Imola (Italy), Saturday 10 May 2014 – Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) has taken Pole Position for tomorrow’s two 19 lap races after a thrilling Tissot-Superpole session kept the large crowd thoroughly entertained. This is the first Tissot-Superpole win for Rea this year, the third so far in his WSBK career and the 45th for Honda.In Superpole 1, Niccolo Canepa (Althea Racing Ducati) and Leon Camier (BMW Motorrad Italia) emerged as the fastest two riders and progressed into Superpole 2 with the ten riders that were automatically seeded after Free Practice.
Jonathan Rea: “Honestly, I didn’t really expect that! I knew we had really good pace and we were working towards the race tomorrow. But this pole position lark doesn’t really have my name on it so I’m really happy. The lap was really good but I just want to thank all the guys in my box who’ve been working incredibly hard. They’re making the CBR better and better and to do it in Pata’s back yard here in Italy is just great. I’m looking forward to two strong races tomorrow and hopefully we can get some good results then.”
The final 15 minute session, held in blisteringly hot conditions eventually saw Rea come out on top after several riders including took their turn to head the standings. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) and Davide Giugliano (Ducati Superbike Team) will line up alongside Rea with other factory Ducati rider Chaz Davies…(read more)
Chaz Davies: “Today has gone well and we’ve taken another step forward. This morning we had really good pace and although there is still room for improvement I’m happy with how things have been going. The Superpole was also positive and finishing fourth is our best result so far, a result that gives me confidence, coming after some bad luck in previous Superpoles. Tomorrow I’m expecting two tough races, it will be difficult but today I was able to do race distance with the tyre and our pace wasn’t bad. We’re confident and ready to race here tomorrow.”
World Supersport
Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta RC – Yakhnich Motorsport) snatched Pole Position for the fourth round of the World Supersport championship at Imola in sweltering conditions with a final lap surge to displace multiple champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Maha Team India Kawasaki). The winner from Phillip Island overcame a technical problem earlier in the weekend to take his sixth Supersport Pole Position. Italian… (read more)
Times: 1. Cluzel (MV Agusta) 1’51.110 average 159.928 kph; 2. Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) 1’51.326; 3. Zanetti (Honda) 1’51.443; 4. Coghlan (Yamaha) 1’51.524; 5. Tamburini (Kawasaki) 1’51.711; 6. Vd Mark (Honda) 1’51.840; 7. Jacobsen (Kawasaki) 1’51.914; 8. Marino (Kawasaki) 1’51.961; 9. Leonov (MV Agusta) 1’52.416; 10. Rolfo (Kawasaki) 1’52.643; 11. Bussolotti (Honda) 1’52.729; 12. Wahr (Yamaha) 1’52.756; 13. Menghi (Yamaha) 1’52.926; 14. Russo (Honda) 1’52.982; 15. Wilairot (Honda) 1’52.994; etc.
Superstock 1000
Fabio Massei (EAB Racing Team Ducati) will start tomorrow’s third round of the FIM Superstock 1000cc Cup from Pole Position after a blistering lap in official qualifying. For Italian Massei, it was the first Pole Position of his career and the first for the EAB Racing Team. Italy made it two riders in the top two positions as Lorenzo Savadori (Pedercini Kawasaki Team) closed to within 0.031s but had… (read more)
Times: 1. Massei (Ducati) 1’50.351 average 161.028 kph; 2. Savadori (Kawasaki) 1’50.382; 3. Jezek (Ducati) 1’50.707; 4. Mercado (Ducati) 1’51.635; 5. D’Annunzio (BMW) 1’51.825; 6. Lanusse (Kawasaki) 1’51.874; 7. Day (Honda) 1’52.053; 8. Smith (Honda) 1’52.071; 9. Nemeth (Kawasaki) 1’52.410; 10. Grotzkyj G. (Kawasaki) 1’52.515; 11. Muresan (BMW) 1’52.541; 12. Lussiana (Kawasaki) 1’52.598; 13. Calia (Aprilia) 1’52.690; 14. Castellarin (BMW) 1’52.824; 15. Schiavoni (BMW) 1’52.959; etc.
Superstock 600 – Race
Marco Faccani (San Carlo Team Italia Kawasaki) had narrowed his gap to the leader of the FIM Europe Superstock 600 Championship Tuuli after taking a lights to flag victory in the third round of the series at Imola today. Behind Faccani, a titanic race long battle kept the crowd entertained with eventually Niki Tuuli (Kallio Racing Yamaha) and Stefano Casalotti (VFT Racing Yamaha) completing the… (read more)
Results: 1. Faccani (Kawasaki) 12 Laps/59.232 km in 23’06.453 average 153.799 kph; 2. Tuuli (Yamaha) 3.270; 3. Casalotti (Yamaha) 5.966; 4. Salvadori (Kawasaki) 9.618; 5. Rinaldi (Yamaha) 9.925; 6. Caricasulo (Honda) 10.967; 7. Mikhalchik (Kawasaki) 12.515; 8. Tucci (Kawasaki) 12.598; 9. Tessels (Suzuki) 13.524; 10. Marchal (Yamaha) 17.521; 11. Mercandelli (Yamaha) 21.635; 12. Lahti (Yamaha) 22.101; 13. Puffe (Kawasaki) 24.657; 14. Nestorovic (Yamaha) 25.774; 15. Patronen (Yamaha) 26.582; etc.
Standings (Round 3 of 7): 1. Tuuli 58; 2. Faccani 56; 3. Tucci 39; 4. Tessels 39; 5. Salvadori 31; 6. Manfredi 27; 7. Mikhalchik 27; 8. Casalotti 25; 9. Duwelz 18; 10. Rinaldi 15; 11. Lahti 14; 12. Hartog 13; 13. Caricasulo 10; 14. Marchal 10; 15. Nestorovic 9; 16. Mercandelli 5; 17. Gobbi 5; 18. Lewis 5; 19. Zeelen 5; 20. Puffe 3; 21. Canducci 3; 22. Pittet 2; 23. Patronen 1.
European Junior Cup
Javier Orellana (Europe Food SL) will be the pole sitter for tomorrow’s 9 lap Pata European Junior Cup, powered by Honda race at Imola. The young Spaniard, who is currently contesting his third year on the series, will be joined on the first row on the grid by Estonian Hans Soomer (Auto24ring) and compatriot Augusto Fernandez (WIL Sport). Current points leader Marc Miralles (Honda Spain) will start from the 11th place, after crashing unhurt at Turn 9 halfway through the session.
Times: 1. Orellana (Honda) 2’13.617 average 132.989 kph; 2. Soomer (Honda) 2’13.881; 3. Fernandez (Honda) 2’13.891; 4. Perez (Honda) 2’14.057; 5. Hubner (Honda) 2’14.699; 6. Fernandez (Honda) 2’14.819; 7. Gabellini (Honda) 2’15.084; 8. Grassia (Honda) 2’15.089; 9. Harland (Honda) 2’15.276; 10. Licciardi (Honda) 2’15.547; etc.
