Updated: Crutchlow On Provisional Pole, Top 17 Separated By 1.443 Seconds During World Superbike Qualifying At Silverstone

Updated: Crutchlow On Provisional Pole, Top 17 Separated By 1.443 Seconds During World Superbike Qualifying At Silverstone

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FIM Superbike World Championship Silverstone, England July 30, 2010 Qualifying Session One Results (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Cal CRUTCHLOW, Great Britain (Yamaha YZF-R1), 2:05.664 2. Jonathan REA, Great Britain (Honda CBR1000RR), 2:06.006 3. Troy CORSER, Australia (BMW S1000RR), 2:06.052 4. Leon CAMIER, Great Britain (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 2:06.064 5. Michel FABRIZIO, Italy (Ducati 1098F10), 2:06.088 6. James TOSELAND, Great Britain (Yamaha YZF-R1), 2:06.238 7. Max BIAGGI, Italy (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 2:06.315 8. Leon HASLAM, Great Britain (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 2:06.464 9. Carlos CHECA, Spain (Ducati 1098R), 2:06.475 10. Tom SYKES, Great Britain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 2:06.596 11. Lorenzo LANZI, Italy (Ducati 1098R), 2:06.699 12. Noriyuki HAGA, Japan (Ducati 1098F10), 2:06.803 13. Shane BYRNE, Great Britain (Ducati 1098R), 2:06.952 14. Jakub SMRZ, Czech Republic (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 2:06.988 15. Luca SCASSA, Italy (Ducati 1098R), 2:07.042 16. Ruben XAUS, Spain (BMW S1000RR), 2:07.101 17. Sylvain GUINTOLI, France (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 2:07.107 18. Max NEUKIRCHNER, Germany (Honda CBR1000RR), 2:07.325, crash 19. Broc PARKES, Australia (Honda CBR1000RR), 2:07.548 20. Roger HAYDEN, USA (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 2:07.677 21. Josh BROOKES, Australia (Honda CBR1000RR), 2:07.798 22. Ryuichi KIYONARI, Japan (Honda CBR1000RR), 2:09.165 23. Matteo BAIOCCO, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 2:10.431 24. Tom BRIDEWELL, Great Britain (Honda CBR1000RR), 2:11.057 25. Akira YANAGAWA, Japan (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 2:11.230 More, from a press release issued by BMW Motorrad Motorsport: Silverstone – Free Practice & Qualifying Practice 1. Friday, 30 July 2010. Weather conditions: Overcast, some light showers. Temperature: Air: 23 – 24 °C, Track: 29 – 31 °C Number of riders participating: 25 from 15 teams Fastest lap Free Practice: Jonathan Rea (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) 2:06.927 min Fastest lap Qualifying Practice 1: Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda Team) 2:05.664 min Programme: Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport had an encouraging start to the race weekend at Silverstone (GBR), the tenth round of the 2010 FIM Superbike World Championship. With a cloudy sky but a mostly dry track, rider Troy Corser (AUS) finished the first qualifying session in third, setting a very good base for the weekend and showing the potential of the BMW S 1000 RR. His team mate, Ruben Xaus (ESP), also looked good with quick lap times in practice and qualifying, but got stuck in traffic on his last run. Ruben finished 16th. Both riders quickly got to grips with the new layout of the Silverstone circuit. Troy Corser: Bike: BMW S 1000 RR Fastest lap Free Practice: 2:07.689 min (5th ) / Fastest lap Qualifying 1: 2:06.052 min (3rd) “Silverstone is a completely new circuit for our team. The track is very bumpy, and you feel them a lot because it is quite a high speed track. There are a couple of corners that are bumpy at the entry. We still haven’t got the bike set-up right, as it is not really absorbing the bumps very well. Therefore I have to take a lot more risks than I like to set a good time. As usual, on a completely new track, we have to find the right braking points and the right lines. This can create some confusion for the engineers. But I am not too worried. The guys now have a lot of data to look at, and I know we can set good lap times. I am a 100 per cent fit and looking forward to tomorrow.” Ruben Xaus: Bike: BMW S 1000 RR Fastest lap Free Practice: 2:09.649 min (20th) / Fastest lap Qualifying 1: 2:07.101 min (16th) “Overall, the bike feels good, and I am confident for tomorrow. We just need to find a little more tyre grip. I haven’t been riding the bike for three weeks, and I have to get used to some changes that have been made. Unfortunately I had traffic on my quick lap. I expected the slower guys to get off the racing line, but I was blocked by them. I could have done a lot better lap