World SuperSport 2001 - Round 2 - Qualifying 2
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This is not the grid -
The combined grid is at the bottom of this page
Combined Times/Grid Paolo Casoli held on for his first pole position of the year after setting the fastest time in Friday's qualifying session then staying on top when the rain hit Saturday afternoon's final session for round two of the World Supersport championship at Phillip Island in Australia. Kevin Curtain 3rd 1'37.063, couldn't improve his yesterday time like all the other competitors he had to face strong wind disruptions: "Today's weather is typical Phillip Island weather", commented Curtain "I know this weather very well, but it's the same for everyone and tomorrow is another day. At the moment it's impossible to make a plan now, we just have to turn up in the morning, have a look at the weather and decide then. Obviously my ultimate goal is to win the race, as everyone else. But I wanna finish the race and go to Japan with as many points as I can, although I have to say that I would love to be on the podium tomorrow." BKM team manager Michael Bartholemy, who experiences for the first time a front row for his team, comments:
"I'm very happy with Kevin's result and being on the front row is very important for me. I'm also very satisfied that we didn't had any other technical problems like at Valencia, which made it possible to secure this 3rd place. It's very good for Kevin to realise this start position in his home country but also for the whole team who deserves this
result." Andrew was positive when he said,
“I think we have a great set-up for tomorrow and now it doesn’t matter if it rains. It’s the same for everyone, but after the wet session today, I wouldn’t mind a wet race
tomorrow.” Muggas - "That's probably the worst conditions I've ever ridden in it was horrible out there today. The wet wasn't so much of a problem, but the wind was. It was so strong and kept gusting and changing direction. It was never the same on every lap, so you really had to keep your wits about you at all times. "We did however make a successful test of some new Dunlop wet tyres, "I'm not too worried about the third row of the grid because the first turn is a long way away and also, it's long race. I hope that the weather does one thing or another and I get a good start. After that we'll just have to see what happens." Castrol Honda's Chris Vermeulen will start Sunday's second round of the World Supersport championship from 12th place on the grid after wind and rain prevented any of the riders from improving on their Friday afternoon qualifying times here at Phillip Island, Australia. But the 18-year-old from Yandina in Queensland remains in confident mood about his chances in tomorrow's 21-lap race. He said: "I was third fastest in the wet, free practice session this morning and third quickest in this afternoon's qualifying in drying conditions so I'm comfortable whatever the conditions for tomorrow's
race. Ten Kate Honda's Fabien Foret will start from 15th place with Alpha Technik's Markus Barth in 22nd and the BKM Honda of Ivan Goi 29th.
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