World Superbike Kyalami: Friday (updated regularly)

Yamaha WSB

Yamaha rider Ben Spies had a steady first day of qualifying at the Kyalami circuit in South Africa today. Spies spent the day working through some small issues to improve the set-up of the bike in advance of tomorrow’s second qualifying session and afternoon Superpole heats. Although hunting for the perfect set-up, Spies was still very strong in the session, ending in third position, behind Rea and Fabrizio.

Team-mate Tom Sykes managed to find a relatively good pace from the outset today, although he did struggle with the set-up of his bike and will work on larger changes in advance of Saturday’s sessions to ensure he gets a faster pace and move further up the pack. He finished the first qualifying session in eighth position, ahead of Aprilia rider Max Biaggi.

Issues facing both riders in finding a good set-up include corner entry speed, and the surface of the Kyalami track itself. There are a large number of bumps on the circuit, making it difficult to fine tune the set up for race day.

The World Superbike Championship is back in South Africa and the Kyalami circuit this weekend for the first time since 2002. The championship has undergone major changes since the last visit, including a single tyre rule and a wealth of new team entries. Only three riders in this weekend’s line up were present at the last race, Noriyuki Haga, Broc Parkes and Rueben Xaus, making it a more level playing field for Yamaha rookies.

The Yamaha team also tested in Kyalami last year, meaning they come to the track with valuable data and a good set up to start with, although the bike they ran here previously was a far less developed machine than the current incarnation of the 2009 R1 race bike.

Ben Spies, Yamaha World Superbike Team, (3rd, 1′38.600)
“We’ve been going through the motions today, working things out with the bike as we’ve struggled with a couple of points. We haven’t really gone crazy but been steady, and will make some more changes now so we can get ready to turn it up tomorrow and get on it.”

Tom Sykes, Yamaha World Superbike Team (8th, 1′39.258)
“We’ve been working out a couple of changes for tomorrow, we’re going to change the geometry of the bike to help around the circuit, which should make me quicker. I’m looking forward to being stronger on the circuit and faster as a result. We tried some good tyres today and found a good race pace. I’m looking to be the fastest though so with the changes for tomorrow we should be in for big improvements.”

Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha World Superbike Team Manager
“We have been working on the bike set up today, it’s not perfect yet. We’ve also been working with the race tyres, both riders have done lots of laps on the same tyres which we think we’ll use in the race, they’ve been performing well and the pace is pretty good. Tonight we’re going to go through the feedback from the riders, and analyse the data we’ve gathered and work on improving the bike set up for tomorrow’s qualifying sessions and Superpole.”

The Yamaha France GMT 94 IPONE Team will have South African rider Shaun Whyte in place of David Checa for the Kyalami race weekend.

Circuit Length: 4263
Lap Record: 1′42.178 (Noriyuki Haga, 01/01/2002)
Fastest Lap Ever: 1′41.321 (Colin Edwards, 01/01/2002)
2009 WSB South Africa – Kyalami 15/05/2009
Qualifying 1
1     Michel Fabrizio     Ducati     ITA     1′38.103
2     Jonathan Rea     Honda     GBR     1′38.506
3     Ben Spies     Yamaha     USA     1′38.600
4     Leon Haslam     Honda     GBR     1′38.865
5     Shinya Nakano     Aprilia     JPN     1′38.998
6     Noriyuki Haga     Ducati     JPN     1′39.055
7     Jakub Smrz     Ducati     CZE     1′39.230
8     Tom Sykes     Yamaha     GBR     1′39.258
9     Max Biaggi     Aprilia     ITA     1′39.284
10     Ruben Xaus     BMW     ESP     1′39.357
11     Carlos Checa     Honda     ESP     1′39.370
12     Sheridan Morais     Kawasaki     RSA     1′39.388
13     Gregorio Lavilla     Ducati     ESP     1′39.389
14     Shane Byrne     Ducati     GBR     1′39.470
15     Yukio Kagayama     Suzuki     JPN     1′39.475
23     Whyte Shaun     Yamaha     RSA     1′41.737

Yamaha Supersport in the top five for free practice
Yamaha World Supersport riders Cal Crutchlow and Fabien Foret took advantage of two free practice session in Kyalami today to test out some tyre choices for race weekend and work on their set-ups with the team. Crutchlow got straight onto the pace and was quick again on a new circuit for the British rider, ending the second session in third position just .25 of a second behind leader Sofuoglu.

