some dry track time tomorrow to help us learn which way we need to go. Ronald ten Kate team manager: It was not ideal conditions for the riders to try and learn this remarkable track but Jonathan certainly impressed everybody by getting to grips with the superbike on his first outing. I’m sorry for the technical problem, which didn’t allow him to finish the session on track. Anyway, it was a spectacular entry to his World Superbike career and we look forward to some dry time tomorrow. More, from a press release issued by Xerox Ducati: FABRIZIO (DUCATI XEROX) RESERVES A PROVISIONAL PLACE ON THE FRONT ROW FOR SUNDAY’S RACES AT PORTIMAO Portimao (Portugal) Friday 31st October 2008: the Ducati Xerox riders Troy Bayliss and Michel Fabrizio today took part in the first ever Superbike sessions to be held at the new Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal. Despite a very wet surface, both factory riders were out on track during the morning’s free practice session, with Bayliss topping the time sheets and team-mate Fabrizio recording the fifth fastest time of the morning. In the afternoon, after further rainfall, a slippery track which began to dry throughout the session meant that the Ducati Xerox riders had to make a careful tyre choice. Small setbacks during the session left Bayliss in tenth position at the close of today’s first qualifying session while Fabrizio made better progress to finish the session in third position, taking a provisional place on the front row for Sunday’s races. Michel Fabrizio 1m57.4s “We were using an intermediate rear and rain front tyre which was probably not the right choice but anyway we made good progress throughout the day and I’m satisfied with how things have gone. Today the track surface, although very wet, is already better than it was last week during testing when it was really dirty. I’m feeling confident and today we’ve made a good start, I’d say everything’s going well.” Troy Bayliss 2m00.0s “Everything has gone ok. It’s the first time we’ve experienced rain here as last week’s test sessions were on a dry track. We had a few little hiccups during the afternoon’s qualifying session and it didn’t quite run to plan, and then we got caught out on a rain tyre at the end of the session when we should have been on an intermediate. Anyway these things happen and I’m still feeling confident about the way things are going. Overall I’m pretty happy.” More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: TROY LEADS THE WAY ON DAY ONE. Despite difficult conditions and seeing the track for the very first time, Troy ended final qualifying with the fastest lap at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve today. The brand-new 4.592 kilometre circuit has only recently been completed and there are still areas to finish off, but already all riders like its demanding layout. Troy’s time of 1:55.791, in damp conditions, was nearly one a half seconds ahead of his nearest rival, Leon Haslam (Honda) who tested here just a week or so ago. Third quickest today is Michel Fabrizio (Ducati), who also tested here recently, with Ruben Xaus (Ducati) fourth fastest. Troy – 1st, 1:55.791 I love the layout of this track and it reminds me of some of the USA tracks because of all the ups and downs. I like going to new tracks and the challenge of learning them and building up knowledge bit by bit. This circuit is a technical track and although it is not hard to learn, it is the kind of track where it’s difficult to shave off those last fractions of a second. There are some corners where it’s possible to make up half a second or more if you know exactly what you are doing. Conditions today weren’t so good and the track felt quite dirty and slippery. In these conditions, the track is unforgiving and and it would’ve very easy to crash. Although part of the track dried up this afternoon, the other parts were wet, so we never got a dry track and ended up on intermediates at the end. At this kind of track, putting in lots of helps helps, so anybody who has been here before starts with an advantage. More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Ever-changing conditions and a brand new circuit hampered Suzuki Alstare riders Fonsi Nieto and Yukio Kagayama plus Alstare Suzuki’s Max Neukirchner at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao, Portugal, today for the 14th and final round of the World Superbike Championship. Although the rain abated in this afternoon’s qualifying session, the track never completely dried out and all riders ended up on intermediate tyres. At the end of a difficult day, Nieto finished 12th, Neukirchner 13th and Kagayama 17th. Troy Corser (Yamaha) set the day’s quickest lap, nearly one-and-a-half seconds faster then his nearest rival Leon Haslam (Honda). Fonsi Nieto – 12th, 2:00.194: “This is a really good track and one of the best I have ever seen. Technically it is difficult and although it is not so hard to learn, it is not easy to cut those last fractions of a second when you are going for a good lap time. The conditions today were not easy and the damp meant that we never got any dry track time. The track felt a bit dirty today and I think we would have a lot of problems with grip if it rains in the race.” Max Neukirchner -13th, 2:00.263: “I like this track. It is technical with a lot of changes of elevation but it was difficult to get a good lap time today because of the conditions and because I was seeing the track for the first time. The riders who tested here definitely have an advantage so we have a lot of work to do to catch up. The track is very black and I couldn’t work out which parts were really wet and which parts were not, so I it was difficult to push hard. This morning we had a problem with rear grip but it was better in the afternoon. I hope the rest of the weekend will be dry because I want to push hard so that I can challenge for second or third place in the championship.” Yukio Kagayama – 17th, 2:01.154: “I like this track because it has many changes of elevation and it is not so easy, but fun. In some places it is a bit like Brands Hatch and Brno and I like those tracks a lot. My bike feeling was not so bad but maybe I made a wrong tyre choice this afternoon in qualifying and so my final position was not so good. The people who tested here have an advantage for sure, but if we get two days of dry weather I am sure I can be competitive.” Friday WSB Qualifying: 1 Corser (Aus-Yamaha) 1:55.791, 2 Haslam (GB-Honda) 1:57.214, 3 Fabrizio (I-Ducati) 1:57.440, 4 Xaus (E-Ducati) 1:58.115, 5 Crutchlow (GB-Honda) 1:58.327, 6 Walker (GB-Honda) 1:58.557, 7 Rea (GB-Honda) 1:589.356, 8 Checa (E-Honda) 1:59.676, 9 Laconi (F-Kawasaki) 1:59.939, 10 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 2:00.012. 