Motul FIM Superbike World Championship

Magny-Cours, France

September 29, 2017

Free Practice Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):

1. Jonathan REA, UK (Kawasaki ZX-10RR), 1:37.489

2. Michael VAN DER MARK, Netherlands (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:37.928

3. Marco MELANDRI, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), 1:37.966

4. Chaz DAVIES, UK (Ducati Panigale R), 1:37.980

5. Lorenzo SAVADORI, Italy (Aprilia RSV4 RF), 1:38.016

6. Xavi FORÉS, Spain (Ducati Panigale R), 1:38.031

7. Alex LOWES, UK (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:38.133

8. Eugene LAVERTY, Ireland (Aprilia RSV4 RF), 1:38.152

9. Tom SYKES, UK (Kawasaki ZX-10RR), 1:38.217

10. Leon CAMIER, UK (MV Agusta F4 RC), 1:38.483

11. Leandro MERCADO, Argentina (Aprilia RSV4 RF), 1:38.661

12. Jordi TORRES, Spain (BMW S1000RR), 1:38.702

13. Raffaele DE ROSA, Italy (BMW S1000RR), 1:39.205

14. Roman RAMOS, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10RR), 1:39.452

15. Davide GIUGLIANO, Italy (Honda CBR1000RR SP2), 1:39.698

16. Ayrton BADOVINI, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-10RR), 1:39.733

17. Anthony WEST, Australia (Kawasaki ZX-10RR), 1:39.801

18. Riccardo RUSSO, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-10RR), 1:40.050

19. Alessandro ANDREOZZI, Italy (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:40.237

20. Ondrej JEZEK, Czech Republic (Kawasaki ZX-10RR), 1:40.522

21. Jake GAGNE, USA (Honda CBR1000RR SP2), 1:40.783

22. Matthieu LUSSIANA, France (BMW S1000RR), 1:41.197

More, from a press release issued by Althea BMW Racing:

Constructive first day for Althea BMW in France

Nevers (France), Friday 29 September 2017

The Althea BMW Racing team is on track at Magny-Cours, in France, for round eleven of the Superbike World Championship taking place this weekend. At the end of a busy first day of track action, riders Jordi Torres and Raffaele De Rosa concluded the first two timed practice sessions in twelfth and thirteenth place respectively.

In the morning’s first practice, Torres and De Rosa took advantage of the dry conditions as they started to work to set up their BMW bikes and adapt them to the French track. At the end of the 60-minute session, Jordi was lying ninth (1’38.799), Raffaele fifteenth (1’39.819).

Back on track later in the day for the second timed session, Torres was able to lower his time slightly in the latter stages, closing with a best of 1’38.702 that put him in twelfth place overall. De Rosa improved on his time almost immediately, before continuing to make progress throughout session two, to finish thirteenth, right behind his team-mate, with a fastest time of 1’39.205. Both Althea BMW riders will therefore take part in tomorrow’s Superpole1.

Jordi Torres:

“It’s been quite a tough day but we were always knew this wouldn’t be an easy track for us. This morning we had some issues with the rear of the bike and, while it seems we’ve solved them, this afternoon I struggled a bit with corner entry. The morning actually didn’t go too badly, I had more difficulty in the afternoon and, despite having built confidence with the track, I had trouble setting fast times. Tomorrow we’ll try a combination of today’s set-ups and will hopefully come up with a good solution.”

Raffaele De Rosa:

“Today’s sessions were both dry and so we were able to work well, making the most of the conditions. I was hoping to get into SP2 but it wasn’t possible in the end. We’re working to be able to exit the slow corners faster, trying to improve both the bike and my riding in this area. Tomorrow we’ll need to see what the weather brings but, whatever the conditions, we’ll be doing our best to score a good grid position in Superpole…”

More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:

Rea Fastest As Sykes Joins Superpole 2

Kawasaki Racing Team riders Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes had successful opening days at the French round of the 2017 FIM Superbike World Championship season, with Rea fastest of all and Sykes finishing tenth in qualifying, despite suffering a recent left hand injury.

