24 HEURES MOTOS 2015 – H+8 : FREDDY FORAY (HONDA) HÉROÏQUE

Après des problèmes d’embrayage, le sort s’acharne sur la Honda n°111, qui avait été exempte de problèmes techniques pendant les six premières heures de course.

Victime d’une coupure moteur au virage du Musée, Freddy Foray est contraint de ramener sa machine à la poussette jusqu’à son stand, soit sur la moitié du tracé ! Il arrive épuisé sous les applaudissements mérités de son équipe, qui répare prestement avant que Julien da Costa ne reprenne la piste. Cette heure est également marquée par la chute de la Kawasaki n°46

Aucun changement chez les leaders : la Suzuki n°30 du SERT, actuellement pilotée par Etienne Masson, est toujours en tête, tandis que Morgan Berchet est au guidon de la Kawasaki n°33, sixième du classement général et toujours en tête de la catégorie Superstock.

A l'issue de cette huitième heure de course, une première allocation de points (de 10 à 1) est attribuée aux dix premiers du classement général, dans le cadre du Championnat du Monde FIM d'Endurance 2015, dont la 38e édition des 24 Heures Motos constituent la première manche.

Moto GP ; Deuxième pole consécutive pour Márquez / Marquez takes pole by over 0.5s at #ArgentinaGP

Le Champion du Monde en titre sera de nouveau en tête de la grille pour le Grand Prix Red Bull de la République Argentine.

Vainqueur depuis la pole à Termas de Río Hondo en 2014, mais aussi au Texas le week-end dernier, Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda) tentera de faire aussi bien cette année et s’est assuré la pole position en étant une demi-seconde plus rapide que ses concurrents en qualifications. 

Pilote le plus rapide en Argentine vendredi, Aleix Espargaró (Team Suzuki Ecstar) a décroché la seconde position devant Andrea Iannone (Ducati). Cal Crutchlow (CWM LCR Honda), Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) et Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) partiront en deuxième ligne tandis que Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) sera au milieu de la troisième, entre Danilo Petrucci (Pramac Racing) et Maverick Viñales (Team Suzuki Ecstar).

Cliquez ici pour accéder aux résultats.

Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez stamped his authority on proceedings in Q2 to claim pole ahead of Aleix Espargaro and Andrea Iannone.

After the excitement during Qualifying in Austin, there was a sense of anticipation in the air as riders took to the 4.8 km Termas de Rio Hondo circuit. Conditions had improved from Friday, with the sun coming out in force and the track temperature rising to 43 degrees in time for MotoGP™ Q2.

Earlier it was Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Bradley Smith and Hector Barbera on the Avintia Racing Ducati that made it through from a hotly contested Q1, in a session that saw Smith’s teammate Pol Espargaro and the Satellite Pramac Racing machine of Yonny Hernandez fail to progress.

Marc Marquez dominated proceedings to take pole with a 1’37.802 ahead of the Team Suzuki Ecstar GSX-RR of Aleix Espargaro (+0.514s) and Andrea Iannone (+0.665s) on the Ducati Team GP15.

CWM LCR Hondas Cal Crutchlow (+0.683s) will start from the front of the second row in front of Movistar Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo (+0.683s), who matched the British riders time in 5th, and the second Ducati Team GP15 of Andrea Dovizioso (+0.718s).

Pramac Racings Danilo Petrucci will start from 7th on the grid, with Valentino Rossi over a second off the pace of Marquez in 8th. Maverick Viñales completed the third row in 9th, with Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Bradley Smith rounding out the top ten. Hector Barbera leads the Open class in 12th, just behind the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Racing Honda of Scott Redding.

Click here for the full MotoGP™ Qualifying results and line up for Sundays race, which is due to start at 16:00 local time in Argentina.

WSSP ; Cluzel s’offre une nouvelle pole en Supersport à Assen / Cluzel re-ignites title ambition with Dutch WSS Pole Position

Troisième pole de la saison pour le Français

Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) sera en pole pour la troisième fois de la saison dimanche à Assen, où aura lieu la quatrième manche du Championnat du Monde Supersport 2015. Victime de problèmes techniques en Thaïlande puis en Aragón après sa victoire en Australie, le Français sera dans des conditions idéales pour se relancer à la conquête de la plus haute marche du podium et rattraper une partie de son retard engendré par ses deux abandons. 

