— World SBK 2013 – Round 14 – Jerez
— Eugene Laverty takes the double on Sykes’ dream day
The eni FIM Superbike World Championship season drew to a close today after the last race of a spectacular year. Many riders were in the spotlight in Spain but above them all was Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) who achieved a historical milestone for both himself and the Japanese manufacturer. The British rider grabbed his first-ever World Superbike title today and completed an outstanding record of 8 Tissot-Superpoles and 9 race wins with his 17th podium finish of the year, a second place in Race 2 behind Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team).
The Irishman battled out with Sykes throughout the first half of the race, eventually overtaking the Brit at the of the thirteenth lap and pulling away, to claim his second double-win of the season and the ninth race victory – same number of wins as the new Champion. Other works Aprilia rider Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) completed again the podium by crossing the line a lonely third, ahead of Toni Elias (Red Devils Aprilia), Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) and Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki).
Lorenzo Lanzi (Mesaroli A.S. Ducati) finished his weekend on a positive note as he ended up 7th, followed by Jules Cluzel (FIXI Crescent Suzuki), Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) and Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia). Local Xavi Forés (Team Ducati Alstare) crashed out of Turn 1 right after the start of the race, due to a collision with another rider, while Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) did not line up on the grid due to the injured ankle that bothered him also in the first race.
Tom Sykes: “Words cannot describe how I feel. I am very level headed but since Magny-Cours there are moments where my mind started dreaming. When I was dreaming I had goose bumps and it was magical to even dream I could be world champion. But that was maybe 2% of what I am feeling now after winning the title. It was good for the championship that it got decided at the final round again, especially here with these great fans. My team is mostly Spanish so it is a home round for them. The championship win has not fully sunk in yet but it will do soon, I’m sure.”
Eugene Laverty: “Two wins that came in different ways, as the second one was kind of easier because I was able to pull away from Tom once I got passed him. I’m happy with this double-win that extended our podium streak in the final part of the season. It’s a shame that we lost some points early on in the year, but I’m not the type of guy who likes to make excuses. Second place overall is a great result, as well as the Manufacturers’ title.”
Results: 1. Laverty (Aprilia) 21 Laps/92.820 km in 36’05.989 average 154.272 kph; 2. Sykes (Kawasaki) 2.711; 3. Guintoli (Aprilia) 5.710; 4. Elias (Aprilia) 15.509; 5. Davies (BMW) 21.830; 6. Camier (Suzuki) 26.558; 7. Lanzi (Ducati) 30.840; 8. Cluzel (Suzuki) 33.056; 9. Aitchison (Kawasaki) 36.299; 10. Giugliano (Aprilia) 40.867; 11. Neukirchner (Ducati) 44.308; 12. Parkes (Yamaha) 52.483; 13. Barrier (BMW) 53.674; 14. Fabrizio (Honda) 1’20.316; 15. Sandi (Kawasaki) 3 Laps; RT. Haslam (Honda); RT. Badovini (Ducati); RT. Fores (Ducati); RT. Iannuzzo (BMW); NS. Melandri (BMW).
Final Standings: 1. Sykes 447; 2. Laverty 424; 3. Guintoli 402; 4. Melandri 359; 5. Davies 290; 6. Giugliano 211; 7. Fabrizio 188; 8. Baz 180; 9. Rea 176; 10. Cluzel 175; 11. Camier 132; 12. Badovini 130; 13. Haslam 91; 14. Neukirchner 91; 15. Checa 80; 16. Elias 70; 17. Sandi 55; 18. Aitchison 46; 19. Iannuzzo 27; 20. Lanzi 23; 21. Salom 22; 22. Clementi 18; 23. Philippe 13; 24. Canepa 12; 25. Lai 11; 26. Pirro 10; 27. Lundh 10; 28. Hayden 8; 29. Young 8; 30. Fores 7; 31. Barrier 7; 32. Reiterberger 7; 33. Allerton 6; 34. Uprak 5; 35. Parkes 4; 36. Smrz 4; 37. Stauffer 4; 38. Ercelik 3; 39. Eslick 2; 40. Akiyoshi 2; 41. Haga 2. Manufacturers: Aprilia 550; 2. Kawasaki 501; 3. BMW 443; 4. Suzuki 243; 5. Honda 236; 6. Ducati 185; 7. Yamaha 8.
World Supersport
Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) put the icing on the cake of his title-winning season by crossing the line victorious after the 20-lap World Supersport final race of 2013. The Englishman had his last, successful battle, with Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki): the Turk did his best to keep the lead after several overtaking manoeuvres, but Lowes managed to pass him once more, with two laps to go, and pulled away for the win.
Roberto Rolfo (ParkinGO MV Agusta Corse) had the better of Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport) for third, whilst other Pata Honda rider Lorenzo Zanetti ended up fifth with a 23-second gap from the winner. Riccardo Russo (Puccetti Racing Kawasaki) edged Kev Coghlan (DMC-Lorenzini Kawasaki) to finish in sixth place and Sheridan Morais (PTR Honda) did the same on Vladimir Leonov (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) for eight position.
Results: 1. Lowes (Yamaha) 20 Laps/88.400 km in 34’59.865 average 151.553 kph; 2. Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) 2.117; 3. Rolfo (MV Agusta) 7.966; 4. Vd Mark (Honda) 9.714; 5. Zanetti (Honda) 23.643; 6. Russo (Kawasaki) 25.234; 7. Coghlan (Kawasaki) 25.427; 8. Morais (Kawasaki) 27.025; 9. Leonov (Yamaha) 27.173; 10. Foret (Kawasaki) 29.371; 11. Webb (Honda) 32.277; 12. Tamburini (Honda) 34.439; 13. Salom (Kawasaki) 34.585; 14. Scholtz (Suzuki) 36.110; 15. Faccani (Honda) 37.103; etc.
Final Standings: 1. Lowes 250; 2. Sofuoglu 201; 3. Foret 140; 4. Vd Mark 130; 5. Zanetti 119; 6. Rolfo 78; 7. Kennedy 76; 8. Scassa 75; 9. Coghlan 71; 10. Leonov 63; 11. Antonelli 55; 12. Morais 55; 13. Marino 53; 14. Russo 48; 15. Iddon 45; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Kawasaki 270; 2. Yamaha 258; 3. Honda 165; 4. MV Agusta 104; 5. Suzuki 38; 6. Triumph 6.
European Junior Cup
Jake Lewis (Jake Lewis Racing) has won the 2013 Pata European Junior Cup, powered by Honda after a thrilling race, that saw the Kiwi rider take the best out of an 8-way battle up to the finish line. Title contender Augusto Fernandez (DS Junior Team) missed the final victory for only 0.036 seconds, while Josh Harland (Easy Barber Racing) completed the podium in the final race of the year.
Results: 1. Lewis 8 Laps/35.360 km in 16’22.440 average 129.571 kph; 2. Fernandez 0.036; 3. Harland 0.298; 4. Canducci 0.301; 5. Manfredi 0.317; 6. Perez 0.325; 7. Flitcroft 0.402; 8. Orellana 0.789; 9. Sebestyen 3.094; 10. Bodis 3.200; etc.
Final Standings: 1. Lewis 101; 2. Fernandez 91; 3. Anne 72; 4. Manfredi 68; 5. Canducci 68; 6. Sebestyen 67; 7. Flitcroft 65; 8. Orellana 64;9. Raymond 59; 10. Bendsneijder 50; etc.
— Kawasaki Report
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) took his first Superbike World Championship title today as the first Kawasaki rider to take the top prize in production-based racing since Scott Russell in 1993.
Sykes knew that at the test track of most of his rivals he would have his work cut out to win but he also knew that he did not have to take race victories to take the championship title.
In race one Tom rode to a solid third place and in doing so he took a large enough advantage to make his championship win safe. He received his trophy for the title win after this race but he still had a second 21-lap race, in warm conditions, to complete.
Tom gathered his concentration and pushed on to lead 13-laps of the second race and finished second in the race, with a final championship advantage of 23 points. Tom also took the new lap record at Jerez today with a 1’41.691 in race two. Sykes also led for 255 laps over the whole season, more than twice the total of the next best rider.
The championship win was particularly sweet for the entire Kawasaki Racing Team as they missed out on the title with Tom by only half a point in 2012. In the 2013 season Tom has scored nine race wins, 18 podiums of all kinds, eight pole positions and 13 fastest laps.
Although Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) did not race today he finished the championship in 8th place.
Mark Aitchison (Kawasaki Team Pedercini) made great improvements at this round, finishing tenth in race one and ninth in race two, for 18th in the championship.
Kawasaki Team Pedercini rider Federico Sandi was 16h in race one but fell from contention early in race two, rejoining shortly afterwards to finish 15th. He ended his season 17th overall.
Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Kawasaki) led a four rider Kawasaki sweep of the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup race at Jerez, winning by 4.315 seconds from Pedercini Kawasaki rider Leandro Mercado, with Team MRS Kawasaki rider Romain Lanusse third. This was Kawasaki’s third win in succession and placed Jeremy third in the final championship standings, with Mercado fourth overall. Pedercini Kawasaki rider Alessandro Andreozzi was fourth in the Jerez race.
Tom Sykes: “Words cannot describe how I feel. I am very level headed but since Magny Cours there are moments where my mind started dreaming. When I was dreaming I had goose bumps and it was magical to even dream I could be world champion. But that was maybe 2% of what I am feeling now after winning the title. In race two it was my intention to do well, even though it would be difficult to top race one as all my energy had kind of gone after the first one. I hoped to be closer to the front but I did not expect to win. I think this was just Eugene’s race, although my Ninja ZX-10R was working very well. All things considered I have to be very happy today. World Champion, podium in the races and it has been an absolute pleasure to race with these guys this year. It was good for the championship that it got decided at the final round again, especially at this beautiful circuit, with these great fans. My team is mostly Spanish so it is a home round for them. The championship win has not fully sunk in yet but it will do soon, I’m sure.”
Kawasaki Mahi Racing Team India’s rider Kenan Sofuoglu was second in the last race of the year in Jerez and took enough points to ensure that Kawasaki would win the Manufacturers’ Championship
Sofuoglu Second As Kawasaki Wins WSS Manufacturers’ Championship
Fabien Foret finished tenth in the Jerez race and in finishing third overall in the championship he also played a large part in the Manufacturers’ Championship victory. The Kawasaki Mahi Racing Team India squad also picked up the annual team award for the most points scored by a two-man entry.
On his Ninja ZX-6R Kenan made a strong push to win, despite not having a perfect set-up on his machine to match the challenge of the Jerez track. He was in the hunt with eventual race winner and new champion Sam Lowes until the very end of the race, when Lowes was able to ease away.
Aware of the importance of a high placed finish for both Kawasaki and his team Sofuoglu took his bike home to second and ensured that both Manufacturers’ and Teams’ awards would be safe.
In the final points standings Sofuoglu is second on 201, Foret third on 140. In the Manufacturers’ Championship the margin of victory was 12 points.
Riccardo Russo (Puccetti racing Kawasaki) was a fine sixth in the 20-lap race today, winning the last lap battle with Kevin Coghlan (Kawasaki DMC-Lorenzini). Sheridan Morais (Go Eleven Kawasaki) took his Ninja ZX-6R to eighth.
David Salom (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) was 13th at his home round. Luca Scassa (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) did not race today but finished the championship in eighth position, one place up on Kevin Coghlan. Matthieu Lagrive (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) scored 18th place in the Jerez race.
Kenan Sofuoglu: “I think we had not such a bad season, but today Sam was a little bit faster and in the sessions this weekend. I tried to win the race and I am glad we could have a fight, but at the end Sam upped the pace so in the last two laps it was impossible. I really did not want to crash because second place was really important today because Kawasaki won the Manufacturer’s championship so our results were not bad. I tried to beat Sam this weekend but I think it was impossible.”
Fabien Foret: “It was a hard and long 20 lap race because I had some issues with the front end and I almost crashed twice. What can I say, we just brought it back as best I could and it was important to score points in case the guys behind me in the championship scored too many. I got third place in the championship and I would like to thank my team and my crew chief Andrew Stone after a good year. We won the team award and the Manufacturers’ Championship for Kawasaki. We also took second and third in the Riders’ Championship with Kenan and me in the first full year of this team’s life. I want to thank all of those team members.”
— Aprilia Racing Report
Eugene Laverty and the Aprilia RSV4 dominated in the last round of the 2013 World SBK season.
In Race 1 Laverty got the best of Marco Melandri with an extraordinary pass on the outside in the last turn after having led the entire race until two laps from the end when the Italian overtook him. It looked like it was all over but Laverty dug deep and found the winning move – and the most difficult line – right at the turn that comes out onto the final straight stretch. His final flight to victory was exhilarating.
In the second race Laverty followed Sykes who tried to pull the pin straight away, keeping him in check from behind and always demonstrating great confidence in his skills and the strength of his RSV4. Eight laps from the finish he made the decisive attack and then pulled away to win his ninth race of the season by a decent margin.
Eugene Laverty: “Those were two very different wins today. The second one was definitely easier because I was able to create a gap in front of Tom after overtaking, whereas in Race 1 the battle took place all within a few metres. I’m quite pleased with this double win. It’s a result that confirms our potential along with the string of podiums at the end of the season. It’s a shame we lost some important points at the beginning of the year, but I don’t like to whinge or make excuses. In any case finishing second in the rider championship with more wins than the rest is an excellent result and so is the Manufacturer Title for Aprilia.”
Sylvain Guintoli, still held back by the effects of the injury to his shoulder which conditioned the second part of his season, had to be give up on his attack for a podium finish in race 1 as he was slower than the front runners and his race ended with a strong fourth place finish. He made up for it in race 2 where he confidently controlled his third position, holding onto it and finishing on the podium.
Sylvain Guintoli: “This season was fantastic. I battled for the Championship in my rookie year on a new bike. Unfortunately after my shoulder injury there was just something missing and in the second part of the season I definitely was not at 100%. In any case the experience gained will be fundamental in 2014. As is always the case when you don’t win you think about improving next year. Today, especially in Race2, I tried to keep up with Eugene and Tom but I just didn’t have the pace and the strength to do it. This ends a really great season for me with a great team and a great team mate who gave me a run for my money. Now I’ll be thinking about recovering physically and preparing for the next championship”.
The wins at Jerez gave Aprilia the 2013 Superbike Manufacturer World Championship Title. This is the fifth Championship win for the Italian brand in the last four years of WSBK and the second in a row for the Manufacturer title. It is also Championship Title number 52 in Aprilia’s history.
Romano Albesiano, Aprilia Racing Manager: “The Manufacturer title is an important affirmation which is the merit of a perfect team and two riders who had an extraordinary season. It is rare to have two such important talents in the garage in the same season. Laverty and Guintoli have been in the battle for the world title since the first round. Laverty’s 9 wins are proof that he has added sports experience and consistent results to his natural speed. Guintoli led the championship for most of the season thanks to consistently exceptional performance and we thank them for the Manufacturer title that we won today”.
— HRC Report
Michel Fabrizio scored a point for the Pata Honda World Superbike team at the final round of the FIM Superbike World Championship after the team found issues with traction and electronics on the Spanish circuit on raceday.
Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) missed out on Superpole qualifying on Saturday and was forced out of each race, entering the pits as he could not maintain a strong lap time and compete.
Michel was 17th in race one 14th in race two, ending his stand-in period for regular rider Jonathan Rea with two points from his Jerez weekend. Both races in Spain were held in warm and dry conditions, after a wet track had been in evidence in the morning after overnight rain.
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) won the championship title itself after race one by taking a solid third place. Both 21-lap races were won by championship runner-up, Eugene Laverty (Aprilia).
In the final championship standings Rea is ninth with 176 points, Haslam 13th with 91 and Fabrizio seventh with 188.
Dutchman Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) ended his rookie FIM Supersport World Championship season in fourth place in the championship, having raced to fourth place in the 20-lap season finale at Jerez. Michael started from sixth on the grid and rode consistently well throughout, even when track temperatures went up and tyre grip went down. He finished nine seconds from the race winner, and 2013 WSS World Champion Sam Lowes (Yamaha).
Lorenzo Zanetti (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) was fifth in the race and replicated that finish in the championship table after completing his WSS rookie season. He and van der Mark look forward to their second year as team mates in the Pata Honda Supersport team in 2014.
Michael finished the season with 130 points, only ten from third placed rider Fabien Foret, with Zanetti on 119 points.
Danny Webb (PTR Honda) was 11th in the race, the third best Honda rider today, with Roberto Tamburini (Team Lorini Honda) just behind him in 12th place. The last Honda points scorer was 19-year-old privateer Marco Faccani (Evan Brothers Racing by SMA Honda) in 15th place.
Jack Kennedy (Rivamoto Honda) ended his rookie season in seventh place in the championship, after just missing out on points today in 16th place. He experienced problems with his brakes and was already disadvantaged by having to start from 20th place on the grid after troubled practice and qualifying sessions.
Raffaele De Rosa (Team Lorini Honda) crashed out of the Spanish race, but remounted to finish 21st. Ronan Quarmby (PRORACE HONDA) had a technical issue that stopped him completing another promising race.
Honda riders filled the standings from 19th place to 26th, with Luca Marconi (PTR Honda) 19th and Lee Johnson (Team Honda PTR) 20th.
In the championship Tamburini was 16th, having done half a season on a Honda, and De Rosa finished 19th, the last Honda home.
Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) Race result: DNF / DNF Championship position: 13th – “It’s difficult to know what to say, really. It’s been an unbelievably disappointing way to finish what has been a really difficult season. I’m glad to see the back of it to be honest and we’ll try to analyse what happened this weekend so that we can plan to get things in place for 2014.”
Michel Fabrizio (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) Race result: 17th / 14th Championship position: 7th – “We have had grip level problems all weekend and the disappointing thing is that we were not able to find a solution. This resulted in two very difficult races for me and I am sad that I had to finish the season in this way. I have enjoyed the opportunity to ride the CBR with this team and I wish Jonathan a happy return to the bike on Tuesday.”
Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) Race result: 4th Championship position: 4th – “Today was not that bad and we were fighting for fourth place. We missed a little bit of speed and some feeling today but to be honest it has been a good season for us and finished in fourth position overall, so we must be happy. On Tuesday we start a new season and we will have only one goal then, and that is winning.”
Lorenzo Zanetti (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) Race result: 5th Championship position: 5th – “Fifth place is not bad but I lost a lot of time in the first three laps trying to get past Russo. When I did that, the group with Michael had gone and I needed to be there to fight for the podium. Also, towards the end of the race my rear grip dropped off and this has been a problem. I spent the rest of the race alone, which wasn’t positive. However, the season has been positive and my feeling with the bike has improved so I think we can look forward to the next season with a lot of confidence.”
Jack Kennedy (Rivamoto Honda) Race result: 16th Championship position: 7th – “Free practice started well but we just never really improved. We struggled with the gearing and stuff and I felt that if I pushed any more I would crash. We got a good start in the race and I was up to 15th on the first lap but we had a brake problem, which prevented us from going any quicker. I was lucky to stay on in the end but it was unfortunate that Roby Rolfo scored third place, and took top six in the championship, because I wanted to take that position. Seventh overall in my first year? I have to be happy enough with that.”
Roberto Tamburini (Team Lorini Honda) Race result: 12th Championship position: 16th – “I came back to ride a Honda in the middle of the season and at Silverstone I got some feeling, then the next races were good. In the race this weekend we had a little problem with the set up of the bike, which did not go in a perfect way, but I am quite happy with the race and with my Honda. I would like to stay here again in 2014.”
Danny Webb (PTR Honda) Race result: 11th Championship position: 26th – “It was good, although I would have preferred to have been tenth. You always want to be inside that top ten when you are 11th. It is only the fourth time I have been on the bike and we have made a lot of progress throughout every race. I am really happy with 11th place and scored some points. I had a big crash on Friday, banged my head and I have a sore neck, but I am happy with the way we have progressed. The team has supported me in every way and put no pressure on me.”
— Fixi Crescent Suzuki
FIXI Crescent Suzuki’s Leon Camier completed a valiant comeback from injury during today’s two races at the eni FIM Superbike World Championship event at Jerez in Spain to record two top-eight finishes.
Camier had two strong races despite only getting back on a bike last Friday after a four-week lay-off following a severely broken foot. The Suzuki rider produced his best performance in the second race as he took an impressive sixth-place. Starting from seventh on the grid, he held that position until lap-eight when he got the better of Davide Giugliano. Camier tried to close the gap on the top-five, but was unable to make any impression on the leading group, so rode a smooth and sensible race to courageously bring his machine home in sixth. In race-one the Englishman lost a place on lap-one, but didn’t let that bother him as he tucked in behind the Factory BMW of Chaz Davies for the rest of the race and produced very consistent lap-times to consolidate his position at the end of the race.
Jules Cluzel always had a tough task ahead of him today after qualifying 18th yesterday. He also produced his best race in the second event as he got a great start to move to 12th at the end of the first-lap. The Frenchman continued to push and pick-off other riders as he moved through the field, eventually making his way up to eighth on lap-16; a position that held on to until the chequered flag. The first race saw him also move through the field from 18th to 11th on lap five. Cluzel chased down the rider in-front of him to try and take a top-10 finish, but as he lined up Mark Aitchinson on the final corner to take the place, the Australian pushed him wide and he was unable to make the pass and had to settle for 11th. Cluzel also had the honour of taking the highest top-speed through the speed-trap on the 4,423m Spanish circuit, as his Yoshimura-powered Suzuki GSX-R recorded 279.7km/h – over 1.5km/h quicker than his nearest rival in the second race.
Today’s results for the FIXI Crescent Suzuki team also moved them into fourth position in both the team and manufacturer’s championships, giving the squad the honour of top privateer team and also beating a number of factory outfits. Cluzel consolidated his 10th in the championship, just missing out on a higher place by one-point, although he did have the satisfaction of being the top-rookie. Camier also moved up to 11th in the standings even though he has had some very bad luck with injuries that have caused him to miss a large amount of the season.
