Team Triumph-SC spent the opening day of the third round of the World Supersport Championship at Valencia hard at work dialling in the Triumph 675 for the tight and twisty Spanish circuit. Having missed last months test at the track the team arrived with no previous data for the British machine and spent the two 45 minute sessions working on gear box and suspension settings in preparation for final qualifying on Saturday.
Australian Garry McCoy, who focused his attentions on gearing and getting the correct balance to suit the track, commented: “When we arrive at a new track it’s is often a difficult day for us. We tried to find a good setting for this circuit, but the conditions and grip levels changed from this morning to this afternoon. We have many things to try on the bike, but today our focus was on getting the right gearing. In the first session tomorrow we’ll make some more changes and we’re confident we’ll be ready for final qualifying in the afternoon.”
Team-mate Ilario Dionisi said: “I spent the opening session this morning running in a new engine in. During the afternoon session we worked on getting a good set up and at the end I was quite satisfied. At the end I used a soft tyre but unfortunately there was a lot of traffic and I lost the chance to set a faster time, which was disappointing and also a waste of a tyre. Despite that we have made some good improvements today and I am confident for tomorrow.”
Supersport – Friday’s Qualifying:1. PITT Andrew - AUS - Honda CBR 600RR 1’36.773
2. JONES Craig - GBR - Honda CBR 600RR 1’37.068
3. FUJIWARA Katsuaki - JPN - Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’37.233
4. PARKES Broc - AUS - Yamaha YZF R6 1’37.436
5. BROOKES Joshua - AUS - Honda CBR 600RR 1’37.449
6. LASCORZ Joan - ESP - Honda CBR 600RR 1’37.538
7. REA Jonathan - GBR - Honda CBR 600RR 1’37.551
8. WALKER Chris - GBR - Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’37.810
9. VIZZIELLO Gianluca - ITA - Honda CBR 600RR 1’37.899
10. VENEMAN Barry - NED - Suzuki GSX-R600 1’37.985
23. McCOY Garry - AUS - Triumph-SC 675 1’38.739
27. DIONISI Ilario - ITA - Triumph-SC 675 1’39.324
The Triumph SC Superstock 600 team made their debut at the Spanish track with Briton Tom Grant impressing first time out on the new bike and his first time at the Valencia circuit. The 2006 UK R6 Cup champion recorded the eighth fastest time just 0.6 seconds behind the provisional pole time. He said: “The track is new for me, but it all went well. We found a good set up and I was able to get faster and more consistent. Now we have to prepare for the final qualifying session and the tomorrow’s race, where I hope to be fighting with the leaders.”
Unfortunately things did not run as well as expected for Grant’s young team-mate Robbie Stewart. Due to the late arrival of his flight, the Scot missed the compulsory riders briefing on Thursday afternoon and was subsequently excluded from the first free practice session by Race Direction.
Robbie Stewart commented: “The exclusion from the first practice session has really held us back. I know the Valencia circuit, but racing on a 125GPbike is quite different to riding in the 600 class. I was running OK, around mid pack, but in the final minutes I had some problem which meant I spent too long in the pi and lost several positions.”
Superstock 600 – Friday Qualifying:1. BUSSOLOTTI Marco - ITA - Yamaha YZF R6 1’39.951
2. BAZ Loris - FRA - Yamaha YZF R6 1’40.043
3. PETRUCCI Danilo - ITA - Yamaha YZF R6 1’40.914
4. BERETTA Daniele - ITA - Suzuki GSX-R 600 1’41.081
5. BILIOTTI Leonardo - GER - Honda CBR 600RR 1’41.081
8. GRANT Tom - GBR - Triumph-SC 675 1’41.615
28. STEWART Robbie - GBR - Triumph-SC 675 1’43.592
