Frustration for Foggy PETRONAS Racing at Imola
 Steve
Martin was denied a chance to challenge for a Superpole slot
through a frustrating chain of events in the closing stages
of the second qualifying session at Imola.
Lying just 0.05 seconds outside the top 16 and having saved
the softest rear tyre until last, the session was stopped
with 1:53 seconds remaining when a rider crashed and deposited
oil on the circuit.
With his Foggy PETRONAS Racing crew preparing to send him
out to try and complete a lap within that time from a standing
start, the session was brought to a premature end, leaving
Steve heading the fifth row for tomorrow’s 11th round
races.
Team-mate Craig Jones made further progress in morning qualifying,
reducing his best lap time by another half a second despite
an engine failure, and will start from 28th on the grid.
Both riders used the afternoon free practice to further evaluate
potential race tyres, finishing the session 18th and 28th
respectively, while champion-elect Troy Bayliss claimed pole
position in the Superpole shoot-out.
Steve said: “To miss out on Superpole
by 0.05 seconds was a bit of a disappointment, especially
as I was out on the circuit on a new tyre with the chance
to improve my time when the session was stopped. But I do
not think it puts us at too much of a disadvantage because
you finish the race where you are going to finish. We worked
really hard in the afternoon with a full tank, our race times
have come down and we look like we can lap in the 51s. At
that pace, and with a bit of luck, we can challenge for points
tomorrow.”
Craig said: “I made more progress
in the morning but in the afternoon I tried a different tyre
which I wasn’t as keen on. I used the afternoon to learn
more and I was looking for people, like Fabrizio and Chili
who know the circuit, to follow. I just need more laps here
as the track is still new to me but I think I will be able
to go quicker in the race. Obviously I would like to be further
up the standings but I don’t think my times are too
bad, so I am not too disappointed.”
Superpole results, Superbike World Championship round
11, Imola, Italy: 1 Bayliss 1:48.804; 2 Toseland
+0.590; 3 Pitt +0.629; 4 Corser +0.638; 5 Kagayama +0.693;
6 Neukirchner +1.036; 7 Haga +1.052; 8 Barros +1.084; 9 Xaus
+1.154; 10 Lanzi +1.277; 11 Fabrizio +1.558; 12 Clementi +1.933;
13 Muggeridge +2.088; 14 Laconi +2.159; 15 Abe +2.343; 16
Ianuzzo +2.502
Saturday qualifying times (best time bracketed):
1 Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:49.758;
2 Corser (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:49.875; 3 Toseland
(Winston Ten Kate Honda) 1:50.120 (1:50.039); Xaus (Sterilgarda
Berik) 1:50.155; 5 Barros (Klaffi Honda) 1:50.212; 6 Bayliss
(Ducati Xerox) 1:50.214; 7 Pitt (Yamaha Italia) 1:50.250;
8 Fabrizio (DFX Treme) 1:50.350; 9 Neukirchner (Alstare Eng
Corona Extra) 1:50.376; 10 Haga (Yamaha Italia) 1:50.745;
17 Martin (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) 1:50.971; 28 Jones (Foggy
PETRONAS Racing) 1:52.624
Saturday free practice: 1 Corser 1:49.391;
2 Bayliss 1:49.768; 3 Toseland 1:49.772; 4 Pitt 1:49.818;
5 Barros 1:49.856; 6 Kagayama 1:49.864; 7 Xaus 1:50.078; 8
Haga 1:50.271; 9 Fabrizio 1:50.332; 10 Clementi 1:50.389;
18 Martin (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) 1:51.524; 28 Jones (Foggy
PETRONAS Racing) 1:53.115
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