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noticias
26 Abr 2008
Jones goes one better
PARKALGAR HONDA’S Craig Jones enjoyed a titanic three-way battle for pole position during final qualifying for the fourth round of the World Supersport Championship and will start tomorrow’s race from third place on the front row.
The 23-year-old British ace from Peterborough was on top of the time sheets for much of the wet morning session and always in contention during the dry afternoon qualifying, eventually finishing third less than 2/10ths of a second away from pole-sitter Broc Parkes.
Parkalgar Honda Portuguese racer Miguel Praia ended up 24th and was unable to improve his lap time from yesterday at the tricky to master historic Dutch circuit.
The fourth round of the World Supersport race at the 4.55km Assen track takes place at 1320 CET on Sunday, April 27th. It can be viewed live on www.worldsbk.com.
Craig Jones:
“It would have been better to be at the top of the time sheets in pole position but I never quite managed to put a perfect lap together so it wasn’t meant to be. However, I am happy to go one better than yesterday’s qualifying position and I am very comfortable on my Parkalgar Honda. I think we have a good race pace.
“My plan for tomorrow is to try and make a break early on and get my head down. The trouble with Assen is that it is very long and flat and easy to follow other riders, so if I can’t get away I’ll go with the flow and take the race as it comes. Thank you to my Parkalgar Honda team for my excellent CBR600– it is doing everything I want.”
Miguel Praia:
“I am very disappointed that I was not able to make an improvement on my lap times from yesterday. My Parkalgar Honda is good and my team is giving me plenty of support, but I could not seem to improve no matter how hard I tried.
“I need to think on how I can improve for the race because I should finish much higher than 24th. I want to score more points.”
Simon Buckmaster, Team Manager:
“That was easily the best qualifying session of the year to date. Watching it unfold in the garage was very exciting, made more-so for the Parkalgar Honda team as Craig was in contention for pole right up until the chequered flag. He has a strong front row starting position.
“Craig has winning pace at this track – along with three or four other riders. It’s going to be one mega race and that’s great for the fans. Parkalgar Honda and Craig Jones deserve their first win and tomorrow is as good a chance as any.
“Miguel was rightly disappointed not to improve his lap times and has slipped back down the starting line-up. He has a lot of talent and is still getting to grips with needing to go banzai for a single lap in qualifying – I think he actually tried too hard and that slowed him down. We are sure he will have a better race tomorrow and bring home more points.”
Qualifying Times:
1: B Parkes, AUS, (Yamaha) 1:40.895
2: J Rea, GBR (Honda) +0.049
3: CRAIG JONES, GBR, (PARKALGAR HONDA) +0.182
4: F Foret, FRA, (Yamaha) +0.293
5: J Lascorz, ESP, (Honda) +0.435
6: I Clementi, ITA, (Triumph) +0.493
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24: MIGUEL PRAIA, POR, (PARKALGAR HONDA) +2.229
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