mika
Still Wondering
From: WorldSBK
Smrz ends SpiesÔÇÖ Superpole record at Misano
crash.net: Spies ÔÇô I wouldnÔÇÖt have beaten Smrz
crash.net: Fabrizio confident, Haga fairly happy
motorsport.com: Ducati Saturday notes
motorsport.com: Yamaha Saturday notes
WSBK rd. 8, San Marino, Italy, final qualifying
20 June 2009 16:49
2009 Superbike World Championship
Round 8, Misano, Italy
Final qualifying, Saturday 20th June
Conditions: Overcast, rain showers 21C.
TROY FASTEST IN THE WET.
After yesterdayÔÇÖs scorchingly hot temperatures, today dawned overcast and dull and when final qualifying began rain showers had soaked the track. Despite little or no information about a wet set-up, Troy and Ruben got into the damp groove
superbly and, at the end of the final qualifying session, Troy topped the standings, with Ruben seventh quickest.
But by the time Superpole qualifying started, conditions were once again dry, though the clouds were still casting deep shadows over the 4.226 kilometre circuit. Superpole 1 went well for Troy and he easily qualified for Superpole 2, but a clutch problem prevented him from lapping quickly enough to get into Superpole 3 and any chance of getting on the first two rows of the grid were gone. Ruben ended Superpole with the 18th fastest lap and will start from fifth row of the grid behind Troy on row four. Jakub Smrz (Ducati) took Superpole, with a time of 1:35.435, with Jonathan Rea (Honda) second, Ben Spies (Yamaha) third and Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) fourth.
Troy - 15th, 1:36.994
If it hadnÔÇÖt been for the clutch problem, I think I could have got into Superpole 3 and that would have meant a start on the
first two rows of the grid. ItÔÇÖs just unfortunate that the problem happened because we were so close to getting our best
Superpole result so far, but thatÔÇÖs racing. But the good news is that IÔÇÖm pretty happy with how the bike is working and how
itÔÇÖs handling the bumps here. I think weÔÇÖve got reasonably good set-ups for both dry and wet races, though I guess most of
us would prefer it to be dry tomorrow.
Ruben - 18th, 1:37.300
Normal practice and qualifying has been good and the bike is working better here than it was in USA and it shows we are
making progress. The only thing that let us down today was Superpole and we are just not experienced enough with the
qualifying tyres to find really good set-ups for this particular situation. On race tyres, I am happy and I think we are pretty
close to the pace. It is a shame that we were not able to test qualifying tyres in the winter tests because that would have
given us some experience about what to do during a race weekend, but thatÔÇÖs the way it is. My grid place is a bit of a
nightmare and I need to get a couple of good starts and not get held up in the early part of the race if I am to get good
results
Berti Hauser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director)
Considering the difficult conditions in regular qualifying this morning, Troy did fantastically well to top of the standings, with
Ruben in the top seven. It shows that, despite a lack of wet weather information, we were able to be on the pace in these
conditions. Troy was unlucky with his clutch problem in Superpole. We suffered once again from a lack of experience with
qualifying tyres, as it seems that our bike needs a very different set-up to when it is on regular race rubber. We were so
close to the first two rows of the grid today, but I am sure that it will not be long before we manage it.
Results
1 Smrz (CZE-Ducati) 1:35.435, 2 Rea (GBR-Honda) 1:35.609, 3 Spies (USA-Yamaha) 1:35.631, 4 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati)
1:35.811, 5 Byrne (GBR-Ducati) 1:36.224, 6 Haga (JPN-Ducati) 1:36.277, 15 Troy Corser (AUS-BMW Motorrad
Motorsport) 1:36.994, 18 Ruben Xaus (ESP-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1:37.300
TROY FRUSTRATINGLY CLOSE TO FRONT TWO ROWS.
Troy easily qualified for Superpole 2 today, but a small clutch problem prevented him from lapping as quickly as he had done in Superpole 1 and he lost the chance of getting on the first two rows of the grid.
He was forced to nurse the clutch lever more than usual and could not lap fast enough to qualify for Superpole 3.
It was frustrating and came after a superb final qualifying session this morning that saw him top the standings in difficult conditions. Just before final qualifying began, rain showers hit the 4.226 kilometre circuit, but Troy mastered the tricky conditions and set the fastest lap of the session at the same time.
Jakub Smrz (Ducati) took Superpole, which took place it dry conditions, with Jonathan Rea (Honda) second, Ben Spies (Yamaha) third and Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) fourth.
Troy - 15th, 1.36.994
That was a close one! So near to our best qualifying this season and then an unfortunate problem, but I guess most problems are unfortunate. After Superpole 1, I felt confident that I would do well in Superpole 2 and then get in to Superpole 3, but it wasnÔÇÖt to be and it was a real shame.
However, we have a pretty good set-up for either dry or wet conditions, though I think most people would prefer dry races tomorrow. I have been having massages on my right shoulder and strapping on my left hand and I feel in better condition than in the last race in USA. Starting from the fourth row is never easy, but weÔÇÖre a bit used to it now and I have shown that I can get good results from that far back before and thatÔÇÖs what IÔÇÖll be aiming for tomorrow.
