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Team Pedercini - Portimao SBK STK Qualifying 1, October 14 2011, Sunny weather and hot temperatures today in Portimao for the first day of qualifying for riders in the Superbike World Championship and the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup.
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October 14 2011 - Team Pedercini - Portimao SBK STK Qualifying 1
Sunny weather and hot temperatures today in Portimao for the first day of qualifying for riders in the Superbike World Championship and the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup. Team Pedercini rider Roberto Rolfo will not take part in the last round of the World Superbike Championship. The Italian rider broke his left kneecap in a bicycle accident just a few days ago meaning that Spanish rider Santiago Barragan Portilla replaces him in Portimao. In morning free practice Aitchison (1’45”253) finished seventeenth while Barragan (1’47”713) obtained the twenty second position. In the first qualifying session Aitchison (1’44”410) was able to improve on his best lap time to reach twelfth position. Barragan (1’46”967) continued to adapt his bike and his riding style to the Superbike and to the technical Portuguese track, consolidating the twenty second position of the morning. The Spaniard is hopeful of further improvement during tomorrow’s qualifying and Superpole sessions.
Superbike – free practice: 1) Rea (Honda) – 2) Checa (Ducati) – 3) Badovini (BMW) – 4) Sykes (Kawasaki) …16) Aitchison (Kawasaki)……. 22) Barragan (Kawasaki) Superbike – Qualifying 1 : 1) Checa (Ducati) – 2) Laverty (Yamaha) – 3) Guintoli (Ducati) – 4) Rea (Ducati) ……… 12) Aitchison (Kawasaki) ……… 22) Barragan (Kawasaki)
Santiago Barragan: “It was a difficult day. I have never ridden a Superbike and this is not an easy circuit on which to start using such a competitive bike. It is also the first time I am using Pirelli tyres and so I’m still learning how they behave. My team and I have worked intensively to find the best solution possible and I would say that we have done a good job, but we still have some problems to solve regarding the set-up of the bike and I must adapt my riding style to the Superbike. It was a positive experience and I hope to continue to work in this way again tomorrow”.
Mark Aitchison: ”It seems our first day in Portimao has been positive. During both practice and qualifying sessions we experimented with our bikes front and rear suspension setting and I think this will put us in a better position for tomorrow. This afternoon in the qualifying run I was struggling to find a good balance of the bike, but eventually we found the way and improved. The hotter temperatures were actually confusing the situation a little, so for tomorrow we must focus on finding a more consistent feeling from the bike in all condition”.
Marco Bussolotti (1’48”172) set the sixth fastest time in today’s opening qualifying session for the last round of the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup in Portimao, securing aprovisional second row start for Sunday’s race. This circuit is a completely new experience for Staring and Mercado while Bussolotti has already raced in Portimao in both the Stock 600 and 1000 categories. In morning free practice Bussolotti (1’48”558) reached the eighth position while team-mates Staring (1’49”289) and Mercado (1’50”609) obtained respectively the thirteenth and nineteenth places. An excellent performance for the Italian rider in the afternoon’s qualifying session while Staring (1’48”456) and Mercado (1’49”208) continued to familiarize themselves with the new circuit and worked with their teams on their bikes set up.
Superstock 1000 – free practice: 1) Petrucci (Ducati) – 2) Antonelli (Honda) - 3) Canepa (Ducati) - 4) Guarnoni (Yamaha) ……. 8) Bussolotti (Kawasaki)………13) Staring (Kawasaki)……..19) Mercado (Kawasaki)
Superstock 1000 – qualifying 1: 1) Petrucci (Ducati) – 2) Morais (Kawasaki) – 3) Baroni (Ducati) – 4) Antonelli (Honda) ……. 6) Bussolotti (Kawasaki) …… 10) Staring (Kawasaki) …….. 15) Mercado (Kawasaki)
Marco Bussolotti: “I am feeling quite confident because we´ve had a positive first day of practice and the bike seems to be working fine. I suffered only from some gear setting problems that I’m sure my technicians will solve later this evening. I like this circuit and I’m sure tomorrow I’ll improve on today’s performance”.
Brian Staring: “Today was a new experience as it’s the first time I am riding at this circuit. I tried my best to learn this new track but it’s not an easy one. After two sessions I think we have improved the bike’s setting and tomorrow I’ll continue to work with my team on my bike’s suspension. I’m not satisfied with tenth position and I want to improve both the bike and my position tomorrow”.
Leandro “Tati” Mercado: “This circuit is totally new for me. I worked a lot with my team on the bike’s suspension and during afternoon practice the bike improved compared with this morning’s run. I’m still getting to know the track but this afternoon I finally understood what we have to change on the bike’s set up. We are aware that my lap time
can be improved tomorrow”.
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