Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Fabien Foret all out for vengeance

By Glenn LeSanto

Coming from a disqualification at Lausitzring after winning the race, you could expect Fabien Foret to be in determined mood. He was! He set the fastest ever Supersport lap time at Misano to take provisional pole in Friday¹s qualifying.

Foret, on the Ten Kate Honda CBR600, set his best time in the final minute of the 45-minute session. Suzuki’s Katsuaki Fujiwara ­ who inherited Foret’s win at Lausitz ­ was second quickest.

Andrew Pitt, the defending World Champion, set the third fastest time of the day in front of Iain MacPherson, who was fourth fastest on the other Ten Kate Honda.

Paolo Casoli on the Yamaha, also disqualified at Lausitz, came in fifth fastest. Stephane Chambon on the Alstare Suzuki, who leads the title chase, was sixth.

With temperatures in the 30s C and on a track that’s known to be abrasive and yet not so grippy, tires are sure to come into the equation in the race on Sunday. So while qualifying and grid positions are important, the result may be more down to tire endurance than grid positions.

Friday’s World Supersport qualifying times:
1 Fabien Foret, France (Honda) 1:37.669

2 Katsuaki Fujiwara, Japan (Suzuki) 1:37.864

3 Andrew Pitt, Australia (Kawasaki) 1:38.278

4 Iain MacPherson, GB (Honda) 1:38.396

5 Paolo Casoli, Italy (Yamaha) 1:38.420

6 Stephane Chambon, France (Suzuki) 1:38.471

7 Jorg Teuchert, Germany (Yamaha) 1:38.499

8 Christian Kellner, Germany (Yamaha) 1:38.582

9 Piergiorgio Bontempi, Italy (Ducati) 1:38.590

10 Chris Vermeulen, Australia (Honda) 1:38.624


More, from a press release issued by Honda:

FORET SETS SAN MARINO PACE


Honda’s Fabien Foret recorded the fastest ever Supersport lap in Friday’s opening qualifying practice for Sunday’s eighth round of the World Championship at Misano, San Marino.

Foret, on the Ten Kate CBR600, was in determined mood as he set his best time in the final minute of the 45-minute session. Suzuki’s Katsuaki Fujiwara ­ winner of the last round ­ was second quickest.

Andrew Pitt, the defending World Champion, set the third fastest time of the day with Foret’s teammate Iain MacPherson fourth to complete the provisional front row for Sunday’s 23-lap race.

Italian Paolo Casoli gave a healthy-sized home crowd some cheer as he put his Yamaha in fifth place with Championship leader Stephane Chambon sixth.

German Yamaha teammates Jorg Teuchert and Christian Kellner lie seventh and eighth fastest respectively with Ducati’s Piergiorgio Bontempi ninth and Van Zon Honda rider Chris Vermeulen 10th.

Honda UK’s Karl Muggeridge ended the day in 18th place with teammate John McGuinness 25th. Muggeridge said: “We’ve arrived here with more development work completed so it’s thrown the set-up out a little. I’m sure we can get it right for tomorrow.”

Friday’s World Supersport qualifying times:
1 Fabien Foret, France (Honda) 1:37.669

2 Katsuaki Fujiwara, Japan (Suzuki) 1:37.864

3 Andrew Pitt, Australia (Kawasaki) 1:38.278

4 Iain MacPherson, GB (Honda) 1:38.396

5 Paolo Casoli, Italy (Yamaha) 1:38.420

6 Stephane Chambon, France (Suzuki) 1:38.471

7 Jorg Teuchert, Germany (Yamaha) 1:38.499

8 Christian Kellner, Germany (Yamaha) 1:38.582

9 Piergiorgio Bontempi, Italy (Ducati) 138.590

10 Chris Vermeulen, Australia (Honda) 1:38.624