See ya,
Troy
Final Qualifying Results
1 Smrz (CZE-Ducati) 1:35.435, 2 Rea (GBR-Honda) 1:35.609, 3 Spies (USA-Yamaha) 1:35.631, 4 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati) 1:35.811, 5 Byrne (GBR-Ducati) 1:36.224, 6 Haga (JPN-Ducati) 1:36.277, 15 TROY CORSER (AUS-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1:36.994
Next Race

Rider /Team Sites
Troy Corser ÔÇô BMW ÔÇô 11
Ruben Xaus ÔÇô BMW ÔÇô 111
Ben Spies ÔÇô Yamaha ÔÇô 19
John Hopkins ÔÇô Honda
BMW
BMW Motorrad Motorsport
11 - Corser Troy
111 ÔÇô Ruben Xaus
APRILIA
Aprilia Racing
3 - Biaggi Max
56 - Nakano Shinya
DUCATI
DUCATI Xerox Team
41 - Haga Noriyuki
84 - Fabrizio Michel
DFX Corse
55 - Laconi R?®gis
Team Guandalini Racing World Superbike
24 - Roberts Brendan
96 - Smrz Jakub
Team Sterilgarda
53 - Polita Alessandro
67 - Byrne Shane
HONDA
HONDA World Site ÔÇô world site
Honda Racing UK
Althea Racing HANNspree Honda
33 - Hill Tommy
Ten Kate Racing HANNspree Honda
7 - Checa Carlos
9 - Kiyonari Ryuichi
65 - Rea Jonathan
Pro Ride Superbik
Stiggy Racing Honda
91 - Haslam Leon
John Hopkins
Squadra Corse Itlalia
77 - Iannuzzo Vittorio
KAWASAKI
Kawasaki Road Racing
Paul Bird Motorsport
23 - Parkes Broc
100 - Tamada Makoto
PSG ÔÇô 1 Corse
86 - Badovini Ayrton
Team Pedercini
25 - Salom David
99 - Scassa Luca
SUZKI
Suzuke-Racing
Alstarre Suzuki
71 - Kagayama Yukio
76 - Neukirchner Max
Celani Racing Team
31 - Muggeridge Karl
TKR Suzuki Switzerland
88 - Resch Roland
YAMAHA
Yamaha World Superbike Team
19 - Spies Ben
66 - Sykes Tom
Yamaha GMT94 Ipone
94 - Checa David
MG Competition
Dropped riders
36 - Lavilla Gregorio
15 - Baiocco Matteo
Smrz ends SpiesÔÇÖ Superpole record at Misano
crash.net: Spies ÔÇô I wouldnÔÇÖt have beaten Smrz
crash.net: Fabrizio confident, Haga fairly happy
motorsport.com: Ducati Saturday notes
motorsport.com: Yamaha Saturday notes
WSBK rd. 8, San Marino, Italy, final qualifying
20 June 2009 16:49
2009 Superbike World Championship
Round 8, Misano, Italy
Final qualifying, Saturday 20th June
Conditions: Overcast, rain showers 21C.
TROY FASTEST IN THE WET.
After yesterdayÔÇÖs scorchingly hot temperatures, today dawned overcast and dull and when final qualifying began rain showers had soaked the track. Despite little or no information about a wet set-up, Troy and Ruben got into the damp groove
superbly and, at the end of the final qualifying session, Troy topped the standings, with Ruben seventh quickest.
But by the time Superpole qualifying started, conditions were once again dry, though the clouds were still casting deep shadows over the 4.226 kilometre circuit. Superpole 1 went well for Troy and he easily qualified for Superpole 2, but a clutch problem prevented him from lapping quickly enough to get into Superpole 3 and any chance of getting on the first two rows of the grid were gone. Ruben ended Superpole with the 18th fastest lap and will start from fifth row of the grid behind Troy on row four. Jakub Smrz (Ducati) took Superpole, with a time of 1:35.435, with Jonathan Rea (Honda) second, Ben Spies (Yamaha) third and Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) fourth.
Troy - 15th, 1:36.994
If it hadnÔÇÖt been for the clutch problem, I think I could have got into Superpole 3 and that would have meant a start on the
first two rows of the grid. ItÔÇÖs just unfortunate that the problem happened because we were so close to getting our best
Superpole result so far, but thatÔÇÖs racing. But the good news is that IÔÇÖm pretty happy with how the bike is working and how
itÔÇÖs handling the bumps here. I think weÔÇÖve got reasonably good set-ups for both dry and wet races, though I guess most of
us would prefer it to be dry tomorrow.
