Qualifying times and rider quotes from Assen:Ben Spies – 1st“It was a good session, we did half a race stint at the beginning on race tyres that already had ten laps on from free practice and were only a few tenths off the fastest time from the race last year over race distance so I was really happy.
We then put some fresh race tyres on and the times just dropped dramatically and it seemed to come pretty easily.
The bike’s working really well, there are a couple of things we still need to dial in but the track’s great and I’m having fun with it.
” Yukio Kagayama -3rd“I am quite happy to finish today third, but my aim is to still be third or higher after qualifying and Superpole and then challenge for a podium on race day.
This is something that I will try very hard to do because I do not want to be low down the grid and have to fight to get through the field at the start of the race.
Today the grip level was not so good in the morning, but it was better in the afternoon; maybe because more rubber was down on the track.
We need to do some more work on improving the engine braking and try and reduce the chattering at the rear end, but we have some ideas and we will try them out tomorrow.
”Carlos Checa -4th“We have tried to test many new things today, including a longer exhaust, which I felt quite a good connection with.
We have ended up with two possible solutions and I am pretty happy with the race set-up with both.
The tyres are working well and, although there is still a bit of chatter, it’s nothing like as bad as it was in Qatar and Valencia.
I’m happy with my position at the moment and I am quite confident that we will be able to improve the feeling of the bike even more tomorrow.
”Michel Fabrizio – 5th“I am feeling fairly happy with today’s performance.
I am losing a few tenths, all in the first split and that has to be resolved tomorrow.
I think we’ve already identified a rear tyre solution for the race but we’re still unsure as to the front.
I had some grip problems with the front today but towards the end of the qualifying the feeling I had with the bike began to improve so we hope that we can continue to make improvements tomorrow too.
”Regis Laconi – 6th“I am very happy because the team has worked very well and I was able to make the best use of my Ducati.
Some small adjustments at the rear have been solved and we found traction and stability.
We were also very careful with the tires on this track.
I am very confident for the race, I hope only that the weather does not change in the last minute.
”Max Neukirchner -7th“Today was not so bad and I am quite happy with what we did.
I got into a good, quick rhythm this morning and put in quite a few good laps.
The grip was better in the afternoon for sure; probably because more rubber was down and it was a good session for us.
Tomorrow we will continue working on the set-up and deciding which tyres to use for the races.
It’s important to find a tyre that has good grip and lasts ok and that’s what we try and sort out the best way.
”Jonathan Rea -8th“I have to say that it’s been a really positive day.
The guys have worked so hard since Valencia and we arrived here with the main issue fixed, so I really have to thank the team for putting in such an effort.
There are a couple of smaller problems that have now been uncovered, but I’m confident that we will be able to iron those out tomorrow.
I was able to put some consistently good laps together towards the end of the session, when I did my quickest lap, so I’m happy.
The CBR is really fun to ride again!”Ryuichi Kiyonari -9th“I found it difficult to push the front in some areas today but overall the balance of the bike is good.
We may try a softer spring tomorrow but we will have to look at all the data tonight.
We only tested two tyre options today, so there is some more work to do there as well.
I am a little bit faster than last year, but so is everybody else – I really need to get the hairpin right to get the right acceleration for the back straight.
”Leon Haslam -10th“This afternoon we tried various different things which didn’t all lead to the result we had planned.
I managed to get out again with only ten minutes to go and was able to pick up the pace again.
I ended up at P10 and improved my best time with 0.
6s.
We know what we will have to focus on now, and I’m confident I can further improvements in tomorrow’s sessions.
”Noriyuki Haga -12th“It’s been a fairly positive day and I’m feeling comfortable.
The only real problem is that we have good rear traction that means we are consuming tyres too quickly.
So tomorrow we need to find a way to increase the life of the tyres without losing grip.
So although I wasn’t fastest today, the race is Sunday and as far as I’m concerned, the sessions on Friday are for finding solutions for the race.
Tomorrow I aim to qualify at the front of the grid.
”Shane Byrne – 13th“The track has changed a lot since I last time raced here in 2004 and 2005.
I got used to it pretty quickly and set the second quickest time.
Instead, I had some difficulties with the fast changes of direction where the bike seemed a bit rigid.
We’ll definitely work on that with the team so that we can improve its behaviour on track and prepare ourselves for Sunday’s two races and tomorrow’s Superpole during which we must get a good starting position”.
1.
Ben Spies USA Yamaha Italia YZF R1 1min 38.
747s2.
Jakub Smrz CZE Guandalini Racing Ducati 1098R 1min 39.
055s3.
Yukio Kagayama JPN Alstare Suzuki GSX-R 1000K9 1min 39.
128s4.
Carlos Checa ESP HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 39.
141s5.
Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1098R 1min 39.
238s6.
Regis Laconi FRA DFX Corse Ducati 1098R 1min 39.
246s7.
Max Neukirchner GER Alstare Suzuki GSX-R 1000K9 1min 39.
265s8.
Jonathan Rea GBR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 39.
359s9.
Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 39.
506s10.
Leon Haslam GBR Stiggy Motorsport Honda CBR1000RR 1min 39.
585s11.
Troy Corser AUS BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1min 39.
597s12.
Noriyuki Haga JPN Ducati Xerox 1098R 1min 39.
621s13.
Shane Byrne GBR Sterilgarda Ducati 1098R 1min 39.
784s14.
Karl Muggeridge AUS Celani Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 39.
897s15.
Tom Sykes GBR Yamaha Italia YZF R1 1min 39.
899s16.
Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia Racing RSV-4 1min 39.
934s17.
Shinya Nakano JPN Aprilia Racing RSV-4 1min 40.
199s18.
Ruben Xaus ESP BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1min 40.
349s19.
Tommy Hill GBR HANNspree Althea Honda CBR1000RR 1min 40.
617s20.
David Salom ESP Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 40.
853s21.
Brendan Roberts AUS Guandalini Racing Ducati 1098R 1min 40.
944s22.
Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA SCI Honda CBR1000RR 1mins 41.
014s23.
Luca Scassa ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 41.
085s24.
Makoto Tamada JPN Kawasaki SRT ZX-10R 1min 41.
165s25.
Stuart Easton GBR Kawasaki SRT ZX-0R 1min 41.
355s26.
Matteo Baiocco ITA PSG-1 Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 41.
363s27.
David Checa ESP Yamaha France GMT 94 1min 41.
823s28.
Roland Resch AUT TKR Switzerland Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 41.
978sJohn Hopkins USA Stiggy Motorsport Honda CBR1000RR Did Not Participate