Team-mate Foret took longer to get up to speed today, having been upset by the morning crash of good friend and fellow French rider Regis Laconi who fell in the Superbike free practice. Foret went on to pick up his pace in the second session and ended the day fifth quickest, a second off the pace leader.

Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha World Supersport Team, (3rd, 1′41.969)
“It was good to get started learning the circuit and I’m really pleased that we’re still up there in the time sheets. We need to work on the settings for tomorrow so we can look to improve on the times. I managed to go quicker on the same tyres over the session so hoping for a couple steps better tomorrow as a result.”

Fabien Foret, Yamaha World Supersport Team (5th, 1′42.597)
“Today was a really tough day for me. It was very sad to see my good friend crash this morning, and it also reminded me of my crash last year in Brno. I managed to clear my head and found a good rhythm on the track. I need to come back tomorrow and pick up the pace again for the qualifying session.”

Wilco Zeelenberg, Yamaha World Supersport Team
“For Kyalami we have used more or less the set up from Monza. It looks that we still have a good base set up which adapts very quickly which is great. Cal seems to have found the pace straight away. Sofuoglu is currently faster but I think on fresh tyres, so we are happy with the first day’s progress. Tomorrow we have some new things to try and see if we can up the pace a bit. Today was difficult for Fabien, this morning was marred by his good friend Laconi crashing. In the second session he picked up and was a lot faster with his pace so it wasn’t so bad in the end and there’s more to come tomorrow I think.”

Circuit Length: 4263
Lap Record: 1′46.975 (James Whitham, 01/01/2002)
Fastest Lap Ever: 1′46.146 (Stéphane Chambon, 01/01/2002)
2009 WSS South Africa – Kyalami 15/05/2009

Free Practice
1     Kenan Sofuoglu     Honda     TUR     1′41.566
2     Eugene Laverty     Honda     GBR     1′41.812
3     Cal Crutchlow     Yamaha     GBR     1′41.969
4     Andrew Pitt     Honda     AUS     1′42.511
5     Fabien Foret     Yamaha     FRA     1′42.597
6     Garry McCoy     Triumph     AUS     1′42.735
7     Gianluca Nannelli     Triumph     ITA     1′42.797
8     Joan Lascorz     Kawasaki     ESP     1′42.823
9     Mark Aitchison     Honda     AUS     1′42.990
10     Katsuaki Fujiwara     Kawasaki     JPN     1′43.258
11     Doni Tata Pradita     Yamaha     IDN     1′43.407
12     Russell Holland     Honda     AUS     1′43.408
13     Michele Pirro     Yamaha     ITA     1′43.497
14     Gianluca Vizziello     Honda     ITA     1′43.837
15     Massimo Roccoli     Honda     ITA     1′43.918
27     Yannick Guerra     Yamaha     ESP     1′46.426
29     Jose Morillas     Yamaha     ESP     1′49.054

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Suzuki Alstare/Brux

The first day of practice and qualifying for the sixth-round World Superbike Championship at Kyalami in South Africa was a difficult one for Team Suzuki Alstare Brux.

Yukio Kagayama struggled with the bumpy nature of the 4.263 kilometre circuit and finished 15th while Fonsi Nieto, standing in for injured Max Neukirchner, has never raced at the track before or ridden the new GSX-R1000 K9 Suzuki: He used the day to learn the bike and the track and ended with the 22nd best time.

Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) posted the day’s fastest lap with a time of 1:38.103. Second quickest was Jonathan Rea (Honda) with Ben Spies (Yamaha) third.

Yukio Kagayama – 15th, 1:39.475:
“We started with the set-up we used when we tested here last December, but my bike didn’t work as well. The track feels bumpier to me and that meant I could not push as hard as I wanted. We improved the bike in the afternoon, but many other riders went faster, so I ended 15th. My main problem today was the bumps, but the rear tyre was also spinning in a couple of corners, so tomorrow we will try some suspension changes to see if we can make any improvements.”