Ruben - 18th, 1:37.300
Normal practice and qualifying has been good and the bike is working better here than it was in USA and it shows we are
making progress. The only thing that let us down today was Superpole and we are just not experienced enough with the
qualifying tyres to find really good set-ups for this particular situation. On race tyres, I am happy and I think we are pretty
close to the pace. It is a shame that we were not able to test qualifying tyres in the winter tests because that would have
given us some experience about what to do during a race weekend, but thatÔÇÖs the way it is. My grid place is a bit of a
nightmare and I need to get a couple of good starts and not get held up in the early part of the race if I am to get good
results
Berti Hauser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director)
Considering the difficult conditions in regular qualifying this morning, Troy did fantastically well to top of the standings, with
Ruben in the top seven. It shows that, despite a lack of wet weather information, we were able to be on the pace in these
conditions. Troy was unlucky with his clutch problem in Superpole. We suffered once again from a lack of experience with
qualifying tyres, as it seems that our bike needs a very different set-up to when it is on regular race rubber. We were so
close to the first two rows of the grid today, but I am sure that it will not be long before we manage it.
Results
1 Smrz (CZE-Ducati) 1:35.435, 2 Rea (GBR-Honda) 1:35.609, 3 Spies (USA-Yamaha) 1:35.631, 4 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati)
1:35.811, 5 Byrne (GBR-Ducati) 1:36.224, 6 Haga (JPN-Ducati) 1:36.277, 15 Troy Corser (AUS-BMW Motorrad
Motorsport) 1:36.994, 18 Ruben Xaus (ESP-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1:37.300
TROY FRUSTRATINGLY CLOSE TO FRONT TWO ROWS.
Troy easily qualified for Superpole 2 today, but a small clutch problem prevented him from lapping as quickly as he had done in Superpole 1 and he lost the chance of getting on the first two rows of the grid.
He was forced to nurse the clutch lever more than usual and could not lap fast enough to qualify for Superpole 3.
It was frustrating and came after a superb final qualifying session this morning that saw him top the standings in difficult conditions. Just before final qualifying began, rain showers hit the 4.226 kilometre circuit, but Troy mastered the tricky conditions and set the fastest lap of the session at the same time.
Jakub Smrz (Ducati) took Superpole, which took place it dry conditions, with Jonathan Rea (Honda) second, Ben Spies (Yamaha) third and Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) fourth.
Troy - 15th, 1.36.994
That was a close one! So near to our best qualifying this season and then an unfortunate problem, but I guess most problems are unfortunate. After Superpole 1, I felt confident that I would do well in Superpole 2 and then get in to Superpole 3, but it wasnÔÇÖt to be and it was a real shame.
However, we have a pretty good set-up for either dry or wet conditions, though I think most people would prefer dry races tomorrow. I have been having massages on my right shoulder and strapping on my left hand and I feel in better condition than in the last race in USA. Starting from the fourth row is never easy, but weÔÇÖre a bit used to it now and I have shown that I can get good results from that far back before and thatÔÇÖs what IÔÇÖll be aiming for tomorrow.
See ya,
Troy
Final Qualifying Results
1 Smrz (CZE-Ducati) 1:35.435, 2 Rea (GBR-Honda) 1:35.609, 3 Spies (USA-Yamaha) 1:35.631, 4 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati) 1:35.811, 5 Byrne (GBR-Ducati) 1:36.224, 6 Haga (JPN-Ducati) 1:36.277, 15 TROY CORSER (AUS-BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 1:36.994
Next Race

Rider /Team Sites
Troy Corser ÔÇô BMW ÔÇô 11
Ruben Xaus ÔÇô BMW ÔÇô 111
Ben Spies ÔÇô Yamaha ÔÇô 19
John Hopkins ÔÇô Honda
BMW
BMW Motorrad Motorsport
11 - Corser Troy
111 ÔÇô Ruben Xaus
APRILIA
Aprilia Racing
3 - Biaggi Max
56 - Nakano Shinya
DUCATI
DUCATI Xerox Team
41 - Haga Noriyuki
84 - Fabrizio Michel
DFX Corse
55 - Laconi R?®gis
Team Guandalini Racing World Superbike
24 - Roberts Brendan
96 - Smrz Jakub
Team Sterilgarda
53 - Polita Alessandro
67 - Byrne Shane
HONDA
HONDA World Site ÔÇô world site
Honda Racing UK
Althea Racing HANNspree Honda
33 - Hill Tommy
Ten Kate Racing HANNspree Honda
7 - Checa Carlos
9 - Kiyonari Ryuichi
65 - Rea Jonathan
Pro Ride Superbik
Stiggy Racing Honda
91 - Haslam Leon
John Hopkins
Squadra Corse Itlalia
77 - Iannuzzo Vittorio
KAWASAKI
Kawasaki Road Racing
Paul Bird Motorsport
23 - Parkes Broc
100 - Tamada Makoto
PSG ÔÇô 1 Corse
86 - Badovini Ayrton
Team Pedercini
25 - Salom David
99 - Scassa Luca
SUZKI
Suzuke-Racing
Alstarre Suzuki
71 - Kagayama Yukio
76 - Neukirchner Max
Celani Racing Team
31 - Muggeridge Karl
TKR Suzuki Switzerland
88 - Resch Roland
YAMAHA
Yamaha World Superbike Team
19 - Spies Ben
66 - Sykes Tom
Yamaha GMT94 Ipone
94 - Checa David
MG Competition
Dropped riders
36 - Lavilla Gregorio
15 - Baiocco Matteo