FIM Supersport World Championship Valencia, Spain April 4, 2008 Provisional Qualifying Results: 1. Andrew PITT (Hon CBR600RR), 1:36.773 2. Craig JONES (Hon CBR600RR), 1:37.068 3. Katsuaki FUJIWARA (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:37.233 4. Broc PARKES (Yam YZF-R6), 1:37.436 5. Josh BROOKES (Hon CBR600RR), 1:37.449 6. Joan LASCORZ (Hon CBR600RR), 1:37.538 7. Jonathan REA (Hon CBR600RR), 1:37.551 8. Chris WALKER (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:37.810 9. Gianluca VIZZIELLO (Hon CBR600RR), 1:37.899, crash 10. Barry VENEMAN (Suz GSX-R600), 1:37.985 11. Massimo ROCCOLI (Yam YZF-R6), 1:38.007 12. Matthieu LAGRIVE (Hon CBR600RR), 1:38.042 13. Robbin HARMS (Hon CBR600RR), 1:38.108, crash 14. Fabien FORET (Yam YZF-R6), 1:38.211, crash 15. Graeme GOWLAND (Hon CBR600RR), 1:38.255 16. Gregory LEBLANC (Hon CBR600RR), 1:38.263, crash 17. Ivan CLEMENTI (Tri Daytona 675), 1:38.315 18. Mark AITCHISON (Tri Daytona 675), 1:38.565 19. Miguel PRAIA (Hon CBR600RR), 1:38.604 20. Gianluca NANNELLI (Hon CBR600RR), 1:38.628 21. Vesa KALLIO (Hon CBR600RR), 1:38.659, crash 22. Angel RODRIGUEZ (Yam YZF-R6), 1:38.666 23. Garry MCCOY (Tri Daytona 675), 1:38.739 24. Arnaud VINCENT (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:38.791 25. William DE ANGELIS (Hon CBR600RR), 1:38.872 26. Gabor TALMACSI (Hon CBR600RR), 1:39.083 27. Ilario DIONISI (Tri Daytona 675), 1:39.324 28. Mirko GIANSANTI (Hon CBR600RR), 1:39.330 29. David SALOM (Yam YZF-R6), 1:39.486 30. Lorenzo ALFONSI (Hon CBR600RR), 1:39.578 More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider Andrew Pitt was well on the pace in the first day of practice at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia. Pitt improved his best lap time set in the free practice with another 1,2 seconds in the qualifying session and claimed provisional pole position in 1’36.773 ahead of Jones and Fujiwara. Pitt claimed 2nd in last year’s Valencia race as he replaced injured Sebastian Charpentier for the HANNspree Ten Kate Honda team Jonathan Rea was well on the pace aboard his CBR600RR in the morning session, but dropped from 5th to 7th place in the afternoon practice, finishing the first day of qualifying with a best lap time of 1’37. 551. Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager; Andrew Pitt picked up his pace straight away this morning and improved throughout the first qualifying as he set some very good lap times. Normally it takes some time for him to get started but today he was fast straight away. Jonathan Rea lost his concentration in the qualifying session but we know what he is capable of and expect him to be up front again in tomorrows’ qualifying. Andrew Pitt, 1’36.773; We have made a big improvement from the test we did two weeks ago, about 1 second, which is a big improvement around here. I had a good talk with Sebastian (Charpentier) just before the session on trying some different things and how to approach the qualifying, which I think helped me a lot today. I am already in the 36’s and planning to take off another 2/10’s tomorrow and qualify on the front row. Jonathan Rea, 1’37.551; We haven’t made a lot of chances to the bike today; we are already going as fast as we did in the test so it’s more about fine-tuning the setting. I know I can be consistent and was well on the pace in the free practice this morning but in the first qualifying it was hard to find the rhythm after we put a new tire on the back. I’m confident I’ll improve my pace again tomorrow. Results 1st Qualifying practice: 1 A. PITT 1’36.773 2 C. JONES 1’37.068 3 K. FUJIWARA 1’37.233 4 B. PARKES 1’37.436 5 J. BROOKES 1’37.449 6 J. LASCORZ 1’37.538 7 J. REA 1’37.551 8 C. WALKER 1’37.810 9 G. VIZZIELLO 1’37.899 10 B. VENEMAN 1’37.985 More, from a press release issued by Parkalgar Honda: PARKALGAR HONDA’S Craig Jones made a superb start to his race weekend at Valencia in Spain for the third round of the World Supersport Championship by securing second place on the front row of the grid. The gritty Brit is determined to take his first win of the season at the 4005m circuit where his team successfully tested last month. He said: “I’m really pleased with how today has gone and there is more to come. “We are looking at the gearing as it is a little short for the long straight here. Once we get that sorted it will help with slipstreaming during the race. We’ve got new engines which is good news as they have a bit more performance. I’m thrilled with how things are going, my team are working hard and we are determined to go for a win.” Parkalgar Honda’s Miguel Praia crashed during free practice but was unhurt. He qualified 19th on the hugely competitive grid and said: “I had a crash this morning which has kept me back and limited my track time, so I think I can make big improvements tomorrow. “My Parkalgar Honda, complete with its new engine, feels very strong and fast. Paulo Pinheiro, the boss of the Parkalgar circuit and complex in Portugal is here to support the team this weekend ,which I appreciate. I hope to do well for him and for my team.” Both riders took considerable chunks out of their lap times which they posted during the official World Superbike Valencia test three weeks ago showing that the team’s development work is going in the right direction. Honda’s Andrew Pitt is in pole position. Team Manager Simon Buckmaster said: “Craig has come to Valencia focussed on success and determined to score as many Championship points as possible. He has an improved Parkalgar Honda CBR600 and the full backing of the team as he goes for the race win. “Miguel suffered a crash but luckily is unhurt and came back to post a lap time faster than the recent test. Despite losing track time, he has proved he is improving every outing and we expect him to score points in the race.” There is a further practice and qualification sessions tomorrow, followed by the race on Sunday, April 6th, at 1320 CET. It 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: A Pitt, Aus, (Honda) 1:36.773 2: CRAIG JONES, GBR, (PARKALGAR HONDA) 1:37.068 3: K Fujiwara, Jpn, (Kawasaki) 1:37.233 4: B Parkes, Aus, Yamaha) 1:37.436 5: J Brookes, Aus, (Yamaha) 1:37.449 6: J Lascorz, Spn, (Yamaha) 1:37.538 19: MIGUEL PRAIA, POR, (PARKALGAR HONDA) 1:38.604. