FIM Supersport World Championship Assen, Netherlands April 25, 2008 Provisional Qualifying Results (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Broc PARKES (Yam YZF-R6), 1:41.416 2. Gianluca NANNELLI (Hon CBR600RR), 1:41.768 3. Jonathan REA (Hon CBR600RR), 1:41.857 5. Craig JONES (Hon CBR600RR), 1:41.961 6. Angel RODRIGUEZ (Yam YZF-R6), 1:41.992 7. Massimo ROCCOLI (Yam YZF-R6), 1:42.033 8. Joan LASCORZ (Hon CBR600RR), 1:42.179 9. Barry VENEMAN (Suz GSX-R600), 1:42.224 10. Fabien FORET (Yam YZF-R6), 1:42.258 11. Robbin HARMS (Hon CBR600RR), 1:42.260 12. Ivan CLEMENTI (Tri Daytona 675), 1:42.429 13. Andrew PITT (Hon CBR600RR), 1:42.483 14. Josh BROOKES (Hon CBR600RR), 1:42.593 15. Gianluca VIZZIELLO (Hon CBR600RR), 1:42.652 16. Mark AITCHISON (Tri Daytona 675), 1:42.937 17. Miguel PRAIA (Hon CBR600RR), 1:43.124 18. Didier VAN KEYMEULEN (Suz GSX-R600), 1:43.128 19. Matthieu LAGRIVE (Hon CBR600RR), 1:43.158 20. David SALOM (Yam YZF-R6), 1:43.161 21. Ilario DIONISI (Tri Daytona 675), 1:43.195 22. Katsuaki FUJIWARA (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:43.347 23. Vesa KALLIO (Hon CBR600RR), 1:43.426 24. Garry MCCOY (Tri Daytona 675), 1:43.476 25. Chris WALKER (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:43.760 More, from a press release issued by Parkalgar Honda: Praia shows potential, Jones on front row PARKALGAR HONDA’S Miguel Praia secured his best qualifying position of the year to date with 16th during today’s action at the fourth round of the World Supersport Championship at Assen in Holland – his team mate Craig Jones finished fourth. Portuguese racer Praia has scored points at two out of the first three races and under the guidance of his new for 2008 Parkalgar Honda team he is starting to blossom and show his potential. “I am enjoying my riding right now,” explained Praia. “I am happy with 16th place, but wish it could be better at the same time. I am learning about my Parkalgar Honda and how to ride faster every time I go on track and cannot thank my team enough for all its support I hope I can improve tomorrow.” Parkalgar Honda’s Jones reinforced his title aspirations by taking a provisional front row place in fourth. The hard-riding British ace is relaxed and confident there is more performance to come in final qualifying tomorrow. “We had two strong sessions on track today and I’ve got a good feel for my Parkalgar Honda,” smiled Jones. “We tried a change to my gearing for the afternoon and although I went faster, we will revert back to the longer gearing for tomorrow as that has more potential. I have been riding comfortably and not had to bite the screen to find the lap time which is good.” Parkalgar Honda Team Manager Simon Buckmaster is pleased with the whole team performance on the first dry and cloudy day at the 4.55km Dutch track. Buckmaster said: “Craig is on the front row and Miguel has posted his best qualifying position of the season, it’s all looking good with Parkalgar Honda at the moment. We are in a good position thanks to all the effort put in at the workshops and everyone in the team is confident ahead of final qualifying and the race. It’s been a good day at the office!” There is a further practice and qualification session tomorrow, followed by the race on Sunday, April 27th, at 1320 CET. The race can be viewed live on www.worldsbk.com. For more information on Parkalgar Honda, qualifying and race reports, a unique view on racing from Team Manager Simon Buckmaster and free to download images, visit www.parkalgar-honda.com. First Qualifying: 1: B Parkes, AUS, (Yamaha) 1:41.416 2: G Nannelli, ITA, (Honda) +0.3523: J Rea, GBR, (HONDA) +0.441 4: CRAIG JONES, GBR, (PARKALGAR HONDA) +0.545 5: A Rodriguez, ESP, (Yamaha) +0.576 6: M Roccoli, ITA, (Yamaha) +0.617 16: MIGUEL PRAIA, POR, (PARKALGAR HONDA) +1.708. More, from a press release issued by Scuderia Triumph-SC: FIRST PRACTICE DAY FOR TEAM TRIUMPH-SC AT ASSEN (Assen The Netherlands April 25, 2008) First practice day today at Assen for the fourth round of World Superbike and Supersport Championship. After the awful rain of yesterday night a splendid blue sky welcomed today the riders and the good weather keep all the day long, as well some cloud arrived during the afternoon. Working day for the Team Triumph-SC, forced to a long work to find the best package for the demanding Dutch track because the missing of previous data with the new bike. Garry McCoy commented the day: “After the problems in Valencia the team has done a great work and now here in Assen we have to verify the work done that at the test bench worked perfectly. The morning session has been spent running in a new engine, but a technical trouble stopped me far from the pit and I didn’t find any scooter to bring me back quickly. In the afternoon session we worked on the set up and I’m not disappointed for the result, as well we are still far from the best result. Conforting are the engine performances that today recorded the better result overall in the speed trap.” Ilario Dionisi confirmed his improving and is quite satisfied: “I feel always more confident with the bike, but in some point, like the long Strubben hairpin, I lose fractions of second from the top which became important in the very fast following line. Well, today the weather allowed us to work properly, I hope that tomorrow will go on and will allow us to be