Checa In The Top Four At Magny-Cours
Source: Honda Motorsports
Oct 6, 2008 - 4:03:59 PM
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Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) took a best of fourth in race two at Magny-Cours, to add to a race one seventh place, and keep him fifth in the overall championship rankings. |
Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) took a best of fourth in race
two at Magny-Cours, to add to a race one seventh place, and keep him fifth in
the overall championship rankings. The Spanish rider, twice a winner in WSB this
year already, was looking set for a podium in race one at one stage, having
qualified fourth in Superpole.
His choice of soft tyres in the opener did not pay off and he fought hard in the
latter stages to get seventh, with Noriyuki Haga securing the win. In race two,
on a different tyre choice, he was seven seconds from the winner Troy Bayliss,
who also secured the championship at this round, the third of his career.
Several riders had difficulty working out a good set-up and tyre choice
this weekend, as practice and qualifying were held in changeable conditions,
from nearly dry to fully wet. Superpole was run under normal ‘dry’ rules.
Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR Jr) secured his best
finish of the season, ninth, in race one, but only went 19th in race two, as his
heavy bruising and joint pain from his big Vallelunga crash finally took its
toll. He was 14th in Superpole.
Two encouraging races for Roberto Rolfo
(Hannspree Althea Honda CBR1000RR) ended in an eventual technical retirement in
race one, after being knocked off track early on, and a tenth place in race two.
The Italian rider was an impressive fifth in Superpole.
With regular
rider Ryuichi Kiyonari out injured, stand-in rider Martin Bauer (Hannspree Ten
Kate Honda CBR1000RR) went 17th in race one, but fell in race two. Bauer had
just missed out on a Superpole qualifying place by one position.
Gregorio Lavilla (Vent-Axia VK Honda CBR1000RR) was the last rider in
Superpole, 16th, and rode hard in each 23-lap race to maintain his status as top
privateer. He took tenth and then 12th place finishes. He is now 12th overall,
on 117 points.
Lavilla’s team-mate Chris Walker (Vent-Axia VK Honda
CBR1000RR) recovered from qualifying 23rd to grab two 15th place finishes and
two more points. He has now been 15th on five occasions since joining the WSB
series at Brands Hatch.
Karl Muggeridge (DF Racing Honda CBR1000RR) went
12th in race one, from 18th on the grid, but was unable to finish the second
race.
Shuhei Aoyama (Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR) had two difficult
races, after finishing qualifying 28th, scoring 19th in race one and 22nd in
race two.
In the championship standings, Bayliss has an unbeatable 410
points, points, Haga 325, Corser 316, Neukirchner 298 and Checa, 284.
Checa:
“It’s quite strange that
we had a different feeling from the test here last week, and I felt quite
comfortable in warm-up this morning. In race one we made a risky tyre choice and
it didn’t work out the way we wanted. The second race was a little better,
although we had a rear stability problem exiting the tighter corners. It was
costing me about three tenths of a second per lap and, towards the end of the
race, I knew I couldn’t fight for the podium any more.”
Sofuoglu:
“The way I was feeling before the
weekend, I wasn’t even sure I would be able to compete here with the amount of
bruising I had after Vallelunga. After the first race, it was not so much the
pain, but I was so tired, and that left me without any energy for race two. I
have a month to recover now, and I want to finish the season on a high level in
Portugal.”
Bauer:
“I felt really
confident going into race two, after we made the wrong tyre choice in the first
race. I was behind Kenan in the second race and he went a little wide at the
first right-hander. I went inside him but lost the front in the corner and that
was it. Still, I have enjoyed my weekend – it’s been a pleasure to work with
such a professional team and I would like to thank them for all their work and
to thank everybody else who made it possible.”
Rolfo:
“In the first lap of race one someone
hit my rear tyre and I was forced to go on the gravel and I lost quite a few
places. To get back into the race from so far back was not easy, but the bike
was working well and I reached thirteenth place in few laps. Unfortunately, we
had some technical problems. After race two I’m pretty happy because after a
good start I was able to remain with the first group of riders at the start.”
