Kenan Sofuoglu
Laverty moves up the winners rankings
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Thursday, 11th March 2010, 16:32 GMTAfter winning the Supersport World Championship opener in such convincing fashion, Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) took his career victory total to five, and made himself the 13th most successful rider in the series - not bad for a rider with only 17 race starts to his credit. After two years as the Supersport World Series from 1997 to 1998, the class became the even higher status Supersport World Championship in 1999. Since the start of it all, 33 individual riders have won at least one race in this hotly contested category. Top win collector is Kenan Sofuoglu, with 14, while returnee rider Sebastien Charpentier has 13. Another former World Champion, Fabien Foret, has 12 - but all of these former champions will have many more opportunities to increase their scores, as they are all still active riders in 2010. There are, in fact, seven riders who have tasted victory in this class still competing for wins in Supersport 2010 style. Read article
WSS: Sofuoglu on the podium in World Supersport opener
Source: bikeracenews.com - Sunday, 28th February 2010, 18:39 GMTKenan Sofuoglu finished third in today’s opening race of the 2010 World Supersport championship at Phillip Island in Australia. The race was won by fellow Honda rider Eugene Laverty Starting from second place on the grid, Sofuoglu overshot turn four on the opening lap and was fighting his way back into contention when he crashed at [...] Read article
Léon Haslam s’impose en Australie
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Sunday, 28th February 2010, 8:29 GMTAprès avoir signé la première superpole de sa carrière, Leon Haslam (Team Suzuki Alstare) a brillé ce dimanche à Phillip Island en remportant la première victoire de sa carrière en championnat du monde Superbike. Avec 5 millièmes d'avance sur Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox Team) lors de la première course, soit le plus petit écart entre deux pilotes à l'arrivée depuis la création du championnat du monde, le pilote officiel Suzuki confirme qu'il sera bien l'un des acteurs principaux de cette saison 2010 particulièrement ouverte. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox Team) complète le premier podium de l'année à la troisième place. Alors que Sylvain Guintoli (Team Suzuki Alstare) a loupé son départ en première course et a dû cravacher pendant 22 tours pour terminer à une très méritante sixième place derrière Jonathan Rea (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) quatrième, et Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing) cinquième, le Français a totalement inversé la tendance en seconde course. Il va même rapidement se porter en tête devant son coéquipier Haslam pour créer la sensation tricolore du week-end. On se prend même à rêver à une Marseillaise qui n'a pas retenti en Superbike depuis 2005. Malheureusement, la fin de course va lui être moins favorable. Après une lutte sans concession, c'est finalement Carlos Checa (Althea Racing), déjà très rapide durant les essais, qui va s'imposer. L'Espagnol signe ainsi sa troisième victoire en championnat du monde Superbike devant Haslam et Fabrizio. Sylvain Guintoli (Team Suzuki Alstare), récompensé pour avoir signé le meilleur tour en course, termine à une frustrante quatrième place. «Je suis très content de mon week-end déclare le Français à l'arrivée. Je voulais me rattraper de mon départ moyen en première course. J'ai immédiatement attaqué en début de seconde course et j'ai pris un plaisir monstrueux à rouler devant. Cela faisait longtemps que je n'avais pas pris la tête d'un championnat du monde. J'ai prouvé que j'avais le rythme en course malgré des essais hivernaux où je ne me suis pas montré parmi les plus rapides. J'ai commis quelques petites erreurs en fin de course qui me coûtent le podium, mais ce premier week-end est très encourageant pour le championnat.» Avec une deuxième place sur le podium, Leon Haslam (Team Suzuki Alstare) prend immédiatement les commandes du championnat et devance Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox Team) troisième en seconde course, de neuf points. Haslam et Fabrizio s'affichent d'entrée de jeu comme les deux hommes forts en ouverture du championnat. Haga qui termine la seconde course à la cinquième place derrière Guintoli, reste au contact. En revanche, le bilan parmi les autres teams officiels du championnat est plus mitigé. Jonathan Rea (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) termine au pied du podium en première course mais commet une erreur en début de seconde course qui va l'obliger à effectuer une folle remontée. Le jeune Anglais termine en sixième position. «Il ne faut pas attendre de miracle de ce week-end» avait déclaré samedi soir Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing). Le Romain a limité les dégâts avec une cinquième et une huitième place au guidon d'une RSV4 en prise à des soucis de vibration. Chez BMW, on avait le sourire à l'arrivée de la seconde course