Former Crescent Suzuki racer Tom Sykes took third place in race one today, which was enough to secure the World Championship title for the 28-year-old Englishman. Everyone at FIXI Crescent Suzuki would like to pass on their congratulations to Sykes; a very worthy 2013 champion. Both of today’s races were won by Eugene Laverty on an Aprilia to secure runner-up place in the championship for the Irishman.
FIXI Crescent Suzuki will now remain at Jerez for a post-season test on Tuesday as it begins its preparations for the 2014 season, which is provisionally scheduled to begin at Phillip Island in Australia next February.
Leon Camier: “I am really, really happy to be honest, because I didn’t expect a good result like that. It’s one of those things you debate with yourself as to whether you can ride or not, but as soon as you get on the bike and you get a bit of confidence back, it helps you to feel comfortable. Then you think that you need to go faster and push harder and you get right back in to the job, but you also have to try and keep a level head in those situations. It was good to follow the BMW and see where they are strong and find out what we need to improve on the bike. It was also encouraging to be racing with a Factory BMW and also to beat Giugliano, who has just been putting it on the podium and racing with the leaders recently. I think we all did a good job considering everything and I can’t thank my team enough for their patience and help. I felt exhausted at the end and my foot was sore, but it was a good day all-in-all..”
Jules Cluzel: “We made some changes from race-one to race-two and there were some good points about that and I enjoyed it a little bit more. I had to fight more with other riders and this was fun. The lap-time was not the best because I had to pass everybody at the beginning. I am happy with the race, because the weekend was not easy after Magny-Cours – which was a disaster for me – and we had a difficult start to the weekend and only qualified in 18th here. We made some big changes, but they were too late so they didn’t help our grid position, but that’s racing! This is the last race and now the season has finished, I have the feeling that I didn’t do my best in some races and that is probably because I was a rookie and I need more time to learn.”
Paul Denning – Team Manager: “Not FIXI Crescent Suzuki’s most exciting race-day of the season, but all things considered it was a great effort by both riders and everyone in the team. Eighth and sixth places for Leon – considering that specialist advice would have seen him at home with his broken foot in the air still recovering – was an amazing result in context and I, on behalf of everyone in the team and all our partners, thank him for his dedication and efforts to be back here and so competitive.
“From 18th on the grid the opportunities were always going to be limited for Jules, but particularly in the second race he did really well to recover to eighth and he rode two consistent and strong races and impressed us with his determination and aggression in making so many passes.
“The 2013 season has flown by and whilst we seemed to have attracted our unfair share of bad luck, there have been many positives. Despite all that bad luck, injuries and missed races, we have still managed to beat both Factory Ducati and Honda teams in the championship and the team has done a great job to take the level of the bike to where it is now and retain fantastic durability and race-long reliability. Thanks to everybody involved in the team. We know there is work to do to improve the level of the bike to fight consistently with the front group, but those steps are being taken and we are looking to make the best of those lessons learned as we move into 2014.”
— BMW Goldbet
A strong finale: BMW Motorrad concluded its factory commitment in the FIM Superbike World Championship with a successful performance at Jerez (ESP). In the first race of the 2013 season finale, factory rider Marco Melandri fought for victory until the finish line, coming home in second on his BMW S 1000 RR and claiming the fastest lap. Unfortunately Marco could not take part in race two due to his injured ankle. His team-mate Chaz Davies (GBR) finished the last races of the year in seventh and fifth respectively. Sylvain Barrier (FRA) showed a strong World Superbike debut on a third RR of the BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team. He finished 12th in race one and fought within the top 10 in race two but crashed and slipped back to 13th. It was also a strong finale for BMW in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup. Two weeks after Sylvain celebrated his second consecutive Riders’ title with the BMW HP4 of the BMW Motorrad GoldBet STK Team, the German manufacturer today also secured the Manufacturers’ title in the series.
Despite his injury, Marco only narrowly missed the victory in race one. Coming from fourth on the grid he improved to third right at the start. On lap two he put in the fastest lap of the race and overtook Tom Sykes (GBR) to take second. From then on he stayed on the heels of leader Eugene Laverty (IRL). The two fought an exciting battle until the chequered flag. Marco was waiting for his chance and took it on the penultimate lap. He got past Laverty and took the lead. It was only in the final corner, when Laverty gave it another try and managed to overtake Marco. The Italian BMW rider crossed the line in second, slightly behind Laverty. Chaz meanwhile was not happy with his race. At the start, he improved from tenth to seventh, but he could not push to gain more positions. Thus, he stayed in seventh until the finish line. Sylvain had a faultless debut race in World Superbikes. From 16th on the grid, he put in consistent laps and improved some positions, coming home in 12th. After race one, Marco had to be treated in the Clinica Mobile again and unfortunately he could not start in the second race. Chaz improved to fifth right at the start and in the early stages he was fighting in the front group. Over the course of the race, the gaps to the front increased. Chaz stayed in fifth until the finish line. Sylvain was getting more and more confident on his RR. He fought exciting battles with some established competitors and worked his way up to ninth. On the penultimate lap he then unluckily crashed but was able to re-join and cross the line in 13th. The winner of this race was again Laverty.
In the Manufacturers’ ranking, BMW finished the season in third with 443 points. This marks the best ever season for BMW in the Superbike World Championship with the previous best score of 421 points in the 2012 being topped. In the Riders’ classification, Marco is fourth overall with 359 points. Chaz follows directly behind with 290 points. BMW Motorrad congratulates Tom Sykes for securing the 2013 Riders’ title and Aprilia for winning the Manufacturers’ championship.
In the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, BMW Motorrad secured its second Manufacturers’ title after 2010 Thus, the new BMW HP4, which is equipped with the electronic damping system DDC, celebrated the Riders’ and the Manufacturers’ title in its first year in the championship. The HP4 which Sylvain won the Riders’ title with two weeks ago was ridden by IDM-Champion Markus Reiterberger at Jerez. The young German finished today’s final race in fifth. In doing so, he collected the points BMW Motorrad needed to stay in front of its rivals and to celebrate the Manufacturers’ crown. South-African Greg Gildenhuys finished 12th on the other HP4 of the BMW Motorrad GoldBet STK Team.
Stephan Schaller (President BMW Motorrad):
“During the last five years, BMW Motorrad have clearly shown a consistent growth, becoming one of the top teams in production based motorcycle racing in both Superbike and Superstock championships. In the last two WSBK seasons we established ourselves as a title contender, winning or being on the podium very often with both our riders. In the Superstock class, we won three Riders’ titles in the last four years and two Manufacturer championships with two different models, the BMW S 1000 RR and the BMW HP4. I want to congratulate the team, the R&D department and our riders and all others who have contributed to make BMW Motorrad a strong player in the Motorsport. The experience we have gained in World Superbikes has been fundamental for BMW Motorrad as a brand as well as for the product development. In the last five years we learned a lot from the technical and sportive points of view, and we understood how important it is to stay committed to motorsports. BMW Motorrad will go on as protagonist in motorsports thanks to our comprehensive customer sport project.”
Marco Melandri:
Result Race 1: 2nd / Gap to 1st: 0:00.218 min / Fastest Lap Race 1: 1:41.958 min (lap 2)
Result Race 2: DNS
“The first race was amazing. I gave everything to keep Eugene’s pace. Already with five laps to go I could not ride like I wanted because I could not use my foot properly but it was quite okay thanks to the Clinica Mobile. On the penultimate lap he made a little mistake so I came close to him and could try to make a pass. It was not an easy situation because we were sliding a lot but I was in front on the last lap. Then in the last corner I thought that Eugene has nothing to lose in the championship and could give it a try so I preferred to stay inside but I braked too early. Eugene was very smart so in the end he made a nice pass on me and that was it. I was sorry for my team because I would have liked to celebrate the 100th podium of my career with a win but it was okay like this. Congratulations to Tom and Kawasaki, they had an amazing end of the season. After race one my ankle was too painful. I preferred to listen to my body and not to race. I also did not want to end my time with BMW with a bad result. The last two years were a really important time in my career. I met great people who became really close to me and ready to help me. For sure the most difficult step will be to leave them, because they loved me, and to re-start from scratch. I wish all of them the best for the future, because they are fantastic and deserve the best.”
Chaz Davies:
Result Race 1: 7th / Gap to 1st: 0:28.621 min / Fastest Lap Race 1: 1:42.920 min (lap 2)
Result Race 2: 5th / Gap to 1st: 0:21.830 min / Fastest Lap Race 2: 1:43.114 min (lap 2)
“P7 in the first race just seems to be where we are this weekend. I did not get the feeling that I wanted, I was struggling when turning and lacking grip. We made a lot of changes for today but we had a damp warm-up so we weren’t able to evaluate these changes properly so I went into the race with a completely different bike, but I still had issues. I kept losing the front and eventually the rear seemed to break traction too easy. I just gave all that I had but more was not possible. For race two we changed the front tyre and it was definitely an improvement. I was faster than in race one in hotter temperatures so I was closer to the top guys but unfortunately not close enough. It was probably one of the toughest weekends of the season which is a shame to end on. Looking back on the season I have to say that on the whole I am happy. Thanks to BMW for giving me the opportunity to win in World Superbikes more than once. I collected three victories this year and challenged at the front and got multiple podiums. So again: ‘Thank you’ to BMW and the team, it was a good year.”
Sylvain Barrier
Result Race 1: 12th / Gap to 1st: 0:43.179 min / Fastest Lap Race 1: 1:43.873 min (lap 3)
Result Race 2: 13th / Gap to 1st: 0:53.674 min / Fastest Lap Race 2: 1:43.931 min (lap 5)
“I really enjoyed the weekend, it was a great experience. Race one was amazing. I was really excited to get on the grid and then I was surprised by my lap times. I was not super quick but I was consistent and that is what I wanted. I was more than pleased with how my debut race went and was looking forward to even making it a little bit better in race two. I had learned more about the bike and felt better and better on it. I was a bit sad that I crashed but this is racing. I tried to give my best and wanted to finish the race in a good position. Overall I improved a lot over the weekend and I think I can be satisfied. I am very happy to be with BMW and grateful that BMW gave me this chance to race in World Superbikes for the first time.”
Andrea Buzzoni (General Manager BMW Motorrad WSBK): “Today a very important period for BMW Motorrad comes to the end, with a very positive outcome. In last five years in the Superbike World Championship we experienced a steady growth of performance, which brought BMW Motorrad to be permanently among the top teams and able to fight for victories. In addition, In the Superstock Championship, BMW established a dominant leadership achieving three rider titles and 2 manufacturer titles.
This season in the Superbike Championship has been the best ever. Together our riders, Marco and Chaz, scored 121 points more than last year and 18 podiums, 3 more than last year and, for the first time, both of them won. The team was able to understand the needs of the two riders – who have different riding styles and physical characteristics – and enable them to win. We achieved those results thanks to the professional skills and the human qualities of all people involved in this successful project and, of course, thanks to the cooperation of R&D division and the race team. I want to thank all of them for this success. I’m proud that BMW Motorrad gave me this responsibility and I thank BMW for this confidence.”
Stephan Fischer (Technical Director BMW Motorrad Motorsport): “First of all, I want to say a big ‘Thank you’ to everyone who was involved in this project. We have been a fantastic team and a real community. Every single person gave everything and this allowed us to reach our common target. With working very hard, everyone contributed their part to make the factory commitment in World Superbikes a success. From a technical point of view I can look back with pride on what we have achieved. Our bike has the perfect base and we technicians developed a very good understanding of what is needed to make it perform on the race track. Today Marco was very close to gifting himself and the team with a farewell victory. This showed the high potential of the team, the bike and the rider. We have also seen something else this weekend: Sylvain debuted on the WSBK version of the RR and Markus rode the HP4 for the first time. Both were fast from the word go. This proved how competitive our bikes are and how quickly we can adapt them to the individual requirements of each circuit. For us, the logical step is to now bring this on a wider platform which we will do with our extended customer sports programme. We will strengthen our presence in the national and international championships. Our customers around the globe can count on evidentially competitive bikes. We are looking forward to an exciting and successful future of BMW Motorrad in motorsports.”
— Pirelli Report
The eni FIM Superbike World Championship was concluded today at the Spanish circuit of Jerez de la Frontera and it assigned the title of World Champion to Tom Sykes and the Manufacturers’ Championship to Aprilia.
The British rider of the Kawasaki Racing Team graduated Champion in Race 1 and won both prizes offered by Pirelli this year: the “Tattooed tyre of the Champion” as the winner of the 2013 World Championship, and that of “Best Lap Winner: fastest rider of the Year” having scored the greatest number, 13, of fastest laps in the races.
This year, in fact, Pirelli introduced the new award “Tattooed tyre of the Champion”, a slick tattooed tyre delivered to the winner of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship. The drawing, which depicts the World Champion on his bike framed by laurels with the caption “2013 FIM Superbike World Champion”, was first carved with mastery on the tyre and then painted with acrylic colors today. Not knowing who would be the winner of the Championship until the last round, the tyre has been in fact painted directly today in front of Pirelli hospitality truck in the Jerez paddock and fcolouring the livery and helmet of the rider was only completed as soon as is been designated as the World Champion. The result is a true impromptu work of art on the rubber. The new award was matched to that of “Best Lap Winner : fastest rider of the year”, this year were both just won by the British rider of the Kawasaki Racing Team.
After the win of the world title at Magny-Cours with one round to go by Sam Lowes in the Supersport class and Sylvain Barrier in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup, the Saturday race saw the assignment of the missing title in the UEM European Superstock600 Championship, to the talented young Italian rider from San Carlo Team Italia, Franco Morbidelli, who won preceding in the overall standings the team-mate Alessandro Nocco and. In third place was Christian Gamarino (Team Goeleven). An all-Italian podium. Andrea Tucci, finishing ninth in the race, wins instead the PIRELLI Superstock 600 SERIES AWARD as the best wild card participant. The Pirelli Superstock 600 Series Award was created by Pirelli to allow the most talented riders of the national Stock 600 championships to take part in the last race of the Superstock600 UEM European Championship. To Jerez de la Frontera Pirelli has invited 5 riders from Italy, France, Germany and Spain, which have just competed in the last race of the European Championship.
Pirelli’s commitment in the eni FIM Superbike World Championship in 2013 was great and constant throughout the whole year. With this round it ends also the tenth year of Pirelli as the unique supplier for all classes of the FIM Superbike World Championship, a uniqueness in the history of motor sports at the international level that demonstrates how the formula of the control tyre, if developed properly, can satisfy both teams and riders and at the same time does not necessarily mean any compromise from the tyre manufacturer in terms of development. On the contrary for Pirelli the World Superbike Championship has always been the main laboratory to develop tyres everyday more efficient which are not, it should be remembered, prototypes, but are regularly on the market and purchased by all motorcyclists. A control tyre formula that Pirelli has successfully exported all over the world, from the UK with the BSB, to the Superbike Series in Brazil, the Pro SBK in Sweden, the National Championship in Canada, the Supersport Series in Malaysia till the the Superstock 1000 Cups raced in South Africa and Costa Rica. All championships which over the years have always benefited, and continue to do so, from the unique supply guaranteed by Pirelli. In the same way in which it offered safety, performances and competitiveness in the control tyre championships, primarily in the Superbike World Championship, Pirelli has also increasingly benefited from experience gained managing to put on the market state of the art racing products that now are unmatched and are much appreciated by all riders .
And it’s also thanks to the know-how and the knowledge obtained in the control tyre Championships that Pirelli has always had a leading role, also in open tyre championships and competitions. This year, for example, Pirelli won in Germany in the IDM Superbike (German National Championship) the Superbike class with 11 wins out of 16 races as well as the Supersport class by winning all 16 races, in France in the FSBK (French National Championship) it triumphed in the top class with 10 wins out of a total of 13 races, in Italy in the Italian National Championship (CIV) has achieved success by winning 8 out of 10 races in the Superbike class and 10 wins out of 10 races in the Supersport class. And for the second consecutive year the Italian tyre manufacturer crushed the competition by winning both the 24 Hours of Le Mans moto as well as the Bol d’Or.
All this to show how the control tyre formula, when interpreted and implemented correctly, offers benefits to the involved championships as well as to Pirelli who can develop innovative products that are not afraid of open tyre competitions.
Innovation which in 2013 was not lacking, thanks to a transition that opened a new era in the history of competition on two wheels, from 16.5” to the new 17-inch tyres for the main class. Pirelli’s engineers have worked hard totally redesigning the new tyres which now have new profiles and side walls, and increased grip, and guarantee a reduction in movement and improved stability on cornering as well as maintaining performance during the race. The range of compounds have also been designed from scratch on the basis of the new structure of the 17-inch tyres. The new compounds are softer, more versatile and higher performing: with only two front and two rear tyre compounds, unlike the three used in the past, it has been possible to cover every race of the Championship because Pirelli has managed to considerably increase the range of use of each compound.
Not only that, the new Diablo Superbike 17-inch tyres since their debut gave much satisfaction to the Pirelli designers and to the riders of the Championships who, thanks to the performances of the new product, have greatly improved the lap times compared to 2012 beating many of the fastest lap records of the circuits in which the championship stopped in the 2013 season.
Comment from Giorgio Barbier, Pirelli Moto Racing Director: “I think we can say without any doubt the season just ended has been a really great one. I can only congratulate first Tom Sykes and his team; last year he missed the title for nothing, 0.5 points, this year they have taken a beautiful and well-deserved revenge, Tom has been the most consistent rider all over the year and has immediately demonstrated to have a small advantage over his opponents, compliments to him and the whole team. Similarly I think that Aprilia has rightfully earned the Manufacturer Championship, both Guintoli and Laverty fought until the end with Sykes making his life hard and, as evidenced by the last four years, the one of Aprilia has always been a very competitive motorcycle and surely this must be a source of pride for all the Italian fans of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship. As for Pirelli I believe that the facts speak for ourselves: the one that has just ended is the tenth year as the unique tyre supplier of all classes of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship, season after season we have also strongly contributed to make the World Championship always more compelling maintaining high competitiveness in all classes, and this always in harmony and with an approach of communication with organizer, promoters, teams and motorcycle manufacturers. Today we are the longest running, and consequently the most successful control-tyre supplier in the history of motor sports at the international level and a demonstration of how dedication, commitment, technological development in the same way of listening and dialogue with all the parties involved in the World Championship are been the trump card to achieve this success. Our role in the Championship has never been that of a mere supplier imposing their own choice on teams and riders and I think that for this reason over the years we have been awarded. This year the challenge was great for us, the debut of new 17-inch Diablo Superbike tyres. Thanks to the know-how and the experience achieved in many years not only during the year there have never been any problems of any kind but the new product immediately was greeted with enthusiasm by all the riders and demonstrated its excellent performance allowing everyone to greatly improve the lap times. Now the look is already turned to 2014, remaining faithful to the active and constructive approach we always had in this championship, we are considering, in agreement with the organizer, how to contribute in our own way to keep the championship highly competitive, trying to let the EVO Superbike riders be able to gamble almost on par with the riders of the first rows. To attract public and interest races must be fought, exciting and funny, and we have always been working with that goal.”
Pirelli Best Lap Awards: The “Pirelli Best Lap Award” is awarded by Pirelli every race to the rider who sets the fastest race lap for a total of three awards each weekend. The Superbike and Supersport rider who has earned the most “Pirelli Best Lap Award” titles at the end of the season have been elected “Best Lap Winner: fastest rider of the year” and awarded in the usual end of year ceremony. Tom Sykes, having already won 13 Pirelli Best Lap Awards, and Sam Lowes, with 7, are mathematically the “Best Lap Winner: fastest rider of the year” in 2013 for the Superbike and Supersport classes.
The Pirelli solutions more appreciated and chosen by the riders at Jerez and during 2013: Even in the last round of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship in the top class the most widely used rear solution in the races was the standard Diablo Superbike SC0, option very much appreciated by all the riders and used practically in half of the races run this year. A tyre which, according to the initial desire of its designers, was supposed to work best when the temperatures are quite high but that on many occasions, such as Magny-Cours, he surprised everyone by giving lively performance and allowing the riders to beat several records of the circuits included in the 2013.
At the front the tyre more appreciated during the season has been the standard Diablo Superbike SC2, optimal for high external temperatures because able to guarantees solidity on the tread band. It ‘s the solution more appreciated by aggressive riders.
