Kawasaki WSB / WSS - Qatar

[MadKaw]

Second Round Beckons For Superbike Duo
WSBK, Losail, Qatar, 9 March 2009
For Broc Parkes and Makoto Tamada the second round of the championship offers the chance to score points in what is already proving to be one of the most closely-contested WSB series ever held. After some high points in winter testing the recent Phillip Island races proved to be less rewarding then expected and thus the Ninja ZX-10R WSB riders approach the Losail circuit with even greater determination to get onto the leader board.

Losail, at 5.380km, is a relatively lengthy circuit, which boasts several fast corners and one very long main straight, making engine performance and clean aerodynamics particularly important at this round.

Tamada raced a 2008-spec Kawasaki at Losail last year, finishing 12th in race two, but Parkes will be a first time Superbike rider in Qatar, having spent the past few seasons as a leading light in Supersport racing.

Losail is a very significant circuit for Broc, as he won the World Supersport race there in 2008.

Despite the lack of testing at the Qatari circuit this year, each Kawasaki Superbike rider is confident that their Phillip Island experiences can be translated into raceday improvements this coming weekend.

The Qatar race will be run on Saturday 14th March, with first qualifying starting on Thursday 12th, then the new-for-2009 three stage elimination-style Superpole takes place on Friday 13th.

Broc Parkes: “I want to put Phillip Island behind me and look forward to some progressive improvements for the Qatar Race. We will need to try a few things and we need to makes some changes to the bike so we can find a good direction and hopefully get in the points. That has been my objective since the start of the season. The Phillip Island race has highlighted to me that we've still got a lot of work to do but as a team we will work hard and hopefully start to see some improvements in Qatar.”

Makoto Tamada: “I can see that the team and I are making progress. We are moving in a positive direction and although I am realistic about where we are and the problems that we have, I can see that we have the potential to be in the top 10 in the not so distant future. Each race we will get better and better and I am looking forward to the challenge at Qatar and also getting back to Europe where I feel we will be considerably stronger. If we got some things sorted we should be much better in Qatar.”

------------------------

New Bike Offers Much To Lascorz And Fujiwara
WSS, Losail, Qatar, 9 March 2009
Joan Lascorz and Katsuaki Fujiwara continue the next stage in the development of their 2009 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R machines at Losail this coming weekend, with high hopes of strong race results. Their bikes and equipment have had to be shipped straight to Qatar from the previous round in Australia, where Lascorz was fast in qualifying and ultimately eighth in a thrilling 21-lap race.

Fujiwara missed out on a points-scoring finish at Phillip Island, spending a lot of time working on various machine settings in qualifying, and having a busy race in company with two other riders contesting the final point on offer.

He knows that Losail has been a kind circuit to him in the past, having scored a win there in 2005, and a third place in 2007.

Lascorz also has form at Losail, having been only 0.048 seconds from his first WSS career race win there last year.

The 2009 WSS race, to be held on Saturday, is scheduled for 18-laps, the same length as each of the two WSB contests.

Joan Lascorz: “I am not sure how we can go in Qatar until we get there. For sure the gap between the top bikes and us, even though we are early in the development cycle of this bike, is now small. The level is very high in this class so everything counts, and if you have not had the time to spend on engine development on a new bike then it is very hard.”

Katsuaki Fujiwara: “I have had good results at Losail before and I like it because it has some fast corners. The long straight is a big factor in this race, but we will see how things are. We made progress in Phillip Island and worked though a lot of different machine settings. We want to score good points at this race and move forward again.”

[mfzx6r]

Sat Night live on Foxsports Guys 8pm I think

[MadKaw]

Sounds like another Saturday night BBQ is in order..

[mfzx6r]

The ad said 7:45 live on foxsports 3 Sat Night But I'd still check the time !!

[Cedric25]

It'd be great to see some Kwaks in the top 5.. I'll be watching with bells on..

[red_dave]

Sounds like another Saturday night BBQ is in order..

We could also use the opportunity to re-examine your "sediment" theory...

[MadKaw]

Sounds like another Saturday night BBQ is in order..

We could also use the opportunity to re-examine your "sediment" theory...

Sounds like a plan, we still have a few left...

and they will be needed to drown sorrys if things don't improve..