avec la septième place de Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport). Alors que Ruben Xaus (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) n'a pas pris le départ suite à sa chute au warm-up du matin, son coéquipier australien sauve les meubles de l'usine de Munich, sans pour autant enregistrer le meilleur résultat de la S 1000 RR, cinquième en course l'an passé. Yamaha n'avait pas le sourire au terme de la première course, après la double chute de ses pilotes Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda Team) et James Toseland (Yamaha Sterilgarda Team). Ils terminent dans cet ordre la seconde course aux neuvième et dixième rangs. Un résultat très modeste pour le team champion du monde qui connaît un début de saison difficile. Difficile aussi pour Kawasaki en course. Son pilote leader Chris Vermeulen (Kawasaki Racing Team) inscrit un double zéro à domicile. Un résultat d'autant plus frustrant que l'Australien a pris un départ canon en début de seconde course et s'est vite retrouvé à lutter avec les hommes de têtes en quatrième position. Quelques tours plus tard, Chris chutait violemment et allait percuter les pneus. Heureusement, le pilote s'est relevé indemne. Prochain rendez-vous du championnat du monde Superbike, le dimanche 28 mars sur le circuit de Portimao au Portugal. Championnat du monde Supersport C'est à un départ enflammé que nous avons assisté en championnat du monde Supersport en Australie. Après seulement trois tours, il ne restait plus que douze pilotes en piste et une large trace d'huile à obliger la direction de course à sortir le drapeau rouge. Nouveau départ, nouvelle course, Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) s'est rapidement porté en tête pour se lancer dans un cavalier seul irrésistible. Derrière, alors que la nouvelle recrue Michel Pirro (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) partait à la faute, on assistait à un combat d'homme entre Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Motocard.com) et Kenan Sofuoglu (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda). Les deux rivaux étaient bientôt rejoins par Katsuaki Fujiwara (Kawasaki Motocard.com). Malheureusement, le pilote Japonais va partir à la faute et terminera la course à la onzième place. Laverty, Lascorz et Sofuoglu termine dans cet ordre sur le podium, devant un excellent David Salom (ParkinGO BE1 Triumph), premier pilote de l'escadrille Triumph. Fabien Foret (Team Lorenzini by Leoni), premier Français termine à la cinquième place, frustré par un mauvais choix de pneu. Grosse désillusion en revanche pour Sébastien Charpentier (ParkinGO Triumph BE1) qui termine très loin des leaders à la 13e place. Read article
Haslam and Checa share opening day victories
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Sunday, 28th February 2010, 6:29 GMTLeon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare) and Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) took a win apiece at Phillip Island in what was a sensational start to the 2010 WSBK season in Australia. In dry conditions, in front of 65,500 fans, the action was intense in each 22-lap race, with the leading three riders within 0.769 seconds of each other in race one and the leading four within 0.837 seconds in race two. "Pirelli's opening race weekend saw spectacular racing with new faces on all accounts, starting from a Superpole led by Haslam, Fabrizio and Crutchlow on three different machines. Race 1 finished 7 seconds faster than previous year, a race so close between Suzuki and Ducati that it demanded a photo finish. New to Superbike, Sylvain Guintoli led Race 2 for many laps and set the Pirelli Best Lap on his first race on the Suzuki. Race time dropped by 4 seconds over 2009, and Checa impressively took his new bike and new team Althea straight to the top of the podium. The Supersport race, 5 seconds faster as well, Laverty lead a very precise race from start to finish on his Honda from Parkalgar. It's fantastic to see such diverse results from all the manufacturers, especially at the start of the season." Giorgio Barbier, Racing Director, Pirelli Moto. Race 1 It took a close look at the photo finish images to split Leon Haslam from his race long rival Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), but by only 0.004 seconds the Alstare Suzuki rider was given the win. It was the closest ever finish in the WSBK class, as Leon took his first career win in the Superbike World Championship. Fabrizio was originally awarded the victory but before the slow down lap had been completed, Haslam was confirmed as the winner. Noriyuki Haga took his Ducati Xerox machine to third, being part of the leading battle throughout. Jonathan Rea, Max Biaggi, Sylvain Guintoli and Carlos Checa battled it out over fourth place, with Jakub Smrz, Troy Corser and Lorenzo Lanzi completing the first race top ten. Haslam: "It's not sunk in just yet, especially as it was such a close finish and not knowing if I had won for a while. That definitely added to the anticipation. I can't thank my team enough they have been solid since day one and to repay