Spies smashes Superpole for WSBK Rnd 3 at Valencia

1 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1’34.709
2 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1’34.714
3 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’34.775
4 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’34.817
5 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’34.839
6 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1’34.851
7 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1’34.908
8 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1’34.939
9 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’34.955
10 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’34.968
11 24 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 1’34.997
12 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1’35.051
13 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.117
14 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.139
15 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1’35.236
16 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1’35.270
17 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1’35.416
18 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’35.416
19 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.437
20 121 Hopkins J. (USA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.556
21 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’35.718
22 33 Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.890
23 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’35.909
24 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.030
25 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.119
26 94 Checa D. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R1 1’36.581
27 86 Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.745
28 77 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’36.813
29 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.826
30 88 Resch R. (AUT) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’37.820

1 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1’33.270
2 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1’33.955
3 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1’34.082
4 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1’34.259
5 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’34.755
6 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’34.903
7 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.056
8 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.346
9 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1’34.536
10 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’34.655
11 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1’34.684
12 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1’34.742
13 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’34.823
14 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1’34.863
15 24 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 1’35.082
16 121 Hopkins J. (USA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.251
17 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1’35.203
18 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’35.204
19 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1’35.806
20 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’35.416
21 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’35.718
22 33 Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’35.890
23 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’35.909
24 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.030
25 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.119
26 94 Checa D. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R1 1’36.581
27 86 Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.745
28 77 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’36.813
29 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’36.826
30 88 Resch R. (AUT) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1’37.820

Spies takes incredible third consecutive pole in Valencia

In a drama filled day of incidents Ben Spies again proved his incredible riding skills, taking his third consecutive pole position start in the 2009 championship and smashing the Ricardo Tormo lap record in the process. Spies was the fastest rider in the morning qualifying session with a time of 1’34.709, team-mate Sykes was slower onto the pace, qualifying in 16th position. Spies is the first rider to score three consecutive poles at the beginning of the World Championship season since Scott Russell in 1994.

Spies bike suffered a fault at the end of the second Superpole, leaving him no choice but to head out on the back-up bike for the final session. The different bike set-up proved to be a winning combination, Spies set a blistering pace and qualified on pole position with a time of 1’33.270, setting a new lap record in the process. The Superpole session did not go so well for team-mate Sykes, he initially qualified in 6th position on race tyres however as other riders changed to qualifiers he was bumped down the field with no time to go out again.

Ben Spies, Yamaha World Superbike Team (1st, 1’33.270)
“The first session was good for us. We still have some things we’re working through but even now the race pace seems good and we seem fast and that’s what matters. Superpole was good, we went out and got through the first two sessions and was going well until the end of the second session when we had a problem with the bike and had to switch to the back-up bike. When I got out there I knew the set-up was good and actually think we’ve found something for the race tomorrow. Obviously we don’t get points for pole but it’s good to get three in a row. I guess in the end it’s about having a couple more feet on everyone else just for that start. ”

Tom Sykes, Yamaha World Superbike Team, (17th, 1’35.203)
“This morning was a steady session because we had some things to work out. I shouldn’t really have been that low on the Superpole, I started on a race tyre and had an ok time and thought I was quite safe in the top six, unfortunately the other riders switched to qualifiers. It’s difficult because now you can get stuck behind riders in the race that you wouldn’t normally be behind and wouldn’t be a problem. So we’ve got a lot of work to do tomorrow, I was hoping we were going to have a good position to start but it doesn’t look that way now.”

Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha World Superbike Team Manager
“we had a good result one side of the garage, the other side a bit less. Unfortunately Tom lost the ability to do the2nd and 3rd superpole sessions. Ben did a really good lap, he broke the old lap record and he also had a really good race pace. As usual we will make some more changes overnight and check everything in the morning ready to race.”

Crutchlow takes superb pole in flawless Valencia qualifying

Cal Crutchlow powered his YZF-R6 to an impressive second pole position start in a row in the Valencia sunshine today. The British rider was rarely out of the top two for the session putting in consistently quick laps to take pole 0.16 seconds ahead of local Spanish rider Lascorz (Kawasaki).

Crutchlow’s team-mate Fabien Foret struggled to find the ideal race pace but improved over the qualifying session to take a place on the 2nd row of the grid in 8th position for tomorrow’s World Supersport race.

Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha World Supersport Team, (1st, 1’35.865)
“we had a good session today, I think we’re still showing what we can do. We’ve always said the bike is good over a couple of laps so hopefully we’ll be able to maintain that over race distance. I’m looking forward to the race, I think we’ve got a good pace to be able to stay up there and there’s no reason why we can’t be running at the front and we’ll see what happens. I think Lascorz is probably the main threat, it’s his home circuit and he’s fast here but I’m not going to count out West, Pitt or Laverty either!”

Fabien Foret, Yamaha World Supersport Team, (8th, 1’37.013)
“We stuck on one tyre for the session and in hindsight and it looks like another one may have been better for more front feeling and confidence for me. It’s ok though, I’m on the second row for tomorrow and I feel confident I can find the race pace to stay with the front .”

Wilco Zeelenberg, Yamaha World Supersport Team Manager
“it was a good qualifying session and I’m as happy as I was yesterday. It’s good to be on pole and to have two of those laps being flying laps from Cal. We found some things to improve at the end of the session for Cal and Fabien but Fabien struggled a bit to get the pace and the speed. He’s on the 2nd row though and that’s where he started from in Qatar and Cal is on pole like Qatar so let’s see what happens tomorrow.”

—  Suzuki Report

Team Suzuki Alstare Brux riders Yukio Kagayama and Max Neukirchner qualified in fifth and sixth places respectively after Superpole qualifying and will start tomorrow’s pair of 23-lap races at the third world Superbike Championship at Valencia in Spain alongside each other on the grid.

American Ben Spies (Yamaha) took his third pole in a row with Regis Laconi (Ducati) second and Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) third.

Yukio Kagayama – 5th, 1:34.755:
“My back is still sore from yesterday’s crash, but when I am on the bike I forget about the pain. My job is to race and this morning we improved the set-up and suspension of the bike from yesterday, and although it is not perfect, it is better. I don’t think we will make any big changes for the races tomorrow, but I know I need to go faster! Before Superpole, my mission was to get into the last eight and I managed that, though it would’ve been good to get on the front row. It will be very important to get good starts tomorrow because the lap times are very close. At one time today, I think the top 20 were separated by only one second!

Max Neukirchner – 6th, 1:34903:
“We improved the handling of the bike today and also found a bit more grip, but our biggest problem is that we need more side grip. I had a crash this morning but it was not my fault because I fell on somebody else’s oil. It was at the first right-hander and when I saw yellow flags, I slowed down, but I still crashed because I couldn’t see the oil. I think Superpole was one of our best this year, or maybe the best, but the lap times are very close this year and it’s all very, very competitive. This new Superpole system is a bit of a gamble – with just two qualifying tyres available – so I decided to use them in Superpole 1 and 2, instead of keeping one for Superpole 3. I need a good start tomorrow because it is not so easy to pass in the infield, so I hope to get off the line quickly in both races.”

—  Ten Kate Report

Jonathan Rea and Carlos Checa will start tomorrow’s two third round 2009 World Superbike championship races from the second row after a tense Superpole at Valencia this afternoon.

Checa, who topped yesterday’s free practice session, was fastest in the opening Superpole session, when four of the fastest 20 riders from regulation qualifying are eliminated. However, in the second session that sees sixteen reduced to eight, the Spaniard crashed.

Checa was able to use the qualifying tyre that had only done one lap from the first Superpole session to ensure his place in the final shoot-out, when he had to use a race tyre to qualify in eighth place.

Rea, meanwhile, qualified from Superpole 1 in ninth place, using a qualifier to ensure his progression. He opted for more of the same in Superpole 2 and set his fastest race-tyre lap of the weekend in the final shoot-out, qualifying in seventh place.

Jonathan Rea – P7, 1’35.056s
I’m happy that we’ve made solid and steady progress – even if it’s not been spectacular. The CBR is really powerful here and in some places it’s a little tricky to make the most of that power. I used a qualifier in the first two sessions to get into the last eight, and then set my best lap of the weekend on a race tyre. So Superpole was a lot better than in Qatar. We still need to do a lot of work tonight to try and find more from the bike, but the final sector is a lot better for us now and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow’s races.