12 Fonsi Nieto (E-Suzuki Alstare) 2:00.194. 13 Max Neukirchner (D-Alstare Suzuki) 2:00.263. 17 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare) 2:01.154. SUPERSTOCK 1000: Conditions were very difficult on the opening day of the10th round of this year’s Superstock 1000 FIM Cup at Portimao, but Xavi Simeon stayed out of trouble and recorded the day’s fifth fastest time. This is the first time that he and most of the other riders were seeing this brand-new track and the changeable conditions did not help the 41-strong field get to grips with the 4.592 kilometre circuit as quickly as normal. Brendan Roberts was one of the few riders who tested here recently and used his circuit knowledge to set the day’s quickest lap, seven-tenths-of-a-second ahead of his nearest rival Chris Seaton (Suzuki). Xavi Simeon – 5th, 1:53.942: “This track is difficult because it is very technical and there are a lot of ups and downs and many blind corners. The way to go fast is to put in many laps and learn the circuit and so it is an advantage if you have ridden here before. The track feels a bit dirty and slippery so I am not pushing my hardest yet. I have no big problem with the first two sections of the track but I am having a little problem with the final part. I don’t yet have a good feeling in the last two fast turns. I hope the conditions improve tomorrow but, at the end of the day, it’s the same for everybody and we will just have to get on with it.” Friday Superstock 1000 Qualifying: 1 Roberts (Aus-Ducati) 1:52.065, 2 Seaton (Aus-Suzuki) 1:52.770, 3 Pirro (I-Yamaha) 1:53.303, 4 Smrz (CZ-Honda) 1:53.380, 5 Xavi Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki) 1:53.942, 6 Giugliano (I-Suzuki) 1:53.662. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: Corser fastest at all new WSB venue Stunning surroundings at the all-new Portimao circuit went hand-in-hand with a stunning lap from Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) to put the Australian rider and his Yamaha YZF-R1 in provisional pole after the first day of action at the circuit. Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) also set a time better than most on the opening day, going 11th out of 31 entrants, on a drying 4.592km circuit. Changeable conditions determined much in the overall timesheets in first qualifying, with only the final laps showing any kind of real dry line to aim for. The circuit did not experience quite the same torrential rainfall as Thursday, but a fully wet track surface to start, and many delays due to teething problems at the new circuit, made for a confused schedule on the opening day. David Checa (Yamaha GMT94) was 21st on day one with his team-mate Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha GMT94) two places back. Shinichi Nakatomi (Team YZF Yamaha) was 27th fastest on his first visit to the new track. Troy Corser (1st – 1’55.791 – Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) “It all came down to who put on an intermediate tyre at the right time. We did it and I managed to put a good lap in and set the fastest time. It’s a great circuit and it’s not a fast track or a slow one; it’s really a bit of both. There are some sections that remind me of Laguna or Road America. The surface is a bit like Qatar was first time, slippery off line, and there are some parts of the track where the tarmac itself is slippy and others where the grip is really good. It’s a case of finding out where they are as you go. The hardest corner is the one immediately behind the pits, because you go in over a rise and have no braking marker.” Noriyuki Haga (11th – 2’00.152 – Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) “For me this track is very exciting, but unfortunately the track was wet and the conditions not so good. I really hope for sunshine tomorrow and then I can have a little more fun with this track, and set much better times. It was difficult to control the bike on the surface today but I had a good feeling with the machine and finally we set a time to stay inside the top 16. That is important so we can qualify for Superpole, just in case it is raining tomorrow.” Massimo Meregalli (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team Manager) “In these conditions Troy is always very fast because he is one of the best in changeable conditions. When there is only a narrow dry line he can use it very well. We saw in Miller the same thing. I think the bad track situation actually helped him a bit to learn the way around today. In the end this year we have been to two all-new circuits and he has been fast right away. We didn’t even come here to test and still he set the best lap. Should be dry tomorrow and even better on Sunday but we are ready for everything anyway. It is an unbelievable track, one of the most beautiful circuits in the world. They did a great job here, and all in ten months. I think it is also a good winter test venue, especially as it is in Europe.” More, from a press release issued by Team Pedercini: SBK World Championship 2009’s epilogue has started today on the track of Portimao. Once again the first day of qualifying has been influenced by the rain and the riders had not the chance to spend the day in order to get the right feeling with the brand new Portuguese track, a wonderful but very hard circuit. After a very wet morning session, Badovini and Iannuzzo lapped on a dryer track in the afternoon. Badovini was able to find the feeling with the new circuit immediately, getting the 16th provisional position, while Iannuzzo chose to avoid risks, taking the track for just few laps and postponing the challenge for the starting grid tomorrow when the weather conditions should be better. In Superstock1000 the Team Pedercini lines up three new riders: Vittorio Bortone (38th) instead of Aldrovandi while “Shez” Morais (15th) replaces Yoann Tiberio. In addition, Matteo Baiocco (36th) will be supported by the team leaded by Donato Pedercini which will give him the chance to end his season. VITTORIO IANNUZZO | Kawasaki ZX-10R | 31th provisional time in 2’09.040: “I have been forceful during the wet morning session. I started well in the afternoon qualifying too but then while the others set the intermediates I carried on with the bike in race trim in order to complete the bike set-up in case of more wet days”. AYRTON BADOVINI | Kawasaki ZX-10R | 16th provisional time in 2’00.643: “I have been liked this track from the first lap, although I would have preferred to lap on a dry road. When I set the intermediate tyres I got quicker although I’m sure we can improve a lot more. I’m just sorry to face the second timed session without having had the time to work on the set-up for the dry track”.