them with this is great. I'm a little speechless now. I changed my style towards the end and I rode as smoothly as possible. It worked, but it was close at the end." Michel Fabrizio: "I thought I had won the race. When I saw the big screen after the finish I saw my family and the crew chief celebrating, so I thought I had it." Noriyuki Haga: "I did not have any big injury after my crash in morning warm-up but some swelling in my right arm. My personal trainer made a good massage before the race and I took some painkilling injections. The race was tough and I had arm pump, so that made me make some mistakes under braking. But it was fun to race with them at the front." Race 2 Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) won a thrilling race two at Phillip Island, by only 0.307 from Leon Haslam, whom he passed on the final section of the track, in convincing style. Third went to Michel Fabrizio, but a great ride from new SBK rider Sylvain Guintoli put him fourth on his Suzuki Alstare machine in only his fourth ever SBK event. Noriyuki Haga was fifth, Jonathan Rea heading up a busy and exciting midfield battle in sixth, after losing ten seconds by running wide on lap one, and then fighting through the pack. Troy Corser took his BMW to seventh in race two. Carlos Checa: "The plan was to start the second race well and we chose a softer tyre. We changed the bike and we improved in the braking points, so I could overtake people. When you are close to four other riders it is not easy to overtake and make it permanent but I passed in the right time and at the right places. This was one of the best races in my life, so thanks to my new team." Leon Haslam: "I had a few laps behind Sylvain my team-mate and in some corners I could not stay with him given the grip he had out of the corners. But I got the lead again and it was all going to plan until Carlos managed to come along and nip up the inside to win." Michel Fabrizio: "We didn't make any changes to the bike between race one and race two. I think it would have been very difficult for me to win, but if Carlos had not been in the mix I may have been able to push in the last three or four laps. I was having some problems by that time so it was very difficult to try and win." World Supersport - Laverty wins by clear margin Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) won the opening race of the year by 4.359 seconds with a masterful display of front running, heading up the official Kawasaki of pole man Joan Lascorz and the Honda of Kenan Sofuoglu. Laverty also set the race fastest lap, 1'35.204, on lap six. The first attempt at the race was first stopped and finally abandoned due to oil being dropped on the track, and a complete-restart was called. The subsequent 21-lap race saw Laverty lead from the early stages again. Behind Laverty, Lascorz and Sofuoglu, Triumph rider David Salom was fourth, and the privateer Kawasaki of Fabien Foret made it onto the top five also. Pirelli Performance Awards: SBK Race 1 - Pirelli BEST LAPLeon Haslam (Team Suzuki Alstare) 1'32.193 (Lap 2) SBK Race 2 - Pirelli BEST LAPSylvain Guintoli (Team Suzuki Alstare) 1'32.236 (Lap 3) WSS - Pirelli BEST LAPEugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) 1'35.204 (Lap 6) Read article
Laverty wins by clear margin
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Sunday, 28th February 2010, 4:16 GMTEugene Laverty won the opening race of the year for Honda with a masterful display of front running, heading up the official Kawasaki of pole man Joan Lascorz and the Honda of Kenan Sofuoglu. Laverty also set the race's fastest lap, 1'35.204 on lap six. The Irish rider was leading the first race start, before that was red flagged due to oil being dropped on the track, and a complete-restart was called. The subsequent 21-lap race saw Laverty lead from the early stages again. Behind Laverty, Lascorz and Sofuoglu Triumph rider David Salom was fourth, and the privateer Kawasaki of Fabien Foret got into the top five also. Read article
Première pole position pour Léon Haslam
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Saturday, 27th February 2010, 6:45 GMTLeon Haslam (Team Suzuki Alstare) confirme en remportant la Superpole en Australie qu'il sera l'un des grands acteurs de la saison 2010. Détendu, entouré de sa famille, le pilote officiel Suzuki a fait une très forte impression sur un circuit qu'il affectionne particulièrement. Avec un chrono de 1'31.229, Léon approche le record du circuit détenu par Régis Laconi en 1'31.050 et remporte la première pole position de sa carrière en championnat du monde Superbike. Sur la seconde place de la grille de départ, Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox Team) manque la pole position d'un centième de seconde. Bien plus en forme que son coéquipier Japonais Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox Team) seulement dixième sur la grille de départ, le pilote Italien confirme ses excellentes performances de l'hiver au guidon de la 1198R officielle. Mais Haslam et Fabrizio devront aussi compter sur la rivalité de Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda Team) et de Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) qui complètent la première ligne de départ en étant respectivement troisième et quatrième. Le pilote Yamaha a sorti un chrono dont il a le secret après avoir été aux prises avec d'importantes difficultés de châssis depuis le début du week-end. Quant au pilote Espagnol, ce n'est pas une surprise de le retrouver en si bonne position puisqu'il a dominé la majorité des séances d'essais depuis le début du week-end. Une première ligne de départ où figurent trois constructeurs différents et qui se tient en quatre dixièmes de seconde. Cela promet des courses particulièrement intenses. Le clan Français peut se réjouir. Sylvain Guintoli (Team Suzuki Alstare) se place en tête de la seconde ligne de la grille de départ. Auteur du cinquième chrono sur la seconde Suzuki officielle, le pilote tricolore confirme son potentiel au sein du paddock Superbike. D'autant qu'il devance sur la seconde ligne le franc-tireur Jakub Smrz (Team PATA B&G Racing) toujours exceptionnel lors de la Superpole, Jonathan Rea (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) sur la première Honda officielle et James Toseland (Yamaha Sterilgarda Team) sur la R1 championne du monde. Particulièrement déçu, le team Aprilia a multiplié les mésaventures aujourd'hui. Alors que Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia Racing) effectuait son tour rapide en seconde séance de Superpole, le pilote Britannique a chuté et se retrouve ainsi rétrogradé en seizième position. Quant à Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing), il est seulement onzième de la Superpole après avoir connu une séance quaificative délicate ce matin durant laquelle il a cassé le moteur de sa RSV4. Même sentiment de frustration chez BMW puisque les deux pilotes officiels partiront demain depuis la quatrième ligne. Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) doit se contenter du treizième chrono à domicile et son coéquipier Ruben Xaus (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) du quinzième temps. Chez Kawasaki en revanche, on se montre u peu plus optimiste avec les prestations des deux pilotes officiels. L'Anglais Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) hisse la première ZX-10R en troisième ligne, tandis que pour son retour en mondial Superbike, Chris Vermeulen (Kawasaki Racing Team) sur ses terres australiennes, partira depuis la quatorzième position sur la grille. Championnat du monde Supersport De la même façon qu'il s'est imposé hier lors de la première séance qualificative, Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Motocard.com) s'adjuge la seconde séance et remporte la première pole position de la saison Supersport. Il est d'ailleurs le seul pilote à passer sous la barre de 1'34 et améliore le record de la piste de près de cinq dixièmes de seconde. C'est dire la domination du pilote Espagnol à Phillip Island qui fête de la plus belle des manières ses 25 ans aujourd'hui. Derrière lui, les deux pilotes Ten Kate Kenan Sofuoglu (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) et Michel Pirro (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) se placent sur la première ligne, respectivement deuxième et troisième. Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) complète la première ligne avec le quatrième chrono. Il faut attendre la dixième place pour voir le premier Français sur la grille. Fabien Foret (Team Lorenzini by Leoni) n'a pas réussi à suffisamment améliorer ses temps pour monter dans la hiérarchie sur la grille. Sébastien Charpentier (ParkinGO Triumph BE1) s'élancera quant à lui depuis la treizième place sur la grille pour sa première course en championnat du monde Supersport depuis octobre 2007. On notera que David Salom (ParkinGO BE1 Triumph), première Triumph qualifiée, a réussi à se hisser en seconde ligne à la sixième place. Une belle performance quand on considère que le pilote Espagnol n'avait pas rouler en ce début de week-end à cause d'un problème de licence. Read article
Haslam takes his first ever Superpole win
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Saturday, 27th February 2010, 6:44 GMTIn a new look Superpole, with the top 20 riders trying to go through all three sectors of Superpole in sessions which last 14, 12 and 10 minutes respectively, Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare) beat all the others to pole position with a best time of 1'31.229, securing his first ever WSBK Superpole win. Superpole 3 Eight riders fought it out for the first two grid places, with Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) just 0.016 seconds behind Haslam with a 1'31.245, Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda) and Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) slotting in behind Fabrizio. The second row will feature Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki Alstare), Jakub Smrz (Pata B&G Racing Ducati), Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and James Toseland (Yamaha Sterilgarda) after ten minutes of close final competition sorted out the leading