The figures of Pirelli’s commitment in the 2013 season of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship:
Tyres
• Total number of tyres, including those for tests, taken to the 14 rounds of the 2013 season for all classes of the Superbike World Championship (Superbike, Supersport, Superstock 1000, Superstock 600) plus the European Junior Cup and the Cup of the Nations: 60.191
• Total number of tyres taken just for the 28 races of the Superbike World Championship classes and for the European Junior Cup and the Cup of the Nations (excluding tests): 57.387
• Total number of tyres taken for the 2 official tests (Phillip Island and Imola): 2.804
• Total number of tyres used and recycled during the 14 rounds of the season: 22.326, of which 9.322 front and 13.004 rear
• Number of tyres taken on average to each round: 4.100
• Round to which the largest number of tyres were taken: Phillip Island, 5.718 included tyres for tests
• Number of tyres mounted on average in each round: 1.620 of which 678 front and 942 rear
• Number of tyres used on average in each round: 1.595 of which 665 front and 930 rear
• Number of tyres which each Superbike rider had available during the season for the 14 rounds: 989, of which 472 front and 517 rear
• Number of tyres available on average in each round for each Superbike rider: 71, of which 34 front and 37 rear
• Round to which the largest number of tyres were taken per Superbike rider: Portimão 78, of which 38 front and 40 rear
• Number of solutions taken on average to each round per rider (including intermediate, wet and Superpole): 5 front and 6 rear
• Number of different solutions developed for all Superbike World Championship classes: 59 of which 34 for Superbike and 25 for Supersport
• Number of different solutions developed for the Superbike class and taken during the season besides the standard ones: 27 of which 6 front and 19 rear
• Solution most used by riders during the season: front standard SC2, rear standard SC0
Tracks, Races and Tests
• Longest race of the year: Moscow Race 1 in 46’03.043 to complete 25 laps and 98.275 kms at an average speed of 128.044 km/h
• Shortest race of the year: Laguna Seca Race 1 in 16’55.703, to complete 12 laps and 43.320 Kms at an average speed of 153.541 km/h
• Number of races run: 27 on dry, 1 not run (Race 2 at Moscow)
• Highest speed reached by a Diablo Superbike tyre: 337.1 km/h (Eugene Laverty / Monza – warm up, 2nd lap)
• Highest speed reached by a Diablo Superbike tyre in a race: 336 km/h (Marco Melandri, Eugene Laverty, Sylvain Guintoli, Michel Fabrizio / Monza – Race 1 and 2)
• Highest average speed in a race: 201.814 km/h (Monza – Race 1)
• Lowest average speed in a race: 128.044 km/h (Moscow – Race 1)
• Superbike rider who achieved the highest number of Best Laps: Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), 13
Weather conditions and temperatures
• Lowest track/asphalt temperature on which Diablo Superbike tyres raced: 15 degrees Celsius on April 28 in Race 1 at Assen (Netherlands)
• Highest track/asphalt temperature on which Diablo Superbike tyres raced: 54 degrees Celsius on June 30 in Race 2 at Imola (Italy)
• Highest level of humidity with which Diablo Superbike tyres raced: 76% on July 21 luglio in Race 1 at Moscow (Russia)
• Lowest track/asphalt temperature on which Diablo Supercorsa tyres raced: 6 degrees Celsius on April 28 in Superstock1000 race at Assen (Netherlands)
• Highest track/asphalt temperature on which Diablo Supercorsa tyres raced: 51 degrees Celsius on February 24 and June 30 giugno in Supersport races at Phillip Island (Australia) and Imola (Italy)
• Lowest air/ambient temperature in which Diablo Superbike tyres raced: 12 degrees Celsius on April 28 in Race 1 at Assen (Netherlands)
• Highest air/ambient temperature in which Diablo Superbike tyres raced: 28 degrees Celsius in Race 2 on June 30 at Imola (Italy)
Pirelli Team in the Superbike World Championship
• Pirelli personnel present at each round: 25 persons of which 1 Racing Director, 1 Press Officer, 1 Marketing&Sponsorships Responsable, 1 Racing Product Development Responsable, 1 Racing Compound Development Responsable, 1 hospitality truck Responsable, 4 track engineers and 15 in the technical area dedicated to mounting/dismounting tyres
• Average age of the Pirelli WSBK team: 35 years
• Total hours spent on average on a plane this year by each member of the Pirelli WSBK team: 116 hours (equal to 5 days)
• Number of days away on average for each member of the Pirelli WSBK team during 2013: 101 (equal to 3,5 months)
• Number of trucks present on average at each European round: 7
• Total kilometres travelled by each Pirelli truck in 2013: 35.412 kms
Pirelli in the Superbike World Championship as sole supplier
• The longest-lasting controlled tyre supplier in motor history: 10 years (2004-2013)
• Total number of different solutions developed by Pirelli in those years for all the WSBK classes: 621
• Total number of solutions developed by Pirelli just for the Superbike class; 412 of which 315 dry, 26 intermediate and 71 wet
• Number of circuits on which Pirelli tyres have run: 24 (Aragòn, Assen, Brands Hatch, Brno, Donington Park, EuroSpeedway Lausitz, Imola, Istanbul Intercity Park, Laguna Seca, Losail, Jerez de la Frontera, Kyalami, Magny-Cours, Misano Adriatico, Monza, Mosca, Nürburgring, Oschersleben, Phillip Island, Portimão, Salt Lake City, Silverstone, Valencia, Vallelunga) in 15 Countries
• Number of Superbike races run as sole supplier: 256 of which 236 on dry and 20 on wet
• Number of riders who have raced with Pirelli tyres in the Superbike World Championship: 449 of which 232 permanent and 217 wild cards
• Average number of Superpoles improved each year with respect to the previous year: 9
• Average annual improvement of race lap time: 0,7 seconds
• Lowest asphalt temperature ever measured: 6 gradi Celsius ad Assen (NL)
• Highest asphalt temperature ever measured: 60 gradi Celsius a Phillip Island (AUS)
— Laverty gets pole on the eve of final race-day
Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) has claimed his second Tissot-Superpole of the year – and of his WSBK career – today after a close battle with Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team). The Irishman put in a fast lap of 1’40.620, edging the Championship leader for just 0.048s. The first row on the grid for final two races of the year is completed by Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia), who is keen to play his part tomorrow after the consistently good performances of the first two days at Jerez.
The top-3 riders in Tissot-Superpole were joined at the SBK Paddock Show press conference by Spaniard Carlos Checa, who made official earlier today his retirement from racing and will keep staying with Ducati as an official ‘ambassador’.
Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) rode his factory S 1000 RR up to fourth place, with Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) and Toni Elias (Red Devils Aprilia) to follow. The Spanish rider had a crash at Turn 2 during the third Superpole session, with five minutes left, that ruined his chances of getting a better starting position.
Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) continued to impress on his WSBK return and, despite not being 100% fit, he secured the 7th slot on the grid over local rider Xavi Forés (Team Ducati Alstare) and Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini Kawasaki). The Australian rider got his best-ever qualifying result today and a well-deserved 3rd row start.
Eugene Laverty: “Considering the gap behind Sykes, my only chance this weekend is to win both races. Starting ahead of the rest on the grid will definitely make that easier! Tomorrow I’ll try to get off the line well and give it my all during the race. Sykes will also be starting from the front row and he’ll definitely be trying to make his play to try and stop me, so that should make the races fairly interesting for the fans.”
Tom Sykes: “I would say it was possible to make pole today but we had a little hiccup and there was no need to test the boundaries again. We want to get a good clean start if we can tomorrow, get stuck in and see what happens. I am quite happy with our race set-up and the only thing I am trying to think about is trying to win the races. The conditions do change between races, but I am sure every guy on the grid has taken that into consideration. Over race distance of 21 laps, I am happy.”
— World Supersport
Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) grabbed his 9th pole position of the year – out of 13 rounds – after a blistering final lap at the Circuito de Jerez in Qualifying 2. The Lincoln-born rider, who clinched the title two weeks ago at Magny-Cours, clocked in 1’43.118s and he is now looking forward to end his dream season in great fashion. Italy’s Roberto Rolfo (ParkinGO MV Agusta Corse) was in the best position to secure the first pole start of his WSS year, before eventually settling for second place.
Former WSS Champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki) got the last spot on the first row, after finishing third ahead of Vladimir Leonov (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) and Christian Iddon (ParkinGO MV Agusta Corse), who further proved the competitiveness of the MV F3 675 on the Andalusian track. Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport) ended up in sixth place, followed by Alex Baldolini (Suriano Racing Team Suzuki) and team mate Lorenzo Zanetti, who crashed at Turn 10 in the second half of the session.
The Red Flag was waved once due to the crash suffered to WSS debutant Fraser Rogers (Complus SMS Honda).
Times: 1. Lowes (Yamaha) 1’43.118 average 154.309 kph; 2. Rolfo (MV Agusta) 1’43.560; 3. Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) 1’43.611; 4. Leonov (Yamaha) 1’43.674;5. Iddon (MV Agusta) 1’44.255; 6. Vd Mark (Honda) 1’44.330; 7. Baldolini (Suzuki) 1’44.409; 8. Zanetti (Honda) 1’44.410; 9. Russo (Kawasaki) 1’44.613;10. Morais (Kawasaki) 1’44.647; 11. Webb (Honda) 1’44.706; 12. Foret (Kawasaki) 1’44.711; 13. De Rosa (Honda) 1’44.756; 14. Faccani (Honda) 1’44.757; 15. Roccoli (Yamaha) 1’44.766; etc.
— Superstock 1000
Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Kawasaki) is the pole-sitter for tomorrow’s final race for the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup at Jerez. The Frenchman clocked in 1’45.062s on his penultimate attempt before the chequered flag, snatching the pole position from Niccolò Canepa (Barni Ducati Racing), who spent most of the session in first place, for 0.042s.
Leandro Mercado (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) ended up in third place ahead of team mate and former Italian Moto2 Champion Alessandro Andreozzi, who qualified for the first time in the top-5 in his STK1000 rookie season. Romain Lanusse (Team MRS Kawasaki) and substitute rider for 2013 Champion Sylvain Barrier, Markus Reiterberger (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) complete the second row on the grid.
Times: 1. Guarnoni (Kawasaki) 1’45.062 average 151.453 kph; 2. Canepa (Ducati) 1’45.104; 3. Mercado (Kawasaki) 1’45.379; 4. Andreozzi (Kawasaki) 1’45.419; 5. Lanusse (Kawasaki) 1’45.491; 6. Reiterberger (BMW) 1’45.589; 7. Savadori (Kawasaki) 1’45.814; 8. Calia (Ducati) 1’45.832; 9. Jezek (Ducati) 1’45.852; 10. Gildenhuys (BMW) 1’46.213; 11. Bussolotti (BMW) 1’46.311; 12. Ponsson (Kawasaki) 1’46.317; 13. Lussiana (Kawasaki) 1’46.345; 14. Massei (Honda) 1’46.388; 15. Moser (Ducati) 1’46.428; etc.
— Superstock 600 – Race – Franco Morbidelli 2013 Champion
Franco Morbidelli (San Carlo Team Italia Kawasaki) has won the 2013 European Superstock 600 Championship title after finishing second in today’s last race of the season. The youngster from Rome could have settled easily for third after the technical problem suffered by Christian Gamarino (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki) on the second lap, but he closed the gap on team mate Alessandro Nocco, passed him and even tried to take the lead in the closing stages.
Kyle Smith (Agro-on Racedays Honda) led from lights to flag to win the race after a blistering start from fourth place on the grid, in what was his third-ever STK600 round. Smith, who was born in England but has been living in Valencia since he was seven years old, can very well consider this one a victory on home soil.
Bastien Chesaux (EAB Ten Kate Junior Honda) got the better of Stefano Casalotti (VFT Racing) for fourth, after an intense battle with the Italian halfway through the race.
Race results: 1. Smith (Honda) 10 Laps/44.200 km in 18’03.265 average 146.889 kph; 2. Morbidelli (Kawasaki) 0.308; 3. Nocco (Kawasaki) 0.827; 4. Chesaux(Honda) 4.860; 5. Casalotti (Yamaha) 6.406; 6. Nekvasil (Yamaha) 9.094; 7. Trautmann (Yamaha) 9.347; 8. Mamola (Yamaha) 9.492; 9. Tucci (Honda) 14.748; 10. Vitali (Suzuki) 14.765; 11. Gamarino (Kawasaki) 14.995; 12. D’Annunzio (Yamaha) 15.200; 13. Buhn (Yamaha) 15.486; 14. Tuuli (Yamaha) 17.054; 15. Clere (Yamaha) 22.612; etc.
Final Standings: 1. Morbidelli 154; 2. Nocco 136; 3. Gamarino 129; 4. Chesaux 126; 5. Duwelz 102; 6. Coveña 81; 7. Mulhauser 67; 8. Nestorovic 63; 9. Salvadori 57; 10. Casalotti 53; 11. Morrentino 48; 12. Smith 44; 13. Schmitter 38; 14. Tuuli 36; 15. Tessels 34; etc.
— Fixi Crescent Suzuki
FIXI Crescent Suzuki’s Leon Camier has continued with his amazing comeback at this weekend’s Spanish round of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship by progressing all the way to Superpole 3 this afternoon.
Camier qualified for the Superpole due to another impressive performance in this morning’s final qualifying session which saw him finish in ninth place. He approached the Superpole with the same calm and dedicated manner that he has shown all weekend and after using a Pirelli qualifying rear tyre in the first session he easily made his way to part two with sixth position. The Englishman is still suffering the after-effects of the accident at Istanbul just four–weeks ago that left him hospitalised and needing surgery on seven broken bones in his right foot. Camier again used a qualifying tyre in his Yoshimura-powered Suzuki GSX-R in Superpole 2 and repeated his performance from the first session to record sixth. The final part of Superpole for 2013 saw the Suzuki-man push as hard as he could on race-tyres to get a good grid position and he was pleased to secure a place at the front of the third row with seventh position. Camier will now be looking to be in the lead pack from the start of tomorrow’s races and plans to end the season with a flourish.
Jules Cluzel saw the disappointment of not qualifying for Superpole this morning quickly disappear, after some major setting changes to his FIXI Crescent Suzuki GSX-R enabled him make huge improvements in the final free practice session. The Frenchman couldn’t get the feel or grip he was after in the second qualifying session and was only able to finish 18th fastest, a position that forced his elimination from Superpole. His crew worked tirelessly to change almost every setting on his machine and it came to fruition as Cluzel recorded the second-fastest time in the session – almost half-of-a-second quicker than he had been all weekend so far. Cluzel will now need to make good starts in tomorrow’s races so that he can put today’s advances to good use.
Today’s sessions were held in humid conditions, but the threat of rain never materialised. Eugene Laverty will start tomorrow’s two 21-lap races from pole position, with championship leader Tom Sykes second on the grid, with the third protagonist that is in with a chance of securing the title on Sunday, Sylvain Guintoli, in fifth. The first race will get underway at 12.00hrs local time (11.00hrs BST) with the final race of the season heading for the off at 15.30hrs local time (14.30hrs BST).
Leon Camier: “I am really pleased with the result, especially considering that I haven’t ridden the bike properly since Germany and had two massive crashes in that time. I have got my confidence back up and the bike was starting to feel more natural and I enjoyed that. We used the qualifying tyre in Superpole 1 and we didn’t really need to; in hindsight we could have saved it till the last session and then I think we could have been further up the grid – at least the next row. All-in-all, considering everything that has happened I am pretty happy with today. I really want to thank the whole team for keeping me calm and letting me build my confidence, rather than asking for more and creating other problems. The whole situation has been dealt with really well and I thank them for that.”
Jules Cluzel: “It has been a strange day and I have had my worst qualifying of the year and also one of my best practice sessions. Yesterday I felt uncomfortable on the bike, so I was looking to improve today, but that didn’t happen and it was a bit of a disaster. I got stuck in the same lap-time and did all of them in the same tenth-of-a-second. I was really disappointed because it left me 18th and meant I couldn’t do Superpole. Les decided to change the bike and put the setting to how we had it at the winter test here, which was the second time I rode the FIXI Crescent Suzuki. The bike was much better, faster and easier to ride and I am disappointed we didn’t make this change before, but I at least had the chance to smile today and that was enough for me! I needed to prove that I was fast and that we just needed to set-up the bike. Tomorrow I will be looking for a comeback but it’s difficult to come from 18th here at Jerez and get a good result, but I will try my best and see what we can do.”
Paul Denning – Team Manager: “Leon’s done another stellar job today for the FIXI Crescent Suzuki team and continued the great work that he started yesterday. The races will be tough from both a fitness and physical pain point of view, but he’s put himself in a solid position to perform at his best – whatever limitations might be there due to the pain and fatigue that he might be suffering. Adrenalin is a great healer though and when the lights go out to race at a great circuit like this at Jerez, I’m sure the throttle will be wide open and the problems of the last few weeks will be the last thing on his mind.
“It’s been a frustrating day for Jules and his crew; even though the lap-time gaps are very small we didn’t do enough this morning to achieve a decent time and despite everybody’s best efforts, including the rider – as we saw on the action footage he was definitely trying – we just didn’t have enough to progress to Superpole. The boys changed the bike quite considerably for the free practice and we went from 18th to second, so it was very much a case of what might have been. Jules has nothing to lose tomorrow and his confidence should have been boosted by what happened in free practice, so we are hoping he can end the season in a very positive way.”
— Pata Honda
Pata Honda riders Michel Fabrizio and Leon Haslam face a challenging final two 2013 World Superbike championship races at Jerez in Spain tomorrow. The CBR-mounted duo will start from 15th and 17th places respectively on the grid after final qualifying today.
Both riders complained of a lack of rear grip in today’s free practice and qualifying sessions – an issue that also faced Fabrizio yesterday, while Haslam found more consistency in his engine braking.
The Pata Honda pair were joined in the pitbox today by regular rider Jonathan Rea, who plans to test his CBR during a test at the 4.423km Jerez circuit on Tuesday, as he continues his recovery from the fractured femur he sustained in a raceday crash last month.
Michel Fabrizio – “It’s been another difficult day and we haven’t really managed to solve the grip problems that I had yesterday. I think Leon had the same issue today. Although I was able to qualify for Superpole, we could not get the bike to work how I want so tomorrow will be very tough, both physically and mentally.”
Leon Haslam – “We made some changes to the electronics today, which seemed to stabilise the engine braking and, in the second free practice, we were able to make some more improvements. However, by that time I was out of Superpole so I know that tomorrow’s two races are going to be very difficult. However, we’ve got a test on Tuesday so we’ll also try to continue preparing for that.”
Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator – “There’s no disguising the fact that we’ve had some issues this weekend that we didn’t expect. We’ve had difficulty sorting them and providing the riders with solutions that will give them a bike with which to challenge nearer the front. However, we will keep working through tonight and tomorrow morning and try to get some better results in the race than we’ve been able to provide in qualifying.”
— BMW Report
There was light and shadow for the BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team in the final Superpole qualifying of the 2013 FIM Superbike World Championship. Despite his injured right ankle, factory rider Marco Melandri (ITA) equaled his second best qualifying result of the season. He finished the Superpole qualifying in a strong fourth with his BMW S 1000 RR and will start tomorrow’s races at Jerez (ESP) from the second row. His team-mate Chaz Davies (GBR) struggled in the second part of Superpole and finished tenth. Superstock-1000-champion Sylvain Barrier (FRA), who debuts in World Superbikes on a third RR for the team, only narrowly missed qualifying for Superpole and will start from 16th.
To give his foot a rest before Superpole, Marco did not take part in the free practice early this afternoon. He was then the first rider to go out in Superpole 1. He only did one flying lap on race tyres, set the fastest time of the session and returned to the pits. Chaz also only needed one fast lap on race tyres to comfortably qualify for the second part of the Superpole. There, Marco did two laps on race tyres which directly brought him to Superpole 3. Chaz also began with race tyres and then did a second outing on a qualifying tyre, as he needed to improve his time. But the Welshman did not benefit from the extra-grip the tyre offers. He narrowly missed Superpole 3 by only a few hundredths of a second and had to settle for tenth. In the third and final session, Marco used his two qualifying tyres and set the fourth fastest time.
In the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, IDM champion Markus Reiterberger (GER) took over duties on Sylvain’s BMW HP4. He finished sixth in today’s second qualifying session and thus will start tomorrow’s race from the second row. His team-mate Greg Gildenhuys (RSA) qualified tenth on the other HP4 in the BMW Motorrad GoldBet STK Team.
Marco Melandri: Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: 1:42.035 min (P6) / Fastest lap FP: — / Fastest lap Superpole 3: 1:40.930 min (P4)
“On this track during winter testing the bike worked well and this weekend the bike has been working well too. This morning I chose to, and agreed with the team to sit out free practice to avoid overloading the ankle. Superpole was quite good, despite the fact I was not able to ride 100 percent in all sectors. In the first two Superpole sessions the ankle was okay, then in the third I started having some pain. I’m satisfied with the fourth place and I’m optimistic for tomorrow. We’re so close to our competitors, the race pace is good and the bike is okay. This afternoon I’ll do some more physio to the ankle to be fit for tomorrow.”
Chaz Davies: Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: 1:42.300 min (P7) / Fastest lap FP: 1:43.070 min (P9) / Fastest lap Superpole 2: 1:42.015 min (P10)
“I am not happy with today. It was a difficult afternoon. With the increasing temperatures we suffered from lack of grip. I crashed on the first lap of free practice and then in Superpole I was not able to get any advantage with the qualifying tyre which is something that happened to me for the first time this year. I could feel the grip but the way it was pushing the front did not allow me to use the tyre to its advantage. It was kind of frustrating because I did my best lap on a race tyre in Superpole 1 and after that I was not able to repeat it. We will now work on the set-up for the races as there are some areas where we still need to improve. We will check the data and see what we can do to be well prepared for tomorrow.”
Sylvain Barrier: Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: 1:42.933 min (P16) / Fastest lap FP: 1:42.842 min (P8)
“Of course I would have been very happy to be in Superpole but I missed it by one tenth of a second. It is my first time on this bike and that is part of the game so I am not really frustrated. We found some good settings for the race today and I am pretty happy for this. I’m getting more and more used to the bike and understand better what I can do with it. I did many laps on used tyres to find out how I can control the bike and I think it will be good in the race. The races will be very tough. I just need to keep calm and focus on braking, going through the apex and opening the throttle correctly. I am sure that during the race I will continue to learn as I can follow some riders and watch what they are doing. I am confident..”
Serafino Foti (Sport Director BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team): “It was a quite positive day. Marco has some pain with his ankle but, despite everything, he did an excellent job in Superpole. Of course tomorrow will be much difficult because the race is very long but given the fact he’ll start in a good position he will do his best for the last races. Chaz unfortunately is not completely happy with the bike but he’s very motivated to have two good races tomorrow. We’ll continue working to set-up the bike and tomorrow morning in the warm up we’ll check the work we will do. Sylvain is improving on each outing, it was a pity he didn’t get into Superpole by just one tenth, even because he could have ridden some more laps getting more and more feeling with the bike. Tomorrow he’ll do his best to have a good race.
In the Superstock 1000 Cup, Markus secured a good grid position on the second row. We are sure that he will make good use of it and have a strong race. He is an experienced rider and he got acquainted with the HP4 and the DDC pretty soon. So we are optimistic that he will claim a good result for BMW.”