After the first dry and relatively warm day of action at the 4.411km circuit of Magny Cours championship leader Rea headed up the field by 0.439 seconds, completing both FP1 and FP2 sessions at the top of the timesheets.

Rea’s strong performance on the Ninja ZX-10RR made for an ideal start to what could be a unique and historic race meeting in France. On Saturday, in the first 21-lap race of the weekend, Rea will have his first arithmetical chance of lifting the 2017 championship crown. If he does, he will become the first rider in the 30-year history of WorldSBK racing to win three titles in a row.

The closest title challenger to Rea as it stands is his team-mate Sykes, who returned to action today after a whirlwind few days of surgery and then recovery from finger and hand injuries suffered in FP3 at the previous round in Portugal.

With his injuries being suffered just less than two week’s ago Sykes’ recovery both off track and the free practice sessions have delivered instant results. He has qualified directly into Superpole 2, the results of which will determine the final leading grid positions for Saturday’s first race of the weekend.

At this point in the championship Rea leads Sykes by 120 points, so if results go his way in race one he could be crowned champion as early as tomorrow. Jonathan has six opportunities in all to be able to make sure of another title win before the season finishes in Qatar in November.

For Rea, Sykes and all the WorldSBK riders the immediate question is what kind of track surface they will experience on Saturday, as rain is predicted to take over from today’s dry and sunny conditions.

Jonathan Rea, stated: “We just put the package together today and the bike is working really well. I am just trying to understand which one of all the tyre options that Pirelli have brought here to use for tomorrow. I think we have a good idea of that already. I am feeling good for long distance and for a one-lap attack. Whatever happens with the weather tomorrow we have to be ready because it is the first opportunity we can have to win this championship. That is exciting for me but the target is to focus on the first race itself and do the best possible job I can.”

Tom Sykes, stated: “I cannot believe we have had such a good first day back after injury and I have to thank the surgeon, Dr. Jordi Font, and all the team for organising everything. Also thanks to all the boys here for making a lot of small changes on the bike – to make me feel more comfortable – and the physios and osteopaths who have been working with me. Obviously the situation with my hand is not ideal because it is such a recent injury and I am not able to get the bike through the chicanes as I would like. I am losing time because of it. Up until the point that everyone put fresh tyres on their bikes I was not so far behind the best times. That said, even with an injury the lap time is still there.”

More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:

Melandri 3rd and Davies 4th in Friday’s practice at Magny Cours, home of the 11th round of the season

The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team took it back to the track today at Magny Cours (France), home of the eleventh round of the 2017 WorldSBK Championship. In warm and dry weather conditions – with approximately 25 degrees outside and 40 on the tarmac – Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies moved forward with the usual setup work, both showing encouraging pace and closing respectively in third and fourth position.

Fourth and fifth in the morning, the Italian and the Welshman improved by circa three tenths of a second, finishing within one tenth from the previous circuit record. Melandri posted a personal best of 1:37.966 while Davies, despite not being able to complete the final time attack, finished 14 tenths of a second behind his teammate, with a 1:37.980.

The rain forecast for tomorrow could further mix things up. Nonetheless, Melandri and Davies gained direct access to Superpole 2. The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team will resume action tomorrow at 08:45 local time (CET) for FP3 in preparation of Superpole and Race 1, which is scheduled to start at 13:00 local time.

Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #33) – 1:37.966 (3rd)

“It’s been a positive day. I always enjoyed this track, and it’s really fun to ride the Panigale R in it. We worked well with the team, trying to cover as much room as possible as the forecast predicts rain for tomorrow. We worked on the pace, bringing the tires to race distance, then we tried to gauge our speed with fresh tires towards the end of FP2. I still don’t feel completely comfortable in some corners and we have room for improvement, both in terms of setup and riding. I think that we can have a solid race tomorrow, even though I practically have no experience in the wet with this bike. I hope the weather stays consistent all day so that we have time to adapt to it.”

Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #7) – 1:37.980 (4th)

“Overall, day one was OK and we managed to make small but steady improvements. Unfortunately, we got cut short a little bit towards the end of FP2 by a warning on the dashboard, which prompted us to go back to the pits and verify it while we were on the attack with new tires. I’m still not 100 percent happy with the setup, but we’re going in the right direction. Last year we had a couple of awesome races here, both of which were really fun though in very different conditions, so we’ll try to do our best and put up another good fight with our rivals. There’s a strong chance it will rain tomorrow, but you can never know for sure what the weather is going to be like in Magny Cours. We haven’t done much riding riding in the wet this year, so hopefully we’ll get some time to practice in these conditions before the race itself. We’ll take it as it comes, feeling it out and working step by step.”

More, from a press release issued by  Pata Yamaha:

Pata Yamaha Shine in the Sun at Magny-Cours

Free practice

The Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team enjoyed a superb Friday under the Magny-Cours sun at round 11 of the 2017 FIM Superbike World Championship, with both riders making it through to SP2. After showing good pace in the morning, Michael van der Mark put in a stunning late charge in FP2 to end the day in second overall on the timesheets. His teammate Alex Lowes also impressed, setting a good pace and demonstrating excellent consistency to finish in eighth on a day where less than 0.3s separated the riders in second and tenth positions.

The sun was out with temperatures hitting 27°C on Friday at the Circuit Nevers de Magny-Cours and van der Mark – fresh from his maiden Yamaha podium at Portimao – wasted no time getting down to work in FP1 after finding a new base setting with his Pata Yamaha R1 at the recent official test. Finishing the morning’s session in seventh with a best time of 1:38.548, less than 0.7s off the top, filled the 24-year-old Dutch rider with confidence and in the afternoon’s FP2 session he managed to make another step with his team. Heading out on a fresh set of tyres in the dying moments, he improved spectacularly on his penultimate lap by over 0.5s to set a 1:37.928 to secure second on the combined timesheets, 0.439s off the pace of Jonathan Rea. Unfortunately, the weather forecast for the rest of the weekend is wet but, even so, van der Mark is feeling confident that he can perform whatever the conditions throw at him.

Lowes also rode superbly on Friday and showed no ill-effects of his crash at Portimao, despite not being at 100%. The 27-year-old British rider hit the ground running in FP1, setting a 1:38.320 to finish in sixth, just 0.471s off the leader. In the afternoon, he put in a race simulation and showed incredible consistency as he reeled off 11 consecutive laps in the low 1’39s and collected some valuable data for the team. Towards the end of the session, he pitted for some fresh rubber and went back out to improve to a 1:38.133 to finish the day in eighth overall, happy with the work done. The time was made even more impressive by the fact Lowes set it on his own at a track where a “tow” seemed to benefit other riders, with his time just 0.205s off the pace of his teammate in one of the closest sessions of the season.

The Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team are back in action for FP3 on Saturday morning at 8:45 am local time, with qualifying due to start at 10:30 am and Race 1 scheduled for 13:00 pm. Check out the combined Friday results.

Michael van der Mark

Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team – 2nd – 1:37.928

“I am really happy! This morning we started quite strong and we improved lap by lap. I was feeling better and better, then we changed something on the front of the bike and we made another step, which was good enough for P7 this morning. For FP2 we didn’t try anything at the start because the temperature had risen dramatically and we wanted to see what the track was like. After my first run we tried out a different rear spring and tyre options, but it wasn’t really an improvement. Towards the end, we went the other way and then I went out on a new set of tyres and made a really good lap time, so I am happy. I am P2, but everyone is so close at the moment. I am happy we are in SP2, but it looks like rain tomorrow so we will have to start again!”

Alex Lowes

Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team – 8th – 1:38.133

“I am happy with my pace, I think some guys got a decent tow, which makes my time even better in an amazingly close session. I think we’ve done a good job today, my feeling with the Pata Yamaha R1 was okay. The issue for everyone is that it was nice and dry today, but the rest of the weekend is forecast to be wet, so we might have to start again tomorrow. I am feeling good and will give it everything no matter what the weather!”