time. We have another qualifying session tomorrow, and I expect to finish better than today.” Davide Tardozzi (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Team Manager): “We are quite happy with today’s result, as we are among the top guys. Obviously it will be a tough race on Sunday, as the Brits are keen to win their home race. As Troy is spending some time this year in the UK, Silverstone is also a sort of home race for him, and he performed well today. Ruben was unlucky, as he had traffic on his fast lap. I expect him to finish higher tomorrow.” More, from a press release issued by Silverstone Circuit: World Superbike Brits impressed by new Silverstone Circuit Round 10 of the FIM Superbike World Championship got underway at Silverstone today (Friday 30 July), with Britain’s seven World Superbike regulars posting some of the quickest times of the day. Cal Crutchlow set the fastest time in Qualifying Practice, followed closely by fellow-Brits Jonathan Rea and Leon Camier, who were second and fourth respectively. It was the first time any of the riders had ridden Silverstone’s new 3.666 mile Grand Prix circuit and the Brits were impressed with their new home circuit. Pace-setter Crutchlow, said: “It’s nice to come back to Silverstone. The new circuit’s really good, really enjoyable. It’s fast and flowing, but then there’s some tight stuff so it all equals out. Our bike is better on the faster corners, but you have other bikes, like the Ducatis, that are better in the chicanes, so it equals out quite nicely. “There are a few more opportunities to overtake on the new circuit – around the tighter chicanes really, and you’ll see some good passes at the end of the Hangar Straight.” HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider Jonathan Rea also enjoyed the new circuit, “It’s been fun and motivating to start on a new track. The new circuit is really, really fun – really good and enjoyable. One of the big challenges is the bumps. I guess if you had a blank cheque you could re-surface the place – then it would be perfect, the ultimate racing circuit! It’s still day one, though. We’re off to a good start; we’ve just got to keep building on that.” James Toseland, who set the sixth fastest time in Qualifying Practice, echoed the sentiments of his Yamaha Sterilgarda team mate: “The new circuit is really impressive – they’ve done a great job. I think the MotoGP riders and F1 drivers had positive things to say, and I’ve enjoyed going around today. It’s a great track layout and there are plenty of places to overtake. Down Hangar Straight and into Stowe is the ideal place, but there are plenty of other good places as well.” Aprilia Alitalia Racing’s Leon Camier added: “I think the new circuit looks really good. It’s got good character – a few fast bits, a few slow bits and a few undulations. There’s a bit of everything. There are a few good places for overtaking. You can line people up on a lot of the corners and there’ll be opportunities to overtake if someone makes a little mistake, or gets it slightly wrong on the entry. I’d say it’s a lot better for overtaking than it was. It’s a good fun track and I really like it.” Leon Haslam, who is second in the Championship and set the eighth fastest time for Team Suzuki Alstare, said: “It’s the first time I’ve ridden the new circuit and it’s really good – quite fast and flowing, and should provide some good opportunities for passing. We’re just trying to find a set-up ready for race tyres and we’ll go from there.” Series leader Max Biaggi set the seventh fastest time in Qualifying Practice. First Qualifying Practice Times: 1. Cal CRUTCHLOW, (GBR) Yamaha Sterilgarda Team – 2’05.664 2. Jonathan REA, (GBR) HANNspree Ten Kate Honda – 2’06.006 3. Troy CORSER, (AUS) BMW Motorrad Motorsport – 2’06.052 4. Leon CAMIER, (GBR) Aprilia Alitalia Racing – 2’06.064 5. Michel FABRIZIO, (ITA) Ducati Xerox Team – 2’06.088 6. James TOSELAND, (GBR) Yamaha Sterilgarda Team – 2’06.238 7. Max BIAGGI, (ITA) Aprilia Alitalia Racing – 2’06.315 8. Leon HASLAM, (GBR) Team Suzuki Alstare – 2’06.464 9. Carlos CHECA, (ESP) Althea Racing – 2’06.475 10. Tom SYKES, (GBR) Kawasaki Racing Team – 2’06.596 13. Shane BYRNE, (GBR) Althea Racing – 2’06.952 Tickets for Silverstone’s round of the FIM Superbike World Championship can be purchased on the gate. More, from a press release issued by Team PATA/B&G Racing: Silverstone welcomed the Superbike stars with the usual English weather – cold and cloudy, except for today’s two sessions, during which the PATA B&G Racing team started working on setting