Andrea Dosoli (Technical Director BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team): “It was not an easy day for our three riders but overall we have improved the performance of the bikes. We fixed some of the issues the riders had complained about yesterday and as a consequence we saw an improvement in the lap times. Marco has shown us today how strong motivation can overcome the pain of an injury and we were honestly surprised by what he could do in Superpole. He did not to ride in the free practice to avoid stressing the ankle and for this reason we could not use the session to fine tune the bike but the set-up is not bad anyway. He was fast with used tyres and then he did a very promising lap time with a fresh tyre in Superpole. So I am confident that tomorrow he will try to say ‘Goodbye’ to BMW with a good result. Chaz has improved the handling of his machine, it is a bit more agile which is what he was looking for but he is not confident with the front end of the bike. This is limiting his performance. He could not make best use of the qualifying tyre because he did not have the proper feeling in the front end to push. This is the area we want to improve for the race.
Sylvain has improved his lap time a lot. Unfortunately he did not make it to the Superpole but it was very close. The good point is that every time he jumps on the bike he is improving his performance. Step by step he knows the bike better and he is able to get the best from it as we have seen in the second free practice where he made another step in tough conditions because the track temperature was high. So I expect that he can do a good race tomorrow. Race one will be important for him to understand how the competitors can handle 20 laps on a Superbike. It will be a good experience for him and I wish him all the best for tomorrow.”
— Aprilia Racing
The stated objective was to leave no space for his rivals and Eugene Laverty lived up to the expectations. Extremely fast in all the sessions, the Northern Irish rider rode his RSV4 to the second Superpole of the season on the Jerez circuit. Team mate Sylvain Guintoli stopped the clock with the fifth best time, in any case consoled by the good times he made during the practice sessions.
The Aprilia dominated Saturday at Jerez was completed with a third place by Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing), whereas the home town idol, Toni Elias, astride his Red Devils team Aprilia RSV4 fell victim to a crash right at the end and will have to settle for the sixth best time which in any case earns him an excellent spot on the second row.
Eugene and Sylvain managed Superpole 1 expertly, putting in strong times with race tyres and saving the two soft tyres for the more heated qualifying phases. In Superpole 2 they got down to business, with all the riders out of the pits on qualifying tyres and Eugene Laverty made his intentions known by setting the best provisional time, followed by Elias and team mate Guintoli.
In the final and decisive Superpole session Eugene outdid himself, shaving another two tenths off his time and stopping the clock at 1’40.620, a new fast lap for the category which earned him first place on the starting grid tomorrow and his second Superpole of the season after Silverstone. Sylvain Guintoli ran into a few difficulties with his second soft Pirelli tyre, in any case obtaining a promising fifth best time in the end.
Eugene Laverty: “Considering the gap behind Sykes, my only chance this weekend is to win both races. Starting ahead of the rest on the grid will definitely make that easier! Tomorrow I’ll try to get off the line well and give it my all during the race. Sykes will also be starting from the front row and he’ll definitely be trying to make his play to try and stop me, so that should make the races fairly interesting for the fans”.
Sylvain Guintoli: “As always this was quite a heated Superpole and in the end I was about a tenth off compared to the front row. The positive thing is that in any case we found good base setting during the practice session to be fast even on used tyres. It’s always better to start from the front, but the fifth spot isn’t a total disaster. I just need to stay focused and maintain my pace in the races tomorrow”.
— WSBK 2013 – Round 14 – Jerez – Giugliano sets the page on day one at Jerez
Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia) was the quickest rider in today’s Qualifying 1 for eni FIM Superbike World Championship. The 23 year old from Rome moved up on top of the charts with six minutes left by lapping in 1’42.374s, heading the field right to the end of the session. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) tried to fight off his fellow Italian in the late stages, eventually settling for second ahead of Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team).
The Irishman had a small crash early on but he was able to get back to the track to climb the timesheets up to third, likewise team mate Sylvain Guintoli, fifth at the flag. Fourth place Toni Elias (Red Devils Aprilia), fastest rider in free practice today, lost control of his RSV4 at Turn 12 just few moments afterwards, though he was unable to rejoin.
Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) put up an impressive performance, considering his physical condition, and finished sixth, followed by Championship leader Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), One Event rider Lorenzo Lanzi (Mesaroli Transports A.S. Ducati) and works BMW rider Chaz Davies. Davies’ one-off team mate and WSBK debutant Sylvain Barrier ended up 16th despite a technical problem occurred with few minutes left.
Times: 1. Giugliano (Aprilia) 1’42.374 average 155.430 kph; 2. Melandri (BMW) 1’42.641; 3. Laverty (Aprilia) 1’42.756; 4. Elias (Aprilia) 1’42.782; 5. Guintoli (Aprilia) 1’42.906; 6. Camier (Suzuki) 1’42.936; 7. Sykes (Kawasaki) 1’43.114; 8. Lanzi (Ducati) 1’43.162; 9. Davies (BMW) 1’43.170; 10. Cluzel(Suzuki) 1’43.240; 11. Fores (Ducati) 1’43.262; 12. Badovini (Ducati) 1’43.383; 13. Aitchison (Kawasaki) 1’43.721; 14. Parkes (Yamaha) 1’43.786; 15. Haslam (Honda) 1’43.821; 16. Barrier (BMW) 1’43.879; 17. Fabrizio (Honda) 1’43.958; 18. Sandi (Kawasaki) 1’44.102; 19. Neukirchner (Ducati) 1’44.248; 20. Iannuzzo (BMW) 1’45.328.
— World Supersport
Title-winning team Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha started the final round of the season at Jerez the best possible way by placing its riders in the first two positions at the end of Qualifying 1. 2013 World Supersport Champion Sam Lowes edged team mate Vladimir Leonov in the final stages of the session, to secure first position courtesy of a 1’44.043 lap-time.
Former title holder Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki), who is looking forward to a last race battle with his arch-rival Lowes, was third ahead of Italians Lorenzo Zanetti (Pata Honda World Supersport), Roberto Rolfo (ParkinGO MV Agusta Corse) and Massimo Roccoli (Team Pata by Martini Yamaha).
Dutch youngster Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport), who fell off his Honda CBR600RR in the early minutes at Turn 3, ended up 7th with a 0.9 seconds gap from the top, followed by Roberto Tamburini (Team Lorini Honda) and Brits Danny Webb (PTR Honda) and Kev Coghlan (DMC-Lorenzini Kawasaki), who had crashes during the session.
Times: 1. Lowes (Yamaha) 1’44.043 average 152.937 kph; 2. Leonov (Yamaha) 1’44.269; 3. Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) 1’44.549; 4. Zanetti (Honda) 1’44.701;5. Rolfo (MV Agusta) 1’44.780; 6. Roccoli (Yamaha) 1’44.907; 7. Vd Mark (Honda) 1’44.930; 8. Tamburini (Honda) 1’44.965; 9. Webb (Honda) 1’44.973;10. Coghlan (Kawasaki) 1’45.093; 11. Iddon (MV Agusta) 1’45.211; 12. Salom (Kawasaki) 1’45.255; 13. Morais (Kawasaki) 1’45.291; 14. Scholtz (Suzuki) 1’45.315; 15. Kennedy (Honda) 1’45.425; etc.
— Superstock 1000
Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Kawasaki), race winner in the previous round at Magny-Cours, has set the fastest time of FIM Superstock 1000 Cup first qualifying at Jerez, by clocking in 1’45.456s in what was a tight session for the series. The former STK600 champion got the better of German Markus Reiterberger, who showed good speed in the first day of his one-off ride with the BMW Motorrad GoldBet Team, as substitute rider for 2013 Champion – and WSBK debutant here in Spain – Sylvain Barrier.
Niccolò Canepa (Barni Racing Ducati), who saw his chances for the 2013 title fading away in France, finished third ahead of fellow Italian Lorenzo Savadori (Team Pedercini Kawasaki), Romain Lanusse (Team MRS Kawasaki), Leandro Mercado (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) and Christophe Ponsson (Team MRS Kawasaki).
Other Team Pedercini rider Simone Grotzky Giorgi had a crash at Turn 3 late in the session, from which he escaped unhurt as the Italian managed to rejoin straight after.
Times: 1. Guarnoni (Kawasaki) 1’45.456 average 150.888 kph; 2. Reiterberger (BMW) 1’45.605; 3. Canepa (Ducati) 1’45.719; 4. Savadori (Kawasaki) 1’45.872; 5. Lanusse (Kawasaki) 1’45.937; 6. Mercado (Kawasaki) 1’46.342; 7. Ponsson (Kawasaki) 1’46.492; 8. Bussolotti (BMW) 1’46.559; 9. Jezek(Ducati) 1’46.565; 10. Calia (Ducati) 1’46.575; 11. Gildenhuys (BMW) 1’46.878; 12. Andreozzi (Kawasaki) 1’46.974; 13. Grotzkyj G. (Kawasaki) 1’47.521;14. Massei (Honda) 1’47.746; 15. Moser (Ducati) 1’47.776; etc.
— Superstock 600
Qualifying action at Jerez kick-started today with an entertaining first session for the Superstock 600 European Championship, that was headed by title contender Christian Gamarino, who clocked in 1’47.432 onboard his Team Go Eleven Kawasaki ZX-6R. The young Italian managed to snatch first place from Tony Covena (Nito Racing Kawasaki Racing Team), Alessandro Nocco… (read more)
Qualifying action at Jerez kick-started today with an entertaining first session for the Superstock 600 European Championship, that was headed by title contender Christian Gamarino, who clocked in 1’47.432 onboard his Team Go Eleven Kawasaki ZX-6R. The young Italian managed to snatch first place from Tony Covena (Nito Racing Kawasaki Racing Team), Alessandro Nocco (San Carlo Team Italia Kawasaki) and Kyle Smith (Agro-on Racedays Honda), with the chasing trio in 0.140s from the lead. Smith, despite being born in Huddersfield, England, is racing on what can be considered his home track, having lived in Valencia since he was 7 years old.
While Championship leader Nocco crashed unhurt at Turn 4 with less than three minutes to go, his team mate Franco Morbidelli was 5th ahead of German One-Event rider Jan Buhn (AGR Racing Yamaha) and Austrian Marco Nekvasil (LEXWARE-SKM by Knobi.at Yamaha). Dakota Mamola (Yakhnich Motorsport Team Yamaha) also fell off his YZF-R6 at the third corner of the track.
— Suzuki Report
FIXI Crescent Suzuki’s Leon Camier marked his return to action following a month-long lay-off through injury to record a stunning sixth-quickest time in today’s first qualifying session for this weekend’s eni FIM Superbike World Championship event at Jerez in Spain.
Camier used this morning’s free practice session to re-acquaint himself with the Yoshimura-powered Suzuki GSX-R and to test a number of set-up strategies that his team wanted to evaluate. Following further setting changes in time for this afternoon’s session, Camier felt more at home on his machine and quickly got into a smooth and fast rhythm as he continued to build in confidence. He improved on his times throughout the 45-minutes of qualifying, before eventually putting a softer rear compound tyre into his FIXI Crescent Suzuki and setting the sixth-fastest time.
Jules Cluzel worked with his crew to get his bike dialled-in to the 4,423m Spanish circuit and to find the right balance of grip and consistency in readiness for Sunday’s two races. Cluzel has good knowledge of the circuit so spent today working on set-up for his machine rather than learning lines and pushing for a fast lap-time. He is confident of a good qualifying tomorrow and then will be looking to push further in this season’s final races.
Today’s sessions were held in warm sunshine with track temperatures reaching 38°C. Davide Giugliano set the top time today with championship leader Tom Sykes in seventh. FIXI Crescent Suzuki and the rest of the field will have a second qualifying session tomorrow morning to decide the 15 riders that will qualify for the afternoon’s Superpole to challenge for the best grid positions for Sunday’s two 21-lap races.
Leon Camier: “This morning the guys had some settings that they wanted to try that they had picked up from the other riders, but it really didn’t work for me and the bike didn’t feel so good to ride, plus I’m lacking a bit of confidence so the combination of the two left us down towards the bottom of the timesheets. This afternoon we put the bike back to how I had it last time out and I was then able to try the soft tyre and managed to go quick at the end. I was happy with the lap-time to be sixth, but we need some more dry time to get some consistency. I am still not very confident on the bike, so I really need dry time to get the feeling back, but rain is forecast tomorrow so that might not be possible. My foot feels awkward, especially in some of the right-hand corners, but I can get around ok. I think for race distance it will be painful, because at the end of today it was throbbing and starting to swell up, but it is what it is so there’s no point complaining!”
Jules Cluzel: “It was a much better day today compared to Magny-Cours where we struggled a little bit. We started to work with the bike today and went step-by-step to get where we want. This morning I think everybody had a really strange feeling, because the grip felt strange and the lap-times were quite slow. We tried to find some grip and consistency and we worked on this in the afternoon so we lost some time, but at the end we made a good and interesting run and now we have some data to work on tonight. I think that we can now make a good qualifying and Superpole tomorrow, whatever the weather.”
Paul Denning – Team Manager: “Just to be here in Jerez and be passed fit to race was a testament to Leon’s determination and professionalism. He’d been told by four highly-respected doctors that he wouldn’t be able to put any weight on the foot for at least six weeks and now four weeks later he is back with the team and has qualified in the top-six this afternoon. Not only are the physical injuries tough to overcome, but to also regain confidence and make-up for the lack of recent track time is difficult, but Leon has gone step-by-step today and done an incredible job overall. If we can keep this going and target top-10 finishes in the races, that would be a superb result based on everything that has happened recently.
“Jules has pushed hard today and worked really well with his team. I think there is a lot more to come and the ultimate lap-time shouldn’t be too difficult to improve on quite significantly; the biggest concern is the bike’s performance when the tyre is used and how we can maintain the pace when the grip has dropped down. We have plenty to work on tomorrow, but the guys are really focused and we’ll be doing everything we can to give Jules a better package for final qualifying tomorrow.”
— Pata Honda
The Pata Honda team endured a tough start to the final round of the World Superbike championship season at Jerez in Spain today with riders Leon Haslam and Michel Fabrizio ending the day in 15th and 17th places respectively.
Haslam and his crew spent much of the day dealing with electronics issues that affected his CBR1000RR’s engine braking performance, while Fabrizio complained of a lack of rear grip exiting corners.
Second qualifying takes place at the 4.432km Jerez circuit tomorrow morning with both riders aiming to progress to the afternoon’s Superpole, which will determine final grid positions for Sunday’s two 21-lap races.
Leon Haslam – “We’ve got some problems and I think I did about six flying laps this afternoon in qualifying. I’m over two seconds away from what we were doing here in the test last year so we’ve got some work to do. We haven’t touched anything on the chassis today so we’ve got to find a solution to these issues. Everyone’s working hard to do that for tomorrow.”
Michel Fabrizio – “I had almost no grip, which is really disappointing since I was very fast here in the test one year ago. Now, it’s completely different and I am losing a lot of time exiting the corners which is not good at all. The team is looking very closely at everything now to see where the problem is but, for sure, we need to find the solution tonight in time for the second qualifying tomorrow morning.”
Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator – “These results are, of course, not good. At the moment we are puzzled why we are so far off, which has something to do with the bike and not Leon, so we have to work hard to fix the bike for him. Michel had different problems but they are probably more than just a grip issue, so it’ll be a long day for the whole Superbike squad.”
— BMW Preview
The 2013 season finale at Jerez (ESP) started well for the BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team with qualifying on the provisional front row. In today’s first qualifying practice, factory rider Marco Melandri (ITA) set the second fastest time with his BMW S 1000 RR despite an injury in his right ankle. His team-mate, Chaz Davies (GBR) finished the session in ninth. This weekend the team enters a third BMW S 1000 RR for Sylvain Barrier. The Frenchman, who secured his second consecutive title in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup at the last round at Magny-Cours is debuting in the FIM Superbike World Championship. Sylvain finished his first ever qualifying practice in the series in 16th.
In the first qualifying practice of the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, Markus Reiterberger qualified second on the provisional front row. The young German, who is the reigning IDM champion, has taken over Sylvain’s BMW HP4 in the BMW Motorrad GoldBet STK Team for this round. It is the first time Reiterberger has ridden this DDC equipped new bike. His team-mate Greg Gildenhuys (RSA) finished the session in 11th.
Marco Melandri: Fastest lap Free Practice: 1:42.842min (P4) /Fastest lap Qualifying Practice 1: 1:42.641 min (P2) – “I am satisfied today. It was a good first qualifying practice. I improved lap by lap and do not feel too much pain in my foot. Unfortunately I have a reduced mobility and this is not helpful in fast direction changes but luckily here on this track there are only a few of them. Today the track was not as fast as usual and for me it was an advantage because I did not have to to push hard. We are in a good shape and it’s still Friday, while I was only expecting to reach this level of performance by tomorrow. This makes me confident for the weekend. Now let’s wait and see tomorrow.”
Chaz Davies: Fastest lap Free Practice: 1:43.503 min (P8) /Fastest lap Qualifying Practice 1: 1:43.170 min (P9) – “The weekend did not start too well for me. I am not really happy with our performance today because I feel that the bike is not as agile as I would like it to be. I was struggling a little bit when turning. Although we improved this afternoon, it was not enough and I could not make best use of the bike. The lack of agility meant that every time I pushed a little bit harder it was very easy to make a mistake and to miss the right line. For this reason, my ideal time of the combined best sector times is a lot faster than my actual lap time. I think the difference was four tenths. We need to improve that and then look for more grip too. The conditions of this circuit change very quickly, I don’t think I have ever seen a track so sensitive to temperature changes. I remember one test in winter when the conditions changed every hour. This means you end up changing the settings all the time. But anyway, we have collected good data today and will try to improve the bike for tomorrow.”
Sylvain Barrier: Fastest lap Free Practice: 1:44.466 min (P14) /Fastest lap Qualifying Practice 1: 1:43.879 min (P16): “I had no experience with riding a Superbike before but now the feeling is quite good. I am feeling confident with the RR. All the team work very well on the bike. I just need some more laps to get used to it, to the tyres, to the power of the bike, also to the brake power, as everything is different compared to a Superstock bike. You need to learn how to use the power and the brakes correctly. In addition, it is really different to ride with slick tyres because you can put a lot of pressure in the front when you enter the corner. I am pretty happy as I am getting more and more acquainted with it and my confidence increases. My target for Sunday would be to be inside the top 10. I know that it is possible and we will work for this. Thank you again to BMW for giving me the chance to ride the bike. It is amazing, I really like it.”
Serafino Foti (Sport Director BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team): “It was a good Friday. Marco arrived yesterday on crutches because of an injury to his foot. But today he was immediately fast despite his physical condition not being great. Chaz was not happy with the setting of his bike. Tomorrow we will work to enable him to improve. Sylvain was a nice surprise, in the afternoon he was nearly one second faster than in this morning practice. Unfortunately when he was going out again with new tyres, he had a small issue and couldn’t further improve. In the Superstock class, Reiterberger’s second place shows the excellent job we have done during the year to develop the new HP4 and the electronic damping system.”
Andrea Dosoli (Technical Director BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team): “Today we experienced typical Jerez conditions: when the temperature increases the track is still not faster. We have seen that in the afternoon when the temperature was a bit higher, everyone was struggling, mainly with grip on the rear. This is the reason why the lap times did not improve compared to the morning session. This is an area which we will work on. We would like to improve the overall grip for Marco and Chaz. In addition, Marco especially is not confident with the front end of the bike and this is where we would like to improve the most. Chaz would like to improve the agility of the bike. He feels that he is losing because of that and the lack of grip. I must say that we are surprised by Marco’s performance considering his physical condition but he is a tough guy and we believe that tomorrow he will be able to fight for a good position on the grid despite his injury. Sylvain is just enjoying the Superbike experience. For sure he will need some more time to understand the bike better and to get the best from it.”
— Aprilia Racing
The weekend for Aprilia Racing Team at Jerez de la Frontera, the last round in the 2013 World Superbike season, is off to the best possible start. In fact, official riders Eugene Laverty and Sylvain Guintoli demonstrated excellent pace from the first two practice sessions, finishing respectively in second and third place (in free practice) and third and fifth (in qualifying practice).
The competitiveness of the RSV4 on the Spanish track is also confirmed by the satellite teams, Althea Racing for Davide Giugliano, out front in all the qualifiers, and Red Devils for the home track rider Toni Elias, fastest in free practice.
Clearly nothing has been decided yet, but Sylvain and Eugene both said that they are quite satisfied after the initial practice sessions. Despite the poor grip, which also caused two harmless crashes in the afternoon qualifiers for the Aprilia riders, the overall feeling is that they are on the right path. The two areas the Italian team will be focusing on the most are grip, particularly delicate here at Jerez, and the riders’ feeling with the front tyre.
Tomorrow’s sessions will provide the first feedback, just in time for Superpole in the afternoon when the starting grid will be decided for the two races on Sunday.
Eugene Laverty: “Today was definitely our best Friday of the season. We usually start off a little cautiously and then develop things throughout the weekend. Since Jerez is our test track we arrived with a decent amount of information, especially where the electronics are concerned. The right set up will allow us to manage the power of the RSV4 in the best possible way which will make us quick straight away. The crash this afternoon was a big warning flag. In fact, with the rising temperature we lost a lot of grip, so I rode a bit more carefully, in any case finishing with the third best time. The conditions were critical, but they’re the same for everyone”.
Sylvain Guintoli: “This is our test track and it’s a circuit I know well since I raced here in GP, but the conditions are quite different compared to the winter. Our times are high and there isn’t much grip, so we need to work on making the RSV4 work well with poor grip. Our basic setting works quite well and even with worn tyres I can come out of the turns well, but now we need to focus on finding the best possible feeling with the front. A step in this direction could allow us to shave a few more tenths off our race pace”.
— The stage is set for WSBK season finale at Jerez
The eni FIM Superbike World Championship riders are gearing up for the last round of 2013, that will take place this weekend at the Circuito de Jerez, Spain. The last time the Andalusian track hosted an event of the series was in 1990, with the Spanish Round being the season opener for WSBK.
