World SuperBike 2001 - Round 2 - SuperPole & Grid
| Ben Bostrom (Ducati L&M) takes his first-ever Superpole -
"I am really pleased", said Bostrom, "This is my first Superpole and I hope it'll be followed by a lot more this season. I saw Troy and Colin set excellent times and when it was my turn I was feeling really good. The bike has been perfect all weekend and so are my Dunlops. All I had to do was keep calm and set a fast time. I want to thank my team, who did a fantastic job. Tomorrow the races are going to be really
entertaining." Bayliss used SuperPole to jump from 9th to 2nd on the grid - "We had a few problems in all the sessions", declared Troy. "In the free practice session before Superpole we managed to resolve all our problems and finally find a good set-up and the right Michelins to set a good time. With race tyres we're OK, but doing a Superpole like the one I did today really puts you in the right frame of mind for the race." Castrol Honda's Colin Edwards finished third - "We've got a good rear race tyre from Michelin and I'm confident I can win tomorrow. The temperature does make a difference to the tyre wear but during the last two days the temperature has been pretty constant. "I would have liked pole position but the race set-up is more important and we've got a good set-up with the VTR. After winning here last year I want to repeat that, this is one of my favourite circuits and I can't wait to get going tomorrow." Troy Corser fourth - "I felt a slight vibration in the front brake. "I was trying to brake as late as possible and this puts the brakes under stress. But we will be able to resolve the problem. In the Superpole warm-up I worked a lot on the choice of tyres and I've got some good results for tomorrow. The races are going to be really tough and anyone on the front row can win". GSE Racing’s Neil Hodgson fifth - "I’m really pleased with the result," said the 27-year-old current British Superbike Champion. "The team has worked hard to get the right set-up for the GSE Ducati and I’m looking forward to starting tomorrow’s two races from the second row." Okada sixth - "I had a little crash at Wesbank in the pre-Superpole free practice but it was nothing. The Superpole lap made up for a disappointing Superpole lap in Valencia and I was happy with the lap time. "Tomorrow will be my first race at Kyalami and I'm really looking forward to it - especially after not finishing either race at Valencia. We have a good set-up for the machine and Michelin have some very good race tyres for us." Chili seventh - "After qualifying yesterday, we know the bike is fast and competitive. We went even quicker today and I’m sure we will run even quicker tomorrow. If we get a good start I am sure we can get amongst the leaders quickly." Yanagawa in 8th and the injured Laconi in 9th - "I am satisfied with the settings on my bike and here you have to be in excellent condition even at the end of the race. "So I have prepared my options well for tomorrow. It's a pity I was unable to confirm in Superpole the good time I set in qualifying this morning, so the race will be a bit of an uphill struggle for me. But that's the challenge and I'm ready to ride to the limit". In tenth was Ducati's Ruben Xaus - "I am pleased with my Superpole today. "It's only the second time I've done it and I'm still learning. For me Kyalami is the most difficult track in the entire championship because the altitude makes you lose a bit of power and with my riding style and my physique I feel it more than the other riders. For tomorrow I want to finish the race and score some points. To get a good result, we'll have to wait until I return to Europe on tracks I know better and where I have more experience." SuperPole |
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