Alex Lowes tops Friday WSBK Practice at Phillip Island
With just one session to go to decide the first Tissot-Superpole riders of the new 2015 WorldSBK season, Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) is the one that everyone is chasing after ending day one in Australia on top, courtesy of his FP1 time of 1.30.855s.
The British rider will head into tomorrow’s FP3 with a gap of 0.359s over Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) as the top nine riders were separated by a second.
“The timesheets don’t tell the full story, we still have a lot of work to do in the heat,” said Lowes. “We were fast this morning on the cold track but we’re always fast in the cold.
“In the hot conditions we have work to do, we tried something this afternoon, we maybe weren’t on the right tyre for the conditions and we still did a decent job so we just need to continue working as we are. We have a lot of work to do but we have started well and I’m happy enough, we’ll keep working hard tomorrow and see what that brings.”
It was an excellent début for Jordi Torres, who made no secret of his satisfaction: “Getting off to better start would be hard! Credit definitely goes to Aprilia, the bike that really works well here and the great feeling I have with the guys on the team. I find it easy to learn even though there are still a lot of things to improve. I also must say that this track suits my riding style well. You have to hold the line with the gas open, be fast in the turns and there are no violent braking sections. Maybe in more of a “stop-and-go” track things would be different. In any case I’m enjoying the moment, especially because we’ve been doing well on tyre wear as well. With the high temperatures this afternoon conserving the tyres is fundamental. Sliding around not only makes you lose time trying to hold the line in turns but also coming out of them and at high speeds. Tomorrow we’ll continue testing and I can’t wait to take on my first Superpole.”
Third place in the overall classification after the opening day was Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) one of many who were unable to improve this afternoon in the much hotter conditions.
In fact only eight of the 25 riders were able to better their FP1 times.
Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) finished 4th ahead of Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) and the second of the WorldSBK rookies Nico Terol (Althea Racing) who was 6th.
Leon Haslam was positive: “This first day was a good début for us. Today we tried a lot of different setups and were able to find some good solutions. In my last lap I crashed on turn 10 due to a small mistake. We also focused on the two rear tyre options available to us, on their performance with varying temperatures and wear during the race, and we are close to an optimum setup. Looking at the races on Sunday I think that the hotter tarmac will help my Aprilia. Its power output could make things easier for me. The secret to this track is trying everything and fine tuning the bike, so that’s what we’ll be concentrating on tomorrow.”
Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) continues to find his feet after moving up from World Supersport, the reigning WSS champion jumped up to 7th.
Michael van der Mark – P7, 1m31.693s – “This afternoon we made a really big step because, to be honest, this morning’s first session was a bit of a disappointment. During the test we had some difficulties and we changed the set-up a lot, but we found out this morning that those changes weren’t working. We started this afternoon with some more changes and immediately the feeling was completely different, even though the track conditions were not so good like this morning. In the end I set my fastest time in a long run and the bike is much easier to ride now, especially changes in direction. That’s what we were working for and to be fourth in the second session and seventh overall makes me really happy, but we’ll keep working to improve.”
Niccolo Canepa (Team Hero EBR) missed FP1 due to a technical problem, the Italian managed a couple of competitive laps before falling at turn 10. He will head into tomorrow in 20th overall.
Sylvain Barrier fell at turn 11 at the half way point of FP3, the Frenchman still fast enough to claim 13th.
Leon Haslam was the only other faller, the British rider losing the front of his Aprilia at turn 10.
Reigning champion Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) was 12th, the Frenchman who improved throughout the final 45 minutes was lucky not to crash after saving what would have been a huge highside.
Sylvain Guintoli – P12, 1m32.329s – “It was a tough start this morning when we tried something that didn’t work so we had to go back to the base setting. The feeling with the bike this afternoon was a little better but I’m still struggling to get dialled in, so there’s still a lot of work to do. We’re too slow for now and we have to look through all the data to find that last little bit of pace that we need. We’re still a little bit on the back foot after missing the test in Jerez and I’m just not quite dialled in yet. We’re definitely making progress but sometimes it happens straight away and other times you need a bit more time to find your mark.”
Troy Bayliss (Aruba SBK Team) found himself in 18th after his first 90 minutes of competitive WorldSBK action since 2008. The Australian spending a lot of time chasing a set-up on his Ducati Panigale machine, eventually elevating himself into the top twenty in the final seven minutes courtesy of four personal best laps in a row. Bayliss only managed one proper flying lap in the morning session thus the afternoon session was his first real hit-out on the bike with the team still chasing the basics of set-up, the Australian coming in twice for shock and fork spring changes during the 45-minute session.
