World Supersport Qualifying Session #1 Valencia, Spain April 9 1. Katsuaki Fujiwara (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:36.319 2. Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:36.585 3. Michele Pirro (Honda CBR600RR), 1:36.709 4. Eugene Laverty (Honda CBR600RR), 1:36.778 5. David Salom (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:36.792 6. Chaz Davies (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:36.933 7. Kenan Sofuoglu (Honda CBR600RR), 1:37.532 8. Robbin Harms (Honda CBR600RR), 1:37.541 9. Jason DiSalvo (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:37.658 10. Massimo Roccoli (Honda CBR600RR), 1:38.020 11. Fabien Foret (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:38.143 12. Miguel Praia (Honda CBR600RR), 1:38.355 13. Matthieu Lagrive (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:38.453 14. Alexander Lundh (Honda CBR600RR), 1:38.608 15. Gino Rea (Honda CBR600RR), 1:39.309 16. A. Palumbo (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:39.390 17. Bastien Chesaux (Honda CBR600RR), 1:40.013 18. Danilo Dell’Omo (Honda CBR600RR), 1:40.162 19. Paola Cazzola (Honda CBR600RR), 1:42.697 20. E. Blokhin (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:44.000 More, from a press release issued by Hannspree Ten Kate Honda: Michele Pirro set the third fastest time in this afternoon’s first qualifying session at Valencia in Spain for round three of the 2010 World Supersport championship. His Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate, Kenan Sofuoglu, was seventh fastest today as Japan’s Katsuaki Fujiwara set the provisional pole position pace. Pirro scored his debut World Supersport podium last time out at Portimao in Portugal and is confident of improvement in tomorrow’s second qualifying session to set the final grid for Sunday’s 23-lap race at the 4.005km Ricardo Tormo circuit. Sofuoglu meanwhile, who fired his Honda CBR600RR to victory in Portugal, is determined to retain his current championship lead after Sunday’s race, although the Turkish rider admitted to disappointment at today’s qualifying result. Michele Pirro P3 Today has been very difficult and I have not had a very good feeling from the chassis. My position is not so bad, I guess, and the gap to the Kawasakis is not too big especially after they tested here last week. We have a plan for the direction we need to take tomorrow and I am sure we can improve some more. Kenan Sofuoglu P7 The result from today is not really very good. We began with the same set up that we used in our test here last December but it did not work. The grip levels have changed since then and the rear of the bike was much too hard. I had a real problem with rear grip today but we have a good plan for tomorrow to change things. Ronald ten Kate – team manager The settings that we used for our winter test here at Valencia, which gave us lap times in the low 1’36s bracket, don’t seem to be working this weekend. Towards the end of the session we definitely started to find a direction but we need to find something more tomorrow. That first session in the morning will be kind of crucial for the remainder of the weekend. More, from a press release issued by Parkalgar Honda: PARKALGAR HONDA racers Eugene Laverty and Miguel Praia got off to a confident start in first qualifying for the third round of the World Supersport Championship at Valencia in Spain, taking fourth and 12th places respectively. In good weather, the two riders gradually built their pace and tried out various settings on their Parkalgar Honda race bikes during practice and qualification and ended the day in positive mood for the rest of the weekend. There is another practice and qualifying session tomorrow before the race at 1330 CET on Sunday, April 11th. Keep up-to-date with Parkalgar Honda on www.parkalgarhonda.com. Miguel: “It was a hard start to the day in practice and I struggled to get up to speed. Valencia demands a lot of feedback from the front of my Parkalgar Honda and we have changed the position of my handlebars to help put more weight over the front for this. It is a new position for me but this afternoon we made a couple of changes to my chassis and I am much happier now — my lap time is not so bad, especially when you consider that a couple of the other teams tested here last week. We will look through the data and see how we can generally improve the chassis and grip. Now we have a good starting position for tomorrow and I am sure we will go quicker.” Eugene: “My Parkalgar Honda is really good and I am very happy with today’s performance. We worked on the rear end grip issues that surfaced at the last round and while I won’t say we have completely cured them I will say we are definitely going in the right direction. I am confident for a front row start as my fastest lap was done on the tyre I do not prefer — if we change that I know I can go faster and it’s nice to have a bit in hand. There are no major issues, I am pleased with the bike and team and it is always good when the Championship leader is behind you.” Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “It’s been a good day for the team, a confident start to the weekend. Eugene is comfortable on his bike and set a front row time on the tyre he doesn’t prefer so that is encouraging as there is more to come. Miguel is trying a few things with his bike and they should pay off for him, I am sure he will be able to dig deep tomorrow to challenge for the top 10. A quick mention to CIA Insurance which has joined the team as a partner for the rest of the year — it’s good to have them back with us and anyone who needs bike insurance should give them a call and support companies that support our sport; not to mention their rates for bikes are excellent.” More, from a press release issued by ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Racing: Team ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Racing’s goal for tomorrow is qualifying in the front row. The result could have been obtained today but David Salom finished fifth, just two hundreds of a second off of fourth place. His teammate Chaz Davies finished just behind him to take sixth. Jason Di Salvo had to settle for ninth place due to some drop in performance from the engine in the most important phase of the session, while Matthieu Lagrive is still trying to improve his feeling with the bike. DAVID SALOM | Triumph Daytona 675 | 5th in 1’36.792 : “We started working on the fork early in the morning in order to improve the feeling when entering the corner. We reached a very good setup, which allowed me to go faster by almost a second compared to the test. We can however improve and hopefully will qualify in the front row tomorrow”. CHAZ DAVIES | Triumph Daytona 675 | 6th in 1’36.933 : “I have the same goal as my teammate: the front row. We’re almost there setup-wise, hopefully will get a better feeling when entering the corner. Although this is my first race at Valencia, I liked the track from the first laps”. JASON DI SALVO | Triumph Daytona 675 | 9th in 1’37.658 : “I know I could’ve done better if it wasn’t for that engine issue. We’ve made however some progress suspension-wise and now the bike fits my riding style. I hope to redeem myself tomorrow”. MATTHIEU LAGRIVE | Triumph Daytona 675 | 13th in 1’38.453 : “My feeling with the bike keeps getting better lap after lap. I just hope to catch up with the others and start some racing”. More, from a press release issued by ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Racing: Triumph ParkinGO European Serie kicked off with the first practice session. Riders taking part at the challenge faced one another on the Street Triple 675 R for the first time at the Ricardo Tormo track in Valencia. Favourite Fabrizio Perotti set the fastest provisional time, followed by Toni Salom( former CEV SS), Alessandro Torcolacci (winner of the 2008 Premier Cup) and Giuliano Rovelli. Behind them was the winner of the TT and Northwest 200, Michael Dunlop, who made his debut both on the bike and at the track. The British rider improved a lot by the end of the session and will battle for the front row tomorrow. Matteo Marzotto, who was sixth, was followed by Samuela de Nardi. The second row was completed by Carmelo Nicastro. However, things might change tomorrow, when the starting grid will be determined . Yesterday the engines and the junction boxes were both unveiled in order to ensure that everybody gets equal chances. This process will be repeated every round. DJ Ringo brought the funny stuff, as the “on board” correspondent for Virgin Radio is also racing in the competition. Tomorrow a briefing session will be held but later the roar of the Street Triple R will rumble in Valencia… Qualifying 1st Session: 1. Fabrizio Perotti ITA 1′ 44″ 360 2. Tony Salom ESP 1′ 45″438 3. Alessandro Torcolacci ITA 1’45″670 4. Giuliano Rovelli ITA 1’45″811 5. Michael Dunlop GBR 1’47″501 6. Matteo Marzotto ITA 1’47″940 7. Samuela De Nardi ITA 1′ 48″449 8. Carmelo Nicastro ITA 1’51’732