FIM Supersport World Championship
Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, San Marino
June 16, 2017
Free Practice Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:39.102, crash
2. Gino REA, UK (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:39.258
3. PJ JACOBSEN, USA (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:39.307
4. Jules CLUZEL, France (Honda CBR600RR), 1:39.313
5. Christian GAMARINO, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), 1:39.403, crash
6. Luke STAPLEFORD, UK (Triumph Daytona 675), 1:39.465
7. Axel BASSANI, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:39.507
8. Federico CARICASULO, Italy (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:39.521, crash
9. Lucas MAHIAS, France (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:39.524
10. Anthony WEST, Australia (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:39.544
11. Hikari OKUBO, Japan (Honda CBR600RR), 1:39.674
12. Kyle SMITH, UK (Honda CBR600RR), 1:39.754, crash
13. Davide STIRPE, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:39.758
14. Sheridan MORAIS, South Africa (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:39.872
15. Alessandro ZACCONE, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:40.032
16. Rob HARTOG, Netherlands (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:40.151
17. Hannes SOOMER, Estonia (Honda CBR600RR), 1:40.419
18. Kazuki WATANABE, Japan (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:40.509
19. Zulfahmi KHAIRUDDIN, Malaysia (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:40.683, crash
20. Peter SEBESTYEN, Hungary (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:40.780
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:
WorldSSP: Strong Sofuoglu ahead of rivals
Kawasaki rider finishes Friday on top despite a late crash in FP2
World Champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was Friday’s sharpest rider in the WorldSSP class as he went round the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” in 1’39.102, in the afternoon FP2 session. Gino Rea (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) and PJ Jacobsen (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) were also in the top three.
Sofuoglu’s best time put him +0.156s ahead of Briton Rea and +0.205s in front of third placed American Jacobsen. But it was not all plain sailing for Turkish rider Sofuoglu who lost some time in the morning session due to an engine problem and then crashed at Turn 8 in the final ten minutes of the FP2 session.
Behind the top three, Jules Cluzel (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) and Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) were also in a tightly packed top five split by just 0.274s.
A fraction adrift of Caricasulo, meanwhile, was his compatriot Christian Gamarino (BARDAHL EVAN BROS. Honda Racing) in sixth. Then in seventh place on the Triumph was Profile Racing rider Luke Stapleford.
Axel Bassani (3570 Puccetti Racing FMI), championship leader Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) and Anthony West (West Racing)
completed the list of ten riders going straight into Tissot Superpole 2 on Saturday. In the morning FP1 run Caricasulo, Mahias and Cluzel were the top three riders on track.
At the #RiminiWorldSBK round on Saturday the WorldSSP action commences at 9.20am local time with FP3, with SP1 at 2pm and SP2 at 2.25pm.
More, from a press release issued by MV Agusta:
TEAM MV AGUSTA REPARTO CORSE’S RIDERS AMONG THE FASTEST ON OPENING DAY AT MISANO
The MV Agusta Reparto Corse racing team makes a stop at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” for the 7th Round of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. The team from Varese, Italy, ended the opening day of action with Camier’s 5th time in WorldSBK, only 0.366s far from the top rider, while the Jacobsen-Zaccone duo closed respectively in 3rd and 15th position in WorldSSP; Zaccone set the fastest lap time among the ESS riders.
WorldSBK – FP1, FP2
Despite the high temperatures, very typical in this period on this area, Leon Camier managed to find a good feeling on the home race for MV Agusta. The Briton closed the first heat with the 5th lap time and managed to further improve in the afternoon session, closing with the 4th time of the session (1’35.267) in the timesheet, just 0.366s from the fastest rider. In the combined timesheet Leon set the 5th overall time.
WorldSSP – FP1, FP2
With the excellent 3rd time (1’39.307) obtained today in the combined standings of FP1 and FP2, PJ Jacobsen and his MV Agusta F3 675 machine are once again among the most anticipated contender in the WorldSSP class. The American rider will be back on track tomorrow for the Tissot-Superpole2 session, looking for the 4th seasonal pole in seven races.
Alessandro Zaccone, PJ’s teammate and home rider here at Misano, closed the day with a 1’40.032 lap time meaning he set the fastest time in the ESS class and the 15th lap time in the WorldSSP rankings.
Leon Camier #2 WorldSBK – We had a very good test in this track two weeks ago, so the bike’s setting was very accurate as well. After that, I knew which changes we need for the weekend and today we were faster then we were during the test, which is really positive. Right now, we need to make another step in that direction in order to make the bike easier to ride over the race distance.
Patrick “PJ” Jacobsen #99 WorldSSP – We did an amazing job today and it was a very positive day for my whole team. We haven’t just made it into the top 10 but we also closed in 3rd position and this means a lot for tomorrow’s Superpole sessions. Now we just have to keep working and stay focused for the next session on track.
Alessandro Zaccone #61 ESS – To be honest, I was expecting a better performance here at Misano. This morning I thought I had started with a better setup, but instead I found myself struggling with the usual problems and I wasn’t able to give my best. Along with my squad we are already working hard to figure out how to fix the situation and hopefully tomorrow I will be able to make a good qualifying final session.
More, from a press release issued by CIA Landlords Insurance Honda:
Cluzel looking good ahead of qualifying at Misano
CIA Landlord Insurance Honda’s Jules Cluzel claimed fourth place and automatic entry into Superpole 2 in a tightly packed top five in this afternoon’s World Supersport Free Practice 2 at Misano. The Frenchman displayed a really good race pace, lapping consistently in the 39s by the end of the afternoon session.
Jules said: “It was a good day because we kept constant with position and gaps. We didn’t go fast for just one lap. We tried some stuff at the beginning of the afternoon that didn’t really work then we tried something else that worked so we have good points that we proved this afternoon. The really good thing is race distance and pace. I am not really able right now to do a really fast lap with the new tyre, maybe tomorrow we will improve. I am faster after eight laps and that is good for the race so I can say I am happy with today.”
Hikari Okubo narrowly missed out on entry to Superpole 2 with 11th place and is looking in great shape to rectify that in Superpole 1 tomorrow.
Robin Mulhauser had a frustrating day with three crashes and was unable to fulfil his potential ending the day in 25th position.
Hiromichi Kunikawa also took a couple of falls which cost him valuable track time and momentum. The Japanese rider finished the day in 34th place.
CIA Landlord Insurance Honda Team Manager, Simon Buckmaster said: “Jules is in a very good position in fourth. We are very confident going into qualifying tomorrow and looking in good shape for the race on Sunday so I’m happy with that. Hikari just missed out on SP2 so he will fight in SP1 tomorrow and he has a very good chance. We need to consider our tyre usage to have tyre for SP2 in the event he does go through. His crew chief, Kor has discussed some small improvements to find a little bit more to get him inside the top ten and qualifying in the best possible position. Robin started well but now he has crashed twice, three times including coming in to the pits which is certainly not ideal. He needs to calm down and refocus. He should be a second faster than he is and he should be challenging well inside the points. He needs to work with his crew and look to improve for SP1 tomorrow. Hiromichi is improving but the time lost to crashes makes it difficult to progress. We will see if we can improve for FP3 and just keep learning and be more consistent for the best possible result for him in the race on Sunday.”