“We lost almost the whole session this morning due to a technical issue which was a pity, but then this afternoon we were able to make some progress and I really started to feel good on the bike,” said Bayliss. “I’m not feeling very confident with the back of the bike right now, in maximum lean, as there’s some sliding there, but I’m sure we’ll be able to sort that out tomorrow.
“I can say that we’re definitely making progress. There’s a lot we still need to do tomorrow of course, but we’re taking baby steps and we’re getting there. The important thing is that I’m really enjoying riding the bike and overall I’m very happy for the short Friday I’ve had.”
Bayliss, world champion in 2001, 2006 and 2008, has six wins to his credit at Phillip Island, second only to the ‘other’ Troy – Corser, both masters of their craft around the fast and flowing circuit.
Corser, who retired at the end of end of 2011 with two world titles, is at Phillip Island this weekend to celebrate 25 years of world superbike racing at Phillip Island. Tonight the gates will be thrown open at the circuit for a series of free festivities, culminating in a fireworks display on Gardner Straight.
Fans will get the chance to meet world superbike legends from the past 25 years, including Peter Goddard and Robbie Phillis — the winners of the very first round in 1990 — as well as Bayliss, Corser, Chris Vermeulen, Kevin Magee, Karl Muggeridge and Andrew Pitt. There will also be stunt bike displays and kids’ activities.
Wildcard riders Matt Walters (Team Pedercini) and Jed Metcher (Race Center – Demolition Plus) eased themselves into the weekend posting the 16th and 19th times at the end of the opening day. Metcher has been struggling with fueling problems today (see team report further down the page).
After FP3 in the morning, 20 riders will progress into the Tissot-Superpole sessions with 10 places on offer for the fastest ten riders after the times from FP1, FP2 and FP3 are combined. As it stands Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) sits in 11th overall and will need to find at least 0.254s to move automatically into the Pole Position shoot-out tomorrow. The fastest two riders in Superpole 1 will progress to Superpole 2, making a total of 12 riders competing for the first 12 grid positions. Both Superpole sessions will run for 15 minutes each. There will be a break of 10 minutes in between Superpole 1 and Superpole 2.
World Superbike 2015 – Phillip Island – Friday Practice Times Combined Sessions
- Alex Lowes 1m30.855
- Jordi Torres 1m31.214
- Tom Sykes 1m31.403
- Leon Haslam 1m31.466
- Jonathan Rea 1m31.541
- Nicolas Terol 1m31.614
- Michael Van Der Mark 1m31.693
- Chaz Davies 1m31.748
- David Salom 1m31.855
- Randy De Puniet 1m31.881
- Leon Camier 1m32.135
- Sylvain Guintoli 1m32.329
- Sylvain Barrier 1m32.393
- Matteo Baiocco 1m32.565
- Leandro Mercado 1m33.060
- Matt Walters 1m33.091
- Ramos 1m33.193
- Troy Bayliss 1m33.490
- Jed Metcher 1m33.814
- Canpea 1m33.974
- Barragan 1m34.321
- Pegram 1m34.594
- Rizmayer 1m34.633
- Ponsson 1m36.116
- Toth 1m36.699
Jed Metcher Team Report
On Jed’s first stop his initial feedback was that the bike felt down on power. Some changes to engine mapping were made in an attempt to resolve the problem. Unfortunately the speed issue was unresolved and the Demolitons Plus Race Center RC-10 got progressively slower as the session went on.
Diagnosis is that we’re still suffering from a fuelling issue with the engine being starved for fuel and robbed for power. The boys are replacing key fuel system components before session 2 to overcome the issue.
A positive second sesssion has seen the team resolve the fuelling problems that has been dogging us for the last week. The replacement of the fuel pump solving the previous fuel starvation problems. Top speed was restored and engine power consistent throughout the session seeing Jed and fellow Aussie Troy Bayliss battling for position.
With the power issues sorted the team were able to devote some time to suspension setup. Jed’s feedback indicating he was struggling with change of direction on the RC-10. A mid session spring rate change saw an incremental improvement. Rear grip on the exit from Siberia thoough was still causing Jed some grief. With too much wheel spin under power making the bike extremely difficult to control.
Again throughout the day Jed has been exceptional. Composed and focused on working towards the ultimate goal. Feedback he’s given the team has been invaluable in getting us moving forward.
