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RESULT:
1 F. Foret FRA (Ten Kate Honda) 40’09.883
2 K. Muggeridge AUS (Alstare Corona Suzuki) 40’10.074
3 J. Whitham GBR (Yamaha Belgarda) 40’12.134
13 Cristiano Migliorati, ITA (BKM Honda) 40’48.626
14 Kevin Curtain, AUS (BKM Honda) 40’56.846.
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:
1 A. Pitt Fuchs Kawasaki 149 points
2 P. Casoli Yamaha Belgarda 147 points
3 J. Teuchert Wilbers Suspension 135 points
4 J. Whitham Yamaha Belgarda 106
5 Kevin Curtain BKM Honda 102 points
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BKM - 1st HONDA and MICHELIN TEAM
in the SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.
KEVIN CURTAIN 5TH OVERALL.
RACE:
Despite being relegated but just four points the BKM Honda Racing
Team are pleased to announce their overall fifth place in the championship.
BKM are also the first Honda and first Michelin team in the championship
standings, in this they’re premier season as a factory Honda team.
Kevin Curtain’s great start was wasted when he ran in to many problems
early on in the race and finished the final round of the championship
in 14th place. His stunning start got him up to 15th on the first lap
and 13th on the next. Putting in his best time (1’55.129) on his
third lap, then he ran into tyre and technical problems.
Kevin comments: "I got a good start despite the front tyre feeling
like it was not working, I had very little grip, I could have crashed
on so many occasions. I couldn’t get a good lean angle, then the
brakes went off, I was only braking with one finger but the lever was
squashing the others. My attempts to adjust it failed. I rely on my data
logger for my lap times and that also stopped working early on. When Migliorati
came past I tried to keep with him but it was impossible and I would have
ended up in the gravel. I just couldn’t believe my luck, all these
problems, why now, I needed only to finish a few places higher and I could
have held on to 4th. Of course I’m happy with 5th in my first full
season in the Supersport Championship and I would to thank BKM for this
great season.
Cristiano finished ahead of team-mate Kevin in 13th place, riding
a great race considering his starting place of 28th. He bettered his qualifying
time when he put in a 1’55.778 and finished the championship in 20th
place.
Cristiano comments: I’m not happy and I am happy. In the race I wanted
to achieve more but my target this year was to finish in the top twenty
in the World Supersport Championship and I have reached my goal. Thanks
to BKM for their great efforts this season."
Michael Bartholemy – Team Manager comments: "If we had not
been so unlucky and Kevin hadn’t suffered with these problems then
I believe we would have kept fourth place but this is racing and I am
still very pleased with our final result. For Kevin to finish in 5th place
is good for BKM it is also very important for BKM to be the first Honda
team and Michelin team and I have to thank all the members of the BKM,
the riders and our sponsors and associates for making this result possible."
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QUALIFYING POSITIONS FOR THE RACE:
1 K. Muggeridge (Suzuki Alstare Corona) 1’53.504
2 P.Casoli (Yamaha Belgarda) 1’53.559
3 F.Foret (Ten Kate Honda) 1’53.590
24 K. CURTAIN AUS (BKM HONDA) 1’55.559
28 C.MIGLIORATI ITA (BKM HONDA) 1’56.293.
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The Enzo & Diena Ferrari Circuit welcomes for the first time the
World Supersport Championship.
FRIDAY QUALIFYING PRACTICE:
Despite injuries and riding on his second bike Kevin Curtain achieved
a lap time of 1’56.664. Half way through the first qualifying session
the Australian Kevin Curtain had a huge high side exiting the Tamburello
chicane. Braking a finger and badly spraining others including his thumb
(on his important braking and throttle hand) he returned to the track
to complete the session. "I’d been trying to find a good race
tyre, the qualifiers are good, but this tyre was obviously not a good
one for me. It took too long to get back to the pits, digging me out of
the gravel took a while, I just remember the bike flying over me. It so
easily could have been a lot worse, but it did mess up my chances. Cristiano
had hoped for a better time 1’56.984, he is one of the few to have
raced here before (GP250 97’ – 98’) and started the weekend
feeling good in the mornings free practice. "I was happy but now
I am not we have a lot of work to do if I am going to get a good result."
FINAL QUALIFYING:
Weather: Humidity 57% Temp 23 C. Track: Dry, 35 C.
Curtain had an eventful final qualifying when he collided with Kellner
early on in the session. Kevin who was on a flying lap was faced with
Kellner who was coasting on one of the fast sections of the track. "As
I came through the blind section, I found Kellner coasting, I couldn’t
stop and he started moving over, we touched but didn’t crash, it
was a lucky escape for us both." Added Kevin. After the incident
his bike incurred technical problems and he was forced to return to the
pits to collect his second bike, this and the further returns to the pits
to make adjustments that wouldn’t have been necessary on his first
bike interrupted his rhythm. Aiming to finish his first full season of
World Supersport racing in fourth place he knows that it will go down
to the chequered flag, as anything can happen in the race. With Riba 10
points behind and Whitham seventeen points behind the scenarios that will
enable Kevin to remain in fourth spot are endless. With a time of 1’55.559
and a starting position of 24th the Australian knows he has to ride a
good race. "I will give it my all tomorrow no matter what, if it
rains all the better!" Cristiano wants the weather to stay dry, as
he will try another new set up in tomorrow’s warm up. He has qualified
in 28th place with a time of 1’56.293. Suspension is the most crucial
key to finding more time and I have my fingers crossed it works for me,
the team have given me every opportunity and I hope I can repay them."
Added Cristiano.
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