up the new bike. Jakub Smrz did a series of laps to check the machine’s reactions to the different solutions proposed by the technicians. An useful test for the Czech Republic rider, who is trying to get a better feeling with the front end, which should allow him perform at his best. Very positive performance by Lorenzo Baroni, who took to the track in the afternoon, after the first practice session had been delayed due to a problem on the run off area. The Italian rider posted the fifth fastest time, giving him high hopes for the rest of the weekend. JAKUB SMRZ | Aprilia RSV4 | 14th in 2’06.988: “I still have to improve in many sections of the track, but I need to get a better feeling with the front end, which should allow me to be more incisive and ride more safely. I will pick up tomorrow where I left off, even if the weather might have an impact on the race. It’s important for us to be at our best for Superpole, in order for me to exploit the bike’s full potential. We are very close to achieving that goal, hopefully it will happen tomorrow”. More, from a press release issued by Alitalia Aprilia: World leader Max Biaggi and team mate Leon Camier get off on the right foot at Silverstone, on the hunt for the best setup on some very bumpy asphalt. Silverstone, 30 July 2010 In spite of the grey skies, the Superbike débuts on dry asphalt on the renovated Silverstone track. Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team concentrates, as they always do on Friday, on finding the best solutions to tackle the pole tomorrow and the two Sunday races. In any case, the clock sends positive messages with seventh place for world leader Max Biaggi and fourth place for Englishman Leon Camier, who found the right pace straight away on his home track. A promising result even with the bumpy asphalt which doesn’t do any favours for an RSV4 rider. Both riders identified the areas which need working on and they will concentrate on these tomorrow after the usual briefing with the Aprilia Racing technicians: the great amount of work which was done is confirmed by the number of laps the riders got in more than any of the other competitors. Max Biaggi is confident about this English weekend: “We still need to fix a few things, especially in the turns on the rougher asphalt, but it’s not bad at all. Without looking too much at the clock we punched out a good time, quite close to those ahead of us. The English riders are giving 110%, they are breathing in their home air, but I’ll try to… bring honour to the Italian flag even here! “All joking aside, we have some ideas on the setup which need to be perfected hand in hand with the experience we gain on this new track. Concentration and determination will do the rest.” “We started off as we had hoped stated Leon Camier without making drastic changes to the base setup of my RSV4, just some small tweaks to adapt it to the conditions. I’d say that with the setting we’re on target, now I just need to improve my trajectories especially on some sections. The final tenths which need to be shaved off are there, in my knowledge of the track and the lines. Here, at home, I really want to do well for my supporters and my Team.” More, from a press release issued by Xerox Ducati: A STEEP LEARNING CURVE FOR THE DUCATI XEROX TEAM AT NEW-LOOK SILVERSTONE TODAY Silverstone (UK), Friday 30th July : the Superbike action got under way today at the new-look Silverstone track and Ducati Xerox riders Michel Fabrizio and Noriyuki Haga had to learn fast, closing first qualifying in fifth and twelfth position respectively. After some major restructuring work over recent months, the Silverstone track presented a fresh challenge today as very few of the Superbike riders had seen the track in its new configuration. Riders therefore concentrated, particularly in the first free practice session, on getting to grips with the long and tricky circuit, before turning their attention to optimizing machine set-up during first qualifying. Both Ducati Xerox riders made continuous and steady improvement during the first practice session, concentrating on the “hard” rear tyres, but, perhaps inevitably, it was the British contingent who were quickest off the mark, all seven of them closing the first session in the top nine, ahead of Noriyuki in tenth and Michel in thirteenth. Exchanging the rear for a softer compound at the start of first qualifying seemed to make a significant difference to lap times with an improvement of a second and a half for both Haga and Fabrizio. They remained in the top five for the best part of the