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: Parkes in the opening day top four Yamaha World Supersport Team riders Fabien Foret and Broc Parkes had vastly differing experiences during their first day of practice at Valencia, with Parkes finishing fourth on the time sheets and Foret suffering a slight concussion after a crash. Despite not riding in the recent FGSport tests at Valencia on 13 and 14 March, both Parkes and Foret started brightly in the opening unofficial session this morning, with Parkes fastest of all and Foret only 0.6 seconds behind. Against expectations, the overcast afternoon session meant that it was only slightly warmer than the morning but the times of the top riders dropped significantly in any case. Andrew Pitt set a new track best of 1m 36.773 to take provisional pole, with Parkes setting a best of 1m 37.436 to go fourth fastest. Foret rode for only four laps in the official session in the afternoon before he fell. He suffered a highside when his rear end slid and then finally snapped sideways on the exit of the first right hander of the circuit, while he was trying out a new tyre at a high pace. Foret recorded a time of 1m 38.351 was ranked 14th. Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) was the closest YZF-R6 rider to Parkes, going 11th quickest with a 1m 38.007 lap. Roccoli had been joint fastest qualifier in the recent official test at Valencia, but was unable to replicate those kind of lap-times today. Yamaha Spain World Supersport Team rider David De Gea only did a handful of laps before being forced to stop riding due to the effects of a previously fractured lower left leg, which had not healed up enough to allow him to put pressure on it. De Gea’s team-mate Davide Salom was a disappointed 29th after setting only 12 laps in total in the timed session. Broc Parkes (4th – 1m 37.436 – Yamaha World Supersport Team) “Not too bad for Friday and we knew we would be doing a little bit of catching up because we didn’t test here. When we got the end of the session we found a way to go forward but we didn’t have enough time left to try it. We found some good and bad things today, so tonight we will absorb it all. I know we can be a lot better.” Wilco Zeelenberg (Team Manager, Yamaha World Supersport Team) “We’ve started well, although we need to be a little bit faster still. We need to improve some points with the front-end feel and also the rear-end is sitting a little bit too far down right now. Nothing dramatic, but every time you speed up you have to make changes. It looked a bit better this morning, when we were right there in terms of lap times. Fabien hit his head quite hard when he fell and had a short concussion. He came back into the garage with time left in the session but we thought it would be better for him to wait until tomorrow to ride again.” Massimo Roccoli (11th – 1’38.007 seconds – Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) “We are slower than we were in tests here last month but the temperatures on the track are very different, in the morning and the afternoon, and we didn’t choose the best rear tyre to work with. I am confident that we can find a better way tomorrow and move up the grid.” David De Gea (Yamaha Spain World Supersport Team) “I broke my left leg in February and last week the doctor advised me not to enter this weekend. But I wanted to at least try and I tried to test this morning. Under braking it was particularly painful. I have to say that right now my leg is not ready and it does not help that here in Valencia we have a lot of left-hand corners. It´s a shame, but now we have to wait for Assen, where I hope to be ready to ride.” More, from a press release issued by Scuderia Triumph-SC: HARD WORKING DAY AT VALENCIA FOR TEAM TRIUMPH-SC (Valencia Spain April 4, 2008) Team Triumph-SC spent the opening day of the third round of the World Supersport Championship at Valencia hard at work dialling in the Triumph 675 for the tight and twisty Spanish circuit. Having missed last months test at the track the team arrived with no previous data for the British machine and spent the two 45 minute sessions working on gear box and suspension settings in preparation for final qualifying on Saturday. Australian Garry McCoy, who focused his attentions on gearing and getting the correct balance to suit the track, commented: “When we arrive at a new track it’s is often a difficult day for us. We tried to find a good setting for this circuit, but the conditions and grip levels changed from this morning to this afternoon. We have many things to try on the bike, but today our focus was on getting the right gearing. In the first session tomorrow we’ll make some more changes and we’re confident we’ll be ready for final qualifying in the afternoon.” Team-mate Ilario Dionisi said: “I spent the opening session this morning running in a new engine in. During the afternoon session we worked on getting a good set up and at the end I was quite satisfied. At the end I used a soft tyre but unfortunately there was a lot of traffic and I lost the chance to set a faster time, which was disappointing and also a waste of a tyre. Despite that we have made some good improvements today and I am confident for tomorrow.”