FIM Supersport World Championship Brands Hatch, England August 1, 2008 Provisional Qualifying (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Jonathan REA (Honda CBR600RR), 1:28.117 2. Craig JONES (Honda CBR600RR), 1:28.340 3. Broc PARKES (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:28.409 4. Matthieu LAGRIVE (Honda CBR600RR), 1:28.511 5. Massimo ROCCOLI (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:28.780 6. Barry VENEMAN (Suzuki GSX-R600), 1:28.875 7. Karl HARRIS (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:28.886 8. Robbin HARMS (Honda CBR600RR), 1:28.952 9. Hudson KENNAUGH (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:29.025 10. Andrew PITT (Honda CBR600RR), 1:29.087 11. Gianluca VIZZIELLO (Honda CBR600RR), 1:29.157 12. Joan LASCORZ (Honda CBR600RR), 1:29.281 13. Mark AITCHISON (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:29.347 14. Gianluca NANNELLI (Honda CBR600RR), 1:29.356 15. Josh BROOKES (Honda CBR600RR), 1:29.441 16. Chris MARTIN (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:29.691 17. Steve PLATER (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:29.730 18. Russel HOLLAND (Honda CBR600RR), 1:29.773 19. Graeme GOWLAND (Honda CBR600RR), 1:30.075 20. Billy MCCONNELL (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:30.179 More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: Jonathon Rea has scorched into provisional pole position at Brands Hatch, setting the fastest time in this afternoon’s opening qualifying session for Sunday’s ninth round of the World Supersport championship. Rea blitzed his Honda CBR600RR around the 3.7km British circuit in a time of 1m28.117s, eclipsing the three-year-old lap record of HANNspree Ten Kate Honda’s double World Supersport champion, Sébastien Charpentier. Andrew Pitt, meanwhile, set the tenth fastest time in today’s 45-minute qualifying session, and is confident of a move up the grid in tomorrow’s final qualifying as he bids to extend his current 32-point lead in the championship standings. Jonathon Rea P1, 1m28.117s: We just concentrated on race set-up in the morning practice session and continued that this afternoon. I was pretty happy with everything but, as soon as we put in some fresh rubber, the bike felt even better and I was able to do a succession of pretty quick laps. It’s still only Friday though, so we’ll be looking for more tomorrow. Andrew Pitt P10, 1m29.087s: This morning felt OK but everyone went a second faster this afternoon and I wasn’t able to. I’m just lacking a bit of confidence in the front end as I tip the bike in, so we need it to be dry tomorrow as we’ve still got some work to do. Ronald ten Kate team manager: I’m happy for Johnny’s provisional pole because we know just how much he wants to do well in front of his home crowd here. We still have work in progress to set up the bike better for the race, but this performance takes away the stress of having to put in a fast time and allows us to concentrate on the race. We’re a little surprised with Andrew’s problems because they weren’t apparent this morning. But I’m sure if it stays dry, he’ll move higher up the grid. Results World Supersport first qualifying: 1 J Rea (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) 1m28.117s 2 C Jones (Honda) 1m28.340s 3 B Parkes (Yamaha) 1m28.409s 10 A Pitt (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) 1m29.087s More, from a press release issued by Scuderia Triumph SC: BRANDHS HATCH FIRST PRACTICE DAY (Brands Hatch United Kingdom August 1st, 2008) Difficult day for Team Triumph SC at Brands Hatch. Ruggero Scambia, at his debut on the demanding Kent’s track improved constantly his lap time, but he suffered is missing of experience. More hopes did aroused Pawel Szkopek, but the Poland rider, 33 next Wednesday 6, after scoring 1’33″391 in the morning’s free session, with the track cold, has not been able to practice in afternoon qualifying for a technical problem never happened before and which forced Szkopek to remain in the pit because the spare bike, destroyed in the Brno crash, could not be made ready in time for the British round. “After the morning free practice session I was quite satisfied.” said Pawel at the end of the day “Despite a puncture after twenty minutes of practice, event actually very rare, I found a good feeling with the bike and I was confident in a great improvement during qualifying. Then at the start of the session the bike showed a strange trouble and we preferred, acoording with the team, to avoid any risk.” Also Ruggero Scambia is a bit satisfied for his progresses: “This morning I moved my first steps on this track, of course the morning session has been all spent to study it. In the afternoon I improved clearly, reducing the gap from the riders leading me. Tomorrow I’ll try to improve once more my lap time.” In 600 Superstock the young Robbie Stewart finally