Paul Denning

Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team Principal

“It has been a surprisingly nice day weather-wise in Magny-Cours which has allowed all of the WorldSBK teams to work hard and to show a very competitive pace. Aside from Jonathan Rea having a bit of a gap at the front, the rest of the top ten is incredibly tightly stacked both in terms of their best lap time and also their race pace. We had a good day’s work for both riders, lots of laps and when it mattered both Michael and Alex put their heads down to secure their slot in SP2. Alex is still in some discomfort after his Portimao crash, but isn’t allowing it to affect his potential, and completed a near race distance run in FP2 with extremely good consistency. That always helps when it comes to building performance for the race weekend. Michael and his crew used the new base setting that they found in the Portimao test and it is encouraging that the setting worked quite well, with some adjustments, from the start here in Magny-Cours. After a very solid FP1, it was great to see Michael and the R1 top the day off with P2 right at the end of FP2. The weather forecast does not look great for tomorrow, it well may be a case of “start again”, but nonetheless today has been a good introduction for the Pata Yamaha team to the Magny-Cours event.”

More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:

Rea the leader of the pack in France

Opening day of free practice at Magny-Cours full of surprises

As the WorldSBK riders undertook their first two practice sessions at the Pirelli French Round on Friday it was Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jonathan Rea who led the way with a 1’37.489 lap, whilst Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) and Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) were also in the top three.

Rea’s quickest time of the day – which was well under the best race lap of the 4.411km Magny-Cours circuit set by his teammate Tom Sykes last year – put him 0.439s ahead of Friday’s second fastest participant Van der Mark. Melandri was marginally slower than Yamaha’s Dutch rider, going round the French track 0.477s off Rea’s time.

The pace of Rea on the first day saw him start the weekend in good shape as he aims to wrap up a third consecutive WorldSBK title.

Also within half a second of Rea was fourth placed Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), whilst Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) went round 0.527s off P1 pace in fifth.

Spaniard Xavi Fores (BARNI Racing Team) was sixth best, just ahead of Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) on the combined timesheets. Camier was unable to improve in the afternoon having lapped second fastest in FP1.

Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team), Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) completed the top ten. Sykes was returning to competitive action after missing both races at the last round in Portugal due to a finger injury sustained in practice at Portimao.

In the opening session of the #FrenchWorldSBK round earlier on Friday morning Laverty crashed at turn 6, losing the front end going into the right hander ahead of the Nürburgring chicane. The Irishman was unhurt and was soon able to return to the track.

The WorldSBK riders will be back on track on Saturday morning at the Pirelli French Round at 8.45am local time for FP3. SP1 takes place at 10.30am, SP2 follows at 10.55am and Race 1 will start at 1pm.

More, from a press release issued by MV Agusta Reparto Corse:

ALL THE MV AGUSTA REPARTO CORSE RIDERS MADE IT INTO THE TISSOT-SUPERPOLE2 AT MAGNY COURS 

The third round of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship 2017 took place at the Magny Cours circuit, in France. On the opening day of free practice, all the MV Agusta Reparto Corse’s riders made it on their respective Tissot- Superpole2.

WorldSBK – FP1, FP2

After 17 full laps during the FP1 heat, Leon Camier and his MV Agusta F4RC lead the WorldSBK group of riders, spacing the World Champion Jonathan Rea of 0,304s. Camier will keep the provisional pole position up to 3 minutes from the end, when he will be passed by Rea’s best time, closing with the second place with a 1’38.032 lap time. Again, the MV Agusta F4 RC is the best Italian bike on track.

In the second session, the English fought hard for the provisional pole but he wasn’t able to improve his morning’s lap time, ending in 7th final position and thus entering the Tissot-Superpole2, despite he couldn’t take advantage of his tire because of a inconvenience to the swingarm.

WorldSSP – FP1, FP2

After lapping into the top position area for the entire FP1 session, PJ Jacobsen closed the morning FP1 session in 4th position, with a time of 1’42.157, only 0.6s far from the leader. PJ’s teammate Alessandro Zaccone was stable in top 15, closing with a 1’42.713 lap (12th position) the FP1 heat.