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) enters the final showdown in confident mood after the double win at Magny-Cours, that allowed the Brit to extend his lead to a comfortable 37 and 38 points over the two remaining title contenders, Eugene Laverty and Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team). With such a considerable margin over the rivals, Sykes could be crowned new World Superbike Champion already after the first race by finishing in third place, in case the two opponents would eventually take the top-two spots on the podium.
All the factory teams and most of the private ones have previously tested at Jerez, meaning the riders will not take too long to get up to speed on the Spanish venue.
Team BMW Motorrad GoldBet line-up will turn into a trio this weekend, as regular riders Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies will be joined by STK team mate Sylvain Barrier, who is set to make his long-awaited WSBK debut after retaining the title in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup in front of his home crowd at Magny-Cours.
Local rider Toni Elias (Red Devils Aprilia) is targeting a strong result at Jerez, a track he knows well and where he won during his best ever 250cc World Championship season (2003) and in 2010, first race victory of his title-winning season in Moto2.
Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) is down to race despite not being 100% after the injury suffered at Nurburgring. Former BSB Champion will undergo further checks at Jerez prior to the round, before a final decision on his participation to the event. Similar situation for Loris Baz, who is eager to jump on his Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10R after sitting out from the last three rounds.
Javier Fores will replace fellow Spaniard Carlos Checa for the last outing of what has been a difficult season for Team Ducati Alstare. The 28 year old from Llombai has previously raced in the series, when he stepped in for injured James Toseland to race with Team BMW Motorrad Italia for the last three rounds in 2011.
Australian FX Superbike Champion Broc Parkes will make his comeback to the series by tackling the event onboard the Yamaha YZF-R1 of the YART Team.
Standings (Round 13 of 14): 1. Sykes 411; 2. Laverty 374; 3. Guintoli 373; 4. Melandri 339; 5. Davies 270; 6. Giugliano 195; 7. Fabrizio 186; 8. Baz 180; 9. Rea 176; 10. Cluzel 162; 11. Badovini 127; 12. Camier 114; 13. Haslam 91; 14. Neukirchner 84; 15. Checa 80; 16. Sandi 54; 17. Elias 46; 18. Aitchison 33; 19. Iannuzzo 27; 20. Salom 22; 21. Clementi 18; 22. Philippe 13; 23. Lanzi 13; 24. Canepa 12; 25. Lai 11; 26. Pirro 10; 27. Lundh 10; 28. Hayden 8; 29. Young 8; 30. Reiterberger 7; 31. Allerton 6; 32. Uprak 5; 33. Smrz 4; 34. Stauffer 4; 35. Ercelik 3; 36. Eslick 2; 37. Akiyoshi 2; 38. Haga 2. Manufacturers: 1. Aprilia 500; 2. Kawasaki 465; 3. BMW 412; 4. Honda 234; 5. Suzuki 225; 6. Ducati 169; 7. Yamaha 4.
— World Supersport
After clinching his first-ever World Title at Magny-Cours, Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) will be back on track to contest his last World Supersport race before moving to the Moto2 World Championship. The battle-hungry youngster from Lincoln will have a final chance for another epic challenge against Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki).
Confirmed Pata Honda riders for 2014 Michael van der Mark and Lorenzo Zanetti will try and mix it up for what would be their first ever win in the series – and the maiden one for the team this year. Matthieu Lagrive, last minute substitute for injured Florian Marino at Magny-Cours, will be again on track for Team Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki, and he will be replacing this time Luca Scassa.
Complus SMS Racing Honda is going to tackle the round by fielding former CEV Moto3 rider Fraser Rogers.
Standings (Round 12 of 13): 1. Lowes 225; 2. Sofuoglu 181; 3. Foret 134; 4. Vd Mark 117; 5. Zanetti 108; 6. Kennedy 76; 7. Scassa 75; 8. Coghlan 62; 9. Rolfo 62; 10. Leonov 56; 11. Antonelli 55; 12. Marino 53; 13. Morais 47; 14. Iddon 45; 15. Russo 38; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Kawasaki 250; 2. Yamaha 233; 3. Honda 152; 4. MV Agusta 88; 5. Suzuki 36; 6. Triumph 6.
— Superstock 1000
Despite the title already assigned last round, the final race for the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup will play an important role for the riders involved, who are looking forward to end up their season in the best possible way.
With 2013 title winner Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) up to his debut in World Superbike, Niccolò Canepa (Barni Racing Ducati) – who is still looking for his first race win of the season – will try and defend his second place in the standings from Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Kawasaki) and Leandro Mercado (Team Pedercini Kawasaki), who scored one win each in the last two rounds.
Barrier’s place will be taken by former STK1000 rider and 2013 IDM Superbike Champion Markus Reiterberger.
Standings (Round 9 of 10): 1. Barrier 178; 2. Canepa 145; 3. Guarnoni 128; 4. Mercado 126; 5. Savadori 98; 6. La Marra 85; 7. Jezek 81; 8. Lanusse 60; 9. Bussolotti 55; 10. Andreozzi 51; etc. Manufacturers: 1. BMW 189; 2. Kawasaki 173; 3. Ducati 166; 4. Honda 38; 5. Suzuki 5.
— Superstock 600
Franco Morbidelli (San Carlo Team Italia Kawasaki) leads the way in the points as the Superstock 600 European Championship heads to Jerez for a thrilling finale. The Rome-born rider holds a 10-point advantage on Christian Gamarino (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki), fierce challenger for second place finish in France, and 14 on team mate Alessandro Nocco, dominant winner last time out at Magny-Cours.
Kyle Smith (Agro-on Racedays Kawasaki) is looking forward to the Spanish round boosted by his previous knowledge of the track, after the encouraging performances put up in his first two races in the series.
Standings (Round 9 of 10): 1. Morbidelli 134; 2. Gamarino 124; 3. Nocco 120; 4. Chesaux 113; 5. Duwelz 102; 6. Coveña 81; 7. Mulhauser 67; 8. Nestorovic 63; 9. Salvadori 57; 10. Morrentino 48; 11. Casalotti 42; 12. Schmitter 38; 13. Tuuli 34; 14. Tessels 34; 15. Vitali 27; etc.
— European Junior Cup
Following the hectic race on French soil, the Pata European Junior Cup, powered by Honda riders will contest the last race of the season that sees nine riders still in contention for the title and the top-3, led by Kiwi Jake Lewis (Jake Lewis Racing), between five points of each other.
Standings (Round 7 of 8): 1. Lewis 76; 2. Anne 72; 3. Fernandez 71; 4. Sebestyen 60; 5. Raymond 59; 6. Manfredi 57; 7. Flitcroft 56; 8. Orellana 56; 9. Canducci 55; 10. Bendsneijder 50; etc.
— Statistical Preview – By Michele Merlino
— If Tom Sykes becomes World Champion
He would be the fourth British champion after Carl Fogarty (1994, 1995, 1998, 1999), Neil Hodgson (2003) and James Toseland (2004, 2007). Among these, only Toseland was able to win with a 4-cylinder Japanese bike (2007, Honda),while both Fogarty and Hodgson always won the title with Ducati.
He would be the second World Champion for Kawasaki after Scott Russell, exactly twenty years after the American (1993).
At 28 years and two months of age he would be the sixth younger among the fourteen which have already won the title, behind Colin Edwards (26 years and six months in 2000) and just ahead of the aforementioned Scott Russell (28 years and 11 months). The youngest champion in history is James Toseland: in 2004 he was 23 years and eleven months.
At the moment he would be the World Champion with the most pole positions (8) since 2009, when Ben Spies was pole-sitter 11 times (all time record in a season for the WSBK). If he scores pole in Jerez and wins the title he would be the third champion for number of poles after the aforementioned Spies and Doug Polen, which had 10 poles in 1991. Troy Bayliss in 2008 was Champion with eight poles.
Sykes in this 2013 season won 9 times, climbing on the podium 16 times: Max Biaggi last year was able to win the crown with only five wins and 11 podiums, a rare occurrence, as in the four previous years the champion had won at least ten times during the season and had climbed on the podium at least fourteen times.
Sykes would have clawed back a maximum gap to the top of the standings of 47 points, the ones which separated him from Sylvain Guintoli after the second race at Aragon.
— If Eugene Laverty becomes World Champion
He would be the first World Superbike Champion for Ireland.
At 27 years and four months of age he would be the sixth youngest (see Sykes). He would be the first to clinch his first championship at 27 (Toseland was 23 in 2004, Corser 24 in 1996, Spies 25 in 2009, Merkel and Edwards 26 in 1988 and 2000).
With only one pole (Silverstone), he would won the title like Biaggi last year, which started from pole only once at the Nurburgring. With two poles, he would be also equal with Biaggi in 2010.
Laverty at the moment has 7 wins this year, the same Corser racked up in his Championship-winning season in 1996. The last rider which clinched the title with 8 wins was Toseland in 2007 and with 9 wins Kocinski in 1997. With two more wins in Jerez he would equal the nine wins Sykes already counts this year: last year Max Biaggi was able to win the title despite not being the most successful rider (5 wins to Melandri’s six).
Laverty didn’t score points five times this year: the only champions with five DNFs during the season were Troy Bayliss in 2008 and Ben Spies in 2009.
He would have clawed back a maximum gap of 49 points in the championship standings (after Russia).
— If Sylvain Guintoli becomes World Champion
He would be the second French champion after Raymond Roche (1990). Regis Laconi had his chance in 2004, when he entered as the championship leader the final weekend, but lost out to team-mate James Toseland, finishing second in the standings behind the Briton.
At 31 years and 3 months of age he would be the eleventh oldest to win his maiden championship.
At the moment Guintoli won only once this year out of 25 races, a 4% winning percentage. No rider in history was able to win the title with only one win so far, or winning less than 10% of the races. Fred Merkel won his maiden championship with two wins out of seventeen races (11%) and the following year with three (22 races, 13%). The champions with three wins were Carl Fogarty in 1998 (24 races, 12%) and James Toseland in 2004 (22 races, 13%).
After the second race at Magny-Cours he is at his maximum gap from the top of the standings: 38 points. Sylvain lost the championship lead after the second Nurburgring race, and since then his gap widened at every race.
Either Laverty and Guintoli would be the second World Champion for Aprilia after Max Biaggi (2010-2012).
Either Laverty and Guintoli would be the first one to win the title entering the final weekend with a points disadvantage in the standings since 2009, when Ben Spies was trailing Haga by ten points before Portimao.
At the moment those ten points are the maximum gap recovered by a rider which eventually went on to win the crown in the final weekend. Both Laverty and Guintoli then, face a challenge no one ever faced: recover respectively 37 and 38 points in the final weekend from the Championship leader.
— Pirelli talk Jerez
For Pirelli and the eni FIM Superbike World Championship paddock this is not the very first time at Jerez. The Spanish circuit has in fact already hosted, although only on one occasion, the production based championship, way back in 1990.
For the final stage of the 2013 season, which will decide the destiny of the championship, Pirelli will provide riders with rear tyres in soft SC0 and medium SC1 compounds, including the popular standard SC0 that both designers and riders have been very satisfied with.
As already happened in the past year, and on many occasions in recent years, the eni FIM Superbike World Championship will be decided at the last round. Last year Max Biaggi on the Aprilia managed to become World Champion by only 0.5 points ahead of Tom Sykes. The Kawasaki British rider has now the opportunity to take revenge with 37 points advantage ahead of Eugene Laverty and 38 on Sylvain Guintoli. For Sykes, a fourth place in one of the two races is enough to see him crowned champion, this in case Eugene Laverty had to win both .
As for the Manufacturer Championship, Aprilia leads the overall standings with 500 points followed by Kawasaki at 465, the last round will be crucial to decide who will win the Manufacturer Championship, as well as for Kawasaki will be critical the contribution of the second rider in the race for the title.
While the FIM Supersport World Championship and the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup already have their winners, respectively Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport) and Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad GoldBet STK), in the minor classes as the FIM Superstock 600 European Championship and the European Junior Cup is still yet to be determined.
In the Superstock 600, an all-Italian battle among Franco Morbidelli (San Carlo Team Italia) who leads the standings with a 10 point advantage on Christian Gamarino (Team Goeleven) and 14 on his teammate Alessandro Nocco (San Carlo Team Italia).
In the European Junior Cup, the championship dedicated to the young talents of motorcycling, the New Zealander Jake Lewis has a lead of 4 points on the pursuer, French Robin Anne, and 5 on the Spanish Augusto Fernandez. Hungarian rider Peter Sebestyen, the French Gullaume Raymond and all the riders up to ninth position in the standings can still mathematically win the championship.
The circuit of Jerez de la Frontera is located in Andalusia, in southern Spain, close to Cadiz and was opened on 8 December 1985. Initially, the track measured 4218 meters then over the years, thanks to some changes that involved, among other things, the Curve Sito Pons and the addition of Senna Chicane, was made longer and faster. Over the past ten years first the pit lane (which now ends at the curve Expo ’92) has been lengthened and were then paved the escape routes of some curves to make the circuit safer. The track was paved for the last time in 2005. For many riders Jerez, as well as Assen, is considered a reference circuit because it presents a series of low, medium and fast speed technically ideal to develop the bike, which is why it is often chosen by the team to make their own private tests.
Jerez from a tyre point of view: The Jerez circuit is 4423 meters long, 3038 meters of these are the sum of the length of the straights, which is around 69 % of the entire track, while those of the curves is 1385 meters, amounting to about 31% of the entire track length. The start-finish straight measures 600 meters with a width of 12 meters, while in the rest of the track is 11 meters. In total thirteen curves, five left and eight to the right with a corners radius that varies from the 30 meters of the curve 2, 6 and 13 to the 116 meters of the curve 4.
The maximum slope is 5.1 % on the main straight while the maximum gradient is 5% at the exit of curve 5. The maximum bank is recorded at the exit of the curves 2, 6 and 13 and is equal to 7.46% and the minimum is 4.70% on the curves 4 and 12. The rider who starts from the pole position will place his motorcycle on the right side of the track.
The curves of this track are very different, in a complete lap are recorded on the rear tyres levels of stress fairly balanced between the right and left side. Although the lateral loads generated during the race are not very high, in order to meet the different needs of the track (fast sections alternating with slow corners, some of these elevated) a rear tyre with a good balance of handling and support in the lean is needed.
The great versatility of use of rear standard Pirelli tyres is capable of responding comprehensively to the demands of this circuit. The only unknown remains the temperature, but with the SC1 for cool temperatures and the SC0 in case of warmer ones, Pirelli will be able to cover even the weather variable.
But we must note that the type of asphalt used to cover the track of Jerez has a quite aggressive grainy, a factor not to be underestimated because it may lead to problems of uneven wear or abrasion on the rear tyre (especially with the use of soft compounds). Specifically, being a circuit that requires a good level of grip at the rear, it was decided to pull over to the standard products SC1 and SC0 two corresponding solutions with similar grip but more protected from cutting and tearing mechanical stress.
From the front point of view, the hops due to the undulations of the asphalt in addition to requiring a manageable and stable in braking motorcycle, will require tyres able to absorb the roughness of the asphalt and properly orientate in the faster corners. Two soft solutions (the SC1 and a slightly stiffer alternative) will be brought to allow riders to find their perfect balance without sacrificing performance.
Jerez from a technical point of view: “At Jerez the Superbike World Championship has stopped only once, back in 1990, and then there was never over,” said Pirelli Moto Racing Director Giorgio Barbier “For this reason, the data in our possession regarding the behavior of the tyres are not many but still we have some information since the circuit is often destination of private tests for the teams during the winter because of the strategic location in southern Europe. It’s a tough track but the asphalt is not particularly abrasive, although when the temperatures are rising too much, especially in summer, it tends to become slippery. In the period we race the only drawback could be caused by a light morning fog because the circuit, a bit like the one of Laguna Seca, is not very far from the sea but at the same time it is also close to a desert and slightly hilly area. The consequence of this could be a temperature swing between the early hours of the morning and the afternoon, which is why we have also brought a SC0 development more protected to prevent any possibility of cold tearing. This is not a particularly fast track but very technical and selective, I’m sure the riders will appreciate it very much and we will see some good races and a grand finale worthy of this great championship”.
Pirelli solutions for the Superbike and Supersport classes: For the last round of 2013 eni FIM Superbike World Championship Pirelli brought to Jerez de la Frontera a total of 4469 tyres of which 1574 reserved for the Superbike riders, 1700 for the Supersport, 448 for Superstock 1000 and 525 for those of Superstock 600, in addition to the 222 expected for the European Junior Cup.
Each Superbike rider will have 32 front and 40 rear tyres, for Supersport riders this number will be of 23 for the front and 27 for the rear.
For teams and riders of the Superbike class slick solutions will be 3 for the front and 4 for the rear, in addition to the rear qualifier tyre in quantity of 2 for each rider as well as the intermediate solutions, 3 for the front and the same number for the rear, and the rain tyres, in quantities of 8 both for the front and for the rear.
On the front the SC1, in soft compound ideal for low external temperatures and/or circuits on average stringent, and the SC2, ideal for high ambient temperatures because it provides resistance to tread, both in the range and brought to all rounds this year. As an alternative to the two standard solutions there will be a development SC1 solution, the S283, which debuted at the Nürburgring and at Magny-Cours has been used by about half of the riders lined up on the grid. The latter solution offers greater robustness than the standard SC1.
At the rear two SC0 and two SC1. The softest solution of the range debuted at Monza with the reinforced central area and has been used at Donington, Portimão, Imola, Nürburgring, Laguna Seca and Magny-Cours with success. This slick solution has a soft compound, ideal for tackling smooth asphalt and high temperatures even if it has demonstrated excellent performance even with track temperatures below 20 degrees. It offers, in fact, maximum tread contact on smooth asphalt and maximum traction development at high temperatures as well as higher resistance to thermal performance decay. As an alternative to the standard SC0 Pirelli will provide riders also with a new development SC0, the S1429, more robust from the mechanical point of view compared to the standard SC0 and that should avoid possible cold tearing to which the standard one may be exposed.
Two the SC1s, both of development: the S1258, which made its debut at Istanbul and that at the level of compound is positioned in the area of standard SC1 with the purpose of improving the thermal-mechanical properties, and the R1431, brought for the first time to Imola and used by all riders at Moscow and Silverstone and brought to Nürburgring and Magny-Cours also, it should be able to provide with better resistance to laceration but same grip of standard SC1.
For the Supersport two SC1 for the front and 2 SC0 and 1 SC1 at the rear. At the front the standard SC1 in soft compound already used and carried in all the races held so far in 2013 is accompanied by the development solution S14, in SC1 medium compound tested at Imola and brought to the race for the first time in Magny- Cours, was designed as an alternative of the SC1 range using a different building process.
At the rear there are two development SC0 in soft compound: the S510 ideal in the case of higher temperatures and already used in Monza, Portimão, Imola and Magny-Cours, and the S1388, a totally new solution that results from Imola tests of which it is a further development. Finally, if the temperatures were more rigid, riders can count on the SC1 R1591, which debuted at Silverstone and has also been taken at the Nürburgring, should offer more resistance to tearing but equal grip than the standard SC1.
As seen in many races this year the SC0 undoubtedly remains the preferred option by the riders of both classes if weather conditions allow to use it.
— Sykes doubles France
The French Round of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship proved once again to be a title decider, as the 73,844 attendants could cheer for local rider Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) retaining the STK1000 title and for Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) clinching his first-ever Championship victory in World Supersport.
The battle for the ultimate prize in World Superbike is still open, despite the resounding double victory scored by Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), who holds now 38 points over Eugene Laverty and 39 on Sylvain Guintoli. The factory Aprilia riders completed the podium in both occasions, even after the dramatic finale of Race 2.
Race 1
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) scored victory in the first World Superbike race, leading the way from lights to the Red Flag that was waved during Lap 19, following the crash suffered by Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini Kawasaki). The Brit was able to pull away from the rest of the field, except for Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team), in the early stages of the race, with the duo able to lap consistently in the 1’38s barrier. Sykes’ pace, though, was too fast even for the Frenchman, as the KRT rider managed to put a safe margin between himself and the rival as the race progressed.
Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) crossed the line a lonely third to complete the top-3 ahead of Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia), very competitive in the opening laps before losing ground from the top, Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) and Michele Pirro (Team Ducati Alstare), who rode an incredible maiden race in the series to end up 6th.
In the first half of the race Pirro was involved in a spectacular 5-way battle for sixth place, along with Pata Honda duo of Michel Fabrizio and Leon Haslam, Toni Elias (Red Devils Aprilia) and Vincent Philippe (FIXI Crescent Suzuki). Elias, who made his WSBK debut last month in Turkey, lost control of his Aprilia RSV4 at Turn 13 during the sixteenth lap, taking out Philippe in the process. The difficult first race for the FIXI Crescent Suzuki was completed by local rider’s Jules Cluzel crash in the early stages, preceded by the fall occurred to works BMW rider Chaz Davies.
The Championship situation after Race 1 saw Tom Sykes extending his advantage to 29 points over Sylvain Guintoli and 32 on Eugene Laverty.
