FIM Supersport World Championship Brno, Czech Republic July 18, 2008 Provisional Qualifying Results (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Broc PARKES (Yamaha YZF-R6), 2:03.604 2. Josh BROOKES (Honda CBR600RR), 2:03.922 3. Andrew PITT (Honda CBR600RR), 2:04.176 4. Craig JONES (Honda CBR600RR), 2:04.194 5. Mark AITCHISON (Triumph Daytona 675), 2:04.377 6. Barry VENEMAN (Suzuki GSX-R600), 2:04.552 7. Jonathan REA (Honda CBR600RR), 2:04.622 8. Matthieu LAGRIVE (Honda CBR600RR), 2:04.654 9. Gianluca NANNELLI (Honda CBR600RR), 2:04.663 10. Garry MCCOY (Triumph Daytona 675), 2:04.721 11. Vesa KALLIO (Honda CBR600RR), 2:04.760 12. Robbin HARMS (Honda CBR600RR), 2:04.816 13. Gianluca VIZZIELLO (Honda CBR600RR), 2:04.910 14. Ivan CLEMENTI (Triumph Daytona 675), 2:05.089 15. Fabien FORET (Yamaha YZF-R6), 2:05.151 16. Katsuaki FUJIWARA (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 2:05.395 17. Massimo ROCCOLI (Yamaha YZF-R6), 2:05.517 18. David SALOM (Yamaha YZF-R6), 2:05.583 19. Gregory LEBLANC (Honda CBR600RR), 2:05.634 20. Joan LASCORZ (Honda CBR600RR), 2:05.784 More, from a press release issued by Scuderia Triumph-SC: The demanding Brno Circuit, with his up and down profile, hosted today the first practice day of World Supersport, arrived at his eight round. After a free practice morning session, all focused to run the new engines, Garry McCoy secured the 10th fastest in the first qualifying session during the afternoon. The Australian rider did comment: “Today it has been a little bit unfortunate because I feel that we could have been in a better position than 10th, but to be only the first day I guess is not bad. In the morning free practice and the afternoon first qualifying we had some engine problems but I manage to get six laps in my second bike and it feel quite good, also because the weather broadcasting for tomorrow says rain shower possibility and it would be good secure as soon as possible the result. We still need to play a bit with the set up to improve the position tomorrow, and hopefully we don’t get any more problems during the weekend, I love this track, here I always made very good performances and I would like to give a very good result to the team for his great commitment.” Less positive Ruggero Scambia, at his debut on the Bohemian track after the bad crash in Misano: “I’m a bit back in the grid, but I’m improving constantly on this track which is rather demanding, most for me at the debut on this circuit. The approach with the track after the Misano’s bad crash has been good, as well I’ve been not very fast I’m quite confident. The practice session of tomorrow could allow me to look for a good improvement.” New track for Robbie Stewart in 600 Superstock too, with the young Scot 34th in qualifying: “The bike runs well, but this track is quite hard; anyway I’m improving always my performance, but maybe I would need a longer practising time.” More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: Parkes under the outright lap record on day one The brilliant 2008 qualifying record of Broc Parkes continued at Brno on the first day of track action, as the Australian Supersport Superstar slotted in a 2’03.604 to create a new track best. He beat the previous record by 1.2 seconds, with one more day of qualifying to go. Parkes, who is looking for his second win of the year on Sunday, was 0.318 seconds ahead of second best qualifier Josh Brookes, with Andrew Pitt third. The weather conditions at Brno were dry but relatively cool at 25°C, at a track where the usual temperature is well over 30°C at this time of year. Fabien Foret had a drama-filled day, falling in the morning session and then again in the afternoon, having just completed his fastest lap. Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) was only 17th fastest after experiencing problems matching tyre and suspension choices to the recently resurface circuit in the first timed session. David Salom (Yamaha Spain World Supersport) was 18th in the first day rankings, but still less than two seconds from Parkes’ provisional pole. Broc Parkes (1st – 2’03.604 – Yamaha World Supersport Team) “We had a little issue with top end power this morning but the guys in the team sorted out quite quickly so we were able to set the best lap time in the qualifying session. The track is very smooth after being resurfaced but it’s still a bit too new and needs to have a little more rubber on it. There is a narrow line right now but I think it will improve all weekend. We used some settings based on the test we did at Vallelunga recently and they worked out pretty good as well, even though the temperature is nothing like as much here as it was in Italy.” Wilco Zeelenberg (Team Manager, Yamaha World Supersport Team) “Broc did his usual great job and set a very fast lap, although there are a couple of other riders not too far away from him. I hope we will find him even more speed for the races but with a wider margin of safety in his setup. We have to be happy that despite Fabien’s crash and injury he didn’t end up with any more permanent damage. But it’s still a very disappointing day for Fabien and the team. One of his vertebrae is broken through but there is no nerve damage so the medical people think it could be two or three months before he is fit again. It appears he ran into the first corner fast just after his quickest lap and then just couldn’t hold the line and crashed.” Massimo Roccoli (17th – 2’05.517 seconds – Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) “I was searching for a good suspension set-up today but although the rear is OK, but the front was still a problem. The front felt light everywhere and the choice of tyres at the moment is not so good. But after checks with the suspension technicians we will fix it for tomorrow.” David Salom: (18th – 2’05.582 seconds – Yamaha Spain) “It has been difficult because we had problems with the front tyres. The front suspension was not working so well, so we changed the spring and it was better. We need to sort out some things because at the point of starting to accelerate I can’t do it the way I want to. I’ve improved my time from last year by two seconds, but I’m not happy because I’m 