Van der Mark crashes on to Magny-Cours podium
Michael van der Mark finished second in today’s tenth round World Supersport championship race at Magny-Cours in France, in spite of crashing at the infamous Adelaide hairpin on lap seven.
Starting from the second row of the grid in wet conditions at the 4.411km French circuit, van der Mark, who was crowned 2014 World Supersport champion after the previous round at Jerez in Spain, settled into third place behind early race leader Kenan Sofuoglu and Jules Cluzel.
However, while running a relatively lonely race, the 21-year-old Dutch ace lost the front of his Honda CBR600RR on the seventh of the scheduled 17 laps. Van der Mark picked up his machine and rejoined the race in seventh place, fighting his way back to second after Sofuoglu himself crashed out of the lead.
Van der Mark’s Pata Honda team-mate, Lorenzo Zanetti, had fought his way up to fourth place from 10th on the grid and was challenging for the final podium place when the red flags came out on lap 13, signalling a premature end to the race.
It would have been Zanetti’s second podium of the season but the 27-year-old Italian retains fourth place in the championship, 17 points from third with the final race due to take place at Doha in Qatar on 2 November.
Michael van der Mark – 2nd
First of all I want to thank my team because I gave them a lot of work to do after I crashed in the warm-up this morning. They did a great job and gave me a bike that I was able to be really fast on immediately. Unfortunately I had a small crash at the hairpin which cost me a few places but when I picked up the bike I was able to go fast again straight away so I could get by the guys in front of me. I feel sorry for Kenan because he really deserved the win today but I’m happy to finish second.
Lorenzo Zanetti – 4th
I’m definitely not having much luck this season. Considering the qualifying position, I guess that fourth place is not too bad but I am quite angry because the podium was so close. The red flag came at the wrong time for me and I’m not sure of the reason why. But anyway, the race before this point was OK and now I have to fight hard and have some good luck in the final race at Qatar to try and get third place in the championship.
Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator
This morning’s warm-up didn’t quite go to plan when Michael crashed on his second lap. It meant we couldn’t really get a good feel for the wet conditions here but when the race began he was fast. He crashed out while fighting for second and had to get his way back there, which was a good effort. Lorenzo struggled in the dry all weekend and was cautious in warm-up. He was riding pretty well in the race and, even though he didn’t have Michael’s pace, he was fighting for fourth and fifth and eventually the podium. The race was red-flagged so he couldn’t get there, but we certainly saw the Lorenzo that we like to see.
More, from a press release issued by MV Agusta:
TEAM MV AGUSTA REPARTO CORSE DOMINATES THE FIELD IN FRANCE
The race weekend at Magny-Cours, in France, ended with an extraordinary win by Jules Cluzel in Supersport and an excellent 8th place by Claudio Corti in Race 2 in Superbike.
In the Supersport event Cluzel rode with precision and intelligence. In addition to Saturday’s pole position, Jules also notched up a lap time of 1’40.550, earning him the fastest lap in the category and the track record. In the race itself the Frenchman got away well, tucking in behind race leader Sofuoglu until lap 9 when the latter made an error, allowing Cluzel to open up his F3 and move ahead of the field in this penultimate race of the season. The MV Agusta Reparto Corse rider managed both his lead and the on-track conditions superbly before the race was halted in lap 12 because of a broken air fence.
For the third time this season, then, the French rider takes the top of the podium, doing so, what’s more, on his ‘home turf’: this excellent performance now puts him in second place in the world championship rankings.
Massimo Roccoli’s performance also proved to be highly positive. The Rimini-born racer clinched the 7th fastest time in qualifying but a problem during the warm-up lap forced him to start from the pit lane. Nevertheless, Massimo grittily fought his way back up through the field to put himself in the points.
Jules Cluzel: “I’m delighted, it’s been an upbeat weekend. On Saturday we not only took pole position, we also scored a track record. During the race I was really focussed in order to avoid any errors, although I still had to run risks on account of the slippery conditions on the rain-soaked track. And I won at home, here in France, by a massive 20 seconds… it’s been a thrilling weekend!”
Massimo Roccoli: “I was fast right from the start, and the fact that I love this Magny-Cours track really played a part in that. The seventh place in qualifying was good pay-back for what was a great all-round team effort. When we got to the race, though, I had problems during the warm-up lap, which forced me into the pits and meant I had to start from the pit-lane. A real shame! Nevertheless, I really want to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to take part in this race and be so competitive.”
In Superbike, instead, patient teamwork resulted in a further performance boost to the F4, the race outcome rewarding the excellent balance of the 4-cylinder Italian bike. Riding in the wet, Claudio Corti scored two positive placings: after coming thirteenth in Race 1, the team tweaked the F4 set-up, allowing Corti to take eighth place in Race 2.