Fonsi Nieto – 22nd, 1:40.544:
“New track, new bike and a lot to learn today for me. Fortunately I know the team very well and they have helped me a lot. I am very happy to be back in World Superbikes and I feel as if I have never been away because this team is so good. The K9 bike is very different to last year’s bike, but I hope to learn everything fast and keep on improving. I don’t particularly like this track because for me it is very bumpy and dangerous in some places.”

Friday WSB Qualifying: 1 Fabrizio (I-Ducati) 1:38.103, 2 Rea (GB-Honda) 1:38.506, 3 Spies (USA-Yamaha) 1:38.600, 4 Haslam (GB-Honda) 1:38.865, 5 Nakano (J-Aprilia) 1:38.998. 15 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare Brux) 1:39.475. 22 Fonsi Nieto (E-Suzuki Alstare Brux) 1:40.544.

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Stiggy Racing Honda (WSS)

The beautiful Kyalami track, located on the outskirts of South-Africa’s largest city Johannesburg, proved a hard track to tackle for the Stiggy Racing Honda Supersport Team in the opening Free Practice sessions today.

A slighlty altered time schedule in force at Kyalami today, allowed the Supersport riders to get to grips with the track in two 45-minute long sessions, and prepare their machines for tomorrow’s official Qualifying Practice.

West is eager to find form again and launch his attack at the South African podium this weekend to hold on to his fifth place in the championship. The Australian faced a tough two rounds in Assen and Monza, but is expected to make his much anticipated return to the top of the sheets in Kyalami this weekend.

In the first free practice session West set his fastest time at 1′45.988s, and took a disappointing 19th place in the sheets. In the afternoon’s second practice West improved his time by a mere 1.6 seconds to 1′44.290s, but still found himself languishing at an unsatisfying 19th place.

Team mate Gianluca Vizziello, found himself in the middle of the field in 16th place, after he set his best time in he improved his best time to 1′43.837s.

Gianluca Vizziello, 1′43.837s:
” I am satisfied with my opening sessions here today, we have been able to locate the problem area’s and can now work on a solution. I am convinced we can improve a couple of positions in tomorrow’s qualifying. We have tried some different gearing in the sessions, and I’m happy with the improvement it made. Tomorrow I will work towards a better position on the grid for the race on Sunday.

Anthony West, 1′44.290s:
” I had a tough session here today. I do not know why we struggle to set the same pace as the guys in front. I know I am capable of running consistently fast lap times, but we just could not put it together today. I hope I will have a better session tomorrow. It’s a technical track here and I want to qualify on the first rows to be able to ride a good race here on Sunday “.

Johan Stigefelt, Teammanager:
” We have been struggling for answers here today. It is a new track for our team, but we should be able to close the gap, and not be too far behind the competition. At the moment we are running off the pace set by the fast guys. The team has analysed the gathered data, and will work on a solution to improve the pace tonight. Hopefully the results will pay off in tomorrow’s sessions “.

Results FP2:
1. Sofuoglu 1′41.566s
2. Laverty 1′41.812s
3. Crutchlow 1′41.969s
16. Vizziello 1′43.837s
19. West 1′44.290s

Introducing S2 Racing
Swiss-based S2 Racing – the Holding Company of the Stiggy Racing Team – specialises in initiating and developing Sponsor, Marketing and Event strategies for the Motorsports Business.

Gianluca Barbagallo, Vice President of the holding: ” S2 Racing and the Stiggy Racing Team have set up a partnership that targets to compete at the top of the Motorsport World Championships. For this year we have set our goal on achieving a top position in the Superbike World Championship”.

Johan Stigefelt, Stiggy Racing Team Manager: ” Partnering with S2 Racing provides the solid foundation for our team and enables me to fully concentrate on the technical aspects. We have managed to put a great package together and are targeting to achieve the best possible results”.

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World SBK

Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) continued his recent run of positive form as he powered to the provisional pole in the opening qualifying session for the sixth round of the Hannspree FIM Superbike World Championship at Kyalami. The 24-year-old Italian, who dominated the pre-season testing session here last December, set a new official benchmark of 1 minute 38.103 seconds around the 4.246 km circuit.