focused in the best package for the race.” The Superstock 600 team is present in Assen with only Robbie Stewart present, because Tom Grant, remained at home, without informing the team of his missing. The young Scots is starting to be confident with the four stroke bike and finished the first qualifying in 15th position: “This is a very demanding circuit, fast e flowing. I tried to be focalised in the riding lines in the most demanding corners and I’m rather satisfied; it’s a pity that the qualifying session has been stopped twice for red flag and that didn’t allow us to work with continuity, but we are on the right way.” More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: World Supersport Championship Date: 25-04-08 Round: 4, Assen, The Netherlands Supersport Qualifying Practise 1 Rea claims provisional front row start HANNspree Ten Kate Honda’s Jonathan Rea posted the fastest time in this morning’s free practice session and claimed a provisional front row start in the afternoon qualifying with a third best time of 1’41.857. Jonathan Rea, 3rd, 1’41.857; “We have started the session with a good base setting today so I have mainly concentrated on learning the circuit. I have no previous experience at this track and am still learning every time out, but it has been a lot of fun to ride here. You can run in hard at some places due to the camber, it flows well and it’s fast which suits my riding style.” “Everything has been going steady and well so far. We’ve tried a few tires to make up our mind on which one is going to be our race tire, but we won’t know until we put a race distance on one in tomorrow’s session.” “So far I am happy to be on the provisional front row and am confident there is a lot more to come.” Andrew Pitt, 12th, 1’42.483; “My start of the day hasn’t been too good. I am too far down the list and will have to improve tomorrow.” “We’ve just tried too many new things today in the front fork set-up. We’ve tested two different gearboxes on both bikes and then concentrated on the electronics and getting both bikes to work the same.” “After losing the front in the Valencia race we’re trying to improve the front fork setting and get the corner entry feeling back again. We’ve fitted a new fork and put a few laps on that.” “I have to get back into the rhythm of things. There are just too many different things at the moment so for tomorrow’s session we’ll have to make things a bit more standard in the setting and go from there.” Results first Supersport Qualifying: 1 B. PARKES 1’41.416 2 G. NANNELLI 1’41.768 3 J. REA 1’41.857 4 C. JONES 1’41.961 5 A. RODRIGUEZ 1’41.992 6 M. ROCCOLI 1’42.033 7 J. LASCORZ 1’42.179 8 B. VENEMAN 1’42.224 9 F. FORET 1’42.258 10 R. HARMS 1’42.260 12 A. PITT 1’42.483 More, from a press release issued by Triumph ITalia BE1 Racing: PRESS RELEASE | Assen, day-1 WSS’08 Round 4 Ivan Clementi and Mark Aitchison finish the first day of qualifying at Assen taking respectively the 11th and the 15th temporary positions on the grid. The results don’t show all the potential expressed by the riders of the team Triumph Italia BE1 Racing who have closed the session with a gap of only five tenths and one second from the first row. The first session of the forth WSS’08 round have ended with short gaps between the riders and it has been spent by Clementi and Aitchison to find a good set-up, working on the gears, on a track where the team have made today its debut. Tomorrow’s goal is ambitious: finishing into the first three rows for Sunday’s race. IVAN CLEMENTI | Triumph 675 | 11th time in 1’42.429: “I’m satisfied with the job done during the first two session here at Assen. We have already reached a good level but tomorrow we need to improve our result on the bend entries. We have what it takes to improve our result but setting the motorbike for the race is our priority. I would like to recover from the tumble at Valencia, when I could not get any useful position”. MARK AITCHISON | Triumph 675 | 15th time in 1’42.937: “On the contrary of what happened until now, today I have immediately found a good set-up and so I could do my best since the first day of qualifying. This situation make me feel confident about tomorrow, when the starting grid will be settled. I really like this track and it suits my riding style, so I would like to start from the first lines in order to finish the race into the top-10″. More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki Alstare: 2008 Superstock 1000 FIM Cup Round 4, Assen, NL Circuit: 4.555 kms Conditions: Slightly damp in the morning, dry later. Friday qualifying, 25th April PROBLEMS FOR XAVI IN ASSEN Team Suzuki Alstare rider Xavier Simeon experienced problems at Assen today and ended first qualifying with the eleventh fastest time. Hopefully, the problems that fell his way today will not appear tomorrow and the young Belgian can concentrate on getting a good grid place for Sunday’s race. Frenchman Maxime Berger (Honda) took provisional pole, with a lap of 1:42.492, with Claudio Corti (Yamaha) second and Michele Pirro (Yamaha) third. Xavi – 11th, 1:43.946 It was just one of those days! But hopefully, my bad luck has been now used up for this weekend and tomorrow all will be OK. The first problem was when I crashed in this morning’s free practice. The track was a bit damp in some places from last night’s rain and I hit a damp patch