Luca Scassa
Lowes for another pole position over Sofuoglu
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Saturday, 8th June 2013, 18:25 GMTYakhnich Motorsport Yamaha's Sam Lowes continues his 2013 pole position streak by securing the top spot on the grid - for the fourth time in a row - after today's Qualifying 2 at Portimao. The current Championship leader set a successful lap-time of 1'44.804 using race tyres, resulting the only rider able to lap below the 1'45 bracket. Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki) will start tomorrow's race from 2nd place, followed by Sheridan Morais (PTR Honda), team mate Fabien Foret and Andrea Antonelli (Team Goeleven Kawasaki). Dutchman Michael van der Mark was 6th ahead of Jack Kennedy (Rivamoto Honda) and Luca Scassa (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki). The Irishman had an apparently innocent collision with Lowes, as both riders managed to stay upright. 11th place for returning David Salom (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki), behind Raffaele De Rosa (Team Lorini Honda) and rookie Riccardo Russo (Puccetti Racing Kawasaki). Another collision involved Mathew Scholtz (Team Suriano Racing Suzuki) and Gabor Talmacsi (Prorace Honda), while an unfortunate Lorenzo Zanetti (Pata Honda World Supersport) crashed on his own at Turn 15, eventually qualifying in 26th place. Read article
Sam Lowes continues to impress in Q1
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Friday, 7th June 2013, 15:14 GMTAfter leading the first World Supersport free practice session, Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) found himself on top again by setting the best lap-time in Q1. The current Championship leader was in 1st place already as the session was drawing to an end, but he decided to get back on track anyway to further improve his performance to a final 1'45.724, resulting 0.522 seconds quicker than main rival for the World Supersport title Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki). Following the encouraging performance last time out at Donington, Irishman Jack Kennedy (Rivamoto Honda) proved to be again on the right pace in qualifying as he finished third ahead of an impressive David Salom (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki), considering his 4-round absence due to a complicated hand injury. French WSS veteran Fabien Foret (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki) ended up with a competitive 5th - despite a 1.225 seconds gap from the top - followed by Luca Scassa (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki), Sheridan Morais (PTR Honda) and the still injured - and unfortunate victim of a technical problem - Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport). Read article
A weekend to watch for WSS Round 6 at Portimao
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Wednesday, 5th June 2013, 16:09 GMTThere is no better place than Portimao for Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki), currently ranked 2nd in the points, to try and stop Sam Lowes' impressive momentum. The Reigning Champion was victorious in three of the four races he's tackled on the Portuguese track, even in 2008 when he marked his return to the series by taking Jonathan Rea's place for the Season Finale. It won't be an easy task for the three-time Supersport Champion, as Lowes has won the last three races and now leads the Riders Standings with a 30 points margin. The Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha rider put up an outstanding performance last time out at Donington Park dominating the whole weekend in flawless fashion. Mahi Racing Team India's Fabien Foret aims to bounce back following some difficult results in the last two rounds. The French veteran scored his only rostrum finish at Portimao last year, third at the chequered flag behind race winner Jules Cluzel and 2013 team mate Sofuoglu. After injuring himself during a motocross training session before his home race at Aragon and missing four rounds, Spaniard David Salom (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki) will make his comeback at Portimao to join team mate Luca Scassa. Miguel Praia will be lining up for Team Honda Lorini, to take the seat left empty by the return of Alex Baldolini to Team Suriano, for a one-off on his home track. The former Supersport regular rider, who is racing full-time in Brazil, hopes to quickly get to grips with the 600cc Honda of the Italian squad. Read article
Donington Park – the pre-round statistics
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Tuesday, 21st May 2013, 16:53 GMTWorldSBK.com provides you with some interesting facts and figures about Round 5 of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship at Donington Park. Sylvain Guintoli last year was 8th and 5th, while two years ago he was twice eleventh, slowed down by pain in his right hand and left ankle, broken in the opening race in Phillip Island. Very little luck for Eugene Laverty in Donington: in 2011 he fell on the fourth lap and was 14th in Race 2 (setup problems), while last year he had a technical issue which relegated him in 15th place in Race 1, crashing out in the following race. He was 5th in the 2009 Supersport race. Double podium (two thirds) from pole here last year for Tom Sykes, who scored his maiden podium in this track, back in 2008, Race 1, second after a "virtual" fight with Troy Bayliss, as the race was interrupted and they were running on aggregate times. Marco Melandri always hit the spotlight in Donington: winner (maiden win) and second in the 2011 races, last year won Race 1 (maiden BMW win) and in Race 2 he was running second when he was an innocent victim of the controversial Rea-Haslam clash: Leon was hit by Rea and fell, hitting Marco's bike, which in turn went into the ground. Chaz Davies was twelfth and seventh in last year's races. In 2011 he lost for only two tenths of a second the Supersport race, won by Luca Scassa. Loris Baz debuted in Superbike here last year, replacing Joan Lascorz: he was able to score his maiden points, finishing eighth in race two. Michel Fabrizio scored points