FIM Supersport World Championship
Jerez Circuit, Spain
September 6, 2014
Qualifying Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Michael VD MARK, Netherland (Honda CBR600RR), 1:44.293
2. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:44.433
3. Lorenzo ZANETTI, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), 1:44.489
4. Florian MARINO, France (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:44.699
5. PJ JACOBSEN, USA (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:44.745
6. Rathapark WILAIROT, Thailand (Honda CBR600RR), 1:44.745
7. Jack KENNEDY, Ireland (Honda CBR600RR), 1:44.788
8. Raffaele DE ROSA, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), 1:44.838
9. Rodolfo ROLFO, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:44.986
10. Jules CLUZEL, France (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:44.996
More, from a press release issued by Pata Honda:
Dominant Spanish pole position for van der Mark
Pata Honda rider Michael van der Mark will start tomorrow’s ninth-round World Supersport championship race from pole position after setting the fastest time in this afternoon’s qualifying session at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain.
The 21-year-old Dutch rider, who can secure the 2014 World Supersport title tomorrow if he takes three points more than series rival Jules Cluzel, has been fastest in every session at the 4.423km Jerez circuit and extended that domination with a 1m44.293s lap this afternoon.
Van der Mark’s Pata Honda team-mate Lorenzo Zanetti will start alongside him on the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s 19-lap race after setting the third fastest time this afternoon.
Kena Sofuoglu was second fastest today but must begin the race from pitlane after contravening engine durability regulations during the season. Zanetti consequently moves up one place for a Pata Honda 1-2 on the grid.
Michael van der Mark – P1, 1m44.293s
Today was a really good day! We started fast again this morning and I did quite a long run on a really good pace which was really good for confidence in the set-up. This afternoon we decided to try some little things which worked OK but the track was warming up a lot, which reduced the grip. At the end Lorenzo and I worked together and we have a 1-2 on the grid which is amazing for the team and the race tomorrow.
Lorenzo Zanetti – P3, 1m44.489s
In the end, I think this is a great result for the team after some great teamwork this afternoon. Mikey [van der Mark] and me helped each other today which is good for tomorrow and for the first time this season we will start first and second on the grid. Tomorrow is important for me – I want to try to win but, of course, I understand the situation with Mikey, who can win the championship here. If I can stay fighting for the victory I think maybe I can help Mikey but I will try my best and see what happens.
Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator
Michael has been strong and leading all sessions here at Jerez. Today he just finished it off with pole position which is a fantastic way to start tomorrow’s race. What’s also great to see is that, after quite a bad morning session today, Lorenzo drastically picked up the pace this afternoon. After working together with Michael he will start from second position on the grid which is a fantastic team effort, so it was a really good day in the office. Tomorrow is an important day when we could win a championship but we have to keep things together, get a good start and, hopefully, have an exciting race.
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Sofuoglu Second Fastest But Starting From Pit Lane
Kenan Sofuoglu took his San Carlo Puccetti Racing Ninja ZX-6R to the second fastest time in qualifying at Jerez, only 0.140 seconds from pole, but he has to start Sunday’s 19-lap WSS race from pit lane after his allocation of six engines for a season had been used up when changing teams for this race.
Sofuoglu therefore has to start ten seconds after the green light goes at the beginning of the race, and from pit lane, rather than the second place on the grid he earned in qualifying.
With the other riders who qualified behind Sofuoglu now moving up one position on the grid Florian Marino (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) starts the race from the front row, in third place.
PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) put his Ninja on the second row after qualifying, while Italian Roberto Rolfo (Team Go Eleven) is now in the middle of row three, only 0.683 seconds from pole.
Roberto Tamburini (San Carlo Puccetti Racing) went 13th on the grid, and Christian Gamarino (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki) is 15th.
Kenan Sofuoglu: “I could only use qualifying as practice and to get used to the package from the San Carlo Puccetti Racing team, which is quite good generally. I am just one tenth off pole position. The engine spec and electronics are different from the Ninja ZX-6R I rode earlier this year. For tomorrow I have a hard situation because I have reached the limits of my engine allocation and I have to use a new engine. That means I have to start from pit lane. It is disappointing because I have the speed to fight to win the race but I will only be riding for practice, and maybe to get some points. We will see how many points I can get.”