Le leader du classement général, Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), et l’Américain PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres), monté deux fois sur le podium cette année, l’accompagneront en première ligne sur la grille néerlandaise.

Kyle Smith (Pata Honda World Supersport Team), Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) et Christian Gamarino (Go Eleven Kawasaki) se sont quant à eux qualifiés en deuxième ligne tandis que Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) a pris la septième place, à 1.001s de Cluzel.

Kevin Wahr (SMS Honda) a signé sa meilleure qualification en date en prenant la douzième position, juste derrière Ratthapark Wilairot (CORE Motorsport Thailand), vainqueur de la deuxième manche de la saison chez lui en Thaïlande, qui a chuté en qualifications.

Cluzel and Sofuoglu once again at the front of WSS.

Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) will start tomorrow’s 4^th round of the World Supersport championship from Pole Position after a closely fought qualifying session at the 4.542km TT circuit in Assen saw him edge current championship leader Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) by 0.137s. The pair will be joined on the front row of the grid by American PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) who will be aiming to make it 3 times onto the podium in 2015.

For Cluzel it was his 3^rd Pole Position of the year and the Frenchman is hoping that the bad luck he has suffered in the last two races is well and truly behind him.

Row two comprises Kyle Smith (Pata Honda World Supersport Team), the Englishman hoping to give the Dutch team something to smile about in their home race. Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) will start 5^th alongside a rejuvenated Christian Gamarino (Go Eleven Kawasaki) who achieved a career best qualifying position in 6^th.

Kevin Wahr (SMS Honda) claimed his best qualifying position of the year in 12^th, a fraction behind Thai winner Ratthapark Wilairot (CORE Motorsport Thailand) who suffered another crash during the session, to leaving himself with work to do from 11^th on the grid.

WSBK ; Sykes prend la Tissot-Superole à Assen / 4th Tissot-Superpole of 2015 is won by Sykes

Le Champion WorldSBK 2013 sera accompagné de Rea et de Haslam en première ligne.

Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) a remporté la Tissot-Superpole pour la quatrième manche du Championnat du Monde eni FIM Superbike 2015 samedi après-midi à Assen et sera donc en tête de la grille pour les deux courses de 21 tours qui auront lieu dimanche. Le pilote anglais a eu le dernier mot dans une séance qui s’est conclue avec huit pilotes classés en moins d’une seconde et s’est assuré la 25e pole position de sa carrière, sa première depuis celle qu’il avait remportée à Magny-Cours l’an dernier.

Son coéquipier Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team), le leader du classement général et Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) partiront eux aussi de la première ligne tandis que Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati Superbike Team), le pilote local Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) et Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) s’élanceront de la deuxième.

Xavi Fores (Aruba.it Racing Ducati SBK Team), qui remplace Davide Giugliano, a pris le dessus sur Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) et Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) pour s’installer en tête de la troisième ligne.

Guintoli et Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing) avaient été les deux plus rapides en Superpole 1 avant de rejoindre la Superpole 2.

Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) a une fois de plus manqué l’opportunité de se battre pour une place sur l’une des quatre premières lignes et sera dix-huitième sur la grille de départ.

Sykes, Rea and Haslam on front row for Dutch races.

Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) has won the 4^th Tissot-Superpole of the season after a tense final 15 minute shoot-out in Assen. The 4.542km Cathedral of Speed once again produced an exciting climax to the WorldSBK qualifying session in which the top 8 riders on the grid for tomorrow’s two 21 lap races are covered by a second. Today’s Pole Position is the 25^th of Tom’s career, his first since Magny-Cours last year.

Joining the Kawasaki rider on the front row will be Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils).

Row two was decided in the final minute as Chaz Davies valiant effort to overhaul Sykes failed after a mistake, the Aruba.it Racing Ducati SBK rider will start 4^th with local hero Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) and Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), who scored his maiden podium in WorldSBK last year, 5^th and 6^th respectively.

