Yamaha today had a successful first day of qualifying with the 2007 YZF-R6 occupying five of the top ten grid positions. Parkes was the top-placed rider for Yamaha with second place while RG Team rider Vizziello took fourth and Roccoli took fifth. Team GMT94 rider David Checa came in eighth just in front of Parkes' team mate Tommy Hill. This morning's session had been a good start to the final weekend with Parkes and Sofuoglu challenging each other throughout the morning's free practice session for the fastest time. In the usual rush of activity in the last five minutes, Hill came off best in second place behind Sofuoglu with Checa and Parkes behind in third and fourth respectively.
Massimo Roccoli found some good form during today, finishing seventh fastest in free practice followed by taking fifth in provisional qualifying.
Team GMT94 riders Sébastien Gimbert and David Checa came here today on a good note after winning the Bol d'Or at this circuit earlier this month. Both riders put in good performances today to finish 11th and eighth respectively.
Charpentier heads the board going into tomorrow's final qualifying session with Parkes in second, Sofuoglu in third and Vizziello on fourth.
Broc Parkes (2nd - 1'43.008 - Yamaha World Supersport Team)"It was looking good today until the last two minutes, when Charpentier knocked me off pole! Normally the Yamaha is good here, though, so I'm confident that we can be up the top again this weekend. We've got a few things to try tomorrow on set-up, mostly with the chassis, and we'll also focus on which tyre is right for the conditions. We weren't really able to use any of the data from the test here in August because it was wet then and it's been dry today."
Tommy Hill (9th - 1'43.584 - Yamaha World Supersport Team)"It's surprising how close everyone's times are here. My main issue is getting used to the tyres on the 600 here. I keep trying to ride on them like I would on a Superbike and that just isn't working. Tyres are the key to success here; I need to find where the best grip is on the track. We're getting there but I'm just asking too much of the front at the moment. We need to sit down and see where we can find half a second in the data, which is how much I am behind Broc by. I'm not particularly happy with ninth because I was up there during the practice session but I hope to make better progress tomorrow."
Massimo Roccoli (5th - 1'43.271 - Yamaha Team Italia)"I'm happy with my best lap from today because I did it with a race tyre and it beat my best lap of the whole weekend here last year. I had a bad race in 2006 so I'm keen to start on the front row and do better previously. I wasn't able to get a good lap time with a soft tyre but if conditions are the same tomorrow as they were today then I'm confident I'll improve my grid position."
Circuit Length: 4411
Temp: 21
Weather: Dry
Qualifying 1 - WSS Magny-Cours:1. Sebastien Charpentier - Honda - FRA 1'42.617
2. Broc Parkes - Yamaha - AUS 1'43.008
3. Kenan Sofuoglu - Honda - TUR 1'43.048
4. Gianluca Vizziello - Yamaha - ITA 1'43.105
5. Massimo Roccoli - Yamaha - ITA 1'43.271
6. Katsuaki Fujiwara - Honda - JPN 1'43.390
7. Joan Lascorz - Honda - ESP 1'43.406
8. David Checa - Yamaha - ESP 1'43.507
9. Tommy Hill - Yamaha - GBR 1'43.582
10. Gregory Leblanc - Honda - FRA 1'43.633
11. Sebastien Gimbert - Yamaha - FRA 1'43.635
12. Joshua Brookes - Honda - AUS 1'43.651
13. Craig Jones - Honda - GBR 1'43.869
14. Fabien Foret - Kawasaki - FRA 1'43.874
15. Simone Sanna - Honda - ITA 1'43.892
Related News