Muggeridge:
“It was going OK
until the first spots of rain hit my visor. I can’t go faster than other riders
in a straight line on my bike so I had to slow a bit around the corners when the
rain spots appeared. I couldn’t go catch the guys in front again when the rain
didn’t come to anything. I was stuck where I was.”
Lavilla:
“We have been working hard but every
time we miss a practice it is bad. We make steps forward every time we go on
track and we are the best privateers so that is positive. I am trying to finish
the season on a high.”
Walker:
“I’m happy to have two points’ scoring finishes having battled
with practices and qualifying. Starting from 23rd and the seventh row doesn’t
make life easy so I really push hard for a decent start. I’m happy to walk away
with two 15th positions.”
Aoyama:
“Two tough races because we did not get a great chance to find
the best set-up as practice was so disturbed by changing weather. This was a
difficult track to set-up for.”
The final round of the series takes
place at the all-new circuit of Parkalgar, near Portimao, in Portugal on
November 2.
World Supersport Championship
Pitt Wins The Race And the Championship
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Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) won his fifth WSS race of the 2008 season and in doing so took the overall World championship win, with one round remaining. |
Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) won his fifth WSS race of the 2008 season and in doing so took the overall World championship win, with one round remaining.
It was Pitt’s second title in this class, and his first Honda championship victory makes it seven straight riders’ titles in this class for Honda, all for riders from the Ten Kate Team.
Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) started the day only 11 points from Pitt, but after he was knocked off in a crash at the Adelaide hairpin on lap ten, when Robbin Harms ran in too hot and clipped Rea’s back tyre, his championship hopes were dashed. Rea remounted to finish tenth, having qualified second, one place ahead of Pitt.
Josh Brookes (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsports Honda CBR600RR) could not quite get into contention with Pitt on the last few laps, but took a strong third place, behind the new champion and Barry Veneman. Brookes will now dispute second in the series with Rea at the final round at Portimao, on November 2.
The points total at the top of the standings, with one race to go, reads Pitt 194, Rea 164, Brookes 157 and Broc Parkes 139.
Behind the leaders, Gianluca Nannelli (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR600RR) secured seventh place after qualifying tenth, but his team-mate Russell Holland (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR600RR) crashed, remounted and finally limped home in 21st place.
Josh Hayes, (Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR) had a remarkable ride from 19th on the grid to ninth. Robbin Harms (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsports Honda CBR600RR) remounted after his collision with Rea and took 15th, and a single championship point.
Pitt:
“Well, you can’t say I didn’t win a race with this championship! Johnny missed out today and I’m sure it would’ve been a tough battle right to the end. I didn’t actually know that he was out until I worked it out by looking at the big TV screen! I needed a bit of luck, having been taken out myself a couple of times this season. But I have never enjoyed a season as much as this – the team is just a fantastic bunch of guys to work for and the way everyone pulled together yesterday to put my bike back together was just typical of the spirit here. I’d like to thank Ronald and Gerrit (Ten Kate) for having the faith in me and giving me such a competitive machine. I’m happy to repay that faith today.”
Rea:
“I felt I could have run at whatever pace I wanted today. I just found it difficult to pass Andrew down the straights and I doubt I would have broken away. I’ll put what happened down as a racing incident, and I’m not one to bear a grudge – it’s just a shame I won’t be able to battle for the title in Portugal. But congratulations to Andrew, who’s been on it all season. He’s a worthy champion and I’m really happy for him and the whole team.”
Brookes:
“It has been a difficult weekend for me and not finding the right settings on my bike in qualifying left me starting from eighth place on the grid. Also, this morning, I had a crash, which meant I had to use my second bike for the race. Once things settled down, I felt good on the bike and everything was working really well. I was able to push harder and harder every lap and gradually worked my way up. Pitt, Veneman and I then fought for the lead, but I got stuck behind Veneman in third place and couldn't get past him again. A win would’ve been great, but I’m really happy with my podium today.”