SUPERBIKE – RACE1: (Laps 18 = 79,398 Km)
POS / RIDER / NAT. / TEAM / MOTORCYCLE / GAP
1 / T. SYKES / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 29’38.830
2 / S. GUINTOLI / FRA / Aprilia Racing Team / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 2.146
3 / E. LAVERTY / IRL / Aprilia Racing Team / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 10.643
4 / D. GIUGLIANO / ITA / Althea Racing / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 15.687
5 / M. MELANDRI / ITA / BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK / BMW S1000 RR / 23.573
6 / M. PIRRO / ITA / Team Ducati Alstare / Ducati 1199 Panigale R / 33.848
7 / M. FABRIZIO / ITA / Pata Honda World Superbike / Honda CBR1000RR / 37.599
8 / L. HASLAM / GBR / Pata Honda World Superbike / Honda CBR1000RR / 37.903
9 / A. BADOVINI / ITA / Team Ducati Alstare / Ducati 1199 Panigale R / 38.181
10 / L. LANZI / ITA / Mesaroli Transports A.S. / Ducati 1098R / 51.604
11 / D. SALOM / ESP / Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 54.742
12 / F. SANDI / ITA / Team Pedercini / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 1’03.442
13 / V. PHILIPPE / FRA / Fixi Crescent Suzuki / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / 1’07.176
14 / F. LAI / ITA / MR-Racing / Ducati 1199 Panigale R / 1’24.850
15 / V. IANNUZZO / ITA / Grillini Dentalmatic SBK / BMW S1000 RR / 2 Laps
Fastest Lap: 4° Tom Sykes 1’38.345 161,468 Km/h
Lap Record: 2009 N. Haga 1’38.619 161,020 Km/h
Best Lap: 2012 T. Sykes 1’36.950 163,790 Km/h
Race 2
Tom Sykes made a clean sweep of the French Round thanks to a dominant win in Race 2, that completes the third double-victory for the Kawasaki Racing Team rider this year. The Championship leader got a perfect start out of pole and steadily pulled away, to place a considerable gap between himself and the chasing duo of Eugene Laverty and Sylvain Guintoli.
As slight drizzle started to fall on the French circuit, the factory Aprilia riders was battling hard for second place, when both crashed on their own at Turn 5 causing a Red Flag situation, that led to an early end of the race. Laverty and Guintoli successfully made it back to the pits and, as final results were based on the last lap completed by all riders – the 21st – they finished second and third respectively.
Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia) ended up 4 ahead of Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet), Vincent Philippe (FIXI Crescent Suzuki), substitute rider for Leon Camier, and other works BMW rider Marco Melandri. Lorenzo Lanzi (Mesaroli Transports A.S. Ducati) scored a encouraging ninth in what has been his WSBK return, behind Toni Elias (Red Devils Aprilia), with Ayrton Badovini (Team Ducati Alstare) to complete the top-10.
Technical problems ruled Pata Honda riders Leon Haslam and Michel Fabrizio out of the race, while Jules Cluzel (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) was able to jump back on his GSX-R, after a crash on Lap 13, to finish fourteenth.
With the season finale to be held at Jerez on October 18-20, Sykes further extended his lead in the standings to 37 points over Laverty and 38 on Guintoli.
Tom Sykes: “It is great to score a double win here. We made two small changes in the bike to race two, when you are on the edge all the time you have got very small changes that make a big outcome. Magny-Cours was generous to me, the bike and all at Kawasaki, so this was great. It was spitting with rain at the end of race two and that was difficult, but I had a big gap to manage. We still have some work to do but the good thing is that we have been there or thereabouts all season.”
Eugene Laverty: “Tom was on another planet today, I tried to catch him in the early laps but he was pulling away out of slow turns. I battled with Sylvain in the end, usually I don’t like this type of situations because I respect him and we’re still both in contention, but every point can make a difference in this part of the season. I’m happy about the two results, even though our target was to narrow our gap from the leader.”
RACE2: (Laps 21 = 92,631 Km) – POS / RIDER / NAT. / TEAM / MOTORCYCLE / GAP
1 / T. SYKES / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 34’36.149
2 / E. LAVERTY / IRL / Aprilia Racing Team / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 11.091
3 / S. GUINTOLI / FRA / Aprilia Racing Team / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 11.337
4 / D. GIUGLIANO / ITA / Althea Racing / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 23.008
5 / C. DAVIES / GBR / BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK / BMW S1000 RR / 25.724
6 / V. PHILIPPE / FRA / Fixi Crescent Suzuki / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / 34.762
7 / M. MELANDRI / ITA / BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK / BMW S1000 RR / 36.219
8 / T. ELIAS / ESP / Red Devils Roma / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 40.957
9 / L. LANZI / ITA / Mesaroli Transports A.S. / Ducati 1098R / 43.713
10 / A. BADOVINI / ITA / Team Ducati Alstare / Ducati 1199 Panigale R / 53.188
11 / D. SALOM / ESP / Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 56.251
12 / M. AITCHISON / AUS / Team Pedercini / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 1’04.048
13 / F. SANDI / ITA / Team Pedercini / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 1’04.243
14 / J. CLUZEL / FRA / Fixi Crescent Suzuki / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / 1’10.346
15 / F. LAI / ITA / MR-Racing / Ducati 1199 Panigale R / 1’29.441
Fastest Lap: 4° Tom Sykes 1’37.932 162,149 Km/h
Lap Record: 2013 T. Sykes 1’38.345 161,470 Km/h
Best Lap: 2012 T. Sykes 1’36.950 163,790 Km/h
CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS: 1 SYKES 411, 2 LAVERTY 374, 3 GUINTOLI 373, 4 MELANDRI 339, 5 DAVIES 270, 6 GIUGLIANO 195, 7 FABRIZIO 186, 8 BAZ 180, 9 REA 176, 10 CLUZEL 162, 11 BADOVINI 127, 12 CAMIER 114, 13 HASLAM 91, 14 NEUKIRCHNER 84, 15 CHECA 80.
— World Supersport – Sam Lowes 2013 Champion
Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) has clinched his first ever World Title today, after the second place finish achieved in the WSS Race behind winner Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki). The indomitable 23 year old from Lincoln, Great Britain, rode a superb race with no tactics involved, even though he just needed to finish in the points to be awarded the new World Supersport Champion.
The race was red-flagged during the final lap following the crash suffered by Christian Iddon (ParkinGO MV Agusta Corse), who high-sided while running in third place. The English rider was able to make it back to the pits within the time limit for his maiden podium in series, as final results were based on the previous lap.
Lowes, Sofuoglu and Iddon put up an incredible show for the win, while Fabien Foret (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki) took the most out a 5-way fight for fought that also involved Sheridan Morais (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki), Pata Honda riders Michael van der Mark and Lorenzo Zanetti, and Roberto Tamburini (Team Honda Lorini). Zanetti, along with other two riders – Matthieu Lagrive (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki) and Lee Johnston (PTR Honda) – had a crash on the final lap, but he was only one of the three who successfully rode back, to claim seventh.
SUPERSPORT RACE : (Laps 20 = 88,220 Km)
POS / RIDER / NAT. / TEAM / MOTORCYCLE / GAP
1 / K. SOFUOGLU / TUR / MAHI Racing Team India / Kawasaki ZX-6R / 34’07.601
2 / S. LOWES / GBR / Yakhnich Motorsport / Yamaha YZF R6 / 0.299
3 / C. IDDON / GBR / ParkinGo MV Agusta Corse / MV Agusta F3 675 / 0.622
4 / F. FORET / FRA / MAHI Racing Team India / Kawasaki ZX-6R / 13.168
5 / S. MORAIS / RSA / Team Goeleven / Kawasaki ZX-6R / 13.483
6 / M. VD MARK / NED / Pata Honda World Supersport / Honda CBR600RR / 13.9
7 / L. ZANETTI / ITA / Pata Honda World Supersport / Honda CBR600RR / 14.363
8 / R. TAMBURINI / ITA / Team Lorini / Honda CBR600RR / 14.748
9 / V. LEONOV / RUS / Yakhnich Motorsport / Yamaha YZF R6 / 24.989
10 / A. BALDOLINI / ITA / Suriano Racing Team / Suzuki GSX-R600 / 27.754
11 / J. KENNEDY / IRL / Rivamoto / Honda CBR600RR / 32.396
12 / R. DE ROSA / ITA / Team Lorini / Honda CBR600RR / 32.977
13 / M. ROCCOLI / ITA / Team Pata by Martini / Yamaha YZF R6 / 37.785
14 / K. COGHLAN / GBR / Kawasaki DMC-Lorenzini Team / Kawasaki ZX-6R / 38.295
15 / L. SCASSA / ITA / Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres / Kawasaki ZX-6R / 39.159
Fastest Lap: 6° Sam Lowes 1’41.690 156,157 Km/h
Lap Record: 2009 C. Crutchlow 1’41.407 156,590 Km/h
Best Lap: 2009 C. Crutchlow 1’40.980 157,250 Km/h
CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS: 1 LOWES 225, 2 SOFUOGLU 181, 3 FORET 134, 4 VD MARK 117, 5 ZANETTI 108, 6 KENNEDY 76, 7 SCASSA 75, 8 COGHLAN 62, 9 ROLFO 62, 10 LEONOV 56, 11 ANTONELLI 55, 12 MARINO 53, 13 MORAIS 47, 14 IDDON 45, 15 RUSSO 38.
— European Junior Cup
Augusto Fernandez (DS Junior Team) has won the Pata European Junior Cup, powered by Honda race at Magny-Cours after a titanic battle with Hungarian Peter Sebestyen (World Management) and Javier Orellana (Europfoods). The race was shortened to five laps following a multiple crash at the first start, that involved several riders including Jake Lewis (Jake Lewis Racing), who is still Championship leader.
Results (Round 7 of 8): 1. Fernandez 5 Laps/22.055 km in 10’20.079 average 128.045 kph; 2. Sebestyen 0.179; 3. Orellana 0.559; 4. Patronen 1.529; 5. Hubner 1.674; 6. Paiuta 9.128; 7. Aranda 9.258; 8. Filippini 9.609; 9. Manfredi 9.802; 10. Schultheiss 10.361; etc.
— HRC Report
Michel Fabrizio FIM Superbike World Championship posted a best race finish of seventh in race one at Magny Cours, on an afternoon when neither planned 23-lap race completed the scheduled full distance. .
Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) was one place behind his team-mate Michel in the opening race, as they battled it out in entertaining fashion until the race was halted by a red flag, when a competitor crashed and his machine caught fire on the active track surface.
Both races were won by championship leader and Superpole winner Tom Sykes (Kawasaki). Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia) and Eugene Laverty (Aprilia) swapped second and third place podium finishes between races, with Guintoli second in race one. Sykes is now 37 points ahead of Laverty with only one round and two points scoring races left to run.
The first race lasted 18-laps today, the second 21-laps before yet another red flag was thrown, when rains caused two of the eventual podium men to fall at the same slippery corner.
Neither Leon nor Michel finished race two, both suffering technical issues that brought a premature end to their weekend; Leon on lap eight and Michel on lap 14. Leon is 13th in the rankings and Michel seventh.
The final round of the championship will take place at Jerez in Spain on 20 October.
Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) was the top Honda finisher in the FIM Supersport World Championship at Magny Cours in France, ending up sixth after qualifying in eighth place on the grid. He made a good start and after dropping a couple of places, fought his way back to fourth place for a time, until he had to slow at the end. He remains fourth in the championship with one round to go.
Lorenzo Zanetti (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) was having a strong ride at times in the French race but he took a hard fell at turn five and appeared to have been ruled out of the race results. To the contrary, he restarted Pata Honda and finished seventh, only one place behind his team-mate. In the points, Lorenzo is fifth, nine points behind van der Mark.
The race was shortened to 20 laps, not the planned 22, by a red flag when eventual third place rider Christian Iddon (MV Agusta) fell and his bike lay on the track. The race was won by outgoing world champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) but Sam Lowes (Yamaha) won his first world championship title by finishing second in the race today.
Fast starter Roberto Tamburini (Team Lorini Honda) was a full part of the front running fight for a time but dropped to eighth place at the end, only 14 seconds from the winning rider.
Jack Kennedy (Rivamoto Honda) had a tough qualifying in 20th place after a practice fall but he scored a strong 11th in the race to stay sixth in the overall rankings. Raffaele De Rosa (Team Lorini Honda) was 12th today, and is 19th overall in the points. Ronan Quarmby (PRORACE HONDA) placed 16th in the final results, agonisingly one place from a point after qualifying in the same 16th place on Saturday.
Danny Webb (PTR Honda) found the alterations he and his team made pre-race did not work out on track and he dropped from sixth in qualifying to 17th in the race. Luca Marconi (PTR Honda) was one place behind his PTR team-mate Webb.
Alex Schacht (Racing Team Toth Honda), Balazs Nemeth (Complus SMS Racing Honda) and Imre Toth (Racing Team Toth Honda) filled in the finishing position right behind Marconi, with American rider Corey Alexander (Team Honda PTR) 22nd in his first European adventure. Nacho Calero Perez (Honda PTR) failed to finish.
After the Magny-Cours weekend the 13th and final round of the WSS championship will take place at the Spanish circuit of Jerez, on Sunday October 20.
Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) – Race result: 8th / DNF Championship position: 13th
“We found something wrong and has been for a while on the bike and it transformed it when we sorted the issue. It changed the bike quite rapidly so everything else was a little bit out because of that change. It turned properly and did everything that it should have been doing for the last few rounds in race two. It took a lot of inconsistency out of the bike as well. Starting from 15th wasn’t ideal but, even though our setting didn’t suit the big change we made, I was quickly able to get up to seventh and was catching the guys in front. Yes, we had a technical problem in race but I’m actually really, really happy that we’ve found an important aspect of the bike that has been wrong for many races.”
Michel Fabrizio (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) – Race result: 7th / DNF Championship position: 7th
“There have been some positives this weekend and I was able to understand a little more the engine brake characteristics of the CBR. I was happy with a second row start after qualifying yesterday. Fifth position for me would have been very difficult but a top ten was OK. In the second race we had a problem and had to stop.”
Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) – Race result: 6th Championship position: 4th
“I had quite a good start and then I got passed and tried to follow them. After six or seven laps I had quite a big drop in the tyres, so I tried to push as hard as possible but I could not get the best pace. Foret passed me and when I followed him I could take more corner speed and stay close to the other riders in front. I am a little bit disappointed because I know I am faster than today. I hope in Jerez we can fight for the podium again.”
Lorenzo Zanetti (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) – Race result: 7th Championship position: 5th
“I had a big crash trying to go faster because I wanted to finish in third place. I was a bit angry because I think our choice of tyre was not good as Mikey and me had the same issues. I am not sure if the change in temperature made a difference or not, as it got warmer through the race, but almost all of the other riders used the harder tyre. I think we had the pace to stay with the first three riders!”
Jack Kennedy (Rivamoto Honda) – Race result: 11th Championship position: 6th
“I got an OK start but as always in a Supersport race it breaks up into groups. I could only do so much to get forward so to get to 11th by the end was a good result, from where I started in 20th at least. The main good news today is that I scored decent points but Luca Scassa and Kevin Coghlan only scored a few so I moved up to sixth in the championship.”
Danny Webb (PTR Honda) – Race result: 18th Championship position: NA
“We had a good qualifying and I felt comfortable at that stage. We tried a few things in the race to make the bike work better over race distance but they did not work and the bike felt completely different. We were struggling in a few areas with it. We have to take the positive from it because we have taken a step in the right direction and in my third ever race on a 600 Supersport bike I did not think I would have qualified sixth.”
— Aprilia Racing
The only thing overshadowing Aprilia’s domination in the Magny-Cours Superbike races was an excellent performance by Sykes. Sylvain Guintoli and Eugene Laverty swapped out the second and third steps of the podium in the two races, keeping themselves mathematically within a shout of the Rider Championship. Davide Giugliano had a double fourth place finish on his Team Althea Aprilia. Aprilia maintains a solid hold on the brand championship lead and, with only one round left to go and a 35 point advantage over Kawasaki, they have staked a claim on the 2013 Manufacturer Title.
In the first race on dry asphalt Sylvain Guintoli stayed with Tom Sykes after starting from the second spot on the grid, but he was unable to make a decisive attack, partially because of the red flag that came out due to a crash two laps from the finish. Eugene Laverty, riding in fifth place for the early part of the race, made up ground on Melandri and then on Giugliano, crossing the finish line behind his team mate. Despite the grey skies, Race2 also started without rain and on dry asphalt, following much the same script as Race1 with Sykes blazing the trail up front followed by Eugene Laverty and Sylvain Guintoli. The two Aprilia Racing Team riders switched places several times but were unable to contain the leader’s mad pace. In the final laps the French fans were entertained by an exciting and clean battle between team mates which ended under another red flag that came out as rain began to fall during the last lap. Eugene and Sylvain ended the race in that order behind Sykes, both of them also falling victim to harmless crashes just seconds before the race was called.
With today’s result Laverty maintains his second place in the rider standings, 37 points behind the leader and one point in front of Sylvain Guintoli. Aprilia confirms the Manufacturer standings lead with 35 points over Kawasaki, 88 ahead of BMW, 266 over Honda, 275 above Suzuki and 331 in front of Ducati.
Eugene Laverty: “Tom was from another planet today. I tried to keep up with him in the first laps, but he gained too much ground coming out of the slow turns. Toward the end Sylvain and I engaged in battle. I usually don’t like these situations because I have a lot of respect for him and because we are still both within reach of the title, but every point is important at this stage of the season. I’m obviously pleased with the two results although our goal was to reduce the gap behind the leader. We made some improvements to the bike between Race1 and Race2 and I was definitely faster, but apparently it wasn’t enough. Jerez will be our last chance to make a play for the Rider Championship”.
Sylvain Guintoli: “Race2 was exciting, a great battle with Eugene. It’s a shame that we weren’t able to keep up with Tom, but he was really fast today. I hope I didn’t do too much damage to my shoulder in the crash. Unfortunately my visor was covered with bugs and I didn’t see the slippery spots on the track. In Race1 I was able to keep up without losing too much ground and in the final laps I tried to pull the pin and overtake Tom, but then the red flag came out. It’s true that at Jerez it will be difficult to recover but mathematically we are still in the game so I’ll be trying hard until the end to finish out this Championship properly”.
— Kawasaki Report
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) scored his third double race win of the season at Magny Cours today and in doing so took a strong 37 point lead with only one round of the championship remaining.
In the first race Sykes was not seriously threatened after he headed off into the lead at lap record pace, taking a new best lap in race conditions of 1’38.345. He would go on and beat in an even more impressive race two performance.
In the opening race, scheduled for 23 laps, Tom had a two second advantage over Sylvain Guintoli as the laps timed down. When a red flag was shown to halt the race because of a bike laying on track on fire, Sykes was declared the winner and, as enough laps had been completed to call it a full result, he was awarded full points.
The second race also did not quite go the full distance and when rains started towards the end, two riders crashed behind Tom. A red flag was shown to halt proceedings again and this time Sykes was 11.091 seconds ahead in the final race results.
On lap four of race two Tom set a final new lap record, 1’37.932. This was Tom’s ninth race win of 2013, the 14th of his career.
David Salom (Kawasaki Racing Team) had a tough weekend in some regards as a stand in for team regular Loris Baz, falling three times. He also scored points, however, with two eleventh places on raceday – a good effort from rider and team given that bad weather had robbed them of some clear track time in practice.
Kawasaki Team Pedercini rider Federico Sandi was 12th in race one, and 13th in race two, with Mark Aitchison having a big highside crash in race one but finishing race two in 12th place.
A Superstock 1000 FIM Cup race win for Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Kawasaki) was a hometown victory on his Ninja ZX-10R. The race was stopped for a red flag and reduced to an eventual nine laps, which Guarnoni eventually dominated. Lorenzo Savadori (Kawasaki Team Pedercini) was third. Leandro Mercado (Kawasaki Team Pedercini) placed fifth in the race.
Tom Sykes: “It is great to score a double win here and we made two small changes in the bike to race two. We are always chasing perfection. That is what we spend our lives doing. When you are on the edge all the time you have got very small changes that make a big outcome. The bike was very nice to ride today and the races went very well. When the circuit and conditions suit a bike and rider you have to take the most advantage from it. Magny Cours was generous to me, the bike and all at Kawasaki, so this was great. It was spitting with rain at the end of race two and that was difficult to manage, even though I had a big gap and not much pressure. I was sliding the rear a lot. We still have some work to do but the good thing is that we have been there or thereabouts all season.”
David Salom: “It ended up a hard weekend. The team worked very hard for me after three crashes but with 11th position in each race I am happy in one way, happy with progress in the second race being faster than the first race. With three crashes it was difficult. I am sorry for that but happy that we made progress. I think it was possible for me to finish better, if I had been riding a Superbike all season. I am sure it would have been a little bit better that way.”
Kawasaki Mahi Racing Team India’s Kenan Sofuoglu and Fabien Foret finished first and fourth respectively at the 12th round of the FIM Supersport World Championship in Fabien’s home country of France.
Sofuoglu overcame the effects of a big crash in qualifying on Saturday to join the fight for the top three, on a bike that was extensively rebuilt after his fall. On his 2013 Ninja ZX-6R Kenan sat in third place for much of the race before hitting the front and holding off new world Champion Sam Lowes to record his fifth win of the year.
Having started from 18th place on the grid for his home round only one of the best rides of his career looked likely to allow Foret to run near the front and Fabien duly delivered. His team had found a good set-up for the dry conditions, despite having so little dry track time in practice, and Fabien was able to rip through the field to finish fourth. Christian Iddon added to the front-running battle and finished third, despite falling from his bike with two laps to go and bringing out the red flags to stop the race two laps early.
In the championship Lowes has 225 points, Kenan is guaranteed second with 181 and Foret looks set to end the season in third place, as he now enjoys a 17-point advantage over the next best rider.
Sheridan Morais (Go Eleven Kawasaki) took his Ninja ZX-6R to a fine fifth place, having qualified in the same position on the grid. It was a tough race for many other Kawasaki riders, as Kevin Coghlan (Kawasaki DMC-Lorenzini) crashed out and restarted to finish 14th, while Luca Scassa (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) struggled out of the corners and finished his day 15th, scoring a single point. Late replacement rider Matthieu Lagrive (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) fell while in 13th place.
The last round of the championship will take place at Jerez, on October 20th.
Kenan Sofuoglu: “This weekend was really good because yesterday we had a very fast qualifying time but then I had a big crash, and I was scared that I might have damaged the bike too much. We changed a lot of new parts on the bike and I was able to race and stay with Sam Lowes and Christian Iddon in the early laps. Step-by-step I found more confidence and I was quite happy to fight and then to win the race. I knew we could not really keep the world title today but I knew we could still win the race.”
