Eugene Laverty was on flying form today completing the second qualifying day at Magny Cours in second place, securing a front row start on the French grid for tomorrows two races. The sweltering heat and unusually high track temperature of 42° proved difficult on rubber in the afternoons superpole knockout. Laverty performed impeccably to shoot straight to the top of the time sheets in the first session on a race tyre, being bumped to fifth in the closing minutes as 14 of the 16 riders switched to qualifiers and went out to improve their times. Team-mate Melandri used both a race tyre and a qualifier to take him through to the second heat in 11th place. Both Yamaha riders comfortably qualified for the last session with Laverty in sixth place and Melandri in seventh. The third and final heat saw the Northern Irish rider clocking in an impressive 137.600, beating the previous best lap record before fellow Irishman Rea, beat him to pole by just 0.110 of a second. Melandri, having already used his sets of qualifiers was unable to secure a front row position and will start tomorrows races from eighth place on the grid.
Both Yamaha World Superbike riders successfully completed this mornings cooler qualifying practice having made further progress with the rear set up on their R1 machines. Melandri lapped the track for the first time ever yesterday, yet managed to set the fastest time in the todays session, having taken over a second off yesterdays lap time.
Eugene Laverty
Yamaha World Superbike Team , 2nd – 1’37.600
“This was the first place I tested the R1 last year and was strong immediately so I was really looking forward to coming back here again. Its always nice to go back to a track you know well and have had good results before, it helps gain confidence. I was hoping to get the pole position but Rea just beat me to it so Ill be aiming for that in Portimao, it would be nice to get aTissot watch before the end of the year. Id like to get another race win, its been a while since Monza, but Id be happy with rostrums as the last time I was up there was in Silverstone so Ill be aiming for two solid finishes on Sunday. ”
Marco Melandri
Yamaha World Superbike Team , 8th – 1’38.171
“Today was both a positive and a negative qualifying day. We made good progress with our race pace this morning in the second qualifying session, but just like in the last few rounds I have struggled with the qualifying tyres. Ill be starting tomorrows two races from the second row on the grid which means it wont be easy but Im confident that we have a more competitive package than we had in Imola. Ill do my best to get off to a good start and push through the pack hoping for a podium finish.”
Andrea Dosoli – Yamaha World Superbike Team Manager
“It was definitely a positive qualifying day for both riders. Eugene was impeccable in all 3 superpole sessions, saving the qualifying tyres for the second and third heats to secure his fourth 2nd place on the grid this year. In this mornings qualifying practice he demonstrated that he has a good race pace so I am confident that he will do two very strong races tomorrow. Marco made a leap in the right direction today; he improved over one second on yesterdays times, the fastest to lap the track in the second qualifying practice. He has a good race pace also and a second row start isnt dramatic. I am sure he will be competitive and fighting for a podium in both races tomorrow.”
2011 World Superbike France
Magny Cours 01/10/2011
1 Jonathan Rea Honda GBR 1’37.490
2 Eugene Laverty Yamaha GBR 1’37.600
3 Carlos Checa Ducati ESP 1’37.932
4 Leon Camier Aprilia GBR 1’38.006
5 Sylvain Guintoli Ducati FRA 1’38.094
6 Tom Sykes Kawasaki GBR 1’38.094
7 Leon Haslam BMW GBR 1’38.382
8 Marco Melandri Yamaha ITA 1’38.562
9 Noriyuki Haga Aprilia JPN 1’38.137
10 Joan Lascorz Kawasaki ESP 1’38.204
11 Maxime Berger Ducati FRA 1’38.347
12 Troy Corser BMW AUS 1’38.485
13 Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 1’38.365
14 Michel Fabrizio Suzuki ITA 1’38.761
15 Mark Aitchison Kawasaki AUS 1’39.072
Circuit Length:
4411
Weather:
Hot and Sunny
Lap Record:
1’38.619
(Noriyuki Haga, 1/1/2009)
Fastest Lap Ever:
1’37.490
(Jonathan Rea, 10/2/2011)
Last Years Winner:
Max Biaggi
Qualifying 1 & Qualifying 2
I II
1 Marco Melandri Yamaha ITA 1’39.333 1’38.171
2 Sylvain Guintoli Ducati FRA 1’38.741 1’38.293
3 Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 1’38.942 1’38.365
4 Ayrton Badovini BMW ITA 1’39.309 1’38.465
5 Leon Haslam BMW GBR 1’38.977 1’38.483
6 Troy Corser BMW AUS 1’39.025 1’38.485
7 Noriyuki Haga Aprilia JPN 1’39.019 1’38.530
8 Jonathan Rea Honda GBR 1’38.957 1’38.577
9 Tom Sykes Kawasaki GBR 1’38.860 1’38.601
10 Carlos Checa Ducati ESP 1’38.652 1’38.884
11 Eugene Laverty Yamaha GBR 1’38.664 1’38.671
12 Maxime Berger Ducati FRA 1’39.196 1’38.680
13 Michel Fabrizio Suzuki ITA 1’39.504 1’38.761
14 Leon Camier Aprilia GBR 1’39.587 1’38.808
15 Joan Lascorz Kawasaki ESP 1’39.063 1’39.037
Davies all set to Battle for the Title at Magny Cours
Yamaha ParkinGO team just completed a successful second qualifying session today in hot conditions on the French track at Magny Cours and is looking confident ahead of tomorrows important race day. Luca Scassa and Chaz Davies were on top form, completing the session in second and eighth places respectively.