session, during which various modifications were made to the set-up of the Ducati 1198 machines, with riders also trying different tyre configurations. A final fast lap for Michel saw him close first qualifying in fifth position but with the same lap time (2m06.0) as Rea, Corser and Camier, respectively second, third and fourth. Noriyuki, losing valuable tenths in the first split mainly due to problems with grip, eventually closed day one in twelfth place. Michel Fabrizio “I really like the new configuration of the track. I liked the previous long version that we raced on years back, in 2003 I think, but once they shortened it I could never get the results. Now it’s been lengthened once more I’m enjoying it, it’s only a pity that they removed the little bridge that was the best point as far as I’m concerned. We’ve made a good start today but we’re all very close, second to fifth position all with the same lap time! I think we can improve further tomorrow, if the weather permits that is.” Noriyuki Haga “To tell the truth I preferred the old layout; particularly the final section. What surprised me is that some of the new sections are more or less blind corners which made today a little difficult. It was also hard to time exactly when to open the throttle through the corners but I hope that, with the time available tomorrow, we’ll be able to resolve a few things and improve. The bike doesn’t seem bad and the tyres have given me pretty good feeling.” More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Both Team Suzuki Alstare riders Leon Haslam and Sylvain Guintoli gave the thumbs-up to the new British Silverstone circuit after spending the day learning the new layout – and look forward to improving their positions tomorrow at the 10th round of the World Superbike Championship. Haslam finished eighth fastest and was the happier of the duo, although Guintoli is upbeat about his prospects tomorrow, despite ending the day 17th in the standings. Briton Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha) set the day’s fastest lap with a time of 2:05.664 with fellow countryman Jonathan Rea (Honda) second and Troy Corser (BMW) in third. Leon Haslam – 8th, 2:06.464: “Happily, today was like a normal Friday – and that is a good feeling to have after Brno. This is a fantastic track and has bags of character, is fast and flowing; and there are lots of passing opportunities. I think it’s going to be great racing on Sunday. At the moment, I am still trying to find the right lines around it, but, because the track is quite wide, there are many different lines to try. “It’s bumpy for sure, but I don’t think any more than other tracks, but because of the high speeds, you notice it a lot more. I like bumpy tracks though and I think I’m going to have a lot of fun here. It is a very technical track and very safe, so once you have a good set-up, you can push pretty hard. At the moment, we’re getting there and really we’re not far off; just fine-tuning really. Tomorrow we’ll push harder, hopefully have a good Superpole; and be in a much-better position on the grid than Brno!” Sylvain Guintoli – 17th, 2:07: “This is a very, very nice track and I’m going to enjoy racing here. Obviously my position today is not so good, but I have been spending the day learning the track and trying to find a good set-up for my bike. The track is very technical and because it is quite bumpy, it is important to get a good set-up. There are many changes of rhythm at this circuit, some slow corners, some fast; and for me it is really interesting. I have to work on the first split because that’s where I’m losing time at the moment, but I once I get that sorted out, my lap times will come down. “This is like a ‘home’ race for me, because I live in UK and many of my friends and fans will be coming to support me this weekend. I would like to improve my position tomorrow, get a high grid place and good results, so that they will go home happy.” More, from a press release issued by Infront Motor Sports: Crutchlow races ahead in early session Local hero Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda) set a blistering 2’05.664 second lap at Silverstone to head the first qualifying session at his home track, with no fewer than five of his compatriots inside the top ten places. The 5.902km Silverstone circuit is new to almost all of the 25 Superbike riders on show, making Crutchlow’s advantage of 0.342 seconds over the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda of Jonathan Rea an impressive first day result. BMW Motorrad Motorsport rider Troy Corser was third quickest, with British rider Leon Camier fourth on his Aprilia Alitalia vee-four. