2008 Superstock 1000 FIM Cup
Round 1, Valencia, Spain
Final qualifying, Saturday 5th April
Circuit: 4.005 kms. Conditions: Dry, sunny 16-21C
XAVI NINTH!
Team Alstare Suzuki rider Xavi Simeon struggled with grip
problems in Valencia today and was only able to post the ninth
fastest time in final qualifying. Xavi was frustrated because
he couldn’t get anywhere close to the lap times he did
at the tests in March. Brendan Roberts (Ducati) took pole
position, with a lap of 1:37.114, with Davide Giugliano (Suzuki)
second and Michelle Pirro (Yamaha) third.
Xavi - 9th, 1:38.176
It’s a bit frustrating at the moment because I just
cannot do the lap times I did here in March. Grip was not
a problem then, but it is now and we’re scratching our
heads trying to find a solution. It seems strange, but I’m
actually doing better on an old tyre, then fresh rubber.
Just like yesterday, I didn’t have a good feeling with
the bike. I looked at the lap times of the top guys and I
noticed that their fastest laps were one-offs and the rest
were so-so. But my lap times are consistent, so maybe the
race will be a very different affair. As usual, I will be
trying my hardest and we will see what happens.
Final qualifying
1 Roberts (Aus-Ducati) 1:37.114, 2 Giugliano (I-Suzuki) 1:37.425,
3 Pirro (I-Yamaha) 1:37.502, 4 Corti (I-Yamaha) 1:37.513,
5 Berger (F-Honda) 1:37.678, 6 Polita (I-Ducati) 1:37.897,
9 Xavi Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki) 1:38.176,
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