On the 3^rd row of the grid Xavi Fores (Aruba.it Racing Ducati SBK Team) will line up alongside Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) and Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) in what was the most closely fought Tissot-Superpole of the season so far.

Earlier Sylvain Guintoli and Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing) were the two riders to progress from Superpole 1.

Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) once again missed the opportunity to fight for a place on the front four rows of the grid, the Frenchman will start from row 6 in 18^th.

WTCC ; López bat le héros local Bennani pour le gain de la pole position au Maroc / López beats home hero Bennani in Morocco pole chase

José María López partira dimanche en pole position de la première manche de l’Eurodatacar WTCC Race of Morocco.

López était le dernier pilote à s’élancer dans son tour de Q3, mais résista à la pression avec aisance pour décrocher sa 9e pole position en WTCC. Il déçoit néanmoins les fans marocains en privant Mehdi Bennani du meilleur temps qui aurait été sa première pole, présentée par DHL, dans le championnat.

Ma Qing Huaoffre le triplé à Citroën pour sa première expérience du Circuit Moulay El Hassan, tandis que Hugo Valente et Tom Chilton se mettent en valeur avec une qualification en Q3 aux dépends de certains sérieux prétendants à la victoire tels Sébastien Loeb et les pilotes Honda Tiago Monteiro et Gabriele Tarquini.

Non content de s’élancer en tête de la première des deux courses de 14 tours, López marque d’ores et déjà cinq points au championnat. Son équipier Loeb n’étant pas parvenu en Q3, il creuse ainsi l’écart dans la quête du titre de Champion du Monde FIA des Voitures de Tourisme. L’Argentin s’attend néanmoins à une rude opposition, d’autant que les températures excèderont  30°C.

« La première étape est franchie mais il nous en reste de nombreuses à gravir sur ce circuit très exigeant pour les voitures et les pilotes », souligne López, qui devance Bennani de 0 »255. « J’ai mis le doigt sur un bon set-up en Q2 et ça m’a donné confiance pour la Q3. Mais il m’a fallu trouver quelques dixièmes de secondes supplémentaires dans ce dernier tour et c’est difficile de ne pas commettre d’erreur. Mon tour fut cependant parfait et j’en suis heureux. »

Bennani, en tête du Trophée Yokohama, n’était jamais parvenu en Q3 jusqu’à présent. « C’est seulement ma deuxième course avec la voiture. Me battre pour la pole position, devant mon public, c’est un sentiment génial. Je peux également ainsi remercier toutes les personnes qui me soutiennent et croient en moi. »Mais alors que Bennani célèbre sa meilleure performance en qualifications, Hugo Valente conclut son excellente prestation – 4e – contre le rail, tandis que Chilton choisit de ne pas prendre la piste pour préserver sa Chevrolet en prévision de la course. Norbert Michelisz échoue aux portes du dernier segment mais devance en 6e position Monteiro , Loeb, Tom Coronel et Yvan Muller, 10^e. Coronel était en lice pour la Q3 jusqu’à ce qu’un problème mécanique mette fin à ses espoirs. En fermant le Top-10 de la Q2, Muller s’élancera pour sa part en pole position de la course 2 grâce au principe de grille inversée.

Les Italiens Tarquini et Stefano D’Aste franchissent également le cap de la Q1 où restent bloqués les trois pilotes LADA, Rob Huff, Mikhail Kozlovskiy et James Thompson, ainsi que Dušan Borković, John Filippi et Grégoire Demoustier.

Les deux courses de dimanche mettront les pilotes aux prises pendant 14 tours. Le départ de la course 1 sera donné à 16h15 (locales), et la course 2 à 17h30. Les deux manches sont à suivre en direct à la télévision sur les antennes d’Eurosport, Eurosport Player et de nombreuses chaînes à travers le monde. Au Maroc, elles seront retransmises en direct sur la télé publique 2M. La couverture de l’épreuve est également enrichie par Eurosport avec l’intégration, durant les retransmissions, du fil d’info des pilotes sur les réseaux sociaux Twitter et Instagram.

