Monza (Italy), Saturday 11 May 2013: Ayrton Badovini and Team SBK Ducati Alstare reached the second phase of today’s Superpole session to qualify in final twelfth position for tomorrow’s races.
Rainfall overnight meant that the track was once again damp for this morning’s second qualifying session. As a result very few riders were able to lower the times that they had set yesterday afternoon. Badovini completed a series of laps but was unable to improve on his best (1’44.8) of yesterday, thus qualifying in twelfth overall position for this afternoon’s Superpole.
Superpole 1: heading straight out on the first of two qualifying tyres available to him, Ayrton made two laps, the first of which was his fastest. Thanks to a best time of 1’43.8, the Italian rider closed in twelfth place and progressed to the second phase of the Superpole.
Superpole 2: together with his technicians Badovini took the decision to use the second qualifying tyre at the start of session 2; the tyre allowed him to record an identical time to that set during the first phase. This lap once again placed him twelfth and so it is from this position that he will start tomorrow’s races.
Ayrton Badovini: “The fact that we were able to progress to the second Superpole phase is already positive considering that we suffer here in Monza. The qualifying tyre gave me a little more grip compared to the race tyre but unfortunately did not make enough of a difference to improve my position. Anyway I’ll start from a pretty central position tomorrow with a fast group immediately in front of me. The critical point of the track for us is exiting the Parabolica so we’ll continue to work to see if we can reduce the gap through that section and do our best to complete two good races tomorrow.”
Carlos Checa had to follow today’s sessions from the garage but his determination to get back on his 1199 Panigale as soon as possible is strong. “Unfortunately I can only follow the races on the screens tomorrow and I’m very sorry for the Team, the sponsors and the fans that have come to Monza but I’ve already started to work to get back in shape and I’ll continue to work even harder in the coming days to be 100% once more. I’m looking forward to getting back on track at Donington.”
Today also provided Team SBK Ducati Alstare with the chance to collaborate with the ‘Fondazione Il Bene’ and give visibility to the Foundation’s research in the field of rare neurological and neuroimmune diseases. Checa and Badovini formally attached the ‘Il Bene’ logo to the fairing of their bikes and took part in a series of promotional initiatives to support the Foundation and help raise funds. A t-shirt bearing Ducati Alstare’s motto ‘Never Give Up’ is also on sale over the race weekend.
TIMES (Superpole): 1. Sykes (Kawasaki) 1’41.2; 2. Laverty (Aprilia) 1’41.3; 3. Guintoli (Aprilia) 1’41.5; 4. Rea (Honda) 1’41.7; 5. Melandri (BMW) 1’41.8; 6. Giugliano (Aprilia) 1’41.9; 7. Cluzel (Suzuki) 1’42.6; 8. Camier (Suzuki) 1’42.8… 12. Badovini (Ducati Alstare) 1’43.8
