Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Foret back to winning ways

By Glenn Le Santo

After a terrible start to the season, struggling with a Kawasaki ZX-6R that’s obviously down on speed compared to the rest of the field, Fabien Foret finally got back to winning ways at Misano.

The Frenchman, who took the World Supersport title on a Ten Kate Honda last season, stormed through the pack to victory. The race was punctuated with crashes and mechanical failures. Karl Muggeridge crashed out on lap seven in the Curva Carro, only to be joined in the gravel two laps later by his Ten Kate Honda teammate, Chris Vermeulen who fell while leading the race. Pere Riba crashed out on lap 11, again at the same turn, but this time while trying to pass some other riders.

Then Jurgen van den Goorbergh, who had pushed past race leader Katsuaki Fujiwara on lap 11, toured into the pits with mechanical problems on lap 12 – again while leading the race.

This left Katsuaki Fujiwara, Broc Parkes and Foret to fight over the lead. All three riders fought tooth and nail for the advantage but in the end it was the superior riding of Foret that saw him through to his first win of the 2003 season.

World Supersport Championship
Round seven, San Marino, June 20 – 21 – 22
Race result:

1. Fabien Foret, FRA, Kawasaki, 37:55.497
2. Katsuaki Fujiwara, JPN, Suzuki, -1.661 seconds
3. Broc Parkes, AUS, Honda, -3.953 seconds
4. Stephane Chambon, FRA, Suzuki, -8.067 seconds
5. Jorge Teuchert, GER, Yamaha, -10.940 seconds
6. Chrisian Kellner, GER, Yamaha, -11.271 seconds
7. Alessi Corradi, ITA, Yamaha, -12.391 seconds
8. Simone Sanna, ITA, Yamaha, -17.319 seconds
9. Cnristophe Cogan, FRA, Honda, -24.652 seconds
10. Stefano Cruciani, ITA, Kawasaki, -26.136 seconds
11. Matthieu Lagrive, Yamaha
12. Sebastien Charpentier, Honda
13. Alessandro Polita, Yamaha
14. Iain MacPherson, Honda
15. Ivan Goi, Yamaha
16. Matteo Baiocco, Yamaha
17. Camillo Mariottini, Yamaha
18. Didier Vankeymeulen, Kawasaki
19. Cristian Magnani, Yamaha
20. Gianluca Nannelli, Yamaha, -3 laps, DNF
21. Robert Ulm, Honda, -7 laps, DNF
22. Werner Daemen, Honda, -9 laps, DNF
23. Thierry vd Boscj, Yamaha, -11 laps, DNF
24. Jurgen vd Goorbergh, Yamaha, -12 laps, DNF
25. Pere Riba, Kawasaki, -13 laps, DNF
26. Chris Vermeulen, Honda, -15 laps, DNF
27. Karl Muggeridge, Honda, -17 laps, DNF
28. Arno Visscher, Kawasaki, -23 laps, DNF


More, from a press release issued by Chris Vermeulen’s publicist:

WINNING RUN ENDS

Chris Vermeulen’s record breaking winning streak in the World Supersport Championship has come to a shuddering halt at Misano in Italy.

The Australian rider crashing out on lap 10, while leading the 7th round of the series.

“I don’t know what happened. I mean I lost the front end but there was no warning at all. I wasn’t pushing, I was just trying to let a few laps roll away and before I knew it I was in the gravel,” Vermeulen said.

It seemed another case of catch me if you can from the 21 year old, who pounced on the lead with in just a few turns of the opening lap, but after holding off a challenge from Katsuaki Fujiwara crashed when he lost the front end.

“The bike was just perfect, it’s pretty hard to take, but that is racing.

“The thing is it’s all about winning a world championship and having a big points lead has come in handy hasn’t it! The best thing is there are no injuries and I’ll enjoy my month break,” the Honda rider said.

The Tenkate machine was not the only Pirelli shod machine to struggle at Misano, with the race dominated by Dunlop backed teams.

Vermeulen’s first DNF of the year means his world championship lead has been cut to 35 points with 4 rounds remaining.

The series resumes on July 27 at Brands Hatch.


More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:

HONDA’S PARKES KEEPS RECORD ROLLING AS FORET WINS

Honda rider Broc Parkes ensured the new CBR600RR has finished on the podium in every World Supersport championship round this year as he took third place, behind winner Fabien Foret and Katsuaki Fujiwara in Sunday’s seventh round at Misano, San Marino.