Fabien Foret: “From our starting position maybe we made a small miracle at my home round but not a big enough miracle! I am always disappointed when I am not on the box after the race but we did a good job for the race set-up and in the race. I had a fun race as I passed so many guys on the way through.”
— WSBK 2013 – Round 13 – Magny Cours
— Tom Sykes takes eighth Superpole for the season
Tissot-Superpole for the French Round was held under mixed conditions and saw Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) claiming the front spot on the grid for the 8th time this year. The Brit will be joined on the first row by title contender Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team), who was able to elevate himself to second in the closing stages, and Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia).
By the start of the second “wet” session the track had started to dry, meaning most riders opted to use slick tyres. Times dropped considerably throughout the 20 minutes, with Sykes being the first rider to break into the 1’39s barrier with 9 minutes left, finally setting a blistering 1’38.592s in his last attempt for pole.
Other Championship contender Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) finished 4th ahead of Michel Fabrizio (Pata Honda World Superbike) and Ayrton Badovini (Team Ducati Alstare). Works BMW duo of Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies will move off – in tomorrow’s two races – from the third row on the grid, along with Vincent Philippe, substitute rider for injured Leon Camier in the FIXI Crescent Suzuki Team.
Both Michele Pirro (Team Ducati Alstare), tenth, and Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike), fifteenth, crashed out at Turn 12 during Superpole 1: the Italian high-sided at mid-turn, landing badly on his back but with no major consequences, while Leon Haslam low-sided while entering the corner, eventually crossing on foot the track to pick up his bike and successfully make it back to the pits.
— World Supersport
Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki) has scored his fourth pole position of the season today after second qualifying for the World Supersport Championship at Magny-Cours. The Turk ended the session in a bad way, though, due to a heavy crash he suffered at Turn 3 in the final stages, that led to a Red Flag situation.
Championship leader Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) ended up in second place, ahead of a competitive Christian Iddon (Parkingo MV Agusta Corse), who is showing some really good form with the MV Agusta F3 675 at Magny-Cours. Roberto Tamburini (Team Lorini Honda) will head the second row on the grid in tomorrow’s WSS race by finishing fourth ahead of Sheridan Morais (Team Goeleven Kawasaki) and Danny Webb (PTR Honda).
Pata Honda duo of Lorenzo Zanetti and Michael van Der Mark finished in seventh and eight place respectively, with Riccardo Russo (Puccetti Racing Kawasaki) to follow in ninth. Tough qualifying for Rivamoto Honda riders Jack Kennedy and Eduard Blokhin, and for WSS debutant Brodie Waters (AARK Racing Honda), all crashing out at turn number three.
— Aprilia Racing Report
Hometown favourite Sylvain Guintoli did not let his French fans down as they cheered him on from the Magny-Cours grandstands. At the end of a rousing Superpole Sylvain had the second best time which places him on the front row of the starting grid for the races tomorrow. Eugene Laverty also put in an excellent performance, finishing fourth at the end of the two sessions. Thanks to the third best time by Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) there will be three RSV4s in the top four spots.
Although the Superpole was declared “wet”, two thirds of it was actually held on asphalt dry enough to justify using slick tyres. In any case the wet procedure reduced the action to two 20 minute sessions with 15 riders in the first and nine passing through to the second to make a play for their spot on the grid. Aprilia riders Guintoli and Laverty chose to start, as did almost all their rivals, with wet tyres, later returning to the garage when the track began to improve to change them out. The timing allowed Sylvain and Eugene to come through the first session easily, saving their energy (and the two qualifying tyres) for the second, decisive 20 minute Superpole.
With the track basically dry, Sylvain took full advantage of his second Pirelli soft tyre, stopping the clock at 1’39.397 to earn the second spot on the starting grid for the two races tomorrow. The French rider, lying third in the Rider Championship standings, Will be able to count on the excellent work done over the past two days of practice on both a dry and wet track. No matter what conditions the weather brings tomorrow, Sylvain knows that he has what it takes to be a key player on his home track.
Sylvain Guintoli: “The conditions were difficult this afternoon with a lot of wet spots that were hard to see. It was a tricky situation but in the end we came away with an important second spot on the grid. In the last few laps I even broke the front fairing with my helmet and I’m sure that made me lose a bit of time. In any case my race pace is fast and I want to stay focused on riding as well as possible without making any calculations. I’m hoping for two dry races tomorrow. I was very fast in these conditions yesterday and I’d like to give my French fans something to cheer about.”
Eugene Laverty’s fourth place finish satisfied the Northern Irish rider who rode a good Superpole where he only lost a bit of ground with his second qualifying tyre. Being in the front two rows was the minimum goal for Eugene, well aware that starting out front on a track like this one is a huge advantage. The good progress demonstrated throughout the practice sessions prior to Superpole are a good indicator that Laverty, lying second in the rider standings, will be able set his sights on the top prize.
Eugene Laverty: “Today was a productive day. I struggled in the first wet session this morning but we made up for it in the second where I finished fourth, so I’d say I have a good race pace even on a wet track. Superpole was a “mixed” one and I’m pleased with my fourth place in the end. Starting from the front two rows is crucial. Tomorrow we’ll be pushing hard looking for a win and hoping for two dry races”.
— Kawasaki Report
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) won a wet Superpole contest at Magny Cours after a final fast lap laden with risk and eventual reward as he had to work his way past slower riders on the racing line.
Sykes was also fastest in the wet Superpole One session on a busy track with a narrow drying racing line along the 4.411km length of the French circuit. Sykes therefore entered the second and final wet Superpole session on a high and was fastest at the mid point before Eugene Laverty temporarily edged him out.
Selecting a qualifying rear tyre as the track slowly dried out, Sykes went for another Superpole win to add to his career total of 18. He achieved his ambition despite finding other riders cruising on the racing line on two occasions, forcing Tom to adapt his approach but still come out on top, by 0.805 seconds, from his championship rival Sylvain Guintoli. Sykes’ best time was a 1’38.592.
Tom is now on a total of 19 Superpole wins, making him the fourth best qualifier in the history of the championship.
David Salom (Kawasaki Racing Team) completed one Superpole session finishing 13th fastest, meaning he will start Sunday’s races off the fifth row of the grid. He overcame the affects of an earlier fall and his team did great work to get his machine ready for Superpole qualifying.
Aussie Mark Aitchison qualified 16th and his team-mate Federico Sandi took his Kawasaki Team Pedercini Ninja ZX-10R to 17th place.
Tom Sykes: “I am happy because we have proved again that we can do it and that the bike works well here. This is a great place to get pole position, especially in these conditions. Three riders in two corners made it very difficult for me in the fast lap so I am sue it was very exciting for those watching on TV! From where I was sitting it was quite dangerous. I hope it is dry tomorrow because if we have good conditions everybody will be fighting and putting on a good show for the crowd. The Ninja ZX-10R is working well but we can still improve it even more in wet conditions. In dry conditions we know what to expect. Overall we will go and relax now, get a good sleep and come out ready to race tomorrow.”
David Salom: “The track conditions were very difficult. I crashed yesterday but today I had a big crash and I have a lot of pain on my lower back. The bike was damaged but the team worked very well to change the bike and fix it, but in Superpole it was something of a lottery. I am happy because I was three positions higher on the grid than last week in Laguna Seca; even with these conditions. Now we will look at the telemetry and work for a set-up tomorrow. I hope the weather is good but maybe it will be wet, dry or something in the middle!”
— WSBK 2013 – Round 13 – Magny Cours
— Guintoli tops Magny Cours QP1
The rain falling down minutes before the start did not prevent the eni FIM Superbike World Championship riders from getting up to speed in Qualifying 1. All the protagonists of the series went immediately on track to set a fast lap-time before a possible worsening of conditions, which fortunately did not happen.
Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team), one of the three home WSBK riders for the round, was able to edge Championship leader Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) for first position by breaking into the 1’38s barrier and set a 1’38.709s lap-time, with few seconds left in the session.
Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) ended up in third place, ahead of Jules Cluzel (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) and Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team), who was able to elevate himself to fifth in the closing stages after spending most of the session around tenth place.
Encouraging first day for 8-time World Endurance Champion Vincent Philippe, who finished in seventh place on his very first day onboard the FIXI Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000, as the Frenchman stepped in for injured regular rider Leon Camier for this round.
A good WSBK debut for Michele Pirro (Team Ducati Alstare), tenth at the flag behind fellow Italians Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) and Michel Fabrizio (Pata Honda World Superbike).
Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) was the quickest rider in World Supersport Qualifying 1. The Championship leader, who is very close to his first-ever World Title, set a competitive 1’42.144s lap-time in the second part of the session to edge Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki). The Turk, three time WSS Champion, suffered a technical problem with 4 minutes to go and was forced to lean his ZX-6R against the fence at Turn 5 and walk back to the pits.
Pata Honda Lorenzo Zanetti proved to be in good form by finishing third ahead of Christian Iddon (Parkingo MV Agusta Corse), Vladimir Leonov (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha), Kev Coghlan (DMC-Lorenzini Kawasaki) and team mate Michael van der Mark.
Local rider Florian Marino (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki) had a crash at Turn 12 halfway through the session, while he was pushing to improve his position. The young Frenchman ended up first qualifying in thirteenth place.
— Aprilia Report
The weather, always a key factor at Magny-Cours, had an impact again this year on the first day of World Superbike practice today. The damp track in the morning allowed the riders to go out on slicks only in the last portion of the free practice sessions where home star, Sylvain Guintoli, put in the second best time despite only taking a total of six laps.
Ninth best time, on the other hand, went to his team mate Eugene Laverty, fresh off of his victory at Laguna Seca but encountering a few difficulties on the French track with his RSV4 settings.
In spite of threatening clouds, the afternoon qualifiers were held on a basically dry track. Times dropped drastically although nothing close to the best potential of the category. At the end of the 45 minute session Sylvain Guintoli was at the top, consistently fast and putting in excellent times even on a used tyre. Once the electronics on his RSV4 had been fine tuned Eguene Laverty also took a big step forward, stopping the clock with the fifth best time at less than a tenth of a second from a virtual podium finish for the day.
For both Aprilia standard bearers, who theoretically could take the Manufacturer Title early by the end of the Magny-Cours round, tomorrow promises to be a decisive day. First of all for Superpole, given the poor chances of overtaking on the French track, and also because of the usual work they will be doing on sharpening race pace.
Sylvain Guintoli: “Today was a good day for us, not only because of the best time in the qualifiers but above all because of the feeling I have with my RSV4 here at Magny-Cours. I did my fast lap on a ten-lap old tyre and that means that we are definitely moving in the right direction. I want to focus on riding and being fast in every session. The first day went well, but what happens on Sunday is what counts!”
Eugene Laverty: “We lost half of the first session because of the weather and then we had some problems with the engine brake and traction control settings. Toward the end of the qualifiers we managed to close the gap on the front runners, but we still have a lot of work to do if we want to be consistently fast. We’ll analyse the data this evening so we can come out for tomorrow’s sessions in the best possible shape”.
— World SBK 2013 – Round 12 – Laguna Seca –
— Laverty and Sykes share the wins at Laguna Seca
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) has won Race 1 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, which was eventually contested over 12 laps, rather than the scheduled 26 due to two red flags, caused by the crashes sustained firstly by Danny Eslick (Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki) and then by his team mate Roger Hayden.
The works Kawasaki rider took the lead on the tenth lap thanks to an outstanding overtaking manoeuvre at Turn 11, after a side-by-side downhill ride with Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet). The championship leader then rode comfortably to win the race, while Marco Melandri lost some ground after trying to pass his team mate Davies at turn 5 and then, on the final lap, lost third place courtesy of a superb pass by Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) at the “Corkscrew”.
Tom Sykes: “It was hard having three starts but it ended up good for us with a race win. Sylvain (Guintoli) and I came together at the entry to turn one off the start and our contact pushed my brake lever down from its normal position. That was a bit awkward to deal with for a little while but I got my head around it. I was pushing to stay with the BMW guys up front for a while but in the end it was a good race for us. Another race tomorrow so that is what I am thinking about now.”
Laverty’s team mate Sylvain Guintoli ended up fifth, a frustrating result for the Frenchman who was comfortably in the lead in each of the two interrupted races. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia) claimed sixth place, ahead of Jules Cluzel (FIXI Crescent Suzuki), Toni Elias (Red Devils Aprilia), Ayrton Badovini (Team Ducati Alstare) and Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini Kawasaki).
Potential podium contender Niccolò Canepa (Team Ducati Alstare) and Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike) could not line-up for the final restart of the race after crashing out in the second part. Both were thankfully uninjured as well as Eslick and Hayden.
Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) won the second race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in spectacular fashion in front of 41.175 excited spectators. After passing Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Team) at Turn 5 with two laps to go, the Irishman made the exact same move on Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) on the following lap, breaking the spell that was holding the Brit at the front for most of the race.
Eugene Laverty: “It was not an easy race. I’d like to thank my team because they made some set-up adjustments to my bike that worked perfectly. I pushed to the limit on the last lap, Davide (Giugliano) and Tom (Sykes) were really strong but I’m happy for the win. It was an unexpected result, but now I’m now second in the standings ahead of two very different rounds. I would like to dedicate this win to my track engineer Marco Bertolatti, who’s just become father.”
Sykes, on the other hand, tried everything he could to defend his position under braking, but once he lost the lead he was passed by both Giugliano and Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet), crossing the line in fourth place. The works BMW rider successfully stayed ahead of the Championship leader for third, while Giugliano did the best he could to snatch his first WSBK race win, eventually settling for second.
Tom Sykes: “It was great to win yesterday and I led for a long time today but that was the first time we have struggled all weekend. We were six or seven tenths off our best times in the same track conditions and we have to think about why that was. We know what our potential was here again today. We can keep improving and we have a couple of good circuits coming up so we will move on with confidence. In less than a week’s time we will be in France and doing it all over again.”
Sylvain Guintoli did not manage to catch the leading pack to be in contention for the win, but the end result today helped him stay in touch with Sykes in the standings, as he ended up fifth ahead of fellow Frenchman Jules Cluzel (FIXI Crescent Suzuki), Toni Elias (Red Devils Aprilia) wildcard Roger Hayden (Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki) and David Salom (Kawasaki Racing Team).
A disappointing race for Team Ducati Alstare, as both Niccolò Canepa, who running 4th, and team mate Ayrton Badovini suffered crashes, while Welshman Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) had to pull in due to a technical problem on the second lap.
After today’s results, Sykes is still the Championship leader with a 23 point advantage over Laverty who has jumped to second position in the overall standings. Guintoli is now third, a point behind his team mate while Melandri is now 42 points short from the lead.
SUPERBIKE SATURDAY RACE – RACE1: (Laps 12 = 43,320 Km)
1 / T. SYKES / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 16’55.703
2 / C. DAVIES / GBR / BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK / BMW S1000 RR / 1.253
3 / E. LAVERTY / IRL / Aprilia Racing Team / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 2.454
4 / M. MELANDRI / ITA / BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK / BMW S1000 RR / 2.65
5 / S. GUINTOLI / FRA / Aprilia Racing Team / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 3.43
6 / D. GIUGLIANO / ITA / Althea Racing / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 3.584
7 / J. CLUZEL / FRA / Fixi Crescent Suzuki / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / 9.134
8 / T. ELIAS / ESP / Red Devils Roma / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 11.252
9 / A. BADOVINI / ITA / Team Ducati Alstare / Ducati 1199 Panigale R / 14.14
10 / M. AITCHISON / AUS / Team Pedercini / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 17.83
11 / D. SALOM / ESP / Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 18.01
12 / B. YOUNG / USA / Fixi Crescent Suzuki / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / 21.767
13 / M. FABRIZIO / ITA / Pata Honda World Superbike / Honda CBR1000RR / 22.087
14 / F. SANDI / ITA / Team Pedercini / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 32.837
15 / V. IANNUZZO / ITA / Grillini Dentalmatic SBK / BMW S1000 RR / 34.267
Fastest Lap: 2° Tom Sykes 1’23.803 155,078 Km/h
Lap Record: 2002 N. Haga 1’25.475 152,040 Km/h
Best Lap: 2013 S. Guintoli 1’22.683 157,180 Km/h
SUPERBIKE SUNDAY RACE – RACE2: (Laps 26 = 93,860 Km)
1 / E. LAVERTY / IRL / Aprilia Racing Team / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 36’44.555
2 / D. GIUGLIANO / ITA / Althea Racing / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 0.112
3 / M. MELANDRI / ITA / BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK / BMW S1000 RR / 2.051
4 / T. SYKES / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 2.304
5 / S. GUINTOLI / FRA / Aprilia Racing Team / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 2.959
6 / J. CLUZEL / FRA / Fixi Crescent Suzuki / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / 10.187
7 / T. ELIAS / ESP / Red Devils Roma / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 17.789
8 / R. HAYDEN / USA / Michael Jordan Motorsports / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / 20.602
9 / D. SALOM / ESP / Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 22.055
10 / M. FABRIZIO / ITA / Pata Honda World Superbike / Honda CBR1000RR / 23.472
11 / L. HASLAM / GBR / Pata Honda World Superbike / Honda CBR1000RR / 24.118
12 / B. YOUNG / USA / Fixi Crescent Suzuki / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / 29.563
13 / M. AITCHISON / AUS / Team Pedercini / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 32.565
14 / D. ESLICK / USA / Michael Jordan Motorsports / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / 51.777
15 / N. CANEPA / ITA / Team Ducati Alstare / Ducati 1199 Panigale R / 1’05.824
Fastest Lap: 7° Davide Giugliano 1’23.707 155,256 Km/h
Lap Record: 2013 T. Sykes 1’23.803 155,080 Km/h
Best Lap: 2013 S. Guintoli 1’22.683 157,180 Km/h
CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS::
1 SYKES 361, 2 LAVERTY 338, 3 GUINTOLI 337, 4 MELANDRI 319, 5 DAVIES 259, 6 BAZ 180, 7 FABRIZIO 177, 8 REA 176, 9 GIUGLIANO 169, 10 CLUZEL 160, 11 CAMIER 114, 12 BADOVINI 114, 13 NEUKIRCHNER 84, 14 HASLAM 83, 15 CHECA 80.
NEXT EVENT: ROUND13, OCTOBER 06, MAGNY-COURS, FRANCE.
— Althea Racing Report
The second race of the twelfth round of the World Superbike Champoionship took place today at the Laguna Seca Mazda Raceway in California. In yesterday’s race Davide Giugliano and team Althea Racing put in a solid performance, closing in sixth place, after a difficult race that was interrupted twice by red flags. After this morning’s warm-up, in which Giugliano recorded the fastest time (1’23”927), the race got underway at 2pm local time and ran over 26 laps on a dry track and in sunny conditions.
Having qualified sixth in yesterday’s Superpole, the Althea rider started today’s race from the second row of the grid. He made a good start and was lying in fifth place during the initial laps. On lap three Giugliano passed Davies to move into fourth position. By lapping fast and avoiding mistakes, the Althea rider was able to record the fastest lap of the race on lap seven (1’23”707), also passing Guintoli to move into third place. With grit and determination, Davide chased Laverty and at the mid-race point he was able to pass him and move up to second place. He held this position until the final stages. At two laps from the end of the race, Laverty passed both Giugliano and then Sykes, taking the lead, but the Althea rider didn’t give up and passed Sykes, positioning himself right behind leader Laverty. On the final lap Davide stuck with the factory rider but was unable to pass him, nevertheless closing the race in a fantastic second position.
It was one of the most thrilling races of the 2013 season and it was team Althea’s rider, scoring second place, who made it so spectacular. The next round of the World Superbike championship will take place in a week’s time at Magny-Cours in France.
Davide Giugliano: “I’m so very happy! It was an amazing race and I battled first with Sykes and then with Laverty. I think we have done a great job here at Laguna, both me and my team. We have obtained a great result after a few disappointing results in previous races and so this is very satisfying. We have demonstrated that when everyone works well together and with the right mentality anything is possible. I thank my entire team that has worked so hard this weekend and also my family and my girlfriend Claudia who is always here for me. Now we must continue like this. From now until the end of the season we hope to take more strong results. I thought it would be hard to be in the front but now I realise that I could have won this race. A mistake made out of inexperience and that will serve well on another occasion.”
— Aprilia Report
The determination shown in the Race 1 finale at Laguna Seca yesterday was almost a foreshadowing of the way Eugene Laverty would perform today. Rocketing to the front as soon as the red lights went off, the Northern Irish rider then found himself riding in third place behind the exhaust of Sykes and Giugliano in the first phase of the race. Eugene bided his time throughout the middle portion of the race, staying in contact with the leaders without taking any pointless risks, also taking into consideration the less than excellent grip.
Laverty’s strategy paid off when four laps from the end he launched his attack on Giugliano for second place and then overtook Sykes two lap later. The grand finale had him controlling his rivals and flying across the finish in the lead. His seventh victory of the season and the third place in Race 1 take him to second place in the rider standings, 23 points behind Sykes with two more rounds (four races) left to go.
Thanks in part to Davide Giugliano’s podium finish, an excellent second place ride on the Althea Racing Team RSV4, Aprilia strengthens their dominating lead in the manufacturer standings. The advantage in front of Kawasaki is now 45 points, 70 ahead of BMW, 235 over Honda, 248 above Suzuki and 308 in front of Ducati.
Eugene Laverty: “This was anything but an easy race. Yesterday I struggled quite a bit to keep up with the front runners and I managed to finish on the podium by overtaking twice in the last lap. I want to thank my team because we worked a lot on the bike and took a big step forward that allowed me to ride better in spite of the grip issues. I pushed hard from the first to the last lap and Davide (Giugliano) and Tom (Sykes) didn’t make this win an easy one! This is a result that I really didn’t expect which now takes me to second place in the rider standings, but we have two very different rounds ahead of us. I struggled last year at Magny Cours, but my RSV4 has grown a lot so things could change, whereas Jerez is our test track so I could have an advantage there. In any case I’ll need to give 100% in every session for the next two weekends. I’d like to dedicate my win to my engineer Marco Bertolatti who became a father just a few hours ago.”
