FIM Supersport World Championship Portimao, Portugal March 27, 2010 Final Qualifying Results (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Eugene LAVERTY (Honda CBR600RR), 1:45.169 2. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Honda CBR600RR), 1:45.313 3. Michele PIRRO (Honda CBR600RR), 1:45.828 4. Joan LASCORZ (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:45.903 5. Fabien FORET (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:46.082 6. Chaz DAVIES (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:46.161 7. Katsuaki FUJIWARA (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:46.415 8. Miguel PRAIA (Honda CBR600RR), 1:46.566 9. David SALOM (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:46.654 10. Jason DISALVO (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:46.779 11. Matthieu LAGRIVE (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:46.879 12. Gino REA (Honda CBR600RR), 1:46.924 13. Robbin HARMS (Honda CBR600RR), 1:46.947 14. Massimo ROCCOLI (Honda CBR600RR), 1:47.327 15. Alexander LUNDH (Honda CBR600RR), 1:48.680 16. Bastien CHESAUX (Honda CBR600RR), 1:48.775 17. Danilo DELL’OMO (Honda CBR600RR), 1:48.905 18. Paola CAZZOLA (Honda CBR600RR), 1:50.597 19. Max HUNT (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:51.464 20. Eduard BLOKHIN (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:52.592 More, from a press release issued by Parkalgar Honda: PARKALGAR HONDA’S Eugene Laverty took a well-earned pole position while Miguel Praia secured a strong eighth during final qualification for the second round of the World Supersport Championship at the team’s home circuit at Portimao in Portugal. Sunny warm conditions changed during the session as the wind came up, forcing riders to adjust their style to compensate. The fans were out in force to support the Parkalgar Honda duo and more are expected tomorrow for the race which starts at 1330 local time at the dramatic high-tech circuit. Follow the team’s progress on www.parkalgarhonda.com. Eugene: “That’s my second ever pole position and the last time was here at this circuit at the end of 2009, so I am really happy and glad to do it at Parkalgar. The wind came up during the session and may have made a difference but we concentrated on what we wanted to do which was test front and rear tyres. We can improve the front end of our Parkalgar Honda and we will see what we can do in the morning warm-up. I call on all the Portuguese bike fans to come here tomorrow to support me and Miguel – it makes a difference and will help us in our title challenge.” Miguel: “The second row is exactly where I wanted and expected to be – this is only my second time on the second row and both times have been here at my home track of Parkalgar. I thought I could have made quicker lap times and tried everything to do so but it didn’t happen. The good news is that I can do these lap times all day long and now need to concentrate on getting a good start. It is great racing here with my home support, thank you to everyone who came today to cheer us on.” Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “It was hard work but in the end Eugene took a well-earned pole position. He has won two races in a row now – here last year and then Phillip Island last month; we all want it to be a hat-trick and it would mean a lot to the team’s home support at our own track in Portugal. Miguel is once again on the second row here at his home track and given himself a great opportunity to fight for a top six finish and take his personal best ever result. Well done to all of the Parkalgar Honda team, great work today.” More, from a press release issued by Hannspree Ten Kate Honda: Kenan Sofuoglu and Michele Pirro will both start tomorrow’s World Supersport race at Portimao in Portugal from the front row of the grid after setting the second and third fastest times in this afternoon’s final qualifying session, just behind pole sitter, Eugene Laverty. Sofuoglu crashed unhurt at Portimao’s first corner on his final outing, just two minutes from the end of the 45-minute session, which saw grip levels lower than in this morning’s second free practice, when the Turkish rider was fastest. However, the 25-year-old’s ideal time from the qualifying session would have put him fastest, some half a second quicker than his recorded best lap. Pirro, his Italian team-mate, continues his rapid integration into the well-oiled Hannspree Ten Kate Honda set-up and impressed once more with another front row start to add to that in the opening round at Phillip Island, Australia. The 23-year-old, however, believes there is more improvement to be found from his Honda CBR600RR. Kenan Sofuoglu P2 1’45.313s There was not so much grip when I went out for my last run and maybe the tyres were still a little cold, so I crashed at the end of the straight. I had some problems getting one clear lap together and, when I look at my ideal time, which is half a second faster, I can see this! But the front row is OK for a starting position and we are quite ready for the