BKM Honda rider Parkes led the race with five laps to go before the young Australian settled for third and his first podium finish in the world championship.

“I could’ve gone for the win but it was tricky,” admitted Parkes. “I was on the edge and I took a look back and saw a big gap to fourth place so the sensible option was to finish and I’m happy to achieve third.”

Stephane Chambon took a lonely fourth place while Jorg Teuchert won a three-way, all-Yamaha battle for fifth. His team-mate Christian Kellner took sixth with Alessio Corradi seventh.

Simone Sanna took eighth after watching his team-mate Jurgen van den Goorbergh retire while leading on lap 12 of the 23-lapper. Parkes’ BKM Honda team-mate Christophe Cogan finished ninth.

Cogan said: “I made a really bad start but then the rear tyre started working really well and I was progressing. In the end the tyre was worn and that determined where I finished.”

Sebastien Charpentier was relatively happy with 12th place on his Klaffi Honda after a troubled two days of qualifying.

“I made a bad start and almost got caught up in crashes through the first three corners,” reported Charpentier. “After the half-race distance the rear tyre began moving around a lot but it was to be expected in this heat.”

Van Zon Honda’s Iain MacPherson finished 14th but the Scotsman admitted enduring a tough race, he said: “I made the wrong choice of rear tyre and couldn¹t get any rhythm going in the race. I was fighting with the machine for 23 laps but it’s done now, I’ll get into shape for the next round at Brands Hatch.”

Klaffi Honda’s Robert Ulm crashed out of 14th place with six laps to go, he said: “I was losing too much time out of corners so I tried going faster in but lost the front grip, there was no warning ­ I was just too fast.”

Werner Daemen, on the Van Zon Honda, retired on the 15th lap, he explained: “I was at the back of a group of riders and, with no clean air, everything got too hot in the machine and I boiled the clutch.”

Championship leader Chris Vermeulen crashed out while leading, on the ninth lap. Vermeulen maintains his championship lead but ended his run of three straight wins.

“I’m really disappointed,” said Vermeulen. “The bike felt really good. I wasn’t pushing that hard then the front just tucked under without any warning. It’s a little strange, exactly the same thing happened to Neil Hodgson, at the same corner, in the first Superbike race.”

Vermeulen’s team-mate Karl Muggeridge also crashed, also at the same corner, on lap seven while holding seventh place. He explained: “Exactly the same as Chris, no warning, the front just let go. I had a good set-up too after we’d worked hard overnight again.”


More, from a press release issued by Ten Kate Honda:

Ten Kate Honda hit zero at Misano

A day of disappointment for the Ten Kate Honda Supersport team in Italy for the seventh round of the World Supersport championship with both riders crashing out at the same turn on different laps.

Karl Muggeridge was first to go when he lost the front end in the Curva Carro, the third turn on the Santa Monica circuit.

“I got absolutely no warning,” said Muggeridge after the race. “The Honda CBR600RR had been performing faultlessly and I was making my way up through the field. Things looked good until I found myself sitting in the gravel at the Carro.”

In a double dose of misfortune Muggeridge’s team mate Chris Vermeulen crashed out at the same turn, in the same manner, two laps later.

“The Pirelli tyres, the bike – everything was great until that point. I got no warning and I couldn’t catch it with my knee. I’m obviously very upset to crash out while leading and I apologised to the team for disappointing them like this – they’ve all worked so hard this weekend to provide me with a great bike.”

Team manager Ronald ten Kate was stunned by the result:

“We were expecting a hard race but honestly had no idea it would be this hard!” he said. “The only positive point is that we are still leading the championship by 35 points, so there’s no need to panic. What is strange is that two very talented riders should have identical crashes at the same spot on the dame day. It’s even stranger when you consider that the same corner also saw crashes from Neil Hodgson in the Superbike race and Pere Riba in Supersport and I think several others today. It looks like that turn is a bit of a Bermuda Triangle today.”


More, from a press release issued by Van Zon Honda TKR:

Disappointment in San Marino for Van Zon Honda TKR

The Van Zon Honda TKR team had a terrible race day in the searing heat at the circuit Santa Monica for the seventh round of the World Supersport championship.

Werner Daemen failed to finish the race when his clutch started to grab, making riding almost impossible.

