Superpole challenge after Silverstone misfortune for FPR
 Foggy
PETRONAS Racing riders Craig Jones and Steve Martin came through
an eventful first day of qualifying at Silverstone with work
to do challenge for Superpole positions.
Both riders suffered bruising in high-side crashes at the
Brooklands hairpin, where many riders perished during the
first day of qualifying for the fifth round of the Superbike
World Championship.
Craig bounced back from his morning mishap on a greasy section
of the circuit, which caught out a number of riders throughout
the day, to overcome further set-backs and finish just 0.6
seconds off the Superpole pace.
Steve was taken to the medical centre mid-way through the
afternoon session but returned to the track, although still
in clear discomfort.
Just two seconds separated the field at the shortest circuit
on the calendar, with Troy Bayliss again leading the way,
and the battle for Superpole positions tomorrow morning is
expected to be intense, with variable weather conditions also
a factor.
Craig, 24th fastest, said: “Every
time I was getting into a rhythm there was an interruption.
I was black-flagged for no reason, next there was a red flag
when Steve crashed, and then we had to test something for
tomorrow right at the end of the qualifying session when I
felt I could have gone quicker. While a lot went wrong, we
still came out with a decent result which is not too far off
the Superpole pace. And I have been concentrating on set-up
today so I can chase times a bit more tomorrow. I am not too
focused on making Superpole, as I don’t need to be on
the first four rows to have a good start. But this year is
all about learning for me and it would be nice to try a qualifying
tyre. We are going to concentrate on gearing overnight and
try and shorten the bike so that I have more grip through
the twisty sections.”
Steve, 27th fastest, said: “Things
were looking good in the afternoon when I hit a patch where
seven riders went down in the afternoon, so something was
wrong with the track there. It was a massive high-side and
I landed on my back and couldn’t really walk straight
after. It is difficult to get back in a groove after a crash
like that, particularly on my second bike. Hopefully it will
be dry tomorrow so that we can make further improvements but
it is going to be tough to make Superpole tomorrow, although
this is the kind of place where a little set-up change can
make a big improvement.”
Friday qualifying times, Superbike World Championship
round 5, Silverstone, Great Britain: 1 Bayliss 1:27.011;
2 Corser 1:27.068; 3 Nieto 1:27.205; 4 Haga 1:27.364; 5 Toseland
1:27.418; 6 Pitt 1:27.539; 7 Kagayama 1:27.599; 8 Muggeridge
1:27.648; 9 Walker 1:27.656; 10 Laconi 1:27.721; 24 Jones
1:28.866; 27 Martin 1:29.199
Friday free practice times: 1 Walker (PSG1
Kawasaki) 1:36.563; 2 Fabrizio (DFX Treme) 1:37.797; 3 Haga
(Yamaha Italia) 1:38.120; 4 Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1:38.350;
5 Laconi (PSG1 Kawasaki) 1:38.555; 6 Toseland (Winston Ten
Kate Honda) 1:38.555; 7 Neukirchner (Team Pdedercini) 1:39.111;
8 Nieto (PSG1 Kawasaki) 1:39.152; 9 Corser (Alstare Suzuki
Corona Extra) 1:39.289; 10 Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda)
1:39.557; 20 Martin (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) 1:40.795; 25 Jones
(Foggy PETRONAS Racing) 1:42.402
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