race. I think Eugene [Laverty] and me have a similar pace and I made a good race distance this morning after I had a problem with my first bike. I am very comfortable with the bike for tomorrow’s race and confident that we can get another good result. Michele Pirro P3 1’45.828s Actually I am a little bit disappointed that we were not able to find a way to improve the bike more today. Track conditions this afternoon were very different to earlier, and grip levels were down. I didn’t want to push too hard and end up crashing but we need to find something more to stay with Eugene and Kenan tomorrow in the race. We’re looking for a better balance with the bike, but we will work tonight and try to find something for warm-up tomorrow. Ronald ten Kate team-manager We’ve got to be happy again with both riders on the front row. We’re not so far off the pace and I believe that both riders are in a position to challenge for place on the podium, with Kenan particularly able to fight Eugene for the victory. It will be a fascinating race between them tomorrow. More, from a press release issued by ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Racing: Solid performances from all ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Racing riders today. Chaz Davies will start from row 2, which given his skills will allow him to aim high. Feverish David Salom set the ninth fastest time. The Spaniard had a very good pace with race setup as he did in Australia and his goal is to battle for the top positions tomorrow. Jason Di Salvo and Matthieu Lagrive both qualified in the same row as their Spanish teammate. The American will try to improve the eighth place captured in Australia, while the Frechman is still improving his feeling with the bike and will do the same tomorrow. CHAZ DAVIES | Triumph Daytona 675 | 6th in 1’46.161 : “I worked a lot on setup and went for the speed only in the last few minutes, but didn’t go as fast as I hoped due to my mistakes and the fellow riders in front of me. However, the starting position is very good, as is the machine setup and so I’m confident I’ll be able to battle for the top positions tomorrow”. DAVID SALOM | Triumph Daytona 675 | 9th in 1’46.654 : “I got better today, but I’m still feverish. I can certainly improve, because in the last lap I understood the track better . We’ll do some changes setupwise in warm up tomorrow and hopefully will finish in the top positions”. JASON DI SALVO | Triumph Daytona 675 | 10th in 1’46.779 : ” If I get a good start and get in the leading pack after the first slow corner, I think I can stay with the front runners until the chequered flag”. MATTHIEU LAGRIVE | Triumph Daytona 675 | 11th in 1’46.879 : ” I’m gradually changing my riding style to adapt it to the three-cilinder, but I need to race more in order to perform at my best. I have to learn how to use the engine which is very different compared to the other bikes I rode. That’s why I’m not setting any goals, I’ll just try to make some more progress”. More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki: Front Row Start For Lascorz After a busy period of practice in the Supersport class Joan Lascorz took his Ninja ZX-6R to a front row spot for Sunday’s 20-lap race at Portimao, finishing fourth quickest in combined qualifying. Joan is currently second in the championship after a great opening round in Australia last month, and is out to keep his overall ranking in Sunday’s race at this intense and undulating circuit. With the Portimao circuit being so dissimilar to the Phillip Island layout, the team decided to start race weekend with Lascorz’ machine set up similar to the recent winter tests at Portimao, and Katsuaki Fujiwara’s bike set in similar fashion to its Australian specification. ‘Kats’ finished seventh in qualifying and will start from the second row. Dry track conditions through practice and qualifying were a welcome sight for all but the grip from the tarmac was inconsistent, with changes in temperature making final set-up a job still to be done in warm-up tomorrow morning. Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Lorenzini by Leoni) was a strong fifth on his supported Ninja ZX-6R, as rider and team find improvements in set-up as they get to know their new bike better and better in each session. Joan Lascorz: “We had some issues finding the same pace we had before at this track in testing and we made a lot of work to try and improve things. We are on the front row and the race is a different thing to one lap of qualifying. I think we can be right there if it all works out to plan.” Katsuaki Fujiwara: “We tried the same set-up as Phillip Island when we started here but it is completely different track. Also the grip was different, les than at PI, so we had to change many things. We tried the same set-up as we left testing here as well, but this track is very sensitive to changes in condition. A lot will depend on conditions tomorrow. Starting for the race on the second row is still good, so we will try to get away with the front group and go for a positive result.”