“I tried to stay out even when the problem first appeared,” said the plucky Belgian. “But the clutch was grabbing so badly that I couldn’t get into the turns properly and it was getting dangerous. It’s a shame because I was enjoying the race, despite the heat.”

Iain MacPherson’s day wasn’t much better after he selected the wrong tyre for the race.

“I’ve struggled here all weekend,” admitted Iain, “the Honda CBR600RR has been great, it’s me that’s been the problem. In the race I was sliding around everywhere more or less from the start. I chose the wrong tyre and paid the price, finishing down in 14th.”

The team now have a break to regroup as the Supersport championship skips the Laguna Seca Superbike meeting. The next race is at Brands Hatch on 27 July.


More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:

Equalling his best race result of the season so far, former world champion Jörg Teuchert (Yamaha Motor Germany) took a fine fifth place at Misano, on a day that several other Yamaha riders suffered varying degrees of misfortune in the intense heat. Teuchert, the 2000 world champion, put in a remarkable ride after a difficult qualifying session saw him start from 21st on the grid. Completing a good day for the Yamaha Motor Germany squad, Christian Kellner secured sixth place ahead of local rider Alessio Corradi (Yamaha Team Italia Spadaro) in seventh.

Pole position sitter Simone Sanna (Yamaha Belgarda Team) gradually lost grip from his tyres in the punishing 50° temperatures, although he managed to bring his machine home in a career-best eighth position.

Matthieu Lagrive (Yamaha Motor France IPONE) narrowly missed out on a top ten finish, while his team-mate Thierry van den Bosch was one of several retirements in the 23-lap race.

World championship contender Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Belgarda Team) was forced to pull into the pits on lap 12, having led the race at one stage and looking good for his first win in the Supersport category. His main championship rival Chris Vermeulen (Honda) crashed out of contention, limiting the damage done to van den Goorbergh’s title push, and the race was eventually won by Kawasaki rider Fabien Foret, the reigning Supersport champion. The top six riders all rode on Dunlop tyres.

In the points table, van den Goorbergh returns to third place, having been overhauled by second place Misano race finisher Katsuaki Fujiwara (Suzuki). Vermeulen remains in the lead overall, with 131 points, Fujiwara on 96, van den Goorbergh on 84 and Stephane Chambon on 75. Kellner’s sixth place at Misano secures him in fifth overall with 69.

Jörg Teuchert (Yamaha Motor Germany) – fifth
“I don’t know what happened in the first five laps – whenever I came up behind another rider they crashed or made a mistake and I think I gained five or six places without even pushing. Then I was in 11th position and I thought I could get closer to the next group I was able to catch them through the corners and on the brakes, the only problem I had was when I was chasing Chambon. I got held up by Sanna and lost a lot of time trying to pass him because he was fast down the straights. I’m not happy with my qualifying performance but it is the race that counts… now I think I am back to my best.”

Christian Kellner (Yamaha Motor Germany) – sixth
“The race was very hot. The problem was my start, I think I was 12th and spent the first five laps fighting and being held up. As the race progressed I got better and better and my tyres were perfect from the first lap to the 23rd.”

Alessio Corradi (Yamaha Team Italia Spadaro) – seventh
“My rear tyre was gone after two laps and was sliding a lot. I tried to push hard at the end to pass Kellner but it was not possible. I wanted a better race but I am the first Pirelli rider so this is OK.”

Simone Sanna (Yamaha Belgarda Team) – eight
“I suffered with a lack of grip from my tyres after about eight or nine laps but I tried to go as fast as I could from then on. It was a shame but a lot of riders had the same problem today. I don’t think anyone could stay with Foret today.”

Matthieu Lagrive (Yamaha Motor France IPONE) – 11th
“The month of June has been good for me as I’ve scored points at Oschersleben, Silverstone and now here at Misano. I was able to improve throughout the race and my tyre worked very well. During practice I was struggling to find a good race choice and was fighting the bike. To finish 11th is good for me and I am happy.”

Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Belgarda Team) – DNF
“I had an engine failure, although at the moment we do not know exactly what the cause is. The bike stopped but I had some rolling speed and I was able to cruise it in. It’s bad luck because it could have been our first victory. Our biggest rival had crashed out and we could have got back 25 points and the championship. That would have opened it all up again.”

Thierry van den Bosch (Yamaha Motor France IPONE) – DNF
“It is very disappointing to retire from the race and obviously after qualifying 22nd this was one of the more difficult weekends for us.”