riders. Superpole 2 The eight riders who missed final Superpole qualification were, in reverse order, Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia) who was 16th overall, Ruben Xaus (BMW Motorrad Motorsport), Chris Vermeulen (Kawasaki Racing Team), Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport), Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia), Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox), and Lorenzo Lanzi (DFX Ducati). Superpole 1 At the very start of the Superpole sessions, Roland Resch missed out on participation on his BMW Reitwagen machine after a big crash in qualifying, but of the 19 riders who competed in Superpole one, only his team-mate Andrew Pitt, Shane Byrne (Althea Ducati) and Max Neukirchner (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) did not progress to Superpole 2. Byrne was still battered after his big crash yesterday but battled through Superpole. Times: 1. Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'31.229; 2. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'31.245; 3. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'31.642; 4. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'31.671; 5. Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'31.696; 6. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'31.757; 7. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'31.912; 8. Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'32.019; 9. Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'32.205; 10. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'32.229; 11. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'32.293; 12. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'32.398; 13. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'32.430; 14. Vermeulen C. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'32.561; 15. Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'32.842; 16. Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'32.895 Race date There will be two 22-lap Superbike races on Sunday 28th, the first at noon local time in Victoria, the second at 15.30. Leon Haslam: "You can get caught out quite easily in Superpole so we went out to go fast early in each session. We used a soft option race tyre for the first Superpole, didn't have any slides and felt really comfortable. When I put my first qualifier in I was sliding, so I was not sure which tyre to use in the final session, but we managed to go out there put a qualifier in and we put in a little bit of a quicker time. Sitting in the pit garage watching these guys go out to try and beat my time was probably more nerve-wracking than being out on the track. But it all ended up good and I got my first Superpole win." Michel Fabrizio: "The second qualifying tyre we used worked the best of all the ones we had been trying and that was the one I scored the best time with. I am fairly happy in the hot conditions if that is the way things turn out on raceday." Cal Crutchlow: "We made a good final lap but we made a small mistake in the second session, which made me run off the track. I had to use the two qualifying tyres we are given, which we could have used in the finals session. I then had to use a soft race tyre and we made it work, but I was pushing, no doubt about that. I hope I can maintain that position in the race and a front row start always helps." World Supersport - Lascorz the top man after qualifying Spanish rider Joan Lascorz started his and his Provec Motocard.com team's season off in perfect style with a pole position performance at Phillip Island, scorching round the 4.445km circuit in a new best lap of 1'33.847. He left his best effort for last, and put his fastest lap down to making the best use of a good machine set-up. Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was second fastest with a 1'34.116, while Sofuoglu's team-mate Michele Pirro slotted into third. Eugene Laverty will complete the front row for the 21-lap race on Sunday 28th, after qualifying fourth on his Parkalgar Honda. Katsuaki Fujiwara sent his official Kawasaki machine to the head of the second row and David Salom (despite losing the first day of track action) was top Triumph rider in sixth, on a ParkinGO BE1 Daytona 675 triple. Times: 1. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'33.847; 2. Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1'34.116; 3. Pirro M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'34.156; 4. Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 1'34.300; 5. Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'34.494; 6. Salom D. (ESP) Triumph Daytona 675 1'34.873; 7. Davies C. (GBR) Triumph Daytona 675 1'34.939; 8. Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 1'34.999 Read article
Lascorz the top man after qualifying
