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news
02 Aug 2008
Jones calls on home support
PARKALGAR HONDA racer Craig Jones will start tomorrow’s ninth round of the World Supersport Championship at Brands Hatch in Kent from third on the front row of the grid and is hoping to use the home support to his advantage to score his maiden win.
Based in Peterborough, Brit Jones admits to feeling pressure riding at his home round but wants to use it to help him win. During final qualification he improved his lap time and was lying second but a clutch problem relegated him to the garage while his competitors set their fastest times. Falling rain meant he didn’t have another chance to improve his time.
Portuguese Parkalgar Honda racer Miguel Praia slashed a second from his lap times in the morning practice but was unable to match that performance in the afternoon with dark clouds menacing the 2.3-mile long Kent circuit. He will start from 31st on the grid and targeting a points scoring finish.
Racing starts at 1320 tomorrow, Sunday, August 3rd and can be viewed on www.worldsbk.com or live on Eurosport.
Jones: “To be honest I am disappointed with third on the grid. I was building up my effort while testing a tyre and could have gone a fair bit faster but a problem with my clutch forced me into the garage. By the time I was ready to go back out the rain was falling and even though it dried out towards the end and I set the fastest first split, it was still damp at the rear of the circuit and there was no chance of improving.
“We will look at final tyre choice in the morning warm-up and to be honest I am in good shape. The home crowd puts me under some pressure but I can use that to my advantage and it will simply inspire me to do my very best tomorrow and win the race, so please cheer me on.”
Praia: “In practice I find a little bit more from my bike and also follow Craig for several laps to try and learn the lines and I must thank him for his help as I took one-second from my lap times. In the afternoon the rain was threatening and did not have time to build up to a fast lap before the rain fell.
“It is a long race tomorrow and who knows what can happen? I still want a points finish and I know I have the lap times to achieve it, now it must come from me in the race.”
Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager:
“It would have been nice to be on pole and we had the potential to do it. At the end Craig was beating the pole time on the first split until he got under the trees where it was still a bit damp. We have winning race pace but so does Jonathan Rea and I do think the race will be between Craig and him. We are in good shape and on the front row so we shall see what tomorrow brings.
“Miguel made a big improvement this morning but unfortunately didn’t put a lap together. He is starting from 31st on the grid so he needs to get away well and try to get into the points. “
Final Qualification
1: M Lagrive, FRA, (Honda) 1:28.003
2: J Rea, GBR, (Honda) +0.114
3: CRAIG JONES, GBR, (PARKALGAR HONDA) +0.168
4: B Parkes, AUS, (Yamaha) +0.198
5: K Harris, GBR, (Yamaha) +0.218
6: J Brookes, AUS, (Honda) +0.387
...
31: MIGUEL PRAIA (PARKALGAR HONDA) +2.448.
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