FIM Supersport World Championship
Jerez Circuit, Spain
September 5, 2014
Free Practice Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Michael VD MARK, Netherlands (Honda CBR600RR), 1:45.173
2. Lorenzo ZANETTI, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), 1:45.304
3. Jules CLUZEL, France (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:45.451
4. PJ JACOBSEN, USA (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:45.640
5. Roberto ROLFO, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:45.674
6. Jack KENNEDY, Ireland (Honda CBR600RR), 1:45.720
7. Kev COGHLAN, UK (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:45.728
8. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:45.761
9. Florian MARINO, France (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:45.786
10. Alessandro NOCCO, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:45.929
More, from a press release issued by Pata Honda:
Van der Mark in control at Jerez
Despite two months away from his Pata Honda CBR600RR, Michael van der Mark began round nine of the World Supersport championship at Jerez in Spain in sparkling form today.
The 21-year-old Dutch rider and current series leader finished on top of the time sheets in both free practice sessions despite, like many other top riders, being unable to improve on his morning time as track temperatures soared to 55 degrees.
Van der Mark’s Pata Honda team-mate, Lorenzo Zanetti, 27, was fifth fastest in this morning’s cooler conditions but finished Free Practice 2 in second place, only fractionally slower than his team-mate this afternoon.
With similar weather conditions expected at the 4.423km Jerez circuit tomorrow, the afternoon qualifying session to determine grid positions for Sunday’s race, in which the destination of this year’s world title could be decided, will be as important as ever.
Michael van der Mark – P1
I’ve got to be quite happy with that after such a long break. I haven’t ridden the CBR for eight weeks so it took some getting used to again but we were fast from the first session. I had a good feeling with the bike and we tried some other things this afternoon, but the track temperature was a little bit too high. We lost a bit of grip but the overall feeling is good and, after the long summer break, we are up to speed again.
Lorenzo Zanetti – P5
Finally we’re back! This morning was a little strange after two months off the bike but at the end of the session I was able to get into the top five, which was good. Today I had a good motivation because I want to fight for the podium here and I need to work a lot on race distance. I tried a few tyre options today on the front and the rear and I was second fastest this afternoon. OK, Mikey [van der Mark] and me had some problems because the track temperature was so high but at the moment the base setting is really good.
Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator
Lorenzo knew what he had to do here and that’s to get back to the top three. In the morning when it was cooler he improved his time at the end of the session. Even when it was really hot this afternoon he managed to go second. From the first lap this morning to the last lap this afternoon Michael has been really fast. He has one or two things to sort but he’s calm and in control, so it’s been a good start to the weekend.
More, from a press release issued by Michael Hill Promotions:
Solid Opening Day For Rivamoto On Their Return To WSS
The World Supersport championship resumed in Jerez, Spain earlier today with Russian rider Vladamir Leonov returning to the action with the Rivamoto Team.
Leonov, started the season with MV Agusta and is still under contract to Yakhnich Motorsport who came to an agreement with Rivamoto for the Spanish round, and it is hoped the final two races at Magny-Cours and Losail.
For Leonov it was not only an opportunity to return to World Supersport competition but also an opportunity to sample life on a Honda for the first time, and throughout the two Free Practice sessions the team worked hard making big steps forward resulting in Vladamir completing the opening day in 18th position overall on the combined classification.
Worth noting is the fact that with the temperatures soaring into the high 30’s for FP2 Leonov and the Rivamoto Honda were one of only a handful of riders to improve their times this afternoon which bodes well for official qualifying tomorrow.
Konstantin Zotov – Rivamoto Team Manager: “We are glad to be back in the paddock. We want to work hard to show our true potential and hopefully get support to allow us to continue for the rest of the season and for next year. We are extremely pleased with our current arrangement and are happy with the improvements that Vladamir has made here so far. We are looking forward to a good remainder of the weekend and hope to make further improvements tomorrow morning before qualifying.”
Vladamir Leonov: “Today the feeling is not so bad considering the Honda is a new bike for me. Tomorrow we will try some new things to improve the feeling with the bike and the grip but overall it has been a positive day. The feeling in the team is already really good. I know the guys and we already have established a good way of working. Tomorrow we will try the best that we can to qualify strong and then have a good race on Sunday.”