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) made it five different bikes in the top five places with one qualifying session to go, and James Toseland (Crutchlow’s Yamaha Sterilgarda team-mate) secured sixth place. Championship leader Max Biaggi, Camier’s team-mate, was a steady seventh, one place ahead of his main championship threat, Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare). Privateer Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) was 0.811 seconds away from Crutchlow, in ninth, with the top ten rounded out by Tom Sykes on his official Kawasaki Racing Team four-cylinder machine. Lorenzo Lanzi (DFX Corse Ducati) was a happy 11th, as he was one place up on the official machine of Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox). Shane Byrne (Althea Ducati) was 13th, the Team Pata B&G Aprilia of Jakub Smrz 14th, and 15th was a rider returning from injury, Luca Scassa (Supersonic Ducati). The wildcard HM Plant Honda duo of Josh Brookes and Ryuichi Kiyonari, both old friends of WSBK, were only 21st and 22nd on day one, with Tommy Bridewell (TYCO Racing Honda) 24th. Times: 1. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 2’05.664; 2. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 2’06.006; 3. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 2’06.052; 4. Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 2’06.064; 5.Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 2’06.088; 6. Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 2’06.238; 7. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 2’06.315; 8. Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2’06.464; 9. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 2’06.475; 10. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2’06.596; etc. World Supersport Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) eased to the top of the first qualifying session at Silverstone, 0.090 seconds ahead of UK-based series regular Gino Rea (Intermoto Czech Honda) and 0.161 seconds up on Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Motocard.com). Championship leader Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was fourth, Miguel Praia (Parkalgar Honda) fifth. Times: 1. Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 2’09.826; 2. Rea G. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 2’09.916; 3. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 2’09.987; 4. Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 2’10.069; 5. Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 2’10.438; 6. Tamburini R. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 2’10.689; 7. Salom D. (ESP) Triumph Daytona 675 2’10.761; 8. Foret F. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-6R 2’10.915; etc. Superstock 1000 Maxime Berger (Ten Kate Junior Honda) earned the best time in the first qualifying session in the last minute, heading off championship leader Ayrton Badovini (BMW Italia STK). Third was the Team Lorini Honda of Andrea Antonelli, with the 88 Lazio Motorsport Ducati of Lorenzo Zanetti fourth. A good day for Ducati saw Luca Baroni (Pata B&G) fifth, and the Team Pedercini Kawasaki of Danilo Petrucci finished off a cosmopolitan top six in terms of motorcycles. Loris Baz was top Yamaha man, eighth on his MRS Racing R1. Times: 1. Berger M. (FRA) Honda CBR1000RR 2’10.226; 2. Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 2’10.390; 3. Antonelli A. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 2’10.509; 4. Zanetti L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 2’11.739; 5. Baroni L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 2’11.921; 6. Petrucci D. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2’12.211; 7. Barrier S. (FRA) BMW S1000 RR 2’12.329; 8. Baz L. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R1 2’12.392; etc. Superstock 600 Wildcard rider Luke Mossey (Sondelsport Yamaha) was the provisional pole man at Silverstone after the first day, holding off the push of championship challengers Florian Marino (Ten Kate Race Junior Honda) and Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Racing Yamaha). Berardino Lombardi (Martini Corse Yamaha) was a top four early qualifier, ahead of Guarnoni’s team-mate, Romain Lanusse. Times: 1. Mossey L. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 2’13.653; 2. Marino F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 2’14.355; 3. Guarnoni J. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 2’14.601; 4. Lombardi B. