The following is from Parkalgar Honda…
PARKALGAR HONDA riders Josh Hayes and Miguel Praia today took provisional third row starting places for Sunday’s penultimate round of the World Supersport Championship at Magny Cours in France.
A wet morning session at the 4.411km track failed to dampen the spirits of double American Formula Extreme Champion Hayes as he completed more laps than any other rider learning the circuit, to post the eighth fastest time. In the afternoon the dry qualifying was interrupted by rain but he still managed to post the 10th best lap despite it being his first time on a dry track.
Praia is riding well and despite sitting out much of the wet morning practice, he got up to speed quickly in the afternoon, posting the 11th equal fastest time to place 12th on count-back on the provisional grid, his best qualifying position of the season to date. Honda’s Jonathan Rea took provisional pole position.
Both riders have another opportunity to improve in tomorrow’s practice and then final qualifying sessions. The race takes place at 1320 on Sunday, September 28th and can be viewed live on www.worldsbk.com.
Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “It couldn’t be much harder for Josh – just like last time out it rained through practice but at least today he got three-quarters of a dry qualifying session. For him to place 10th with such a lack of track knowledge and time is exceptional. He has said that his Parkalgar Honda is good and he needs to make up the time from within himself – he’s determined and I think the only way is up the leader-board from here.
“Miguel continues to ride in a rich vein of form and this afternoon he was within a whisker of the top 10. That is his best qualifying position of the year if he can maintain it tomorrow and should hopefully give him the platform to challenge for the top 10 in the race. It’s great for the team that its Portuguese rider is coming good as we go towards the final round of the Championship at our home circuit of Parkalgar in Portimao.”
First Qualifying
1: J Rea, GBR, Honda 1:42.849
2: B Parkes, AUS, Yamaha +0.158
3: B Veneman, NED, Suzuki +0.494
4: M Lagrive, FRA, Honda +0.541
5: J Lascorz, ESP, Honda +0.596
6: A Pitt, AUS, Honda +0.752
10: JOSH HAYES, USA, PARKALGAR HONDA +1.766
12: MIGUEL PRAIA, POR, PARKALGAR HONDA +1.787.