and was highsided. I banged my left hand quite hard, but it’s OK really. In the afternoon I had a problem with the gearshift lever so we had to change it. When I went out again, I suddenly found I couldn’t change gear after a few laps because a screw had worked loose and was preventing the gear lever from moving properly. I don’t believe that we’ll have such problems tomorrow, so I’m looking forward to two good sessions and improving my position. Friday qualifying 1 Berger (F-Honda) 1:42.592, 2 Corti (I-Yamaha) 1:42.624, 3 Pirro (I-Yamaha) 1:42.753, 4 Giugliano (I-Suzuki) 1:43.026, 5 Schouten (NL-Yamaha) 1:43.464, 6 Polita (I-Ducati) 1:43.600, 11 Xavi Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki) 1:43.946, More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: Parkes fastest despite first day fall Yamaha World Supersport Team rider Broc Parkes secured provisional pole at the fast and flowing Assen circuit, despite a heavy high-speed fall in the free practice session earlier in the day, at the double right corner before the final high speed section of the 4.555km circuit. The 26-year-old Australian rider secured a time of 1’41.416, 0.352 seconds ahead of Gianluca Nannelli, using settings the team had arrived at after a two-day test at Assen last week. Fabien Foret worked hard in the two opening practice sessions but never quite found the same level of competitiveness as he did in testing, finishing up ninth fastest, largely due to a significant increase in track and air temperatures since the test. The former World Champion and Assen race winner is confident that he can find his missing speed when he reverts to more conventional machine settings on day two. Relatively warm spring weather bathed the majority of the afternoon session after overnight rains had dried in time for serious track action, with the notorious Assen weather also set to be fair on the second day of competition. Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) scored a fine sixth best time on his R6, despite not having found an optimum machine set-up so far. Yamaha Spain riders David Salom and Angel Rodriguez had very different experiences at Assen on day one, with Rodriguez going fifth quickest in his stand-in role for team regular David De Gea, while Salom was only 19th. Broc Parkes (1st – 1’41.416 – Yamaha World Supersport Team) “A really good result considering that I only did three laps in the morning, after I highsided when I looked over my shoulder with one hand on the handlebar. I don’t think anything too serious has happened but my left hand is very swollen right at the point of pressure where I push the handlebar. I was struggling a little bit on the bike so I was surprised to see where we finished. The bike is working very well but I am not using it to its full strength at the moment, because of my hand. The recent test we did really helped us with setting up the bike for qualifying today. If we hadn’t tested I’m not sure I could have done the lap time. I have hurt my throttle hand before so it’s a lot better to have hurt my left hand, especially with all the fast changes of direction here. You are always pushing on the handlebars at Assen.” Fabien Foret (9th – 1m 42.258 – Yamaha World Supersport Team) “I think I took the wrong way trying to set-up my bike. What we used last week in the test was OK, but the weather was much cooler then. As soon as I want to push hard things didn’t work out the way I expected, so we have gone back to a setting I would normally have used in the past. Tomorrow we have a chance to improve. We missed this session a bit but no drama, and we should be OK for the race, as always.” Wilco Zeelenberg (Team Manager, Yamaha World Supersport Team) “For Broc we are basically running the same settings we had in our recent test, and to try anything new now is not a good idea, because he is a little injured. But he is still happy with the bike even if the track conditions have changed a bit. It affects Broc less because his style is quite fluid. With the track now warmer the test settings don’t work so well for Fabien, so we go back now to the settings we had before. He still has a good feeling with the bike, and his slides are very controllable, but for him to do 1’41 lap times he needs to have the bike a bit more rigid.” Angel Rodriguez: (5th – 1’41.992 seconds – Yamaha Spain) “I’m very happy with team, with the bike and with the job we made. This is my first race with team and they worked hard for us during the day. This motorcycle is a little different from mine, I’ve got another riding style, and I need to change it. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.” Massimo Roccoli (6th – 1’42.033 seconds – Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) “We experienced a lot of problems with traffic trying to set our fastest laps but I think that happened to a lot of riders. We also need to get the gearing sorted out better, especially between second and third gears.” David Salom: (19th – 1’43.161 seconds – Yamaha Spain) “We had some issues with the traffic today and when I tried to push hard another rider put me off line. But mainly we have to sort out the engine set-up to make it better under acceleration. Top power is OK. This is my preferred circuit, but things have been not as we expect. The most important thing is that I know that I can have a good rhythm.”