FIM Supersport World Championship Assen, Netherlands April 26, 2009 Race Results (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Eugene LAVERTY (Honda CBR600RR), 21 laps, 35:45.160 2. Cal CRUTCHLOW (Yamaha YZF-R6), -0.107 second 3. Joan LASCORZ (Kawasaki ZX-6R), -0.178 second 4. Fabien FORET (Yamaha YZF-R6), -1.777 seconds 5. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Honda CBR600RR), -1.901 6. Mark AITCHISON (Honda CBR600RR), -5.492 7. Anthony WEST (Honda CBR600RR), -12.551 8. Barry VENEMAN (Suzuki GSX-R600), -12.841 9. Robbin HARMS (Honda CBR600RR), -13.567 10. Michele PIRRO (Yamaha YZF-R6), -19.657 11. Patrik VOSTÁREK (Honda CBR600RR), -24.316 12. Gianluca NANNELLI (Triumph Daytona 675), -25.803 13. Massimo ROCCOLI (Honda CBR600RR), -26.255 14. Katsuaki FUJIWARA (Kawasaki ZX-6R), -26.439 15. Garry MCCOY (Triumph Daytona 675), -44.902, jump start/ride-through penalty 16. Arie VOS (Honda CBR600RR), -52.814 17. Russell HOLLAND (Honda CBR600RR), -52.959 18. Danilo DELL’OMO (Honda CBR600RR), -58.793 19. Kervin BOS (Yamaha YZF-R6), -64.653 20. Marcel VAN NIEUWENHNUEIZEN (Yamaha YZF-R6), -68.049 26. Andrew PITT (Honda CBR600RR), -6 laps, DNF, crash 29. Matthieu LAGRIVE (Honda CBR600RR), -17 laps, DNF, crash World Championship Point Standings (after 4 of 14 races): 1. Crutchlow, 74 points 2. Laverty, 68 3. Sofuoglu, 65 4. West, 52 5. Pitt, 43 6. Aithison, 34 7. Foret, 28 8. Lascorz, 27 9. TIE, Lagrive/Veneman, 25 More, from a press release issued by Parkalgar Honda: Laverty wins in Assen Parkalgar Honda’s Eugene Laverty took an impressive race win at Assen and has moved up to second place in the World Supersport Championship. Laverty had to keep his cool as he traded places with four other riders throughout the race. He finally secured the race win on the last lap winning by just 0.107secs. His Parkalgar Honda team-mate, Miguel Praia had to retire from the race due to an issue with the rear of his machine. The fifth round of the World Supersport Championship will take place at Monza in Italy on the 8th-10th May. Eugene: “That was the best race I’ve ever won and it is important for the Championship. It was a tough race and I beat a lot of very good riders so I know we can be strong. I have to say a big thank you to my team as all the guys have worked really hard and I’m glad to repay them with a race win. I’m now second in the Championship just six points off the lead so that will be my next goal.” Miguel: “I had to retire from the race as I had a little problem with my rear shock. I went into turn one and the back just came round on me. I had been running in 12th place and I knew I could catch the guys battling for ninth but I lost quite a few places. Then I went into the next turn and it happened again so I decided it was best to pull in.” Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “That was an amazing race. I’m pleased with what we have achieved as we are the only 2009 CBR600 to win a race. Mark Woodage, Eugene’s Crew Chief, and his team have worked really hard and it is now paying off. Miguel had a problem which was causing the back end of the bike to come round on him so he retired. It was a shame but I know he will bounce back for Monza.” More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: Kenan Sofuoglu finished fifth in today’s fourth round 2009 World Supersport championship race at Assen in Holland, but his Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate Andrew Pitt crashed out of a challenge for victory with five laps to go. The race was won by Honda rider, Eugene Laverty his second win of the season who started from the front row alongside Sofuoglu. The Turkish rider got a great start and led in the early laps before dropping back. Pitt found that many of the problems that had prevented him qualifying higher than 10th, had been reduced to allow him to challenge for the lead. Battling in the leading group, the Australian tried to take advantage when two of his rivals ran wide at Assen’s turn four. However, he lost the front of his CBR600RR and then had his left arm run over, preventing him from picking up his stricken machine. Kenan Sofuoglu 5th I am very disappointed with this result because I felt so much confidence going into this race and starting from the front row. Unfortunately, the back section of the circuit, where I was losing a lot of time during qualifying, was still a problem for me and I had to push so hard in the other areas of the lap. After Andrew crashed in front of me, the gap to the leading group was too big, but at least I was able to pick up some points. Andrew Pitt DNF The feeling with the front of the bike was a lot better in warm-up, after the guys worked late into the night so thanks to them for that. It meant that with a good start I felt able to challenge for the win because I had the pace of the leaders. I was still struggling a bit with the front of the bike, though, and I was pushing hard everywhere