raced in a well known circuit: “During morning session the bike was going to close the front in the fast corners, then in the afternoon, after a few intervents on the front fork, thinks were going better and I could push more. On this circuit I feel comfortable and I want make a good result.” More, from a press release issued by Triumph Italia Be1 Racing: The first day of SuperSport qualifying at Brands Hatch has not gone well for Triumph Italia Be1 Racing. Mark Aitchison ended his session prematurely due to a crash caused by a dangerous action of a rival. Nevertheless he recorded the 13th provisional time although the crash caused him a broken ligament which will not prevent him to run tomorrow. Steve Plater took the 17th place. The British rider spent the day to get some feeling with the bike and fine-tuning the machine in order to make it match with his riding style. He will try to capitalize the work during tomorrow afternoon session which will settle the starting grid. Lastly, the young Davide Fanelli, lined up in Superstock600, got the 14th provisional place. MARK AITCHISON | Triumph 675 | 13th provisional time in 1’29.347: “I’m very angry. At the end of the straight, when I was going to enter the blind corner, unexpectedly I found beside me a rider getting out of the pit-lane at full speed and I slid out attempting to avoid him. I got a knee injury which will take long to recover and the bike I used during the first two session got really damage”. STEVE PLATER | Triumph 675 | 17th provisional time in 1’29.730: “This is my first round on this bike but I felt immediately good. I’m still working on the balance and the fine-tuning instead of trying to set a quick lap. Tomorrow morning I will carry on the work on the setting, then during the afternoon I will do my best in order to get a good starting position. I care to run a good race on a British bike in front of British followers”. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: Parkes takes provisional front row place The first day of Brands Hatch Supersport qualifying got underway with a dry track and Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport Team) made the most of it to secure the third best time of the session, with a 1’28.409. Standing in for injured team regular Fabien Foret was local favourite Karl Harris, who set the seventh best time of the day, outperforming many top WSS regulars in his first competitive WSS ride for a number of years. Parkes, who was trying out different gearbox and chassis settings to find the best overall race set-up for Sunday’s 23-lap race, is chasing his second win of the year, and his third race victory in three attempts at this track. Harris started his day on a base setting and got used to riding a 600 again after a season of racing in the British Superbike Championship for Yamaha. Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) made a great start to his weekend in England, forcing the pace early to go fifth fastest. David Salom (Yamaha Spain World Supersport) was 21st on day one. Broc Parkes (3rd – 1’28.409 – Yamaha World Supersport Team) “That was all right, we’re on the front row, and we played around with settings a little bit in the session. We tried different gearboxes and chassis settings. We’ve got a little bit of work to do but it is only Friday. It could be better but it looks OK for now.” Karl Harris (7th – 1’28.886 – Yamaha World Supersport Team) “Things have been really good and it’s been great fun to get back on a 600. To come into WSS again with a team like this is a fantastic experience. I’m definitely enjoying it. I would say the biggest difference is in the cornering speed. I’m happy enough with my place so far, we’re on the second row, but on a race setting I’m one of the quickest, which is the main thing. With a new bike, tyres and team this weekend, it is all different for me.” Wilco Zeelenberg (Team Manager, Yamaha World Supersport Team) “We tried some things on Broc’s bike and the speed is OK, but it is not going so easily as the last couple of rounds. I don’t think it is a big issue because we were really fast in qualifying anyway. Our pace is there but we just need to work a bit on the set-up. Karl has started on a good base setting and we of course had to make some changes because he is heavier than Fabien. It worked well and he is riding well, and already up to speed. We need to adjust a few small things on his bike but for the first day it’s very good. We also told him to stay on the bike today and he is still seventh fastest, and we know he likes race day.” Massimo Roccoli (5th – 1’28.780 seconds – Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) “We only worked on the set-up in the untimed session this morning and that allowed us to set a good time this afternoon. The balance of the bike was perfect in qualifying and I only had a small problem with my brake pedal. So far so good.”