1st qualifying

2009 WSB Qatar - Doha/Losail 12/03/2009
Qualifying 1
Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time
1 Ben Spies Yamaha USA 1'58.886
2 Jonathan Rea Honda GBR 1'59.177
3 Carlos Checa Honda ESP 1'59.731
4 Max Biaggi Aprilia ITA 1'59.826
5 Ryuichi Kiyonari Honda JPN 1'59.937
6 Shane Byrne Ducati GBR 1'59.980
7 Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 2'0.024
8 Michel Fabrizio Ducati ITA 2'0.101
9 Regis Laconi Ducati FRA 2'0.232
10 Shinya Nakano Aprilia JPN 2'0.238
11 Noriyuki Haga Ducati JPN 2'0.254
12 Tom Sykes Yamaha GBR 2'0.283
13 Max Neukirchner Suzuki GER 2'0.345
14 Roberto Rolfo Honda ITA 2'0.374
15 Yukio Kagayama Suzuki JPN 2'0.398


2009 WSS Qatar - Doha/Losail 12/03/2009
Qualifying 1
Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time
1 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha GBR 2'2.634
2 Fabien Foret Yamaha FRA 2'2.772
3 Kenan Sofuoglu Honda TUR 2'2.883
4 Matthieu Lagrive Honda FRA 2'2.950
5 Mark Aitchinson Triumph AUS 2'3.065
6 Joan Lascorz Kawasaki ESP 2'3.111
7 Eugene Laverty Honda GBR 2'3.114
8 Garry McCoy Triumph AUS 2'3.177
9 Anthony West Honda AUS 2'3.253
10 Andrew Pitt Honda AUS 2'3.282
11 Gianluca Nannelli Triumph ITA 2'3.374
12 Michele Pirro Yamaha ITA 2'3.400
13 Robbin Harms Honda DNK 2'3.405
14 Miguel Praia Honda POR 2'3.410
15 Barry Veneman Suzuki NED 2'3.560
25 Doni Tata Pradita Yamaha IDN 2'5.511
28 Jose Morillas Yamaha ESP 2'6.847
29 Yannick Guerra Yamaha ESP 2'7.154

[Six Addict]

no kawas in the top 15!!!

joan is only half a second off the pace ... and aitcho is in 5th!!!

[red_dave]

Looks like Lascorz is our only real chance at anything this year...

[Six Addict]

world yes ... i wana follow Zac Thackeray this year in aussie superstock 600

[mfzx6r]

Looks like Lascorz is our only real chance at anything this year...

Dave Seems Brocks got a little better

Superbike - Qualifying 2nd Session
Update: March 13, 2009, 09.45 PM ET Comment Email Print

1 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'58.886
2 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'59.177
3 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1'59.499
4 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'59.632
5 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'59.731
6 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'59.755
7 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'59.812
8 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'59.821
9 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'59.937
10 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'59.954
11 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'00.012
12 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 2'00.117
13 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 2'00.193
14 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 2'00.238
15 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 2'00.254
16 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 2'00.264
17 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 2'00.345
18 44 Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'00.374
19 33 Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 2'00.390
20 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 2'00.480
21 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 2'00.738
22 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'00.839
23 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'01.047
24 24 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 2'01.165
25 77 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'01.560
26 86 Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'01.561
27 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'01.607
28 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'02.663


Supersport - Free Practice 2nd Session
Update: March 13, 2009, 08:43 PM ET Comment Email Print

1 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 2'02.442
2 1 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 2'02.501
3 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 2'02.557
4 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 2'02.792
5 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 2'02.891
6 13 West A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 2'02.982
7 99 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 2'02.988
8 24 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 2'03.063
9 8 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 2'03.233
10 50 Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 2'03.431
11 14 Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 2'03.577
12 77 Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 2'03.667
13 51 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 2'03.781
14 55 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 2'03.898
15 69 Nannelli G. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 2'03.953
16 117 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 2'04.011
17 30 Günther J. (GER) Honda CBR600RR 2'04.039
18 96 Smrz M. (CZE) Triumph Daytona 675 2'04.148
19 19 Szkopek P. (POL) Triumph Daytona 675 2'04.227
20 21 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 2'04.230
21 105 Vizziello G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 2'04.551
22 7 Vostárek P. (CZE) Honda CBR600RR 2'04.737
23 28 Vos A. (NED) Honda CBR600RR 2'04.822
24 83 Holland R. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 2'05.087
25 9 Dell'Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 2'05.231
26 71 Morillas J. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 2'05.741
27 5 Pradita T. (INA) Yamaha YZF R6 2'05.831
28 32 Lai F. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 2'06.189
29 88 Guerra Y. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 2'06.355
30 78 Geronimi S. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R600 2'08.616

[mfzx6r]

Superpole live timing is on as we speak see ya No it aint !! Fucking site

[mfzx6r]

Game on .... its happening now

[mfzx6r]

Parkes Competitive In Qatar Superpole
WSBK, Losail, Qatar, 13 March 2009
Broc Parkes and his Kawasaki World Superbike Racing team made changes to his machine set-up that allowed him to qualify well in Superpole today, finishing 13th on the grid for Saturday’s two races. Broc had been as high as third in the first of the three new style Superpole qualifying sessions, and even dropped his best lap time to 1’58.856 after a truly competitive outing on his Ninja ZX-10R machine.

Makoto Tamada also found significantly improved settings today, albeit too late to qualify for Superpole, but he feels that he has real opportunities to make improvements from his 22nd place on the grid.

Parkes and his technicians opted for stiffening the rear of his machine today and that allowed him to keep in contention through the final regular qualifying session, in which he finished 11th, before ending his day 13th in Superpole.

