Rain stalls FPR progress at Silverstone
Atrocious weather conditions at Silverstone prevented progress
for Foggy PETRONAS Racing in qualifying for tomorrow’s
races.
A full wet final qualifying session left Craig Jones and
Steve Martin unable to better yesterday’s times, set
in the dry, and in 24th and 27th positions on the grid for
the fifth round of the Superbike World Championship.
Steve, recovering from a heavy crash yesterday in which he
suffered a badly bruised hip, took the opportunity for further
recuperation, while Craig opted not to take unnecessary risks
with better weather forecast tomorrow.
British wild card Tommy Hill secured a shock pole position
when he mastered the conditions for the wet Superpole session.
Craig said: “It’s very frustrating
because I know that I could have matched the time that would
have had me in Superpole yesterday, although others would
probably have also made progress if the conditions had allowed.
I really wanted to be in Superpole because I know that I am
fast around here. But it is not a massive difference between
16th and 24th and I am confident I can make up those positions
at the start and then get my head down.”
Steve said: “It’s a pity it
was wet but in one way it worked in my favour because it provided
an extra day’s rest, as I knocked myself about yesterday.
I think that landing on my hip might have damaged the tendons
around that joint and I am pretty sure I have broken a toe.
But I am confident I will be all right by tomorrow and I still
think there is a chance I can battle for points in the dry
or wet, as my ideal time yesterday was in the mid 28s.”
Superpole results, Superbike World Championship round
5, Silverstone, UK: 1 Hill 1:38.001; 2 Bayliss +0.253;
3 Walker +0.264; 4 Haga +0.545; 5 Fabrizio +0.898; 6 Barros
+1.081; 7 Xaus +1.387; 8 Muggeridge +2.022; 9 Laconi +2.041;
10 Corser +2.180; 11 Pitt +2.551; 12 Gimbert +2.180; 13 Nieto
+2.573; 14 Toseland +3.003; 15 Abe +4.068; 16 Kagayama +4.261
Saturday qualifying times: 1 Corser (Alstare
Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:45.726; 2 Barros (Klaffi Honda) 1:45.802;
3 Haga (Yamaha Italia) 1:46.090; 4 Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki)
1:46.955; 5 Brookes (Kawasaki Bertocchi) 1:48.087; 6 Rolfo
(Ducati SC Caracchi) 1:48.392; 7 Kagayama 1:48.928; 8 Abe
(Yamaha France) 1:51.269; 9 Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki) 1:51.550;
10 Pitt (Yamaha Italia) 1:51.876
Saturday free practice times: 1 Fabrizio
1:40.859; 2 Barros 1:41.622; 3 Brookes 1:41.951; 4 Hill 1:42.073;
5 Corser 1:42.073; 6 Haga 1:42.699; 7 Lanzi 1:42.842; 8 Bayliss
1:42.917; 9 Nannelli 1:42.949; 10 Walker 1:43.054
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