Harms:
“The bike was feeling OK and I got a good start from my seventh place on the grid. But after a couple of laps I started having grip problems. The bike was sliding pretty badly here and there, but I wanted to stay in the front group, so I pushed hard to keep up the pace. But on one lap I missed my braking point. I thought I could save it, but instead I ran into Rea in front of me. I'm really sorry that it happened. It was not my intention at all; it was just an honest mistake. I got back in the race and managed to finish in 15th place, but I don’t feel it was a good weekend for us.”
Nannelli:
“My start was not so good so I did my best to push in the race. My pace was pretty fast at the beginning but after a few laps I felt some problem on my rear tyre. The same thing I felt during the practices. I fought with Roccoli in the last laps and I reached the seventh position, but I’m not satisfied with my final result, because today we lost a good opportunity to take an important result.”
Hayes:
“That was one tough race. I got a good start and was 12th by the end of the first lap. After that I got into my rhythm and pushed as hard as I could. A couple of changes to my bike and sheer willpower made the difference today and I am glad to have taken a step forward in the race. Next time out I’ll want to be even better, I think we are good enough for the top six and I’d love to deliver that to the team at its home track.”
Holland:
“I am really disappointed with today's result of course. My race had been going well until my crash. I had a good start and I was fighting with Vizziello for tenth position. I was faster in some parts of the track, but when I tried to overtake him suddenly my front lost grip and I crashed. I started again because my bike was not damaged but I was only able to pass one rider in front of me before the end of the race.”
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World Superbike and World Supersport 2008
Round 13 MAGNY COURS – France
Superbike Race 1
1 HAGA (Yamaha YZF-R1)
2 NIETO (Suzuki GSX-R1000)
3 BAYLISS (Ducati 1098 F08)
4 BIAGGI (Ducati 1098 RS 08)
5 NEUKIRCHNER (Suzuki GSX-R1000)
6 CORSER (Yamaha YZF-R1)
7 CHECA (Honda CBR1000RR)
8 KAGAYAMA (Suzuki GSX-R1000)
9 SOFUOGLU (Jr. Honda CBR1000RR)
10 LAVILLA (Honda CBR1000RR)
11 LACONI (Kawasaki ZX-10R)
12 MUGGERIDGE (Honda CBR1000RR)
13 GIMBERT (94 Yamaha YZF-R1)
14 NAKATOMI (Yamaha YZF-R1)
15 WALKER (Honda CBR1000RR)
Superbike Race 2
1 BAYLISS (Ducati 1098 F08)
2 HAGA (Yamaha YZF-R1)
3 CORSER (Yamaha YZF-R1)
4 CHECA (Honda CBR1000RR)
5 XAUS (Ducati 1098 RS 08)
6 BIAGGI (Ducati 1098 RS 08)
7 KAGAYAMA (Suzuki GSX-R1000)
8 NIETO (Suzuki GSX-R1000)
9 NEUKIRCHNER (Suzuki GSX-R1000)
10 ROLFO (Honda CBR1000RR)
11 LANZI (Ducati 1098 RS 08)
12 LAVILLA (Honda CBR1000RR)
13 SMRZ (Ducati 1098 RS 08)
14 FABRIZIO (Ducati 1098 F08)
15 WALKER (Honda CBR1000RR)
Supersport
1 PITT (Honda CBR600RR)
2 VENEMAN (Suzuki GSX-R600)
3 BROOKES (Honda CBR600RR)
4 LAGRIVE (Honda CBR600RR)
5 VAN KEYMEULEN (Suzuki GSX-R600)
6 ROCCOLI (Yamaha YZF-R6)
7 NANNELLI (Honda CBR600RR)
8 FORET (Yamaha YZF-R6)
9 HAYES (Honda CBR600RR)
10 REA (Honda CBR600RR)
11 VIZZIELLO (Honda CBR600RR)
12 FUJIWARA (Kawasaki ZX-6R)
13 VOSTÁREK (Honda CBR600RR)
14 CLEMENTI (Triumph 675)
15 HARMS (Honda CBR600RR)
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