Three Ninja ZX-6R Riders on the Front Row!

2010-07-10 21:02
Kawasaki riders almost completely monopolised the front row grid positions after final WSS qualifying at Brno, with Joan Lascorz on pole, Katsuaki Fujiwara second and Fabien Foret fourth.

Lascorz took pole from his team-mate in the last seconds of the final qualifying session, which saw track temperatures get up to 59°C and many other riders fall as the asphalt went beyond ideal temperature. Joan was last on pole in Australia, round one, and this was his third career pole in this class of racing. On raceday he will be out to overhaul his big rivals, Eugene Laverty and Kenan Sofuoglu, and attempt to retake the championship lead.

Katsuaki’s comeback to racing has been incredible so far. He was struck down with severe appendicitis before the previous Misano race and had keyhole surgery only two weeks ago, as well as being made very ill by his infected appendix. He hopes to be fit for the full race on Sunday and he is already celebrating his best start position of the year, although he has been on the front row on three previous occasions.

Behind the official machines of Joan and Katsuaki, the supported Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki squad got back to its best, with Foret inside the top four and less than 0.4 seconds from pole.

In the European Superstock 600 race Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R rider Josh Elliott was unlucky to crash out of the podium places and miss a place in the final results, but he had set an impressive pole earlier in the day on his Direct CCT Kawasaki Racedays machine.

Joan Lascorz: “In the end it was good, we made a good plan with Pere Riba my crew chief and we are really happy. Everybody pushed hard at the end and there were many crashes because the track temperature got so high. I am happy to do my fast lap time but I am happier with my race pace in these hot conditions. We used both bikes to find a good set-up for tomorrow. I think the top guys will push from the start.”

Katsuaki Fujiwara: “Considering I had an operation just a couple of weeks ago to have my appendix removed, I am very happy to qualify where I did. My machine is working very well and I feel good about tomorrow. I did not want to push too hard this afternoon so front row is perfect really. It is a long race tomorrow so I will have to pace myself if I can, yet stay with the front group.”

Fabien Foret: “I am very happy with this session and I am in a position where I expected to be. We have some issues in the last few races and some bad luck. We arrived here fresh again and I have tried just to be clear about my own job. Three Kawasakis on the front row; just amazing for us all. All things are possible tomorrow.”

Source: Kawasaki Racing Team

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