Silverstone (UK), Friday 2 August 2013: Team SBK Ducati Alstare and riders Carlos Checa and Ayrton Badovini were on track at Silverstone today, taking part in the first practice and qualifying sessions of this ninth round of the 2013 World Superbike Championship.
On a dry track (air 21˚C, track 26˚C), both riders began the planned set-up work with their technicians. Badovini completed a best lap of 2’07.5 on board his 1199 Panigale which placed him tenth at the session’s end. Unfortunately Carlos had trouble with the gears, in that he was unable to shift down, meaning that he lost a lot of time in the garage and was unfortunately only able to complete four laps, closing fifteenth.
With the technical issue resolved in time for afternoon qualifying, Checa was back out on track in slightly warmer conditions. He was able to improve on his morning’s times by several seconds and Badovini too dropped his best time set this morning by almost a second. With eleven of the first twelve riders all closing within six tenths of a second of each other, the Ducati Alstare pair concluded this first qualifying session in eleventh (Badovini) and fourteenth (Checa) position.
Carlos Checa: “This afternoon was a first approach for us of course as this morning’s gear issue meant we lost the entire session. With only one bike available, a problem like that keeps you in the garage unfortunately. In qualifying I had a few grip problems, I wasn’t fully confident with the front of the bike and there are also sections where I know I can improve, so let’s say there’s still a lot to do tomorrow. I hope we can make some modifications that allow us to find a good pace in preparation for the races.”
Ayrton Badovini: “With regard to overall set-up we’ve started once more from the base identified at Imola and Misano. My biggest problem today has been with rear grip, which is only exaggerated by the fact that, as in Russia, we don’t have the softer tyre solution at this track. So we’ve worked to increase traction and made a couple of changes towards the end of qualifying that gave me a little more grip but I still have to ride carefully and it will be difficult to maintain a good race pace in these conditions. Tomorrow I will do my best to make the most of the second qualifying and practice sessions.”
TIMES (Qualifying): 1. Sykes (Kawasaki) 2’05.3; 2. Camier (Suzuki) 2’06.2; 3. Giugliano (Aprilia) 2’06.3; 4. Rea (Honda) 2’06.3; 5. Haslam (Honda) 2’06.3; 6. Laverty (Aprilia) 2’06.5; 7. Baz (Kawasaki) 2’06.5; 8. Melandri (BMW) 2’06.5…. 11. Badovini (Ducati Alstare) 2’06.7… 14. Checa (Ducati Alstare) 2’07.5