in eight of his ten races here, climbing on the podium in 2009 in Race 2 in 3rd. Last year he was 10th in Race 1 and 13th in Race 2, after a ride through for a jump start. Jonathan Rea was the winner of one of the most controversial races in Superbike history, when he climbed on the top step of the podium in Race 2 last year. Davide Giugliano last year was 7th in race one and retired for an accident triggered by Checa in Race 2. He was 6th in the Supersport race in 2007, won by Kenan Sofuoglu. The best weekend for Leon Camier in Donington came two years ago, when he was 8th in Race 1 and third in Race 2. He always scored points here: his worst result under the chequered flag was a 13th in race one in 2009 as wildcard. Last year Jules Cluzel was the pole-sitter of the Supersport race, but he was 3rd at the flag. Four Superbike races for Max Neukirchner in Donington: in 2007 he was 8th and 10th, while in 2008 he fell in R in the wet race and suffered setup problems in race two, ending up 14th. Six Superbike races for Ayrton Badovini in Donington: his best result came last year, when he was 6th in Race 2. The best weekend for Carlos Checa in Donington was the one of his Championship-winning season, 2011: he scored pole and was 3rd in Race 1, winning the following in dominant fashion. Two second places, both in grid and in the races for Leon Haslam in Donington: he was 2nd on the grid both last year and two years ago, beaten by Sykes and Checa, and was second in Race 2 in 2009 and in Race 1 last year. Haslam won both British Superbike races in 2007. Read article
Donington Park – the pre-round statistics
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Tuesday, 21st May 2013, 16:53 GMTWorldSBK.com provides you with some interesting facts and figures about Round 5 of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship at Donington Park. Sylvain Guintoli last year was 8th and 5th, while two years ago he was twice eleventh, slowed down by pain in his right hand and left ankle, broken in the opening race in Phillip Island. Very little luck for Eugene Laverty in Donington: in 2011 he fell on the fourth lap and was 14th in Race 2 (setup problems), while last year he had a technical issue which relegated him in 15th place in Race 1, crashing out in the following race. He was 5th in the 2009 Supersport race. Double podium (two thirds) from pole here last year for Tom Sykes, who scored his maiden podium in this track, back in 2008, Race 1, second after a "virtual" fight with Troy Bayliss, as the race was interrupted and they were running on aggregate times. Marco Melandri always hit the spotlight in Donington: winner (maiden win) and second in the 2011 races, last year won Race 1 (maiden BMW win) and in Race 2 he was running second when he was involved in the Rea-Haslam clash: Leon was hit by Rea and fell, hitting Marco's bike, which in turn went into the ground. Chaz Davies was twelfth and seventh in last year's races. In 2011 he lost for only two tenths of a second the Supersport race, won by Luca Scassa. Loris Baz debuted in Superbike here last year, replacing Joan Lascorz: he was able to score his maiden points, finishing eighth in race two. Michel Fabrizio scored points in eight of his ten races here, climbing on the podium in 2009 in Race 2 in 3rd. Last year he was 10th in Race 1 and 13th in Race 2, after a ride through for a jump start. Jonathan Rea was the winner of one of the most controversial races in Superbike history, when he climbed on the top step of the podium in Race 2 last year. Davide Giugliano last year was 7th in race one and retired for an accident triggered by Checa in Race 2. He was 6th in the Supersport race in 2007, won by Kenan Sofuoglu. The best weekend for Leon Camier in Donington came two years ago, when he was 8th in Race 1 and third in Race 2. He always scored points here: his worst result under the chequered flag was a 13th in race one in 2009 as wildcard. Last year Jules Cluzel was the pole-sitter of the Supersport race, but he was 3rd at the flag. Four Superbike races for Max Neukirchner in Donington: in 2007 he was 8th and 10th, while in 2008 he fell in R in the wet race and suffered setup problems in race two, ending up 14th. Six Superbike races for Ayrton Badovini in Donington: his best result came last year, when he was 6th in Race 2. The best weekend for Carlos Checa in Donington was the one of his Championship-winning season, 2011: he scored pole and was 3rd in Race 1, winning the following in dominant fashion. Two second places, both in grid and in the races for Leon Haslam in Donington: he was 2nd on the grid both last year and two years ago, beaten by Sykes and Checa, and was second in Race 2 in 2009 and in Race 1 last year. Haslam won both British Superbike races in 2007. Read article
“Bar Sport” mania for World Superbike riders at Monza
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Thursday, 9th May 2013, 16:19 GMTA sunny Monza Circuit saw today a selection of WSBK riders taking on an unusual but extremely entertaining activity at the Superbike Paddock Show in Thursday's Round 4 Pre-event prior to the racing weekend, that was massively attended by fans and photographers. For a 21st century revival of the typical Italian "Bar Sport" Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team), Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike), Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team), Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma Aprilia), Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet), Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia), Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) and Ayrton Badovini (Team Ducati Alstare) faced three challenging activities: arm wrestling, table football and last, but not least, karaoke! Judging the singing contest were Manuela Raffaetà and Philippa Morson - girlfriends of Marco Melandri and Eugene Laverty respectively - and Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki duo of Luca Scassa and David Salom. Leon Camier was asked by Championship leader Sylvain Guintoli to join him for a vintage duet on the notes of Abba's "Mamma Mia". Jonathan Rea left his place at the microphone to his Monza's team mate Kousuke Akiyoshi, who performed "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga. Proving the first playoff round was not enough, Melandri called for a table football final match. The BMW rider, joined once again by fellow-Italian Ayrton Badovini, squared off against the team of Sylvain Guintoli and Michel Fabrizio: it turned out to be a bad call, as the two Aprilia riders scored the victory with a resounding 5-1. Read article