Claudio Corti: “The qualifying was done in the dry, but the race was ridden in the wet and our set-up wasn’t suited to the conditions. I was also slowed by a couple of contacts with other riders. In Race 2 things went much better as we were able to make good use of the data collected in Race 1 to improve the set-up. I finished 8th, the best result of the season, clear evidence that we’re improving and building on all the hard work of these last months.”
The last round of the season will be held in one month’s time at the Losail International Circuit, in Qatar.
More, from a press release issued by CIA Insurance Honda:
JACK CRASHES OUT OF FOURTH
CIA INSURANCE HONDA’S Jack Kennedy crashed out of fourth place at a soaking wet 10th round of the World Supersport Championship at Magny Cours in France.
Jack was clear in fourth place on lap seven of 17 when the treacherous conditions caught him out. The race was eventually red flagged after 13-laps, with Martin Cardenas finishing 16th and Nacho Calero 18th for CIA Insurance Honda.
Martin said: “That was quite an introduction to the World Supersport Championship with the wet race and then getting run off track at the first corner to avoid riders crashing in front of me. I have learnt a lot about the bike and CIA Insurance Honda team, so will go to Qatar in positive mood as I know that track and will be looking for a decent result.”
The 11th and final round of the Championship is at Losail in Qatar on Sunday 2nd November in the first evening race for the class, taking place at 2015 local time.
Simon Buckmaster, CIA Insurance Honda Team Manager: “It was a great shame for Jack and the CIA Insurance Honda team, crashing out of fourth when he was on for a podium. He was pulling away from the group behind when he high-sided. That’s racing though and we go to Qatar to challenge for the podium again.
“Martin had to run off the track at turn one to avoid a crash at the first corner and lost a lot of time. So, for his first time here and in the rain, he rode a solid race and finished just outside the points. That gives us something to build on for Qatar – a circuit that he knows.
“Nacho struggled in the wet conditions and finished 18th. He has one more chance this year to score more points and we will be giving it our all at Qatar with him.”
Race result
1: Cluzel
2: VD Mark +20.274
3: Rolfo +24.232
4: Zanetti +24.911
5: Marino +26.599
6: Coghlan +26.860
9: WILAIROT CORE” PTR HONDA +53.463
16: CARDENAS CIA INSURANCE HONDA +1’38.961
18: CALERO CIA INSURANCE HONDA + 1LAP
Championship positions (after 10 of 11 rounds)
1: VD Mark 205
2: Cluzel 132
3: Marino 120
4: Zanetti 103
5: Coghlan 98
6: Jacobsen 95
11: KENNEDY CIA INSURANCE HONDA 56
12: WILAIROT CORE” PTR HONDA 50
29: CALERO CIA INSURANCE HONDA 3.
More, from a press release issued by Core PTR Honda:
ANOTHER TOP 10 FOR FILM
CORE” PTR HONDA’S Ratthapark Wilairot scored ninth place at a wet and shortened 10th round of the World Supersport Championship at Magny Cours in France.
There were numerous fallers in the difficult conditions but Film fought bravely to come through from 13th on the grid to ninth when the race was red flagged on lap 13.
Film said: “That was a very difficult race. The track was slippery and I did my best to stay upright. As the race went on I felt better and I am happy to get another top 10. I want better for the last round though and I am looking forward to Qatar, a track I know well.”
The 11th and final round of the Championship is at Losail in Qatar on Sunday 2nd November in the first evening race for the class, taking place at 2015 local time.
Simon Buckmaster, Core” PTR Honda Team Manager: “Film certainly improved as the weekend went on. After qualifying on the fifth row he didn’t get a great start but fought through for another solid top 10 finish.
“He knows the Qatar track well from his time in the MotoGP paddock, so we are looking for a strong race at the final round.”
Race result
1: Cluzel
2: VD Mark +20.274
3: Rolfo +24.232
4: Zanetti +24.911
5: Marino +26.599
6: Coghlan +26.860
9: WILAIROT CORE” PTR HONDA +53.463
16: CARDENAS CIA INSURANCE HONDA +1’38.961
18: CALERO CIA INSURANCE HONDA + 1LAP
Championship positions (after 10 of 11 rounds)
1: VD Mark 205
2: Cluzel 132
3: Marino 120
4: Zanetti 103
5: Coghlan 98
6: Jacobsen 95
11: KENNEDY CIA INSURANCE HONDA 56
12: WILAIROT CORE” PTR HONDA 50
29: CALERO CIA INSURANCE HONDA 3.
