2006 World Superbike Championship
SBK Round 1 - Day 1, Losail, Qatar
TRACK CONDITIONS DECIDE ALL IN FIRST 2006 SEASON
QUALIFYING SESSION
With the heavy rains that characterised most of the opening
day of track action at Losail stopping before the end of the
first timed Superbike session, Winston Ten Kate Honda rider
Karl Muggeridge and James Toseland had to work hard to try
and get into contention. With wet weather settings in place
at the start of the one-hour timed session, but a drying line
appearing slowly, the riders had no opportunity to adjust
their machines to match the new conditions. Each rider is
aware that today’s results may count for little, with
the advent of better weather expected in the final qualifying
and Superpole sessions on Friday.
Muggeridge and Toseland opted not to take part in the morning
session, held in fully wet conditions, but on the drying track
in the afternoon Muggeridge was 13th fastest, Toseland 18th.
An indication of the prevalent track conditions comes from
the fact that fastest rider Troy Bayliss was still some 16
seconds from the previous track best.
Ronald Ten Kate – Team Manager
“Today did not work out the way we wanted. The boys
went out in timed qualifying but did not feel too comfortable
on the bikes. We adjusted their bikes to make softer settings
and then a dry line started to appear, so the adjustments
proved to be the wrong way. Towards the end they could not
improve their lap times, as the bikes were set-up for a wet
track. Tomorrow will be dry and we will be moving up quite
a bit then.”
Karl Muggeridge – SBK Winston Ten Kate Honda
Rider
(13th – 2’21.152)
“Not the best start but the good thing is we tried
something we had never tried before in the wet. In the beginning
it was not too bad, but in the end, when the track dried out,
the feeling was terrible. By that stage, we had no time left
to change. So we crossed paths, but we know how to improve
in the dry tomorrow. I am not too bothered about today, the
bike is running well and we are looking to tomorrow. No drama.”
James Toseland – SBK Winston Ten Kate Honda
Rider
(18th – 2’21.732)
“It took me a little while to get used to the conditions
today. We put a softer spring in and put the ride height up,
but maybe a bit too much. Going into the corners we had very
little grip. We just ran out of time at the end to adjust
the bike, and when you don’t have the right set-up in
those conditions life is very difficult. To only be four seconds
off, the way I was sliding and struggling, I felt that I would
be ten seconds off. Tomorrow should be dry and Saturday the
same, but even if it is wet, we now know how adjust the bike
to suit now.”
|