Second place went to Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), the British rider four-tenths of a second behind Fabrizio, as he continued his good form of late. Texan rookie sensation Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike) moved up from 14th to third in the last few minutes of the session, while Leon Haslam (Stiggy Racing Honda) was back up at the front with the final provisional front row slot.

Shinya Nakano was next up for Aprilia, followed by points leader Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox), whose arm is still swollen following last Sunday’s incident at Monza. Jakub Smrz (Guandalini Ducati), Tom Sykes (Yamaha World Superbike), Max Biaggi (Aprilia) and Ruben Xaus (BMW) make up the top 10, while South African champion Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki World Superbike Racing Team) caused a few eyebrows to be raised at one point as he was running in an impressive third place before ending the session in twelfth. Suzuki Alstare riders Yukio Kagayama and Fonsi Nieto, in for the injured Max Neukirchner, struggled today, finishing in 15th and 22nd position respectively

During the first lap of the morning’s free practice session, Regis Laconi (Ducati DFX) crashed in the section between Turn 11 and Turn 12. Unfortunately in the crash the French rider, despite not hitting any obstacle, suffered a severe trauma to the cervical vertebrae. Transported by helicopter to the nearby Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg, Laconi is reported as being on the danger list. The serious injuries suffered mean that an operation will be required, which will be carried out by a neurological specialist in the next few hours.

Times: 1. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1′38.103; 2. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1′38.506; 3. Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1′38.600; 4. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1′38.865; 5. Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′38.998; 6. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1′39.055; 7. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1′39.230; 8. Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1′39.258; 9. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′39.284; 10. Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1′39.357;  Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1′39.370; 12. Morais S. (RSA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1′39.388; 13. Lavilla G. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1′39.389; 14. Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1′39.470; 15. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1′39.475; 16. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1′39.788

World Supersport
There was a spectacular three-way battle for the quickest time of the day in the Supersport category. It looked as if it was going the way of Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha World Supersport), but then Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) and Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) managed to dip under his time. In the end the quickest mark was set by the 2007 Supersport champion Sofuoglu with a time of 1 minute 41.566 seconds. Fourth place went to reigning champion Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), the Australian almost a second behind his team-mate. Fabien Foret’s positive form is continuing for Yamaha World Supersport, as the Frenchman took his R6 to fifth place, where can also be found the two ParkinGo Triumph Be1 machines of Garry McCoy and Gianluca Nannelli. Season revelation Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Provec) was also on good form in eighth position, while major progress was made by Indonesian rider Doni Tata Pradita (YZF Yamaha), who was eleventh quickest.

Times: 1. Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR       1′41.566; 2. Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 1′41.812; 3. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1′41.969; 4. Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1′42.511; 5. Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 1′42.597; 6. McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 1′42.735; 7. Nannelli G. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 1′42.797; 8. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′42.823.

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Stiggy Racing Honda (WSBK)

Under a clear blue African sky and in mild winter temperatures, the first day of qualifying for the sixth round of the Superbike World Championship, took place at Kyalami today.

Despite their absence from the official Pirelli test for factory teams last December, the Stiggy Racing Honda team remains well on track with development of their CBR1000RR Superbike, and Leon Haslam is eager to continue the momentum and mount a fresh charge at the rostrum in South Africa this weekend.

Haslam opened the first free practice session by posting the fourth best time of 1′40.137s on the technical Kyalami track, and placed himself firmly between the competition in the top regions of the time sheets.

In the Qualifying practice Haslam once again managed to set consistently fast lap times, and further lowered his best time to 1′39.211s. He followed Rea and Fabrizio under the 1.39s mark in the ultimate minutes of the session, and claimed a provisional front row start in a fourth fastest time of 1′38.865s.

Provisional pole was taken by Fabrizio – who already showed his dominance in Kyalami during the official Pirelli test last December – followed by Rea in second and Spies in third.

Haslam makes a solo performance for the Stiggy Racing Team in Kyalami as team mate John Hopkins is still on his way to recovery after his nasty crash at the Assen round, and Jake Zemke – who replaced Hopkins in the Monza round – has obligations to ride in the American Championship this weekend.