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 2’15.796; 5. Lanusse R. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 2’15.854; 6. Fanelli D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 2’15.929; 7. Le Coquen S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 2’16.169; 8. Calero Perez N. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 2’16.226; etc. More, from a press release issued by Althea Racing: Practice Day 1 Silverstone, July 30th 2010 Day one of official practice on the British circuit of Silverstone was a positive one for the Althea Racing team with the two riders closing in ninth and thirteenth position. Carlos Checa completed twenty laps in qualifying and, having got to grips with the layout, was able to push, finishing the session, as he did the free practice, inside the top ten. “We’ve got a good idea of the track now”, declared Carlos, “but I’m still having trouble in T1. I’m going wrong in the first section and am not able to ride smoothly. We need to be faster through that section too. Having said that, I think we can fight for the positions that count. The track is great and I’m enjoying it; it’s very technical and safe, they’ve done a good job. With the sun it would be fantastic.” Shane Byrne also likes the new-look circuit but, having recorded the sixth fastest time in free practice, he dropped back a little in qualifying. “I like the track”, said Shane. “There are however two points that I’m finding difficult and I hope the changes I’ve made with my technicians can help us there. I’ve tried the tyres and have identified my preferred front tyre. Tomorrow we’ll continue to work on the set-up.” The Superbike programme continues tomorrow, Saturday, with second qualifying at 10.45 and the second free practice at 13.50. Superpole gets underway at 15.00. On Sunday, after the morning’s warmup at 9.20, Race 1 begins at 12.00 and race 2 at 15.30; both are 18 laps in length, or 106.236 km. More, from a press release issued by Hannspree Ten Kate Honda: Jonathan Rea finished second fastest in today’s opening qualifying session for Sunday’s two tenth round World Superbike championship races at Silverstone in the UK. The 23-year-old had topped the earlier free practice session but had to cede provisional pole position to fellow Brit, Cal Crutchlow. After taking a win and a second place last time out at Brno in the Czech Republic, Rea’s good form continued into last weekend’s prestigious Suzuka 8 Hour race, where he finished on the podium, and the Northern Irishman relished Silverstone’s new 5.902km layout in today’s two sessions. His Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate, Max Neukirchner, also liked the new circuit, although, like many other riders, its bumps caused him some issues. The German rider finished 18th fastest today, after crashing unhurt at turn one towards the end of the qualifying session. Neukirchner had just put in a new rear Pirelli fo r a faster lap but the crash ended his session. His Honda CRB1000RR righted itself, however, and went head on into a track-side barrier, causing extensive damage. Jonathan Rea P2 2’06.006s I really enjoyed riding the circuit today it’s like it fills me full of happy pills because it’s all new and fresh! The bike is working OK straight away and I got up to a good rhythm pretty much from the off and qualifying was good. We’ve still got some more work to do tomorrow but I’m looking forward to making improvements. The bumps are bumps and they’re same for everybody and we spent this afternoon working more on the gearing and trying to get the right compromise for that. But it’s always fun when you come to a new circuit the layout’s really nice, but it’s just that the bumps and the surface isn’t great. Max Neukirchner &ndash ; P18 2’07.325s I think I like the circuit but there are a lot of bumps so it’s not easy to get the right chassis set-up so I think you must live with a not perfect setting. Of course the crash was bad for me I put in a new rear but the front was already 17 laps old. The bike carried on for maybe 200 metres more and hit the wall, so the front end looks not so good. I’m sorry for my guys who have a lot more work to do now. Ronald ten Kate team manager I think that, for all the World Superbike riders, today was more about learning the track rather than setting up a bike for it. From tomorrow we can really start to make some changes to the bike to improve it. Johnny was quick from the box today and his Suzuka 8 Hour experience definitely didn’t slow him down at all. Max was on