18th.” More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: The RES Software Hoegee Suzuki team finished the first practices respectively in sixth and 21st positions. Both Barry Veneman and Didier Van Keymeulen are expecting that after some adjustments, the Suzuki GSX-R600K8 will be faster during the second practices tomorrow. Many riders struggled with grip problems during the free practice in the morning. This had also to do with the new asphalt on the track. Also Veneman had this problem and he finished the morning session on the 13th place. After the mechanics worked hard to find the right settings on the bike, Veneman was able to ride with the front men, finishing sixth. Marc Hoegee – Team owner RES Software Hoegee Suzuki: “This morning we had a pretty hard time, but because of the new asphalt everybody had to deal with the same problems. We had to change a lot on the settings from both Suzukis, but with the different temperature in the afternoon, this was not the case. We did some small adjustments which had a positive effect on the settings and so both riders were able to improve their self a lot.” Barry Veneman: “Luckily it went much better during the qualifying practice than it went in the free practice this morning. With new tyres I could set down some good lap times and also my feeling with the bike was ok. Still there are some points we have to improve: I noticed this especially when the tyres started to wear out. We have to work on this for tomorrow’s qualifying. Today I tried both bikes and I am actually surprised that I had the best feeling with my second bike. Who knows how things will go if my first bike is running well.” Didier Van Keymeulen: “I had some grip problems on the front this morning. After a few laps, my front tyre was totally done. We were able to solve this so I had a lot more grip during the qualifying session. Because of the adjustments we made, we also had to change some other settings on the front. That is the points where we have to work on now so the bike runs well tomorrow. Again we are all standing close together and I expect that with these adjustments, I have to be able to win several places tomorrow.” More, from a press release issued by Triumph Italia Be1 Racing: At the end of the first day of qualifying at Brno, Mark Aitchison records the fifth best time and takes the second provisional row. Both the Aussie rider and Triumph Italia Be1 Racing team confirm to be in a excellent form showing once again their great skill to be among the best even on unknown tracks as Brno. Ivan Clementi is not so far, just six tenths behind Aitchison. The Italian rider has ever been fast here in Czech Repubblic but today he found a few difficulties especially in the two slow corners of the first sector where his front returned some chattering. Tomorrow he will work together with the team to fix the hitch and reach his team-mate in the top positions. MARK AITCHISON | Triumph 675 | 5th provisional time in 2’04.377: “I immediately felt comfortable on this track and I was able to capitalize the peculiarities of my bike set-up. I feel confident I can improve a lot more and I hope to do it tomorrow during the second qualifying session when I will aim to give to my team the first row”. IVAN CLEMENTI | Triumph 675 | 14th provisional time in 2’05.089: “We have done a good job today and we was really quick in the second and third stretch of the track. Unfortunately the bike got some chattering when I entered the corners in the slow part of the track and so I wasn’t able to be effective as I wished. We have realized the problem and I feel confident to gain many positions forward once we will have fixed it”. More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: Andrew Pitt on provisional front row HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider Andrew Pitt was the third best qualifier today and claimed a provisional front row start in the first day of qualifying in Brno. Despite wet weather conditions in the previous days and a rainy forecast for Sunday’s race, the rain stayed out and both session were undertaken in dry but relatively cool conditions. Pitt topped the time sheets for most of the duration of the two 45 minute sessions and was the first rider to dip under the best lap set by Kenan Sofuoglu on the Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR last year. Pitt managed to keep his pace consistently fast throughout the sessions and secured the third best qualifying time and a provisional front row start with a best lap of 2’04.176. Team-mate Jonathan Rea spent most of his sessions today familiarising himself with the 5.403km long Brno track. Its combination of up and downs, fast corners and long straights, gives way for overtaking and knowledge of the track will be essential in order to claim a good result in the tight battles that have dominated the last Supersport races. Rea struggled through the first session due to issues with his front tyre, but managed to straighten them out and picked up his pace in the official practice by setting his best time at 2 minute 04.622s, the seventh fastest time. Andrew Pitt, 2’04.176; “I’m happy with today’s results. We just tried to stay out there and did two long runs to test tyres and try and find the race set up. The new circuit here is very hard on the tyres and we had to test some tyres in case it’s wet tomorrow.” “We didn’t put tyre after tyre to try and set the fastest lap time. We have got our race tyre sorted out, there’s a just a few little things with the suspension but overall I’m happy we are on the provisional front row.” Jonathan Rea, 2’04.622; “I am really happy with my second session as we had a bad one this morning. The front tyre I’m normally confident with, just doesn’t seem to work here. I had to go back to using my least favourite tyre and work from there. However, it does work really well here and I’m getting a good feeling of it.” “We have done two long runs of more then ten laps. I’m happy with my fastest lap at the end of the session. My biggest problem is not knowing the circuit very well, there’s a lot of corners and a lot of new track for me to learn. I hope I can put it all together for the second qualifying session tomorrow and jump onto the front row.”