Carlos Checa – P8, 1’35.346s
Luckily I was quite slow on my very first Superpole lap, so I did not use up too much of the tyre. When I crashed in the second stage, I was lucky to get a fast lift back from a marshall and we used what was left of the original qualifier on my spare bike. After that, all I could do was go into the final stage on a race tyre, but at least we are on the second row. Our race pace has been improving all weekend and I was able to do a good lap at the end. The times are very tight on race tyres so, with two good starts tomorrow, I will be comfortable racing near the front.

Ronald ten Kate – team manager
I can honestly say that I’m quite satisfied with the results today. Both Johnny and Carlos used their qualifiers in the first two sessions, so it was always going to be difficult to make the front row. But, considering most of the top 20 are within one second of each other on race tyres, I think we have to be happy with where we are. Tomorrow, the guys will need to be on the pace again because the prediction is that the races are going to be epics.

Ryuichi Kiyonari of the Ten Kate Honda Racing team will start from the third row of the grid for tomorrow’s two third round 2009 World Superbike championship races at Valencia, Spain after setting the ninth fastest time in today’s Superpole shoot-out.

The Japanese ace has been comfortable with his race pace for most of the weekend and made it through to the final 16 after the first of this afternoon’s three Superpole stages at the 4.005km Ricardo Tormo circuit. Kiyonari went out first on a race tyre but then utilised the first of his two allotted qualifiers to guarantee progression.

Kiyonari also used a qualifier in Superpole 2 but the lap time was not quite enough to see him through to the final eight riders fighting out for positions on the front two rows.

Ryuichi Kiyonari – P9, 1’34.536s
I was able to do a 34.7s lap on a race tyre, which is pretty close to my time on a qualifier, so maybe we could just get rid of qualifiers?! We have done a 10-lap test and we’re quite happy with the race pace and it feels stronger than what we had here last year. I need two good starts tomorrow to make two good results and I need them now so I will be trying my best in the races.

Ronald ten Kate – team manager
It’s a pity to see Kiyo-san on the third row and missing out on the top eight when he’s been consistently fast on race tyres all weekend. I think he has the potential to race at the same pace as the other front runners, so it’s important that he gets good starts, because Valencia can be difficult if you don’t get away with the leaders.

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda riders, Andrew Pitt and Kenan Sofuoglu face a tough challenge by starting from the third row of the grid for tomorrow’s third round 2009 World Supersport championship race at Valencia in Spain.

As Britain’s Cal Crutchlow set the pace by qualifying in pole position, Pitt and Sofuoglu have been getting to grips with the latest incarnation of Honda’s CBR600RR. With reduced practice time due to new FIM regulations, the team has been working at getting the front end of the machine to replicate its multiple world championship winning predecessor.

In a lively qualifying session this afternoon, reigning champion and current points leader Pitt crashed twice and was also run off the track by a slower rider. Sofuoglu, winner of the opening race in Australia, had a quieter time but is nonetheless determined to fight for a podium finish in tomorrow’s 23-lapper at the 4.0005km Ricardo Tormo circuit.

Andrew Pitt – P9, 1’37.063s
It’s been a tough day, for sure. It wasn’t helped by getting run off the track early on, but the other two crashes felt like a bit of under-steer. We’ve been making some changes to try and get the new bike’s front suspension working like the old model, but we haven’t quite got there yet. The power feels good though, and I have every faith in the crew coming up with something for us to try in warm-up tomorrow.

Kenan Sofuoglu – P11, 1’37.220s
I’m disappointed, because the third row is not where I expected to be. Yes, of course, with everything new, it was never going to be easy – especially with reduced track time – so we haven’t really had enough time to set things up as we would like. However, I know my team will work hard right through to tomorrow’s race to find a solution. Then I will fight as hard as I can because anything is possible and if I can get near the front at the start then I will have a chance to get on the podium.

Ronald ten Kate – team manager
Not such a good day for the Supersport team, no. We were able to dial out most of the problems we encountered with the new bike yesterday, but we have some different issues to resolve now. We will look hard at all the data this evening and try to find the right direction, but I think it might be a long night.

—  Ducati Report

The Ducati Xerox Team enjoyed warm and sunny conditions at the Ricardo Tormo circuit today and were more than satisfied with the results of a closely-contested Superpole, in which Ducati men Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio registered the third and fourth fastest lap times and thus confirmed their front row positions for tomorrow’s races.

In the second qualifying session that took place this morning Michel improved slightly on the fastest time he had set yesterday while Noriyuki, although lapping consistently fast once again, could not quite get under the 1m35 barrier that he was able to break yesterday. The first eleven riders concluded second qualifying within two tenths of a second of each other.