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Saturday, 27th February 2010, 6:11 GMTSpanish rider Joan Lascorz started his and his Provec Motocard.com team’s season off in perfect style with a pole position performance at Phillip Island, scorching round the 4.445km circuit in a new best lap of 1’33.847. Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was second with a 1’34.116, while Sofuoglu’s team-mate Michele Pirro slotted into third. Eugene Laverty will complete the front row for the 21-lap race on Sunday 28th, after qualifying fourth on his Parkalgar Honda. Katsuaki Fujiwara sent his official Kawasaki machine to the head of the second row and David Salom (despite losing the first day of track action) was top Triumph rider in sixth, on a ParkinGO BE1 triple. Read article
Checa the early leader at a hot Phillip Island
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Friday, 26th February 2010, 7:26 GMTScorching weather conditions for the first qualifying session at Phillip Island saw Carlos Checa (Ducati Althea) continue his good testing form with a 1'32.155 lap, leading Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) and Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare). Checa was only 0.007 seconds ahead of Fabrizio, 0.218 ahead of Englishman Haslam. The air temperature in qualifying was 33°C, the track temperature a very high 51°C, which made the hour-long session hard work for all competitors. Checa's team-mate Shane Byrne went fourth fastest but suffered a fast highside crash at the final corners of his last lap, while trying to improve his ranking still further. Several riders fell in what was an expectedly close and intense period of qualifying. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox) was fifth today, Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing) went sixth fastest but was also a faller in the final session of the day. Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was top Honda rider in the opening qualifying battle, seventh, with Sylvain Guintoli's Suzuki eighth. Jakub Smrz was ninth fastest on his privateer Pata B&G Racing Ducati, and the top ten was rounded out by Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha World Superbike) the top Yamaha rider. Chris Vermeulen scored 12th on his Kawasaki Racing Team bike, Troy Corser, another late faller, put his BMW Motorrad Motorsport S1000RR 16th, but was on course for a vast improvement in lap time before his fall. James Toseland was a faller in the session, while Ruben Xaus crashed three times today, but recovered each time and went 19th in the ranking. One more session remains for riders to try and qualifying for Superpole on Saturday, with Superpole determining the final top 20 grid places. The top 20 riders were all within 1.910 seconds, the top ten within 0.883 seconds today. Carlos Checa: "I know what I can do. I have to confirm my time tomorrow but I know that I wish we had the same weather as today for the race. The crash in qualifying was not a problem. Ducati's work very well at Phillip Island and my pace at the moment is very good. I do not know yet if it is good enough for the race." Michel Fabrizio: "We tried different tyre solutions this morning and various small things that my engineer wanted to test. I had a fall, losing the front, but without causing myself, or my bike, too much damage thankfully. Then in the qualifying session we sorted a lot of things out and with the tyre solution that may well be the one to choose for the race many riders were able to drop their times. During my fast lap I lost a couple of tenths through the last corner but I'm fairly happy anyway; we've worked well and I'm satisfied with the results. We have a good race pace but a lot will depend on Sunday's weather." World Supersport Championship - Lascorz leads on day one of new school The first qualifying session of the year proved to be the property of Kawasaki Provec Motocard.com rider Joan Lascorz, who was also fastest man in the official tests a few days ago. Second was the perennially powerful Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda), who left it very late to move up. Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) posted third while another old stager in this class, Katsuaki Fujiwara (Kawasaki) was fourth. Sofuoglu's team-mate Michele Pirro secured fifth best lap time, while changes in set-up allowed Chaz Davies to jump up the order to sixth on his Triumph BE1 triple, ahead of another Kawasaki rider, Fabien Foret. The top six riders were within only 0.310 seconds of each other. Read article
Lascorz leads on day one of new school
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Friday, 26th February 2010, 7:07 GMTThe first qualifying session of the year proved to be the property of Kawasaki Provec Motocard.com rider Joan Lascorz, who was also fastest man in the official tests a few days ago. Second was the perennially powerful Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda), who left it very late to move up. Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) posted third while another old stager in this class, Katsuaki Fujiwara (Kawasaki) was fourth. Sofuoglu’s team-mate Michele Pirro secured fifth best lap time, while changes in set-up allowed Chaz Davies to jump up the order to sixth on his Triumph BE1 triple, ahead of another Kawasaki rider, Fabien Foret. The top six riders were within 0.310 seconds of each other. Read article