Fiawtcc.com émet les deux courses en direct et permet de suivre le classement en direct. Les actus, déclarations des pilotes, photos et vidéos sont par ailleurs régulièrement mises à jour. L’application WTCC, enfin, est disponible en téléchargement gratuit sur l’App Store, alors que la section media du site Fiawtcc.com offre de nombreux contenus aux journalistes.

Points marqués en qualificationsJosé María López: 5pts
Mehdi Bennani: 4
Ma Qing Hua: 3
Hugo Valente: 2
Tom Chilton: 1

José María López saved his best to last to outpace local hero Mehdi Bennani and claim pole position for Eurodatacar WTCC Race of Morocco following a dramatic qualifying session in Marrakech this afternoon.

López was the final driver to mount his bid for first place in Q3, but handled the intense pressure with ease to snatch the ninth top spot of his WTCC career and dash the hopes of the home fans that had been roaring Bennani to what would have been the Moroccan’s maiden pole position, which is presented by DHL, the WTCC’s Official Logistics Partner.

Ma Qing Hua made it an all-Citroën top three on his first visit to Circuit Moulay El Hassan, while Hugo Valente and Tom Chilton turned the formbook on its head to squeeze into Q3 at the expense of several more fancied runners, including round two winner Sébastien Loeb and Honda stars Tiago Monteiro and Gabriele Tarquini.

As well as lining up first for Sunday’s opening 14-lap contest in front, López scored five championship points. And with Citroën team-mate and early title rival Sébastien Loeb failing to get beyond Q2, Lopez’s bid to make it two FIA World Touring Car Championship titles in succession received another boost. However, the Argentine is expecting a tough challenge on race day when the ambient temperature could exceed 30 degrees centigrade.

“The first step is done but we still have a lot of laps on a circuit that’s very demanding for the car and for the drivers,” said López, who was fastest by 0.255s. “I found a good set-up in Q2 and the lap in Q2 gave me a lot of confidence for Q3. But I still had to find the extra tenths in that unique lap when you have such good team-mates like I have. It’s difficult to go faster at this track without making mistakes but I did a clean lap and I’m very happy.”

Bennani, who was the leading Yokohama Drivers’ Trophy contender, had never taken part in the Q3 one-lap showdown before: “It’s only my second race with the car so to fight for the pole position in my home country gives me a very good feeling and is the only way we can say thanks to everyone who have supported and trusted in me.”

But while Bennani celebrated his best WTCC qualifying performance to date, Hugo Valente ended his impressive Q3 charge in a tyre barrier, while Chilton elected not to run in order to preserve his Chevrolet for race day. Norbert Michelisz was sixth quickest with Monteiro seventh, Loeb eighth, Tom Coronel ninth and Yvan Muller 10^th. Coronel had been in contention for Q3 until a mechanical fault ended his hopes. By completing the top 10 In Q2, Muller will start race two from pole under the reverse grid rule.

Italians Tarquini and Stefano D’Aste made it through Q1 but LADA trio Rob Huff, Mikhail Kozlovskiy and James Thompson, plus Dušan Borković, John Filippi and Grégoire Demoustier were not so fortunate.

Sunday’s street races are scheduled for 14 laps with race one starting at 16h15 local time followed by the second race at 17h30. Both races will be broadcast live on the Eurosport network, Eurosport Player and on a number of other TV channels around the world, including in Morocco where free-to-air state broadcaster 2M televise the action as it happens. Eurosport’s coverage will also incorporate social media integration with driver Twitter and Instagram activity featuring on a split-screen view before each race and during the repair time.

Fiawtcc.com will stream both races live and provide live timing, regular news updates, videos and photo galleries, driver and background information, plus links to the WTCC’s social media channels. The WTCC app is available to download free from the App store, while a new media section at Fiawtcc.com will provide an essential resource for journalists.

Qualifying pointsJosé María López: 5pts
Mehdi Bennani: 4
Ma Qing Hua: 3
Hugo Valente: 2
Tom Chilton: 1

‘77 Honda CB750 – Gaige Redd

Gaige Reed wanted to build himself a café racer with ‘80s race car styling all using a Japanese bike from the Seventies – an idea that could go horribly wrong if it wasn’t designed and executed perfectly. But Gauge had a big advantage, he’s a designer by trade and he knew sticking resolutely to the brief would yield exactly the bike he desired. The finished product is a cracking Honda CB750 that tips its hat to the classic BMW race cars that flew the flag for M Sport.