It was another difficult race for Sylvain Guintoli, dominator in Race 1 before the second red flag. After an imperfect start from the first spot on the grid thanks to winning Superpole yesterday, the Frenchman had to surrender the pace to Melandri and Giugliano. Relegated to fifth place, Sylvain struggled in the first part of the race to keep pace with the lead pack, finally settling into a good pace. However, the gap behind the four leaders kept him from improving his position, which repeats the result from yesterday but certainly does no justice to the performance demonstrated during the practice sessions. Sylvain is now lying third in the championship, just one point behind his team mate Laverty, a position that keeps him well in the running for the final victory.
Sylvain Guintoli: “To be honest this was a disappointing Race 2. I expected much more and, all things considered, the start was good. I felt like I could pass Tom and Eugene, but instead I came under attack from Melandri and Giugliano and dropped back behind the lead group. The pace was really fast and when you lose a few metres it’s hard to make up that gap. Like yesterday, when I’m in the middle of the pack I’m lacking something. I’m unable to maintain the same pace that I can set when I’m riding by myself like I was in the first two starts yesterday. It’s something I need to work on because we didn’t make any changes to the bike compared to yesterday. I need to get focused again, I’m not lacking in speed since yesterday when I was out front I was able to be very fast. Magny Cours is coming up in just a few days and that’s my home race where I hope to make up some important points”.
— Kawasaki Report
Tom Sykes added a fourth place in race two today to his race one victory to take a 23-point advantage away from the 12th round of the series, as David Salom scored a strong ninth place.
Sykes was leader of the second race at Laguna for 21 of 26 laps but in the final two circuits he got passed by three riders and had to settle for fourth place. He had been fighting unexpected traction issues exiting corners for most of the race and rode well to stay in the lead for so long, but he was unable to make the most of his machine’s performance as he could not get the power to the ground as he wanted.
His first race win on Saturday added to his 13 points for fourth today take Tom to a leading total of 361 points, with two rounds and four races remaining – the first next weekend in France at Magny-Cours.
The overall team performance at Laguna was strong as it was a new track for Tom and his team to face, while most of his top rivals had been here many times before. With regular team rider Loris Baz missing through injury David Salom’s ninth place in race two today was a good result for a rider more used to racing in the Supersport World Championship. He improved all weekend and rewarded his opportunity to race in SBK with good points scores.
Sykes and new second place rider in the championship Eugene Laverty are now tied on seven race wins apiece, as Tom looks to Magny-Cours next Sunday to repeat the race victory he took there last season on the Ninja ZX-10R.
Mark Aitchison (Kawasaki Team Pedercini) scored 13th today with his team-mate Federico Sandi an early retiree.
Tom Sykes: “It was great to win yesterday and I led for a long time today but that was the first time we have struggled with grip all weekend. We were six or seven tenths off our best times in the same track conditions and we have to think about why that was. We know what our potential was here again today. Overall, we have extended our championship lead but it would have been nice to taken that second podium! We can keep improving and we have a couple of good circuits coming up so we will move on with confidence. In less than a week’s time we will be in France and doing it all over again. We have worked hard and well all race weekend and took a win on Saturday.”
David Salom: “I had a good second race today and the finger I hurt yesterday when I hit a trackside marker gave me no real pain. The team worked very hard to make the bike suit me this weekend, it worked well in the Sunday race and I got a top ten finish. I enjoyed the race and the weekend, finishing both races in the points, and the work the team did was perfect. I have been happy with the experience.”
— BMW Goldbet Report
Another race day, another reason to celebrate: The BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team stepped onto the podium again in the second of the US-races at Laguna Seca. Factory rider Marco Melandri (ITA) finished an exciting race in third after only narrowly missing the podium in fourth yesterday. It disappointing day for his team-mate though, Chaz Davies (GBR), who had claimed a strong second place in yesterday’s race. Chaz crashed in the warm-up in the late morning. His crew did an excellent job in repairing the bike in the short time before the race but after three laps, Chaz had to retire due to a technical issue. Laguna Seca hosted the 12th of 14 rounds of the 2013 FIM Superbike World Championship. The team now travels directly to Magny-Cours, France, where the next round will be contested this coming weekend.
After yesterday’s race, the BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team analysed the data and further improved Marco’s and Chaz’ BMW S 1000 RRs. Chaz was fifth on the grid, Marco started from seventh. In the beginning, both riders were racing in the leading group but after three laps, Chaz returned to the garage. He felt there was an issue in the braking system and decided to retire for safety reasons. Until he retired, he was lying in fifth, not far behind the leader. Marco was running in fourth for most of the race, never being more than one second behind the top 3. In his typical manner, he started to catch up with the front group halfway through the race. He closed the gap with every lap and was soon directly within the closely fought leading group. In the exciting final stage of the race all top 4 riders were possible winners, Marco included. On the last lap, he overtook Tom Sykes (GBR) and took third on the podium. The race was won by Eugene Laverty.
In the riders’ championship, Marco is fourth with 319 points, 42 points behind the lead. Chaz follows in fifth with 259 points. In the team standings, the BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team is second with 578 points and in the manufacturers’ classification, BMW is currently third with 390 points.
Marco Melandri: Result Race 2: 3rd / Gap to 1st: 0:02.051 min / Fastest Lap Race 2: 1:23.819 min (lap 12)
“Today was a quite positive day. It was not easy, even if I got the best result I could achieve. I want to thank my team; they did a very good job. Unfortunately during the first part of the races I struggled with the front, so I needed a long race to catch up with the guys in front of me. This was not possible yesterday as the race was not long enough. But today, I could push in the second half of the race and I got on the podium. There are still many points still available. It will not be easy, but I still want to win some more races.”
Chaz Davies: Result Race 2: DNF / Fastest Lap Race 2: 1:24.724 min (lap 2)
“It was very frustrating because the race looked like fun and for sure I would have been in the mix. The bike felt great so I think I would have certainly done my best and tried to win today. I think we would have had a good chance. With the bike, we had definitely made a step forward from yesterday but unfortunately we did not get to showcase it because we had an issue with the front brake system. After my crash in the warm-up, when I lost the front, we had to replace the brake system. During the sighting lap it felt like there is something not quite right with it, but on the warm-up lap and after the start it was fine. But then on the second or third lap, the issue came back. I basically had zero brakes and it was getting too dangerous so it was safer to stop. The guys will now check what caused the problem. Now we are heading to Magny-Cours, where my target is to again fight for wins and podiums.”
Andrea Buzzoni (General Manager BMW Motorrad WSBK): “The fact that yesterday’s first race was reduced to 12 laps did not allow Marco to achieve the result he and the bike had the potential for. He is usually stronger than his rivals in the second part of the race when the tyres drop. This is what he also demonstrated today by finishing on the podium. Chaz had a great race yesterday and stepped on the second place of the podium. Contrary to that, he had to retire after three laps today due to an issue with the brake system. Thus he unfortunately could not achieve a result which potentially could have been similar to yesterday’s.
The positive part of the weekend is that we were twice on the podium with two different riders. But the gap to the front increased a little bit and this cannot leave us satisfied. Our task is not easy, we are 42 points behind the leader, and we have three riders in front of us in the rankings. Until the end of the season, the team must be as competitive as possible, to claim victories and podiums to score as many points as possible. We have to focus on our strengths to keep our performance level as high as possible.”
Stephan Fischer (Technical Director BMW Motorrad Motorsport): “We obviously came here with certain expectations because it is a very technical circuit and we have two strong riders who know very well how to handle challenging tracks. We had the potential to achieve strong results. In addition, both riders knew the circuit from the past and we could see on Friday how quickly they got to grips with it again. It was also a promising fact that we soon had a strong pace on Friday. The races themselves have been a fantastic show with several riders fighting for the win until the very end.
From a technical point of view we have seen that the packages of our competitors and our package are very similar regarding the competitiveness. As a manufacturer, you now have to try to adapt the bike to the individual strengths of your riders so that they not only have competitive material available but can make best use of it. I think that succeeded in that very well today. Our bike was without a doubt capable of winning and Marco did a very good job in race two. He demonstrated to himself and to the team that we still have the chance to win the title. In the championship anything can happen. For sure our joy was tempered by the issues Chaz experienced today. It was a real pity, as Chaz was absolutely capable of winning in race two. He showed a very strong performance in the first race and for today we had further improved the chassis set-up. Now we have to analyse what exactly caused the issues in the brake system. As usual, we now directly shift our focus to the next race. There are still a lot of points to grab, everything is open.”
— Pata Honda Report
A change to the front end of his Pata Honda CBR1000RR helped Michel Fabrizio secure a top ten finish in today’s second 12th-round World Superbike championship race at Laguna Seca in the USA.
As in yesterday’s opener, the 29-year-old Italian started from 13th place on the grid but his crew had raised the front end of his machine following this morning’s warm-up which allowed him eventually to overhaul his Pata Honda team-mate Leon Haslam. His result also moves him to seventh in the championship standings, one point ahead of injured Pata Honda rider Jonathan Rea.
Haslam himself started from 12th on the grid after electronics gremlins hampered yesterday’s Superpole 2 and the 30-year-old British rider suffered further engine management problems which restricted him to 11th place at the end of today 26-lap race.
The Pata Honda team will re-group at Magny-Cours in France in just three days to prepare for the penultimate round of the 2013 World Superbike championship next weekend, 4-6 October.
Michel Fabrizio – 10th – “Starting from the fifth row was difficult but after the changes that we made after warm-up this morning, my confidence in the front was much better and I was able to do 1m24s laps in the race, so I was very happy. I felt much more comfortable on the bike and although the result is not perfect I think I could have finished higher with a better starting position. I am happy that we were able to make these steps forward after the problems earlier in the weekend.”
Leon Haslam – 11th – “It’s been another frustrating race day and I was more than a second a lap slower than the times I was doing yesterday. I had a lot of traction control problems and not so much grip from the rear. I was also suffering a little from the affects of yesterday’s crash, but it’s definitely not what we were looking for. My pace yesterday was good for top four or five but I wasn’t close to that, so it’s not been good.”
Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator – “Leon had problems yesterday so we tried to make some changes in warm-up this morning. The grip level was down a bit so we made more alterations for the race. We still need to check the data but he had some problems in the race and could finish no better than 11th. Michel got tenth after some changes to his bike that were in the right direction. They allowed him to do some decent lap times and at least race the bike, but there is clearly still more work to do.”
— Pirelli Report
On the weekend just gone Pirelli has once again given proof of the excellent work carried out this year in the eni FIM Superbike World Championship. On Friday the first satisfactions: the Michael Jordan Motorsports team with riders Roger Lee Hayden and Danny Eslick, who normally compete in the AMA Superbike without Pirelli tyres, decided not to attend the AMA race at Laguna Seca to compete as wild cards in the World Superbike. They quickly adapted to the 17-inch Diablo Superbike tyres gradually improving lap times through to Saturday when Eslick, in Superpole, set a 1’23.730 that he had never achieved before on this track. Not only that, in Race 2 Roger Lee Hayden was ranked eighth setting the fastest lap in 1’24.245 and running faster than Josh Hayes, who won the AMA Superbike race, and made his best lap in 1’24.335. In practice, if Hayden had competed in the AMA Superbike with Pirelli tyres would have won the race. All this using just standard Diablo Superbike tyres available on the market and which any motorcyclist can buy.
Other satisfaction have been taken by Pirelli with Sylvain Guintoli who in setting a 1’22.683 Superpole lap broke the track record established in 2007 by Ben Spies in the AMA Superbike – 1’23.104 – improving this pace by almost half a second. This as further evidence of the progresses made by the Milanese tyre company, strengthened also by the win, obtained today, of the French Superbike Championship with Gregory Leblanc and Team Kawasaki SRC.
Regarding the two races of the weekend, the performance of Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) who won Race 1 ahead of Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK ) and Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) was ecellent. The latter, however, was good to realize in Race 2, achieving the highest step of the podium followed by Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) and Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK). In general, took turns on the podium all the eligible candidates winners of the 2013 Championship, with Kawasaki, Aprilia and BMW manufactures contending for the podium.
In the overall riders standings Tom Sykes, thanks to the success in Race 1, remains the leader with 361 points with an advantage of 23 points on Eugene Laverty, who bypassed his teammate Sylvain Guintoli by 1 point. Closer and closer to victory in the Manufacturers Championship is the Aprilia company from Noale which now has a lead of 45 points over Kawasaki.
For the U.S. round riders had at their disposal only standard Diablo Superbike tyres, respectively in SC0 and SC1 compounds for the rear and SC1 and SC2 for the front. With rather high track temperatures, for the rear riders have unanimously chosen both on Saturday as well as on Sunday the standard SC0 (R1261), the softest solution of the range which debuted at Monza with the reinforced central area and has been used at Donington, Portimão, Imola and Nürburgring with success. This slick solution has a soft compound, ideal for tackling smooth asphalt and high temperatures. It offers, in fact, maximum tread contact on smooth asphalt and maximum traction development at high temperatures as well as higher resistance to thermal performance decay. It’s a tyre really appreciated by the riders due to the excellent grip that is able to offer and is ideal for tackling smooth asphalt and high temperatures ensuring a higher resistance to thermal performance decay.
On the front, as often happens, the riders divided their preferences between the standard SC1 and SC2 solutions with a strong prevalence for the SC2 (R982), the hardest among those in range excellent for high temperatures because it guarantees solidity on the tread band, for that reason is usually the preferred one by riders who have a more aggressive riding style.
At rider’s disposal during the Superpole of Saturday, as always there was the qualifier tyre (R754) in supersoft compound with which the riders have set amazing times. Every rider has available two qualifying tyres, this amount is not accidental: having to make 3 Superpole sessions, teams and riders are forced to schedule the use of the Superpole tyres deciding whether to exploit them, if immediately in the first two Superpole sessions to try to get in the third or if, otherwise, make a first session with standard tyre keeping the two qualifiers for the last two sessions.
Pirelli Best Lap Award:
The “Pirelli Best Lap Award” is awarded by Pirelli to the rider who sets the fastest race lap. This recognition is presented by a Pirelli representative during the Paddock Show in a press conference which follows the podium at the end of races 1 and 2 for the Superbike class and at the end of the Supersport race, for a total of three awards each weekend. The time set by the fastest rider is indicated and can be seen in the trophy which is in the shape of a motorcycle instrument panel this year.
The Superbike and Supersport rider who has earned the most “Pirelli Best Lap Award” titles at the end of the season will be elected “Best Lap Winner: fastest rider of the year” and awarded in the usual end of year ceremony. Tom Sykes, having already won 10 Pirelli Best Lap Awards and with only 4 prizes up for grabs, is mathematically the “Best Lap Winner: fastest rider of the year” in 2013 for the Superbike class and will be awarded at Jerez de la Frontera in the end of year ceremony.
Comment from Giorgio Barbier, Pirelli Moto Racing Director: “To come back to Laguna Seca after nearly 10 years and do it for the first time with 17-inch Diablo Superbike tyres, which contributed to breaking the track record, ss definitely a great return for Pirelli. But the greatest satisfaction, beyond that of having fulfilled the wishes of the riders, is perhaps the one that gave us the Michael Jordan Motorsports team with its riders Roger Lee Hayden and Danny Eslick, two wild cards that run regularly in AMA Superbike but with a competitor’s tyres. Well, using the same motorcycle used in the AMA, already on Friday and having never used the Pirelli Diablo Superbike, they got a good increase in terms of lap time up to the 1’23.730 made by Eslick in Superpole 1 when the best time he had made on this track in the AMA was of 1’24.5 in July. Also notable is the result of Guintoli, but also Laverty, Sykes, Canepa and Davies who beat the absolute record of the AMA Superbike signed in 2007 by Ben Spies in 1’23.104 shooting all below this time with Guintoli who made an astonishing 1’22.683. As regards the results of the races, Sykes has been very good to realize in Race 1, it’s a pity for Race 2, now however he has a good advantage over his pursuers, among other things, he has already won with two rounds still to go the Pirelli Best Lap Award 2013, having already won 10 awards, so congratulations! But there are still two rounds and Aprilia riders have been shown to fight until the end for the first place, I think that as always we will have a great final of the Championship which will keep us in suspense until the late stages. Bravo to Davide Giugliano who made a beautiful Race 2! I am very happy also for the win in the French Superbike Championship with Gregory Leblanc and the SRC Kawasaki team, it was a perfect weekend!”
The 2013 Pirelli statistics for Laguna Seca round:
• Total number of tyres Pirelli brought: 1310
• Number of solutions (dry, intermediate and wet) for the Superbike class: 4 front and 5 rear
• Number of tyres available for each Superbike rider: 29 front and 31 rear
• Temperature in Race 1: air 27° C, asphalt 42° C
• Temperature in Race 2: air 24° C, asphalt 42° C
• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli Diablo Superbike tyres: 256.4 km/h, in Race 1 by Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) at 2nd lap
— World SBK 2013 – Round 11 – Intercity Istanbul Park – Turkey-bound for World Superbike Round 11
— WSBK riders speak ahead of Turkish Round
The eni FIM Superbike World Championship had its first ever pre-event today at the Intercity Istanbul Park, as a selection of Superbike and Supersport riders – joined by representatives of the Circuit Board – took to the SBK Paddock Show stage for a press conference to introduce the maiden round of the series on Turkish soil.
Sharing their thoughts and feelings ahead of this historical weekend Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team), Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet), Jules Cluzel (FIXI Crescent Suzuki), Ayrton Badovini (Team Ducati Alstare) and Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike), along with WSS Championship leader Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) and local hero Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki) were introduced.
Each rider involved in the pre-event showed a lot of appreciation for the circuit, beginning with WSBK Championship leader Tom Sykes: “It’s great to be in Turkey, it’s my first time here and the weather is fantastic. I had a little look at the circuit and it’s amazing, hopefully the ZX-10R will perform well here. I’m a bit young in terms of track knowledge, but we’ll do our best and keep focussed.”
The star who received the biggest applause while entering the stage was, of course, three-time World Supersport Champion Kenan Sofuoglu, who is looking forward to a strong performance in front of his crowd, to keep his title defence chances alive: “I never raced on this track before so, despite being a local rider, I have no advantage on my rivals. I think at this level, it’s more about knowing your bike than the circuit itself, and I’m confident the long straights will suit the ZX-6R very well. Racing in front of thousands of fans can inspire you, but also put a lot of pressure on your shoulders.”
On-track action for World Superbike and Supersport Championships will start tomorrow morning with a 90-minute free practice session for both classes.
— New-look Pata Honda team heads to Asia
The Pata Honda team will compete for the first time in Turkey in this weekend’s 11th round World Superbike championship event at Istanbul Park with a weekend schedule that runs an hour earlier than other SBK events.
The 5.338km Hermann Tilke-designed circuit, which was completed just over eight years ago, lies on the Asian side of Istanbul and, for the Pata Honda team and riders, it will be a first racing visit to the Turkish city.
The team will be without regular rider Jonathan Rea, who broke his left femur after crashing on another rider’s oil on 1 September at the Nürburgring in Germany. The 26-year-old underwent surgery that evening and is optimistic about a relatively quick rehabilitation for his injury.
Rea will be replaced at Istanbul Park by Italian rider Michel Fabrizio, who has been competing in the 2013 World Superbike championship with another team. The 28-year-old from Rome currently lies in eighth place in the 2013 championship standings with one podium finish in the opening round at Phillip Island in Australia.
Fabrizio joins Pata Honda’s Leon Haslam who continues his own rehabilitation from a broken leg sustained in a practice crash at Assen in The Netherlands in April. The 30-year-old British rider has been getting back up to speed over the last few races and will be looking to improve on his season’s best result of seventh last time out at the Nürburgring.
Leon Haslam – “I’m really excited about going to race in Istanbul, even though some of the other Superbike riders have ridden there before. I’ve seen a few of the GP races there on video and it looks pretty awesome, but I won’t really know how it is until I get out there on the bike on Friday morning. We made some more progress last time in Germany but, although I was hanging on to the back of the leading group in race two, we still had some issues. But I do feel like I’m finally in a position – both physically and with the bike – to be fighting for podiums again. We need a few more things to fall into place for that to happen, but we’re nearly there.”
Michel Fabrizio – “I am very happy to come back to the Honda CBR after my earlier experience with the DFX Honda Team. To race with the Ten Kate boys in the Pata Honda team is a real honour for me and, of course, I will do my best to get Jonathan’s machine near to the front. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish Jonathan a fast recovery from his injury and I would like to thank the whole Honda Superbike team for their hard work to fix the bike in time for me to race in Istanbul.”
Michel Fabrizio – career details
2002: 125cc GP World Championship
2003: FIM Superstock 1000 champion (Suzuki)
2004: MotoGP World Championship (10 races – Honda), World Supersport championship (two races – Honda)
2005: World Supersport championship (Honda) – 5th
2006: World Superbike championship (Honda) – 11th
2007: World Superbike championship (Honda) – 11th
2008: World Superbike championship (Ducati) – 8th
2009: World Superbike championship (Ducati) – 3rd
2010: World Superbike championship (Ducati) – 8th
2011: World Superbike championship (Suzuki) – 12th
2012: World Superbike championship (BMW) – 11th
2013: World Superbike championship (Aprilia) – current position 8th
2013 World Superbike championship, round 11
Intercity Istanbul Park, Turkey – weekend schedule (local times – GMT+3)
Friday 13 September
11.45-13.15 Free practice
15.30-16.15 Qualifying 1
Saturday 14 September
08.45-09.30 Qualifying 2
11.30-12.15 Free practice
14.00-15.14 Superpole 1
14.21-15.33 Superpole 2
14.40-15.50 Superpole 3
Sunday 15 September
08.20-08.35 Warm-up
11.00 Race 1 (19 laps 95.226k
m)
14.30 Race 2 (19 laps 95.226km)