Luca Scassa was fast off the mark and dominated the top positions on the time sheet for the duration of the afternoons second qualifying practice. Having made some minor changes to the set-up, the Italian continued to improve on lap times and shot straight to the top. Held up by another rider in his lines, Scassas flying lap was interrupted, bumping him to second. The Italian will start tomorrows race from the front row on the grid and will be fighting for a well-deserved podium. Team-mate Chaz Davies was also on top form. Satisfied with a second row on the grid, the Welshman decided not to push too hard and made the most of the session to fine tune his R6 machine ahead of tomorrows title decider race. Davies wrapped up the session in eighth place, but confident that he has what it takes to be at the front, right off the grid.
Chaz Davies will be fighting for a race win tomorrow but with a 35 point advantage, he could consent the win to his closest adversary; Frenchman Fabien Foret and settle for third spot on the podium to still claim the 2011 WSS championship title.
Luca Scassa
Yamaha ParkinGO Team – 2nd, 1’41.395
“We made the most of the two days trying to find a good race set up and I think we are doing pretty well. We have a good race pace so I should be in a position to fight for a win, as I was doing in Imola. I didnt want to risk anything by pushing too hard in the second qualifying session, Im happy enough with the second row and Im confident I can get off to a good start. I havent prepared a race tactic, I just want to think about the race and nothing else. I still have a 35 point advantage and there are two races left, so I should be ok.”
Chaz Davies
Yamaha ParkinGO Team – 8th, 1’41.952
“I am really disappointed that I didnt get the pole position today, especially seeing as I was well ahead until the very last few minutes when another rider got in my line and slowed me down. I am pretty sure I can be fighting for the race win tomorrow though, the bike is working well, we have a good race set up and all we need to do is a little fine tuning tomorrow morning. Id like to be able to celebrate a successful race day together with Chaz.”
2011 World Supersport France
Magny Cours 01/10/2011
Circuit Length:
4411
Weather:
Hot and Sunny
Lap Record:
1’41.407
(Cal Crutchlow, 1/1/2009)
Fastest Lap Ever:
1’40.980
(Cal Crutchlow, 10/4/2009)
Qualifying 1 & Qualifying 2
I II
1 Broc Parkes Kawasaki AUS 1’42.060 1’41.395
2 Luca Scassa Yamaha ITA 1’42.247 1’41.397
3 Massimo Roccoli Kawasaki ITA 1’41.498 1’41.490
4 Sam Lowes Honda GBR 1’42.519 1’41.586
5 James Ellison Honda GBR 1’43.164 1’41.588
6 David Salom Kawasaki ESP 1’42.148 1’41.614
7 Fabien Foret Honda FRA 1’42.384 1’41.916
8 Chaz Davies Yamaha GBR 1’42.662 1’41.952
9 Roberto Tamburini Yamaha ITA 1’42.680 1’42.310
10 Ronan Quarmby Triumph RSA 1’43.328 1’42.419
11 Florian Marino Honda FRA 1’42.644 1’42.759
12 Alexander Lundh Honda SWE 1’44.046 1’42.724
13 Gino Rea Honda GBR 1’43.127 1’42.896
14 Vittorio Iannuzzo Kawasaki ITA 1’43.656 1’42.949
15 Miguel Praia Honda POR 1’43.973 1’42.991
18 Louis Bulle Yamaha FRA 1’44.143 1’43.240
23 Danilo Marrancone Yamaha ITA 1’45.747 1’44.158