Not one to do things by halves, Gaige undertook a full frame-up restoration to ensure the ‘77 Honda was in better shape than when it left the Honda factory. This is not a bike built by bolting a few choice parts on. It was taken back to the bare frame; then every nut, bolt and part was disassembled and inspected before being rebuilt or replaced and painstakingly pieced together. Many unwanted parts would never find their way back onto the bike and those that did had to be perfect. The frame was detabbed and painted black, any exposed metal polished to a mirror finish and all fabricated parts redone till they were just right.

With the CB series Honda’s sporting some of the best known fuel tanks in the custom scene, it was a bold move when Gaige decided to swap his out for a ‘76 Yamaha XS500 unit. But sticking to his design brief required more angular lines and that is exactly what the XS item offers. Gaige took his time getting the tank mounts just right before turning his attention to the unique and angular oil tank that many would believe is a battery box. The seat maintains the theme but refusing to waiver on the design, it took four goes to fibreglass it just right having used a cardboard mock-up and fibreboard mould.

With the fabrication work done, it’s the paint work that really brings the BMW Motorsport look to life, the white is straight from the equally angular E30 M3 DTM race cars of the ‘80’s while the classic M Sport colours have been applied to the tank. Blue for BMW/Bavaria, Red for Texaco (a then partner of BMW Motorsport) and the BMW Blue Violet a symbol of the two companies hugely successful partnership. The stainless steel respoked rims also copped the Texaco red, looking resplendent as they work in unison with the fully rebuilt and white-painted front forks and the remote canister rear shocks with BMW white springs.

The DTM cars of the Eighties were minimalist but precision perfect and Gaige made sure the running gear of the CB750 was exactly that. The engine is bored and fitted with new pistons, pins, rings and clips to give faultless operation. The rejetted carbs breathe through pod filters and the engine exhales its spent gases via a beautiful Yoshimura style 4-into-1 exhaust that is internally baffled along the way. Even the presentation of the engine is race car perfect, heavily polished valve and side covers, repainted barrel and block, even the speedo and tacho drives are immaculate.

Having spent so much time ensuring the bike was rebuilt with new or perfectly reconditioned parts, Gaige wasn’t going to rely on a 40-year-old wiring loom; so the bike is completely rewired, the battery hidden in the tail-piece and all the components and connectors replaced with new items. The headlight is traditional but the tail light is anything but, a collection of tiny red LEDs warn followers the CB is slowing while carefully placed miniature LEDs in the frame and bar ends take care of the indicators.

If the BMW of yesteryear had been looking for a bike to join their race cars in the pit paddock, Gaige’s custom café would have been perfectly suited. It’s built with German-like precision right down to the last bolt. It has the aggressive Bavarian look with the ‘in your face angles’ and the M Sport motif is a thoughtful tip of the cap to one of the best damn looking race cars of the era.

via PIPEBURN

suivre les 24h du Mans motos

Pour ne rien manquer de cette édition des 24 Heures Motos, petit mémo des endroits où vous pourrez suivre la course.
- notre web tv sera en ligne à 14h15 
- le live texte se fera sur le compte Twitter : @24heuresmoto #24Hmoto
- retrouvez les photos, les vidéos et les articles surwww.24h-moto.com, sur cette page Facebook et sur notre compte Instagram.

Très belle course à tous émoticône grin

WebTV - 24 Heures Motos 2015 par lemans-tv

RAT RODS by Jamie Brandon Hegedus

This Porsche 356 Speedster has a certain something…

Most would agree that the chopped-roof Porsche 356 inherently has a sort of ‘special something’. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement, as illustrated by this fetching example…

