HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider Andrew Pitt was well on the pace in the first day of practice at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia. Pitt improved his best lap time set in the free practice with another 1,2 seconds in the qualifying session and claimed provisional pole position in 1’36.773 ahead of Jones and Fujiwara. Pitt claimed 2nd in last year’s Valencia race as he replaced injured Sebastian Charpentier for the HANNspree Ten Kate Honda team
Jonathan Rea was well on the pace aboard his CBR600RR in the morning session, but dropped from 5th to 7th place in the afternoon practice, finishing the first day of qualifying with a best lap time of 1'37. 551.
Ronald ten Kate, Team ManagerAndrew Pitt picked up his pace straight away this morning and improved throughout the first qualifying as he set some very good lap times. Normally it takes some time for him to get started but today he was fast straight away. Jonathan Rea lost his concentration in the qualifying session but we know what he is capable of and expect him to be up front again in tomorrows’ qualifying.
Andrew Pitt, 1’36.773We have made a big improvement from the test we did two weeks ago, about 1 second, which is a big improvement around here. I had a good talk with Sebastian (Charpentier) just before the session on trying some different things and how to approach the qualifying, which I think helped me a lot today. I am already in the 36’s and planning to take off another 2/10’s tomorrow and qualify on the front row.
Jonathan Rea, 1’37.551We haven’t made a lot of chances to the bike today; we are already going as fast as we did in the test so it’s more about fine-tuning the setting. I know I can be consistent and was well on the pace in the free practice this morning but in the first qualifying it was hard to find the rhythm after we put a new tyre on the back. I’m confident I’ll improve my pace again tomorrow.
Results 1st Qualifying practice:
1, A. PITT 1'36.773
2, C. JONES 1'37.068
3, K. FUJIWARA 1'37.233
4, B. PARKES 1'37.436
5, J. BROOKES 1'37.449
6, J. LASCORZ 1'37.538
7, J. REA 1'37.551
8, C. WALKER 1'37.810
9, G. VIZZIELLO 1'37.899
10, B. VENEMAN 1'37.985
