Yamaha World Superbike Riders On Top Form In Misano
Beautiful sunshine and warm temperatures provided ideal track
conditions for Yamaha World Superbike riders Marco Melandri and
Eugene Laverty to complete a successful first qualifying session in
Misano world circuit. Both World Superbike Rookies took to the
track in this morning's free practice on their YZF-R1s for the
first time and got straight down to business testing various set
ups on their machines ahead of the afternoon's first qualifying
session. Unlike most other competing riders Melandri and Laverty,
did not test in Misano last month, but despite this disadvantage
they completed first qualifying practice in third and sixth
position respectively.
Melandri didn't hesitate to make most of his familiarity with his
local track and regain confidence, stilted following the
disappointing results in Miller just less than two weeks ago. The
Romagnolo continued to make progress throughout the free practice
and first qualifying session as he searched for the optimum setting
for the Misano circuit, putting in his fastest lap towards the end
of the red flagged session, to complete in the third place, just
four tenths of a second off Checa in the lead.
Team-mate Laverty was also on top form making constant progress
throughout the 18 laps completed and ended the session in sixth
place, less than two tenths off his Italian team-mate.
Marco Melandri
Yamaha World Superbike Team - 3rd, 1'36.482
"This afternoon's session went quite well. We tried various
different set up options one after another and gradually improved
the overall performance. We also tried a better tyre option which
produced improved results. Hopefully it will remain dry tomorrow so
we have the opportunity to further improve on today's setting and
work on choosing a race tyre for Sunday. The team has been working
very hard and has done a great job. Let's hope that we'll find the
perfect set up to be as competitive as we can be and should be and
have two good races on Sunday."
Eugene Laverty
Yamaha World Superbike Team - 6th, 1'36.713
"This morning didn't go so well, we ended the session down in 17th
position but I wasn't concerned because I had quite a good feeling
on the bike. Having said that we did have a little wheeling issue
but seen as it's my first time riding a Superbike, I think that was
to be expected. The team worked hard and improved that before this
afternoon's session which went much better. Checa was fast in the
tests here a month ago, he was fast again today so it was great to
be so close to him after just one day on the track with my R1.
Hopefully tomorrow will be dry enabling us to work some more on the
Sunday's race set up which is already at a good point."
Andrea Dosoli
Yamaha World Superbike Team Manager
"It was a good start to the weekend for both riders considering
that we have't tested the track unlike many other riders out there
today. We made the most of this morning to gather data and see how
to improve from there. Both riders made great progress. Eugene
suffered from a wheeling problem in one particular section in this
morning's practice so he and the team worked hard to resolve this
before this afternoon session. Marco had a chance to regain
confidence after the disappointing weekend in Miller. It's
important to be consistent throughout the race to enable him to get
good results and reduce the gap between him and Checa in the lead.
Both teams worked hard on finding a suitable the race set up,
considering they may not have the same opportunity tomorrow if the
rain doesn't hold off. They still need to choose the right tyre
depending on track temperatures but we are satisfied with the
results today."
Chaz Davies Shines in
Misano's First Qualifying
Leader in the 2011 Word Supersport standings and winner of the last
two rounds of the championship, Chaz Davies got back on his R6
machine today after over a month's break between races and got
straight down to business in Misano to shine in today's sunny first
Qualifying session. The Brit spent this morning's free practice
session shaking off the rust and getting re-acquainted with his
powerful machine ahead of the afternoon's session where he
proceeded to be consistently fast and completed the day in second
place, just less than a tenth off Lowes in first place.
Team-mate Luca Scassa is not participating in this weekend's
race,disqualified by race direction following an infringement of
the rules. Giugliano Rovelli, Yamaha ParkinGò team manager, has
taken this opportunity to temporarily stand in and ride his private
YZF-R6 in Misano. He will not be riding the Yamaha Motor Europe
World Supersport machine which Chaz Davies is competing on and
which Luca Scassa will return to ride in Arragon next week.
Chaz Davies
Yamaha ParkinGo Team
"Not a bad day even though I felt a bit rusty this morning after a
few weeks off. Things clicked better into place this afternoon and
the qualifying session went well. This is also very important as
tomorrow it could rain so Im glad that today's set up felt
good."
2011 World Superbike San Marino Qualifying
Results
1. Carlos Checa 1'36.024
2. Max Biaggi 1'36.149
3. Marco Melandri 1'36.482
4. Michel Fabrizio 1'36.546
5. Troy Corser 1'36.656
6. Eugene Laverty 1'36.683
7. Jakub Smrz 1'36.713
8. Noriyuki Haga 1'36.728
9. Sylvain Guintoli 1'36.753
10. Tom Sykes 1'36.793
11. Leon Haslam 1'36.810
12. Jonathan Rea 1'36.824
13. Leon Camier 1'36.984
14. Ayrton Badovini 1'37.059
15. Matteo Baiocco 1'37.073
2011 World Supersport San Marino Qualifying
Results
1. Sam Lowes 1'39.541
2. Chaz Davies 1'39.618
3. David Salom 1'39.795
4. Broc Parkes 1'39.897
5. Fabien Foret 1'40.133
6. Ilario Dionisi 1'40.141
7. Robbin Harms 1'40.454
8 Florian Marino 1'40.467
9. Massimo Roccoli 1'40.639
10. James Ellison 1'40.743
11. Roberto Tamburini 1'40.980
12. Mirko Giansanti 1'40.989
13. Alessio Velini 1'41.013
14. Stefano Cruciani 1'41.281
15. Vladimir Ivanov 1'41.340
25. Luca Marconi 1'42.275
