Round 10 of the FIM Superbike World Championship got underway at Silverstone today (Friday 30 July), with Britain’s seven World Superbike regulars posting some of the quickest times of the day. Cal Crutchlow set the fastest time in Qualifying Practice, followed closely by fellow-Brits Jonathan Rea and Leon Camier, who were second and fourth respectively.
It was the first time any of the riders had ridden Silverstone’s new 3.666 mile Grand Prix circuit and the Brits were impressed with their new home circuit.
Pace-setter Crutchlow, said: “It’s nice to come back to Silverstone. The new circuit’s really good, really enjoyable. It’s fast and flowing, but then there’s some tight stuff so it all equals out. Our bike is better on the faster corners, but you have other bikes, like the Ducatis, that are better in the chicanes, so it equals out quite nicely.
“There are a few more opportunities to overtake on the new circuit – around the tighter chicanes really, and you’ll see some good passes at the end of the Hangar Straight.”
HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider Jonathan Rea also enjoyed the new circuit, “It’s been fun and motivating to start on a new track. The new circuit is really, really fun – really good and enjoyable. One of the big challenges is the bumps. I guess if you had a blank cheque you could re-surface the place – then it would be perfect, the ultimate racing circuit! It’s still day one, though. We’re off to a good start; we’ve just got to keep building on that.”
James Toseland, who set the sixth fastest time in Qualifying Practice, echoed the sentiments of his Yamaha Sterilgarda team mate: “The new circuit is really impressive – they’ve done a great job. I think the MotoGP riders and F1 drivers had positive things to say, and I’ve enjoyed going around today. It’s a great track layout and there are plenty of places to overtake. Down Hangar Straight and into Stowe is the ideal place, but there are plenty of other good places as well.”
Aprilia Alitalia Racing’s Leon Camier added: “I think the new circuit looks really good. It’s got good character – a few fast bits, a few slow bits and a few undulations. There’s a bit of everything. There are a few good places for overtaking. You can line people up on a lot of the corners and there’ll be opportunities to overtake if someone makes a little mistake, or gets it slightly wrong on the entry. I’d say it’s a lot better for overtaking than it was. It’s a good fun track and I really like it.”
Leon Haslam, who is second in the Championship and set the eighth fastest time for Team Suzuki Alstare, said: “It’s the first time I’ve ridden the new circuit and it’s really good – quite fast and flowing, and should provide some good opportunities for passing. We’re just trying to find a set-up ready for race tyres and we’ll go from there.”
Series leader Max Biaggi set the seventh fastest time in Qualifying Practice.
First Qualifying Practice Times:
1. Cal CRUTCHLOW, (GBR) Yamaha Sterilgarda Team – 2’05.664
2. Jonathan REA, (GBR) HANNspree Ten Kate Honda – 2’06.006
3. Troy CORSER, (AUS) BMW Motorrad Motorsport – 2’06.052
4. Leon CAMIER, (GBR) Aprilia Alitalia Racing – 2’06.064
5. Michel FABRIZIO, (ITA) Ducati Xerox Team – 2’06.088
6. James TOSELAND, (GBR) Yamaha Sterilgarda Team – 2’06.238
7. Max BIAGGI, (ITA) Aprilia Alitalia Racing – 2’06.315
8. Leon HASLAM, (GBR) Team Suzuki Alstare – 2’06.464
9. Carlos CHECA, (ESP) Althea Racing – 2’06.475
10. Tom SYKES, (GBR) Kawasaki Racing Team – 2’06.596
13. Shane BYRNE, (GBR) Althea Racing – 2’06.952