Like so many Porsche 356 Speedsters, the Reutter-bodied T1-A seen here was delivered to New York at the behest of Max Hoffman. It’s a familiar story: the charismatic car importer had sparked the idea for a sportier, sleeker version of an existing car, designed specifically for American tastes. What Hoffman initially sold in minimal quantities as the 356 ‘America Roadster’ soon conjured interest elsewhere and, in 1954, it was introduced as a production model – and thus became Porsche’s first Speedster. The car pictured here made the same journey as many of its earlier brethren, being delivered to Hoffman on 30 November 1956. At the time, it was white with a red leather interior – but much has changed since then…

Perfectly restored, then uprated

After several decades, the 356 Speedster in question made its way into the workshop of German marque specialist Early 911s. There was plenty of work required: 1,300 man-hours went into the body and paintwork alone, with a further 500 required to bring the interior and mechanicals up to scratch. Then came those improvements we mentioned earlier – the power of the 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine (Type 616/1) was increased from 60HP to 122HP, and the braking system was uprated accordingly. Despite having double the performance (and still tipping the scales at a mere 815kg), the Porsche outwardly remains a ‘normal’ Speedster – albeit with a hidden twist beneath the eye-catching bodywork.

The Orange 1956 Porsche 356 Speedster seen here is currently for sale via Early 911s, and can be seen in the metal at the company’s booth at the 2015 Techno Classica in Essen this week.

      

Photos: Early 911s

This 356 and several other classic Porsches currently for sale via Early 911s can be found in the Classic Driver Market.

Frua’s BMW 528 GT Coupé could have been Bavaria’s Montreal

After BMW’s takeover of Glas in the late 60s, the latter’s subcontracted exterior designer, Pietro Frua, saw an opportunity to establish a lucrative new relationship. As a result, he spent the next decade trying to lure BMW towards his styling services via a series of concept cars...

Earlier in the 1960s, Turin-born Frua had been tasked with the responsibility of styling an entire new range for Glas, a small Bavaria-based manufacturer that had made the leap from scooters and microcars to mid-range saloons and sports cars. In 1968, BMW completed the takeover of its smaller neighbour – but it was for reasons to do with engineering patents and factory space, rather than a fondness for the marque’s styling.

Catching the big fish

Undeterred, Frua set about creating a number of BMW-based concept cars in the hope of ensnaring design contracts for large-scale production runs from the Bavarian big fish. One of his final attempts came in 1976, in the form of the 528 GT Coupé. Taking a standard E12 saloon, Frua created a coupé body that bore all the trademark BMW cues, yet had a distinctly Italian flavour. Its resemblance to the Bertone-styled Alfa Romeo Montreal was obvious; there was also a hint of Lancia in there, too. Ultimately, Frua’s vision never came to fruition, and BMW decided to go it alone with its in-house design team. However, some historians argue that his influence lived on vicariously through the marque’s subsequent offerings.

You can find many modern and classic BMWs for sale in the Classic Driver Market.

WSSP ; Cluzel domine les essais Supersport du vendredi à Assen / WSS opening day at Assen dominated by Cluzel

Le Français a réalisé le meilleur temps pour devancer Kenan Sofuoglu.

Victime de problèmes techniques qui l’ont privé de victoires en Thaïlande puis en Aragón, Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) a signé le meilleur des essais libres de vendredi à Assen, où il tentera de rattraper une partie de son retard ce week-end après avoir accumulé une victoire et deux abandons depuis le début de  la saison.

Le Français comptait 0.132s d’avance sur Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) et près de trois dixièmes d’avance sur PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres).

Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) s’est classé quatrième devant Kyle Smith (Pata Honda World Supersport), cinquième malgré une chute en fin de séance.

Ratthapark Wilairot (CORE Motorsport Thailand) a terminé sixième, à 1.3s du leader.

La troisième et dernière séance d’essais du World Supersport à Assen aura lieu samedi matin avant les qualifications prévues pour 15h55. Des pilotes de la grille 2015, seul Sofugolu a déjà été en pole à Assen dans la catégorie, en 2010 et 2007.

Frenchman starts strong - keen to regain lost ground in championship fight.

As the opening day of World Supersport action drew to a close it was Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who was sitting pretty atop the standings after two closely fought 45 minute free practice sessions. The Frenchman, who is keen to put the disappointment of the Thai and Aragon rounds, where he suffered technical problems while fighting for the lead of the race, finished comfortably ahead of his nearest rival Kenan Sofuoglu (+0.132s) who finished 2^nd.