When the FP2 session is over, Jacobsen keeps the 4th position in the combined timesheet results, while Alessandro Zaccone is able to further reduce his lap time, closing in 7th position of WorldSSP class, and getting the pole in the ESS standings.

Both riders directly enter into the Saturday’s Tissot-Superpole2.

Leon Camier #2 WorldSBK – I am quite happy with this result since I know we could do better on this track. Of course we still have work to do on the bike but I am quite sure we can stay with the first guys, both in qualifying and race. Thanks to my time for their support and hard work here in France.

Patrick “PJ” Jacobsen #99 WorldSSP – Today it was a good day for us. Unfortunately, the second session was interrupted for some oil on track and, after the red flag, the rest of the session was a little bit slippery in one area and we couldn’t improve our lap time. I am P4 in the combined result and of course I am looking forward to the rest of the weekend.

Alessandro Zaccone #61 ESS – After we spent several races in search of the right setting, today I’ve been able to really ride the way I like, the way I enjoy it and the way it allows me to stay with the first. The hard work on the bike has allowed us to make a big step forward. We definitely started this round in the right way, being even able to end with the third ideal time. I now really look forward to go back on track tomorrow. Big thank to all my squad for their great job.

More, from a press release issued by Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team:

Giugliano and Gagne set solid basis after opening day in France

French Round

Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours, France

The eleventh Round of the 2017 FIM Superbike World Championship got underway today at Circuit de Nevers, Magny-Cours, with Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team’s Davide Giugliano and Jake Gagne 15th and 21st, respectively, in the combined times of today’s two free practice sessions held at the venue located in the heart of France. Both riders will therefore take part in tomorrow’s Superpole 1, which will begin at 10:30 local time (GMT +2).

Today Davide Giugliano turned a wheel at Magny-Cours for the first time since 2014, having been sidelined from the French round for the last two years in a row due to injury. After taking part in the post-race official test at Portimão less than two weeks ago, the 27-year-old Italian had to try out the characteristics of the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 machine on a very different racetrack, which requires a totally different set-up. After suffering a low-speed crash at Turn 5 (Adelaide) in the second half of FP2, Giugliano set his fastest time of the day in the last outing before the chequered flag.

After arriving in France for the first time two days ago, Jake Gagne spent the entirety of today’s track-time learning his way around the challenging and slightly undulating 4.411km French venue. The 24-year-old from San Diego made some progress in the afternoon session and was the most active rider on track with 52 laps completed throughout the day.

Davide Giugliano 34

15th

It’s been quite a positive day for us: we tried some new stuff that I liked a lot. It’s a pity that on my very last lap I made a couple of mistakes which cost me at least half a second, but the feeling is there with the bike already and that’s the most important thing. I’m starting to feel the bike as my own and that’s without a doubt a confidence boost for me. We’ve worked really hard today and we are planning on making another adjustment for tomorrow, which hopefully will further improve our performance. We’re aware that the weather might change tomorrow but we are working in the right direction so we can look forward to whatever the weather does.

Jake Gagne 45

21st

It’s nice to be back on this Fireblade after a little while. It has been a positive day: we kept making progress lap by lap and I’ve been out on track a lot. I was able to learn a lot more about the bike and find my way around the track. I also had to learn how to use the Pirelli front tyre a bit better and try to brake a bit harder. This track requires a very precise riding style – there’s not much room for error – but we made little steps forwards here and there and generally speaking my feeling with the bike has improved. The weather looks a bit crazy for tomorrow, so we’ll see what happens!

Ronald ten Kate

Team Manager

It has been a busy day today on both sides of the garage. Davide worked hard with the crew on a track that is really different from Lausitzring and Portimão. From his comments, it’s clear that he has improved his feeling with the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2, although it hasn’t translated in competitive lap times yet. We are confident he will be able to improve his performance tomorrow. Jake did a massive amount of work on track: Magny-Cours is not an easy circuit to learn but he has improved in each sector over the course of the day. He now needs to put a strong whole lap together.