a decent pace as well and just when we put the new tyre in for him to set a fast lap time he had a sm all crash with big damage, which was a pity. But we’ll be back for more tomorrow. More, from a press release issued by Team Pedercini: First day of qualifying for Pedercini team’s Superbike riders on the Silverstone circuit in the United Kingdom. Roger Lee Hayden and Matteo Baiocco spent their free practice session on a dry track, working through various machine settings, starting to learn this new and technical circuit. Hayden reached the twenty-second position (2’10″755) while Baiocco obtained the twenty-fourth place (2’12″725). Dry weather conditions also for first Superbike qualifications, despite some dark clouds that obscured the track. Hayden improved a lot his best lap time (2’07″677) reaching the twentieth position. Baiocco was also able to improve his lap time (2’10″431) but unfortunately he’s still struggling with some set up problems. The Italian rider ended in twenty-third position only. Superbike free practice : 1) Rea (Honda) 2) Toseland (Yamaha) – 3) Haslam (Suzuki) 4) Crutchlow (Yamaha) – 5) Corser (BMW)”¦.. 22) Hayden (Kawasaki) “¦.. 24) Baiocco (Kawasaki) Superbike qualifying 1 : 1) Crutchlow (Yamaha) 2) Rea (Honda) 3) Corser (BMW) 4) Camier (Aprilia) – 5) Fabrizio (Ducati) “¦.. 20) Hayden (Kawasaki)”¦”¦”¦23) Baiocco (Kawasaki) Matteo Baiocco :” I spent my first day of action working through various machine settings but we still have to find a better one. Mainly we have to sort out a good set-up because we have some problems to solve. We will try some more settings tomorrow in order to solve today’s rear traction problems. The circuit is quite nice and I like it even if I’m still learning it. Tomorrow I must improve a lot my lap time if I want to enter the Superpole that’s my target”. Roger Lee Hayden :”I’m pretty satisfied because this afternoon we started to work in the right direction and I was able to record some fast laps. In the qualifying session we made a lot of improvements and I have a good feeling with my bike on this circuit that’s new for me but also for all the other riders. My race weekend in Laguna Seca was really a good practice for me and tomorrow I want to continue to work with my team and I hope to enter the Superpole”. More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: TROY HAPPY WITH 3RD ON DAY ONE. Troy spent the first day learning the new Silverstone circuit and working towards a good set-up on his S 1000 RR, so was happy that he was still able to set the third fastest time in qualifying. Although there were a few spots of rain during the first untimed practice this morning, the track remained dry enough for slicks. It was fairly overcast this afternoon, but once again the rain stayed away and Troy and the rest of the 25-rider field were able to push harder and harder in the qualifying session. Briton Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha) set the day’s quickest lap, with a time of of 2:05.66, with fellow countryman Jonathan Rea (Honda) second. Behind Troy, in provisional fourth, is another Brit, Leon Camier (Aprilia). Troy – 3rd, 2:06.052 This track feels very new, even though some of the old parts are used. It’s a very technical track and I spent a lot of time learning it, trying different lines and finding ways to cope with all the bumps and the dips. I think I’ve tried every possible line I could think of today! It’s difficult to get a good rhythm because the track has two different parts. But, if you can get a good rhythm, you can definitely lap quickly. Also, if you’ve got confidence in your front tyre, you can go fast. I’m not at that stage yet, but hopefully I’ll be there tomorrow. At the moment, I can do the times, but the bike is moving around a lot, because of the bumps and dips. The problem is that many of the bumps are in the fast bits and some of the worst areas are into and out of the front straight. You need a set-up which absorbs the bumps and if you don’t have that, you will struggle. Many of the corners in the new section seem to be made for cars, because they have decreasing radiuses and you have to go in fast and come out slow, before getting on the power. That’s more or less the opposite of what we like on bikes, but we’ll just have to adapt and get on with it. Even though this track is very physical, I have absolutely no pain or discomfort in my chest. After my big get-off in Brno, I might have expected some pain, but I’ve had no problems at all today and that is good.

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