Kyle Smith in 4^th was having an encouraging first day with his Pata Honda World Supersport team entry until he crashed with 12 minutes to go. The Briton who has already been on the podium twice in his debut season in Supersport would eventually finish 5^thjust behind PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) and the second MV Agusta Reparto Corse entry of Lorenzo Zanetti who were 3^rd and 4^th respectively.

Ratthapark Wilairot (CORE Motorsport Thailand) was 6^th and another of the leading riders crash.

For German rider Kevin Wahr in 7^th, it was his best result of the year so far since switching from Yamaha to the SMS Honda team for a full 2015 season assault.

Gino Rea (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda), Marco Faccani (San Carlo Puccetti Racing) and Alex Baldolini (Race Department ATK#25) completed the top ten after an eventful FP2 saw many riders fall. The session was red flagged with 20 minutes remaining following Dominic Schmitter’s. The Swiss rider dropping fluid from his Go Eleven Kawasaki. None of the riders who crashed were injured.

Qualifying for Sunday’s 4^th round is set to take place tomorrow at 1555 local time, where from the list of current WSS riders only Kenan Sofuoglu has taken a Pole Position here, back in 2010. He also took the Pole in 2007.

Que Calor ........

WSBK; Davies poursuit sur sa lancée aux Pays-Bas / Davies responds to head WorldSBK field after FP2 in Assen

Le Gallois a dominé la seconde séance d’essais à Assen après avoir décroché sa première victoire avec Ducati en Aragón.

Comme prévu, les conditions de piste se sont améliorées au long de la journée de vendredi à Assen et ont permis aux pilotes de continuer à progresser sur leurs chronos lors de la seconde séance d’essais du week-end. Cette dernière a été dominée par Chaz Davies (Aruba.it – Ducati Superbike Team), qui est ainsi passé en tête aux dépens de Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), battu par le Gallois de 0.320s après avoir été le plus rapide le matin.

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team), le leader du classement général, a signé le troisième temps et fini à 0.442s de Davies tandis que Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team - Red Devils) s’est classé quatrième.

Deuxième le matin, le rookie néerlandais Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) a perdu un peu de terrain au cours de la seconde séance mais finissait avec une encourageante cinquième position, devant Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team - Red Devils) et Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), qui passait de la 16e à la 7e place.

Le Champion en titre Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) a réalisé le huitième temps pour devancer Xavi Fores (Aruba.it – Ducati Superbike Team) et Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), qui complétaient le Top 10.

Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) et Christophe Ponsson (Grillini SBK Team) ont respectivement conclu la journée aux seizième et dix-neuvième positions.

Almost everybody improves their lap time in Dutch FP2.

As expected, almost everybody improved during this afternoon’s WorldSBK FP2, with Chaz Davies (Aruba.it – Ducati Superbike Team) responding to the challenge from former champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) and current championship leader Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) to top of the overall classification by a margin of 0.320s with his final lap.

Championship leader Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) moved into 3^rd (0.442s) just behind team mate Sykes who was 2^nd, while Leon Haslam worked hard with his crew between sessions to improve the setting on his Aprilia Racing machine, the former championship runner up elevating himself into contention with the 4th best time overall.

Pata Honda World Superbike Team rider Michael van der Mark maintained his strong start to the weekend in 5^th.

Jordi Torres improved on the second of the Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils machines to finish 6^th with the biggest improvement of the day coming from Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) who jumped from 16^th after FP1 to 7^th.

Reigning champion Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) lapped consistently to end the day 8^th overall with Xavi Fores (Aruba.it – Ducati Superbike Team) again inside the top 10 in 9^th.

The surprise of the day was Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who quietly went about his business, understanding the new electronics and posting the 10^th best time, making it 5 manufacturers inside the top ten, and giving MV Agusta their best Friday placing since they returned to the WorldSBK championship last year.

Looking ahead, there is only one opportunity remaining for the riders to make it into the top ten and avoid having to ride in Superpole 1 – FP3 will take place tomorrow at 0945.

To read the report from today’s FP1 please click here.