FIM Supersport World Championship
Magny-Cours, France
October 3, 2014
Free Practice Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Michael VD MARK, Netherlands (Honda CBR600RR), 1:41.744
2. Roberto TAMBURINI, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:41.947
3. Lucas MAHIAS, France (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:42.115, crash
4. Florian MARINO, France (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:42.230
5. Kev COGHLAN, UK (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:42.277
6. Massimo ROCCOLI, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:42.305
7. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:42.412
8. Jack KENNEDY, Ireland (Honda CBR600RR), 1:42.468
9. Lorenzo ZANETTI, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), 1:42.496
10. Dominic SCHMITTER, Switzerland (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:42.560
11. PJ JACOBSEN, USA (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:42.590
23. Martin CARDENAS, Colombia (Honda CBR600RR), 1:44.687
More, from a press release issued by CIA Insurance Honda:
JACK SHOWS FRENCH PROMISE
CIA INSURANCE HONDA’S Jack Kennedy is right on the pace at the 10th round of the World Supersport Championship at Magny Cours in France, ending the day a close eighth place on the time sheets.
Jack said: “It was a good morning session finishing second but we had a problem with the clutch in the afternoon session and my CIA Insurance Honda team worked very quickly to get it sorted. I got out at the end of the session and was on target for the front row but got held up towards the end of my fast lap. That’s frustrating but we understand that we have the pace for top three and will start from a good position tomorrow.”
Nacho Calero is pushing hard and finished 21st on his CIA Insurance Honda. He is finding his confidence and is well positioned to challenge inside the top 20 in qualification.
Martin Cardenas spent the day getting familiar with the track, CIA Insurance Honda, Pirelli tyres and World Supersport class on his first ride with the team. Finishing 24th, there is plenty more to come from the Colombian.
There is a further practice session tomorrow before qualification. The race takes place at 1140 local time on Sunday, October 5th.
Simon Buckmaster, CIA Insurance Honda Team Manager: “Jack was good in the first session. He then lost time in the second session with a clutch problem. He got out again and was looking good for third when a slower rider held him up. He is in decent shape and form ahead of qualifying.
“Position wise Nacho is 21st and needs to find another second a lap to challenge for the points. He is showing some determination, so we are going to work with him to achieve that.
“It is Martin’s first day at this track on a new bike, Pirelli tyres etc. – basically everything new. Today is just the start and we will work with him to improve tomorrow.
More, from a press release issued by CORE PTR Honda:
FILM GETTING USED TO WSS AGAIN
CORE PTR HONDA’S Ratthapark Wilairot finished the first day of the 10th round of the World Supersport Championship at Magny Cours in France in an unaccustomed 18th as he readjusts from his Moto2 experiences.
Film said: “I am at least 1-second a lap away from where I would normally be. I think I have made myself familiar with my bike today and tomorrow I want to be back racing near the front.”
There is a further practice session tomorrow before qualification. The race takes place at 1140 local time on Sunday, October 5th.
Simon Buckmaster, Core PTR Honda Team Manager: “Having shown good form previously, his two races on a Moto2 bike have effected his performance and we need to get him dialled back into a World Supersport bike so he can compete inside the top six where he belongs.”
More, from a press release issued by Pata Honda:
World champion on top again in France
Recently-crowned World Supersport champion Michael van der Mark was in imperious form at Magny-Cours in France today in round 10 of the 2014 series that he wrapped up one month ago.
The Pata Honda rider dominated both of today’s free practice sessions on his Honda CBR600RR to finish the day in provisional pole position with a time of 1m41.744s ahead of another free practice tomorrow morning and qualifying in the afternoon.
Van der Mark was almost 0.7s ahead of his nearest rival after this morning’s 45-minute opening session and, despite only marginally improving his time this afternoon, still ended the day 0.2s ahead of Italian Roberto Tamburini.
His Pata Honda team-mate Lorenzo Zanetti set the ninth fastest time today, improving his time by 0.5s between morning and afternoon sessions. However, the Italian is clear where improvements are required in order to secure a strong qualifying position for Sunday’s 19-lap race at the 4.411km Magny-Cours circuit.
Michael van der Mark – P1, 1m41.744s
The first day has been really good. We started step-by-step this morning and in the end I could do a really fast lap time – faster than I’ve ever been here. This afternoon we tried some different things but they didn’t really work. I improved my lap time a little bit but I wasn’t really comfortable. I was going for another really big step so for tomorrow we will change things back. I have a good feeling for the weekend.
Lorenzo Zanetti – P9, 1m42.496s
It’s been a strange day because I haven’t really been able to get a good feeling. I am seven tenths from Mikey in ninth place but I have been trying to work for the race. I don’t know why but I don’t really have a good sensation on the bike and I have been trying to find out why with my chief mechanic. It is mostly in the long right-hander at the beginning of the lap and in the two chicanes where the bike is heavy to change direction. The rest of the lap is OK so I’ll work hard tomorrow to try and improve.
Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator
The pressure is off Michael this weekend and his performance today has shown that. He was leading the pack in the opening session this morning. The other guys closed a little this afternoon but he didn’t really change much on the bike. Lorenzo found things a little more difficult and wasn’t comfortable in finding a lap time. His position isn’t too bad but consistency is not there yet, and he’s not completely happy with the bike. So we’ll see how we can help him with this for tomorrow.