because I just didn’t want to finish third, fourth or fifth. When the Yamahas tangled in front of me and ran wide, I dived underneath maybe a little too enthusiastically and I lost the front. I don’t know who ran over my arm, but I lost all feeling in it temporarily and couldn’t pick up the bike. There’s nothing broken but it’ll probably be a little sore tomorrow. Ronald ten Kate team manager That was not really the result we had hoped for. Until mid-race, everything was going fine and looking good with Kenan and Andrew dicing in the leading group. When Andrew crashed, Kenan lost the connection with the front runners. I think we need to improve our setting earlier in the weekend because it’s taking too long to find the race set-up at the moment Sunday morning is too late. We’ll work hard to improve this area for Monza. More, from a press release issued by Team YZF Yamaha Burned clutch for Doni Tata Pradita The young Indonesian rider was a little bit too hard on the clutch at the start of the Assen race and unfortunately this transmission part could not take it. Doni had to come back to the pits after the first lap and retire. This is of course a great disappointment for the whole team. Doni had a good progression from the start of the practice on Friday until the warm up session on Sunday. Every time he went on the track, he was faster and faster and was gaining positions. But the race was not so lucky. A little bit tenser than he usually is, possibly because of several televisions crews who came to follow him, he made a small mistake at the start of the race and burned the clutch. It can happen to everybody once in a while and this is part of the learning process for this young rider who discovers this year the very high level of the Supersport World Championship. No doubt that the next event in Monza will be better. Doni Tata Pradita: “I am not happy. I wanted more. I knew I could go fast. In the first lap I had no power and I had to retire in the pits. This is not funny.” Team-manager Martial Garcia: “Doni burned the clutch at the start. But he should not be criticized because there were a lot of television people around him and that made him tense. He is still learning this top level category. He progressed very well all the weekend long until the race.” More, from a press release issued by Stiggy Honda Racing: Supersport team struggles to impress in Assen Anthony West had an unfortunate weekend in Assen after small mistakes in the qualifying sessions continued to bother him on Race day. From his 8th place on the gird he seemed set to quickly make his way forward, but ran wide and off the track in the chicane leading onto the straight. It set him back valuable positions that proved hard to recover. Lascorz, Laverty, Foret and Crutchlow were the leading men who set the pace for the rest of the field. While Foret nearly took out his teammate Cructhlow, Pitt opted for a different line away from the Yamaha squad, but lost the front of his bike and endured a nasty crash. His loss became West’s gain as he reclaimed another position. An unfortunate collision with Nannelli put a premature end to the race for team mate Gianluca Vizziello. After a difficult weekend of qualifying the Italian rider was hoping to improve his performance, but could not prevent his misfortune. The Superbike race was concluded in the very last seconds. While Laverty and Lascorz tussled places for the lead, Crutchlow awaited his chance. After Lascorz ran wide in the last chicane, Laverty quickly snatch the first position, with Cructhlow following in second. Anthony West, 7th: “I still lack acceleration in my bike. I miss the corner exit speed, so I constantly need to chase the front guys and then lose them again in the next corner. I was trying to make up for this catch-and-loose riding for most of the race I was very close to Sofuoglu when he made a mistake and I did the same. I then ran wide and off the track, and when I got back on track again I lost the feeling with the rear of my bike. It felt strange and I was convinced I had a puncture. It had to back off for a lap until I felt there was nothing wrong, and started to push again and make up for the loss as good as possible”. Gianluca Vizziello, DNF: “I did not have my best race here. The bike was running well, but suddenly I touched Nannelli. That collision caused some problems with the electronics of my bike and I just could not concentrate on riding any more. I made a mistake as I re-entered the race. I am very dissapointed this happened”. Johan Stigefelt, Team Manager: “Anthony did a good race, but made a small problem in the race which caused him to run a bit wide. He ran off the track through the dirt and then struggled with the rear grip of his bike. He lost too many places and initially thought there was something wrong with the rear of his bike. It took him one lap to sort that out, but by that time he had already lost some places and potentially a top 5 finish. We still have to find the perfect setting for our engines, we are missing some acceleration. There still is some hard work to do, Vizziello collided with another rider and had to retire from the race. It is a pity for his crew who worked very hard on getting the right set-up for his bike. We will need to step up on that side of the garage. Right now we just focus on improving our package and moving forward”. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha: Crutchlow maintains championship lead in Assen Yamaha World Supersport riders Cal Crutchlow and Fabien Foret got caught up in the closest race of the 2009 World Supersport Championship so far. Intense racing and constant battles for position were the mainstay of the Supersport action. After a bad start Crutchlow worked hard to move back up the field, closely followed by team-mate Foret behind him. By lap six Crutchlow had made it to fourth, taking Sofuoglu for the position whilst Foret pushed on from seventh place. Lap seven saw Foret move up again behind his team-mate and the two then fought a close battle for position as they moved through the ranks to the top spot before dropping back again. Laverty was a constant presence during the battles, eventually slipping through to take the lead spot. A near miss between the two Yamaha riders into turn four when Crutchlow missed a gear and went wide, causing Fabien to run wide as well. Pitt then tried to take them both on the inside, losing the front and crashing out. Crutchlow then displayed the incredible race pace the fans are used to seeing, and three laps to the end pulled the fastest lap of the race, with a 1.40.836 while he chased Laverty. The battle continued to the flag, two laps before the end the riders touched but managed to stay on, Laverty eventually taking the chequered flag with Crutchlow a mere 0.107 seconds behind. Foret kept up his pace to finish in fourth, 1.777 seconds behind the race leader. Crutchlow leaves Assen still leading the championship by six points whilst Foret moves up to seventh position with 28 points. Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha World Supersport Team (2nd) “I had a bad start, I don’t really know what happened, it was just unfortunate I felt like I was in neutral gear. I worked my hardest to get back through. Unfortunately Fabien and I got caught up together and it held us up a bit. Team Yamaha did a great job for me, we’re here again on the podium and still leading the championship so it’s all good. It was a fantastic job by Eugene Laverty, so well done to their team as well.” Fabien Foret, Yamaha World Supersport Team (4th) “I’m pretty happy and pleased to have got my confidence back. I had a good race, I’m just a bit disappointed with what happened with Cal, it was unavoidable but it held us both up and made it harder for me to challenge for a podium spot and a potential race win.” Wilco Zeelenberg, Yamaha World Supersport Team Manager It was a very, very exciting race I can tell you that! With a second and a fourth place we are still leading the championship by six points with Cal. Both riders fought really hard today, Cal was especially fast at the end and Fabien has definitely found more of his confidence and previous race pace. We go to Monza in a good position and looking forward to extending our championship lead.” More, from a press release issued by Honda: Laverty Wins Another Assen WSS Thriller Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR) moved up from fourth in qualifying to win a classic 21-lap WSS race at this most classic of circuits, beating Cal Crutchlow across the line by only 0.107 seconds. Third place rider Joan Lascorz was only 0.178 seconds behind, after leading into the final few corners. There had been a nine-rider leading group at one stage and ten changes of lead across the start-finish line, with many more passes put in on other parts of the track. Laverty played a strong tactical hand at the end, passing Lascorz inside at the final chicane and holding his line cleverly, with Crutchlow capitalising as well to go second. This was Laverty’s second win in four races since joining his Parkalgar Honda team, and he now sits second in the championship on 68 points, with Crutchlow leading on 74. Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) went third on the starting grid but after leading at the start, he finally dropped to fifth, still less than two seconds from the win. He is now third in the rankings, with 65 points. Sofuoglu’s team-mate Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) made up for tenth in qualifying with a strong ride to the lead on lap three, only to fall with six laps remaining, losing the front as he passed inside two Yamaha riders who had run wide. His left arm was hit by a following rider but Pitt escaped without serious injury. 