Leon Haslam, 1′38.865s:
” I had a good session, especially the first free practice went really well. We were playing around with the gearing and different set-ups. This morning I had a few chattering issues, but we made some small improvements and solved the problems. I just really have to focus on trying and finding the right tyre now.  I’ve been able to set good lap times on all three tyres, while the guys in front of me could only set their fast laps on the soft tyre. I feel comfortable on both tyres, we’ll just have to figure out tomorrow which one will be better over a race distance. We still have a few minor changes to make in the suspension, and maybe some changes to the gearing, but overall I am pretty happy with the results so far and feel very confident “.

Johan Stigefelt, Teammanager:
” Leon has some knowledge of the track as he tested here in 2006. We have been competitive in both sessions today, and have even been able to make some long runs. We just have to make some small adjustments to the bike for tomorrow’s sessions. At the moment everything is looking really good. The bike is still not set-up for the full 100 percent, but we will work on it tonight and make some further improvements to give Leon a better feeling and improve his lap times in tomorrow’s qualifying sessions “.

Results QP1:
1. Fabrizio 1′38.103s
2. Rea 1′38.506s
3. Spies 1′38.600s
4. Haslam 1′38.865s

Introducing S2 Racing
Swiss-based S2 Racing – the Holding Company of the Stiggy Racing Team – specialises in initiating and developing Sponsor, Marketing and Event strategies for the Motorsports Business.

Gianluca Barbagallo, Vice President of the holding: ” S2 Racing and the Stiggy Racing Team have set up a partnership that targets to compete at the top of the Motorsport World Championships. For this year we have set our goal on achieving a top position in the Superbike World Championship”.

Johan Stigefelt, Stiggy Racing Team Manager: ” Partnering with S2 Racing provides the solid foundation for our team and enables me to fully concentrate on the technical aspects. We have managed to put a great package together and are targeting to achieve the best possible results”.

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Ducati Xerox

Kyalami (South Africa) Friday 15th May: Ducati Xerox rider Michel Fabrizio, with the bit between his teeth and undoubtedly spurred on by his maiden win at Monza last week, took to the Kyalami track today with a perceptible determination, to top the time sheets in both the morning free practice session as well as this afternoon’s first qualifying. Noriyuki Haga meanwhile concluded this first day in sixth position, having made various changes throughout the session to try to resolve problems with the front suspension.

In the first qualifying session of the weekend, on a track that had cooled significantly since the morning’s practice, five riders ducked under the 1m39 barrier with Michel lapping fastest, with a lap time four tenths faster than that recorded by second-placed Honda rider Jonathan Rea.

The injury that Noriyuki sustained to his right bicep during last weekend’s Monza round remains sore, and prevented him from performing at the maximum level, however the treatment that he is receiving from the doctors at the Clinica Mobile allowed him to ride without particular problems.

Last here in December when he participated in winter testing, Ducati man Michel Fabrizio topped the time sheets on each of the three days, with a fastest time of 1m39.7s, recorded on the third and final day. Team-mate Noriyuki, riding the 1198 for the first time during those tests, registered a fastest lap time of 1m39.9s.

Michel Fabrizio 1m38.1s

“Everything has gone well so far. After the win and second place at Monza I’ve arrived here ready for action. We were fast right from the beginning of this morning’s practice and this made it easier to improve further during the qualifying. We’ll see tomorrow but I’m sure that to remain ahead I need to go a few tenths faster than I have today. I’m aware that I’m 21 points off second place in the championship and knowing this only spurs me on further!”

Noriyuki Haga 1m39.0s
“Physically, I’ve not had too many problems and my arm already feels better this afternoon compared to this morning but it’s getting tired easily and I haven’t been able to put together many consecutive laps. The bike isn’t copying the uneven track surface and this puts more strain on my arm. Anyway, today the bike has felt similar to how it did during winter testing which is a good thing but tomorrow we need to try a different setting to improve on times and get us to the front of the pack.”

TIMES: 1. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 1m38.1s; 2. Rea (Honda) 1m28.5s; 3. Spies (Yamaha) 1m38.6s; 4. Haslam (Honda) 1m38.8s; 5. Nakano (Aprilia) 1m38.9s; 6. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 1m39.0s; 7. Smrz (Ducati) 1m39.2s; 8. Sykes (Yamaha) 1m39.2s