Winston - 2006 World Superbike Championship
WSBK Round 1 - Day 2, Losail, Qatar
TOSELAND ON FRONT ROW AS MUGGERIDGE FALLS IN SUPERPOLE
A day of mixed fortunes for each Winston Ten Kate Honda Superbike
rider saw James Toseland promote himself from ninth after
regulation qualifying to the front row after Superpole, while
Karl Muggeridge had the opposite experience, falling in his
Superpole lap after qualifying second fastest in regulation.
Toseland, a new signing for the Winston Ten Kate Honda team
in 2006, put in a superb performance on qualifying tyres in
Superpole, showing the kind of speed and assurance that made
him the World Champion in 2004. He was also the fastest rider
through the speed trap, posting 293kmph. James now starts
the races on Saturday from the front row, an impressive showing
in such a strong field of riders, and in his first race meeting
on a four-cylinder Superbike.
Until his misfortune in Superpole Karl Muggeridge had been
a candidate for rider of the day, scoring second in regulation
qualifying, and dipping under the two-minute lap barrier on
race tyres in the final free practice session, which took
place just before the Superpole contest itself. Muggeridge
was to fall entering a complex of right hand corners carrying
a little too much corner speed, running out of road on the
first corner exit as he tried to score his first career Superpole
win. In the first sector of the Superpole lap Karl was almost
half of second ahead.
Ronald Ten Kate – Team Manager
“We were looking in good shape for Superpole. James
did quite a good job getting used to the machine, adapting
himself to his new role, and the team was working hard on
his race set-up, rather than going for one crazy quick lap.
His Superpole performance was really excellent, so very big
compliments to him. We all could see how Karl’s lap
was; unfortunately he didn’t take it to the finish.
We can also all see that Karl has already made a big step
from last year to this year. The majority of people know what
our ambitions are for 2006 now, which are clearly to run with
the front guys.”
James Toseland – SBK Winston Ten Kate Honda
Rider
(4th position – 2.00.112)
“That was a good result for me, with a new team, so
I’m happy. It took alit bit of time to get up to speed
this weekend, what with the rain yesterday and the settings
being very different from the ones we had for the most recent
test in Valencia. I don’t fully understand the bike
yet, so it took time to get it right, but as we can see we
are getting there now. My entire previous Superbike career,
even the year I did in British Championship, has been conducted
on twin-cylinder bikes. But as we know, with the Ten Kate
Hondas there has never been a lack of speed. If you have the
speed then that’s half the battle, and the Honda is
a great package. The team has welcomed me with open arms,
and we are working well together.”
Karl Muggeridge – SBK Winston Ten Kate Honda
Rider
(8th position – No Superpole Lap Recorded)
“It cools down in the afternoon here and during Superpole
it had become quite cool. We opted to put a slightly harder
front tyre in but that was decided a couple of hours before.
My last thought when I left the garage was, ‘should
have gone for a softer one.’ I pushed and pushed but
I was a little hot into the corner. It was the first of a
group of three rights, and it’s fourth gear there, so
it was a pretty fast crash. I tried to save it but I ran out
of track. It could have been worse because my fast lap in
regular qualifying was second fastest of all and that means
I only drop down to start form the second row.”
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