12th Mark Aitchison (Honda Althea CBR600RR) was in the front group almost throughout, taking his 2008 Honda to a fine sixth place in an eventually lonely race. Second row qualifier Anthony West (Stiggy Racing Honda CBR600RR) was in the leading mix for some time, but ran wide and off track, losing places and time, but recovering well to finish seventh, and go fourth in the overall rankings, with 52 points. Robbin Harms (Veidec Racing RES Software Honda CBR600RR) was in great form and raced to a solid ninth place finish but teammate Arie Vos was one place off a points scoring finishing 16th. Jesco Günther suffered severe front tyre wear that caused him several fraught front end slides during the race and he wisely pulled into the pits to retire. Like Pitt, Matthieu Lagrive (Honda Althea CBR600RR) crashed out of contention, with the French rider feeling drained of all energy. Miguel Praia (Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR) and Gianluca Vizziello (Stiggy Racing Honda CBR600RR) each retired from the race with technical issues. Eugene Laverty said: “That was the best race I’ve ever won and it is important for the Championship. It was a tough race and I beat a lot of very good riders so I know we can be strong. I have to say a big thank you to my team as all the guys have worked really hard and I’m glad to repay them with a race win. I’m now second in the Championship just six points off the lead so that will be my next goal.” Kenan Sofuoglu said: “I am very disappointed with this result because I felt so much confidence going into this race and starting from the front row. Unfortunately, the back section of the circuit, where I was losing a lot of time during qualifying, was still a problem for me and I had to push so hard in the other areas of the lap. After Andrew crashed in front of me, the gap to the leading group was too big, but at least I was able to pick up some points.” Andrew Pitt said: “The feeling with the front of the bike was a lot better in warm-up, after the guys worked late into the night so thanks to them for that. It meant that with a good start I felt able to challenge for the win because I had the pace of the leaders. I was still struggling a bit with the front of the bike, though, and I was pushing hard everywhere because I just didn’t want to finish third, fourth or fifth. When the Yamahas tangled in front of me and ran wide, I dived underneath maybe a little too enthusiastically and I lost the front. I don’t know who ran over my arm, but I lost all feeling in it temporarily and couldn’t pick up the bike. There’s nothing broken but it’ll probably be a little sore tomorrow.” Mark Aitchison said: “We were a little bit off the pace in qualification so considering that, we did well in the races. Our lap times were fast and consistent, we are just searching a little bit for something from the bike so we can understand more how to be aggressive in a race situation.” Anthony West said: “We are still missing just a little bit of engine speed and when Sofuoglu made a mistake I also ran wide, onto the gravel and then the astroturf on the circuit edges. My rear tyre felt strange when I got back on the tarmac and I thought I had a puncture at first, but when I got going at good pace again the top guys were too far in front to catch.” Robbin Harms said: “Today I did everything I could to get the maximum out of the bike and the 9th position I scored was the best I could do. I pushed very hard, but the problem was that I could only follow other riders, and I just didn’t have enough pace and power to overtake them. I hoped for a better result, but that was just not possible today. That’s why I am satisfied with what we have achieved. My team did a good job this weekend and I am happy with the communication and spirit we have.” Arie Vos said: “I had some problems with the start but happily I was able to make up some places in the first few corners. After following a group which was too fast for me to catch, I was picked up by another group and that helped me to keep pace by slipstreaming on the straight. Unfortunately I was just out of the points at the end but I am very satisfied about my bike’s chassis and about the overall progress we made this weekend. The whole team worked very hard and it was great to ride in my own country. All the fans were fantastic and I want to thank everybody for the support they gave.” Gianluca Vizziello said: “I clashed with Nannelli in one corner and that made me run off and fall and that meant I had to retire. My bike was running well so it was a pity. But now I can look forward to Monza, which will be important for me.” Miguel Praia said: “I had to retire from the race as I had a little problem with my rear shock. I went into turn one and the back just came round on me. I had been running in 12th place and I knew I could catch the guys battling for ninth but I lost quite a few places. Then I went into the next turn and it happened again so I decided it was best to pull in.” Matthieu Lagrive said: “My start