The following is from Parkalgar Honda…
PARKALGAR HONDA’S Josh Hayes will start tomorrow’s 13th and final round of the World Supersport Championship from eighth on the second row of the grid at the fantastic new Parkalgar Algarve Motor Park in Portugal – the home to the team’s main sponsor.
In dry and warm conditions, the double Formula Extreme Champion pushed as hard as he dared at the picturesque circuit, running consistent and fast lap times, finishing less than a second behind pole-sitter Kenan Sofuoglu.
At his home track Parkalgar Honda’s Miguel Praia showed flashes of real brilliance but struggled to bring it all together on a single lap, eventually finishing a frustrated 18th.
Wild-card Parkalgar Honda racer for the round Simone Sanna from Italy left his best to last and on his final lap secured 15th on the grid and is positive that with some changes to his bike he can improve his lap times for the race. The 13th and final round of the World Supersport Championship takes place at the 4-592km Parkalgar Algarve Motor Park near Portimao in Portugal on Sunday, November 2nd at 1320CET. It is the first major event to be held at the all-new five-star track facility and a huge 50,000+ crowd is expected to visit.
Tickets are available on line from www.autodromodoalgarve.com.
Hayes: “I was trying out there and maybe I was trying a little too hard at times and that might not have helped. It is my best qualifying position to date and I am happy with that, the second row is OK. I can repeat the lap times very consistently and that will count in the race, I am still confident we can achieve a podium finish here and that’s my target to thank the team for its faith in me.”
Praia: “I have good speed through many of the different sectors but couldn’t do them all during one lap – if I had then I would have been higher up the starting order. My Parkalgar Honda is good and 18th gives me a good chance to fight in the points or even the top 10. This is my home round and the circuit that sponsors my team so I will do all I can to get well inside the top 10 in the race.”
Sanna: “I tried really hard and have gone much faster than any other sessions or tests. I would like some changes to my bike for tomorrow to help with some chatter through the forks and to speed up my direction changes. I think if we can do this then a good result is possible.”
Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “Josh really put the effort in and a second row start is fine for the race, he has the consistency to be fighting for the podium and that’s what we are looking for. Miguel is happy with his Parkalgar Honda and a bit unlucky to finish in 18th as the times are very close and half a second quicker would have challenged for the second row. A good start will be needed and with his determination in front of a home crowd, I think a career best result is possible. Simone continues to impress and 15th is excellent given his time away from riding and racing. There is a lot more to come and if we can get his bike working to his liking tomorrow he could easily be racing at the sharp end.
“The lap times continue to tumble as the riders learn the circuit and more rubber is laid on the track. It is an absolutely spectacular venue, certainly one of the best circuits in the world and I urge everyone who can to visit tomorrow, it’s going to be a spectacular end to the 2009 season and inauguration of the circuit to Superbike racing.”