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Lead Then A Fall For Sofuoglu As Rolfo Podiums
Kenan Sofuoglu (San Carlo Puccetti Racing Kawasaki) looked on course for the race win in treacherously wet conditions at Magny Cours but an issue with visibility meant he fell while leading and was unable to restart. Roberto Rolfo (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki) scored a podium in third place for Kawasaki.
After a dry practice and qualifying session for all riders the wet on raceday proved no problems for Sofuoglu for a long period of an eventually shortened race. A misting visor meant he had to keep adjusting it into and out of corners and this distraction eventually led to him losing the front under braking entering the hairpin.
The race was eventually red-flagged after an air fence barrier had deflated by a crashing machine, with only 12 laps completed. Full points were awarded to the top 15 riders as usual.
Having worked his way through the field third place man Rolfo finished just ahead of another rider but well behind the race winner on a day of risk for all and reward for some.
Frenchman Florian Marino (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) took his Ninja ZX-6R to fifth place, two places up on Roberto Tamburini (San Carlo Puccetti Racing).
Patrick ‘PJ’ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) slotted into eighth, just adrift of Tamburini. Rookie rider Mason Law (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) scored good points for 12th and Christian Gamarino (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki) was 14th.
Alessandro Nocco (San Carlo Puccetti Racing) was one of three riders mixed up in a first corner incident and he was forced out of the race.
The next and final round is in Losail, Qatar, on November 2nd.
Kenan Sofuoglu: “The track was quite slippery but I found it quite easy to go faster than the other riders and make a gap. I was not pushing but I had some problems with my visor and I could not see anything after lap three. There was a very narrow line on the track that you have to use in the wet and I could not see it sometimes. I had to open my visor sometimes and when arriving in the braking areas I could not focus properly. The good point is that we were very fast in the wet today and in the dry yesterday but maybe this year it does not matter how much I fight maybe we are not going to have the luck to make a good result.”
More, from a press release issued by Michael Hill Promotions:
Leonov Crashes Out Of Wet WSS Race At Wet Magny-Cours
Russian Vladimir Leonov’s World Supersport race at Magny-Cours in France was over in handful of laps as the Rivamoto Honda rider slid to earth in the early stages.
World Superbike Championship, Magny-Cours, France, 05 Oct 2014
Having qualified 15th both he and the team were looking forward to a strong race but must now contend with the fact that their final appearance of 2014 could have ended better.
Despite the non finish in the race, Rivamoto Honda are pleased with what they have been able to demonstrate in their Wildcard races and are hopeful of being able to contest the full series in 2015.
World Superbike Championship, Magny-Cours, France, 04 Oct 2014
Konstantin Zotov – Team Manager: “We are obviously disappointed to not finish the race after such an encouraging qualifying session but this is racing and anything can happen. I am happy that Vladimir is unhurt but am delighted with the way that he and the team worked here in France. It’s the first time that Rivamoto has used an all Russian crew and it worked really well. We are working hard to ensure that we can be here full time in 2015!”
More, from a press release issued by Mason Law Racing:
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS FOR LAW ON WORLD SUPERSPORT DEBUT
18-year-old Mason Law scored world championship points on his World Supersport debut with the Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres team yesterday at Magny Cours in France, during the penultimate round of the championship.
The Essex lad made the brave decision to take a week away from his regular Pirelli National Superstock 600cc ride with his TrikMoto backed Kawasaki effort, and it was a worthwhile trip to France finishing in 12th place on his debut.
A delighted Mason said of his World Supersport experience: “I had an awesome weekend and thoroughly enjoyed the experience with the Intermoto Ponyexpres boys. Unfortunately I had an issue with the bike in qualifying or I feel I could have qualified higher up, but that’s bike racing.
“I had to start from the pit lane as rectifying the problem meant that we had to take a penalty, but to race through the pack was an incredible experience and it was great riding with riders of such a high calibre. I can now take a lot of what I have learned about myself back into British championship and be as fast as ever.”
Andrew Pitt – Intermoto Ponyexpres Sports’ Director:
“From a team point of view we were very happy with his progress and what he managed. We had a gearbox issue that came from Jerez in the Covena bike, so we needed to fix it and used a seventh engine seal, which meant a pit lane start – as the rule is six engines or engine seals per season.
“In the dry practice and qualifying Mason improved every time and listened to what we told him and he learned a lot just looking at how he rides compared to the other two guys in the team.
“I think he would have been in the points in the dry too with his consistency and pace. But regardless of that he had a good warm up in the wet taking 14th and then amazingly from a pit lane start, he got all the way up to 12th for some solid world championship points at his first attempt.
“The team were very satisfied and surprised with how well he adapted. If things fall into place and depending on who rides the bikes next year, there may be another chance for Mason at Qatar during the final round.”