was not so good and so I tried to push very hard to make up for the lost positions, but suddenly during the fourth laps I lost my front wheel and crashed. It has been a very difficult weekend for me, mainly because of my poor physical condition. Starting from tomorrow I’ll start a rehabilitation to make sure that I’ll be in top condition for the next race in Monza. A big thanks to all my technical staff for their great job.” Jesco Günther said: “I am very disappointed that I wasn’t able to finish the race. My start was good and I climbed up to the 18th place, but immediately I noticed that I had problems with my front tyre. On more than once occasion I lost the front as the tyre slid in the corner, and so I wasn’t able to focus on my racing. I was only trying to stay on the bike and that made it impossible for me to ride the full distance safely so I thought it was best to pull in. Overall I am happy with the progress we made here this weekend and I am looking forward to Monza.” More, from a press release issued by Team ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Racing: Team ParkinGo Triumph BE1 Racing’s riders, Gianluca Nannelli and Garry McCoy took twelfth and fifteenth place respectively today at Assen. The results were the outcome of two completely different races from each of the two teammates. Garry McCoy received a penalty for an early start. By the time he got back to the track, he was twentieth thus losing fourteen places. Nevertheless, he managed to grab one point at the end of the race. Nannelli instead had to recover several positions as he started nineteenth due to a crash in qualifying practice. The Italian had a great racing pace, similar to the riders finishing in the top 5 but could not do better because of the gap his opponents had built on him after the first corners. GARRY McCOY | Triumph Daytona 675 | 15th : “I knew I let the clutch out a little bit to early, but I thought I had stopped the bike in time and didn’t realise I had crossed the starting line early. It’s really a shame! We could’ve gotten a much better result as we had manged to find a good setup. Now we have to look ahead to the next round at Monza which is a special track where higher speed is very important. We’ll continue working on what we started two weeks ago in order to improve and finally get the results we deserve”. GIANLUCA NANNELLI | Triumph Daytona 675 | 12th : “I’m a bit disappointed because I know I could’ve scored a much better result. Unfortunately, in the early laps I couldn’t brake as I would’ve wanted to because I had a full tank and I couldn’t swiftly recover positions. Later on, the bike improved and was way faster. I got behind Vostarek and would’ve tried to overtake him if the bike hadn’t been that worn out”. More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki: Lascorz Takes First 2009 Podium For Kawasaki WSS, Assen, Netherlands, 26 April 2009 Joan Lascorz raced his Ninja ZX-6R Kawasaki to a fine podium finish of third today, having led for nine of the 21 race laps at a warm and sunny Assen circuit. Lascorz was in the lead as the final chicane came into view but he could not stop Eugene Laverty and Cal Crutchlow outbraking him and passing him across the line. Lascorz was only 0.178 seconds from the win. Joan found his machine had an advantage at some parts of the track, less of one at others, but his fully competitive form is a good sign for the team to take into the next race at Monza. Katsuaki Fujiwara was riding strongly from a 15th place grid start, and even a leaking radiator hose could not stop him from collecting two points for his 14th place finish. He had been as high as 11th before his problems struck, and allied to his strong performances before qualifying it was a positive weekend in general for the experienced rider from Japan. In the championship standings, Lascorz is eighth on 27 points, while Fujiwara is 14th, on 13 points. Joan Lascorz: “Our race was good, I was comfortable at the pace but we had a little bit of chatter with the front suspension, so there were some places on the track where I could not really push. The bike is good now, it makes fast laps and strong results, but we need to be able to fight more in some corners. On the final chicane I braked as hard as I could but Laverty passed me inside. I know I braked hard but Laverty could brake harder on his bike, and when he went inside Crutchlow also came through. The finish of the race was good for the show but not so good for me! We have improved a lot since the start of the year but I feel we should have more points than we have.” Katsuaki Fujiwara: “From lap ten I had a bit of a problem when the temperature went up a little and that lost me a bit of power. I think we lost some water, because there was a small hole in one of the hoses when we came in after the race. The engine was good, because it kept going and I was even able to continue to ride hard and earn some points.”