Sam Lowes on pole after Q2
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Saturday, 27th April 2013, 16:32 GMTSam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) got his 7th career pole position at Assen today with an astonishing 1'38.375 lap-time. The young Brit from Lincoln proved once again to be an excellent qualifier and, despite a still injured left hand and wrist, was able to precede the defending Champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki) by 0.643 seconds. Second Mahi Racing rider and current Championship leader Fabien Foret, after sitting out of yesterday's Free Practice and Qualifying because of the wet track conditions, made his way up to 3rd place ahead of Irishman Jack Kennedy (Rivamoto Honda) and Italian Roberto Rolfo, finally in the sharp end of the action onboard his ParkinGO MV Agusta Corse machine. Aragon podium finisher Luca Scassa (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki) snatched the last slot of the 2nd row away from Russian Vladimir Leonov (Yakhnich Yamaha Motorsport) in the final stages of Qualifying 2 for just 0.008 seconds. It was a difficult Q2 for Dutch star Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport), who will move off tomorrow from the 11th grid slot. Pata Honda's tough day was completed by Lorenzo Zanetti's 14th place: the Italian rider also crashed out, early on in the session, at Turn 1. Read article
Antonelli storms to the top in WSS QP1
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Friday, 26th April 2013, 14:04 GMTThe Supersport World Championship riders were on track this afternoon for Qualifying 1 on the rain-soaked TT Circuit of Assen. Andrea Antonelli (Team Goeleven Kawasaki) stormed to the first place at the very end of the session, snatching the top-spot in the timesheets from Christian Iddon (ParkinGO MV Agusta Corse) - who led morning's Free Practice 1 ahead of the Italian - for just 0.085 seconds. Assen is not a new track for the English rookie, as Iddon raced last year the British Supersport round on the Dutch track with impressive results (a win and second place in the two races). Mathew Scholtz brought his Suriano Racing Team Suzuki up to 3rd place, to precede defending champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki), Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport), who crashed at Turn 10 in the early minutes, and Alex Baldolini (Team Lorini Honda). 7th place for Roberto Rolfo (ParkinGO MV Agusta Corse), a rider well known for his skills on the wet. Italy's Fabio Menghi (VFT Racing Yamaha) had to undergo further checks at the Medical Centre after crashing out of Turn 8 and was diagnosed with an AC joint dislocation. No major consequences for Nacho Calero Perez (Honda PTR), Matt Davies (PTR Honda), Luca Scassa (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki) and Balasz Nemeth (Com Plus SMS Racing Honda), who fell off their bikes during the session. Read article
Supersport riders set for another epic battle at Assen
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Tuesday, 23rd April 2013, 16:32 GMTThe unpredictable outcome of the Aragon race has mixed up the cards on the table in the World Supersport Championship, putting even greater importance to this weekend's round at Assen. After the unfortunate faux pas of both Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki) and Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha), whose race came to an early end by technical issues, the current Championship Leader is now none other than Sofuoglu's team mate Fabien Foret, who rode to his 16th race win of the career after a gear shift problem forced an indomitable Sam Lowes to throw the towel in (the Brit was leading the race despite a painful hand and wrist injury). The Championship Standings are tighter than ever on top, as 2002 World Supersport Champion leads with 38, just a 2-point advantage over 'rookie' Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport Team), who is counting down the days to his home round, and 12 on Luca Scassa (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki). Last year's Assen round saw the historical podium of Vladimir Leonov (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha), the maiden rostrum finish for a Russian rider at world level in motorcycle road racing. Read article
Foret wins unpredictable WSS Aragon race
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Sunday, 14th April 2013, 14:04 GMTMahi Racing Team India gets its 2nd win of the season today at Aragon, this time courtesy of Fabien Foret, who crossed the line on his own in first place, following the gear shift problem on Sam Lowes' Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha that forced the Brit to a frustrating retirement on the last lap. Thanks to his 16th race win of the career, the 2002 WSS Champion becomes the new leader in the standings. An almost countless number of crashes, technical issues and unforeseeable happenings characterised today's Supersport close race, starting from the braking issue that put an early end to Reigning Champion Kenan Sofuoglu attempt for a repeat performance. Scot Kev Coghlan (DMC Lorenzini Racing Team) had a shot at the lead during the race, but at crash at Turn 7 prevented him from maintaining the first position. Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport) gets another podium finish in his rookie season, a 2nd place this time ahead of Italy's Luca Scassa (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres), Andrea Antonelli (Team Goeleven Kawasaki), Riccardo Russo (Puccetti Racing Kawasaki) and team mate Lorenzo Zanetti. Read article