The Superpole sessions passed without any particular drama for the factory Ducati squad, the two riders qualifying comfortably for the second and third mini-Superpoles. Although unable to match the pace of Yamaha’s Ben Spies and privateer Ducati rider Régis Laconi, both Noriyuki and Michel are content to be starting from the front of the pack tomorrow.

Noriyuki Haga 1m34.0s
“I am very happy to be on the front row. Yesterday we had already identified a good setting to use for the races and so I was pretty calm as the important thing for me was to be in the top four today. I feel that we have a good package with the 1198 here at Valencia. Although I preferred the old Superpole format because it was simpler and came down to one fast lap, I guess we are making this new format work for us too. I’m looking forward to trying to win two races here tomorrow.”

Michel Fabrizio 1m34.2s
“I’m happy with today’s result. After the first two rounds in which I didn’t do as well as I hope, I’m happy that we’ve got back on the right road here. I feel as comfortable as I did in winter testing during which I was going really well. We’ve got the race pace and tomorrow I hope we can be up front and fighting to get ahead of Yamaha.”

—  BMW Report

BMW Motorrad Motorsport riders Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus will start tomorrow’s third round of the Superbike World Championship from the fourth and fifth rows of the grid despite a good final qualifying session this morning. Troy ended the second qualifying with the sixth fastest time, just 0.142 slower than the fastest rider – Ben Spies. Ruben finished seventeenth, only 0.707 down on Spies, but all that changed in Superpole when qualifying tyres came into the equation.

Both Troy and Ruben qualified for Superpole 1, and Troy’s lap of 1:34.961 was just eight tenths of a second slower than the fastest rider and enough to get him into Superpole 2, but he could not quite manage a lap fast enough to get into Superpole 1. Ruben finished 19th, and so missed out on getting into Superpole 2. American Ben Spies (Yamaha) took his third pole in a row, with Regis Laconi (Ducati) second and Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) third.

Troy – 14th, 1:34.863
We improved the bike from yesterday, chassis and suspension wise, and the bike felt pretty good on race tyres. But as soon as we put on qualifying tyres, everything seemed to change. Strangely enough, it felt as if there was more grip, but my actual lap times were slower! The bike was also harder to stop on qualifying tyres. If the organisers decide to not have qualifying tyres any more, I will be more happy. My bike jumped out of gear but, as I was upright at the time, it wasn’t a problem. This is a tough track at the best of times, but it’s going to be a whole lot harder starting from the fourth row.

Ruben – 19th, 1:35.806
Today I improved over a second from yesterday and that made me happy and when I put in a really good time on race tyres. I was very optimistic about Superpole qualifying. IN Superpole 1, I was on a hot lap, when the bike got a false neutral in the right hand hairpin. I went into the gravel with my knee down and then tipped over at slow speed. There was no damage to me or the bike, but I was disappointed because I thought I would be on course for getting into Superpole 2. At least I am more happy with the bike today then yesterday, though it does feel different when it is on qualifying tyres.

—  Triumph Report

Gianluca Nannelli and Garry McCoy qualified from row 4 and 5 respectively in the third round of the WSS. Both riders had trouble in finding the right cycle part setup during practice and had to change almost everything compared to the previous two sessions. By the end of qualifying, Gianluca Nannelli had gear selector issues, while Garry McCoy couldn’t get a clean lap because of other riders on his way who prevented him from setting a faster time.

GIANLUCA NANNELLI | Triumph Daytona 675 | 15th in 1’37.667: “We found the right setup and I’ll be using it for tomorrow’s race. Unfortunately, my bike’s gear selector broke down while I was setting faster times in the last two laps. I had to leave the bike on the track and return to the pits. I know I could’ve done better if this hadn’t happened, but I was unlucky once again. However, I’ll do my best and try to have a good race despite my starting position on the grid”.

GARRY McCOY | Triumph Daytona 675 | 17th in 1’37.744: “We practised a lot during the three sessions we were allowed. We couldn’t find the right setup, we changed things in the end though. We’ll have to analyse the data we have gathered in order to improve and reduce the gap from the top riders. This is a track where it’s very hard to overtake as there are only three places where you can do it. Scoring a great result won’t be easy but I’ll try my best nonetheless”.