Tamada’s squad concentrated most of their efforts on optimising the clutch and back-torque-limiting system, which should also help his ultimate charge in tomorrow’s 18-lap Superbike races.

Broc Parkes: “We made a big change today and straight away we were right on the pace. We changed the suspension linkage to give less movement and stiffen up the rear, which allowed the bike to follow the line the corners and not run wide. We tweaked a few things from then on and had a few more good ideas. The main thing is that we found a good direction to follow. We changed things a bit again to use a qualifying tyre in Superpole and those changes also seemed to work well. I was a little bit surprised to see the 1’58.8 I did in the first Superpole, but happy to see it all the same. In the second Superpole leg I had a couple of ‘moments’ and that lost me time, so I missed out on Superpole three. I am just happy to be where we are today and I think that tomorrow may be the first time this year we can really have a bit of a fight.”

Makoto Tamada: “We have found a good setting now and because of that I have much more confidence for the races tomorrow. The chatter problem we had been having is now much reduced, and the engine-braking and clutch settings we found today improved things a lot. The bike doesn’t push me wide in the corners now. I think we have a good tyre for race distance, and the race set-up in general seems OK.”


Superbike - Superpole
Update: March 13, 2009, 14:14 PM ET Comment Email Print

1 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'57.280
2 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'57.384
3 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1'57.694
4 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'57.850
5 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'57.878
6 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 1'58.755
7 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'59.090
8 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 2'00.021
9 44 Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'58.734
10 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'58.919
11 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'59.044
12 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'59.055
13 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'59.074
14 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'59.134
15 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'59.435
16 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'59.454
17 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'59.713
18 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'59.882
19 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'59.926
20 33 Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 2'00.108
21 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 2'00.738
22 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'00.839
23 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'01.047
24 24 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 2'01.165
25 77 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'01.560
26 86 Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'01.561
27 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'01.607
28 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'02.663



Supersport - Qualifying 2nd Session
Update: March 13, 2009, 12.00 PM ET Comment Email Print

1 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 2'01.586
2 50 Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 2'01.629
3 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 2'01.810
4 1 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 2'02.266
5 99 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 2'02.282
6 14 Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 2'02.450
7 69 Nannelli G. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 2'02.497
8 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 2'02.592
9 24 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 2'02.634
10 8 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 2'02.656
11 51 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 2'02.664
12 13 West A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 2'02.808
13 21 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 2'02.844
14 117 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 2'03.098
15 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 2'03.111
16 19 Szkopek P. (POL) Triumph Daytona 675 2'03.163
17 55 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 2'03.178
18 77 Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 2'03.215
19 105 Vizziello G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 2'03.507
20 30 Günther J. (GER) Honda CBR600RR 2'03.703
21 9 Dell'Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 2'03.829
22 7 Vostárek P. (CZE) Honda CBR600RR 2'03.942
23 28 Vos A. (NED) Honda CBR600RR 2'03.951
24 83 Holland R. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 2'04.333
25 96 Smrz M. (CZE) Triumph Daytona 675 2'04.504
26 71 Morillas J. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 2'04.710
27 32 Lai F. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 2'04.988
28 5 Pradita T. (INA) Yamaha YZF R6 2'05.234
29 88 Guerra Y. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 2'05.565
30 78 Geronimi S. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R600 2'06.803

[MadKaw]

WSS

Fujiwara Qualifies Top Kawasaki Rider
WSS, Losail, Qatar, 13 March 2009
Katsuaki Fujiwara worked hard at a warm Losail circuit to qualify 13th for the World Supersport race, setting a personal best lap time that took him just 1.2 seconds away from pole. Joan Lascorz placed his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R machine 15th on the time sheets, after being unable to improve on his first day qualifying best time today.

Fujiwara put his improvement down to concentrating his efforts on a single machine, rather than jumping between his two available bikes.

Lascorz was frustrated to not make improvements in pace today despite doing a lot of work on his suspension settings, particularly the rebound damping. He relied on his best time from Thursday’s first qualifying session to earn his final grid placing.

Fujiwara and Lascorz will each start the 18-lap race from the fourth row of the grid, with fair weather predicted to grace raceday as it has during both days of practice and qualifying.

Katsuaki Fujiwara: “We made real improvements today, about 1.5 seconds better than yesterday, by concentrating on one machine and working on that machine only. For the race I think we have tyres to suit our settings, and if the track temperature allows it I would like to use a softer tyre rather than a harder one. Our lap times were very close but I was faster than Joan today and that is very important for my confidence. So I am quite happy, we just need to improve some more, step-by-step.”

Joan Lascorz: “We were OK to start yesterday but we could not find the settings we needed in the suspension today to make the improvements we wanted. That meant it was not possible to reduce our lap time in final qualifying. Now practice is finished to we will try to make a good start tomorrow and make a strong pace on full race settings.”