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Team Virgin Mobile Aiwa Yamaha Press Report:
Saturday, August 10
CAUTIOUS START TO THRUXTON CHARGE:
The team made a cautious start to the racing weekend with the demanding Thruxton circuit left in a slick state after a full day of torrential rain.
With the riders only having an hour of dry track time to get their machines dialled in the action was fast and furious in the run-up to the one-lap Superpole shoot-out decider this afternoon near Andover.
Come the Superpole itself and the riders were split on the timesheets. Making his racing debut for the team Sean Emmett was out to prove his title-threatening form during the previous qualifying session, logging the third fastest time in the Superpole warm-up.
Come the session itself however and Emmett looked to be on course for a top of the timesheets spectacle until he suffered a huge slide at the perilous 120mph Church right hand corner. The big moment caused the London-based rider to roll off the throttle of his Yamaha R1 Superbike for a split second or run the risk of running off track: ‘That cost me a big chunk of time. Coming out of that bend you need to keep all your momentum to be able to carry fast speed up the hill that follows it.
‘It is a little frustrating but then that’s the way Superpole goes sometimes, we managed to find a very good race set-up during qualifying and I know I can lap at what should be front running pace tomorrow. Which is the most important thing.’
The brace of big bike races sees Emmett starting from sixth place on the grid with Steve Plater alongside in seventh. Steve also suffered the slippery demons on his Superpole lap, but looked to be much improved on the discipline that has caused him some problems this year: ‘I felt much happier on the bike in that session. I think I was riding pretty well but I had a couple of slides and that cost me time – second row of the grid is OK here though. The trick is to get away with the front group and hang on to them.
‘The run up the hill turns into a skill of slipstream during the races so anything can happen come race day.’
Kiwi, Simon Crafar was on sizzling form throughout the qualifying sessions, running at the top of the timesheets throughout the afternoon. As with the other two riders Simon also suffered a lack of grip due to the changeable track conditions on his one-lap dash and paid the price with time, coming home tenth fastest.
‘I like the circuit; it’s been ten years since I rode here and it is every bit as mad as I remember. The grip was a bit loose out there during Superpole and I was a little outside my best time of the day which is a bit frustrating. ‘But saying that we know that the races are going to be close and full of passing. It’s up to me to be in the middle of it tomorrow.’
Pole position: Michael Rutter, Ducati 1m 15.531
2 John Reynolds, Suzuki 1m 16.219
3 Shane Byrne, Ducati 1m 16.350
4 Karl Harris, Suzuki 1m 16.452
5 Glen Richards, Kawasaki 1m 16.495
6 Sean Emmett, Yamaha 1m 16.552
7 Steve Plater, Yamaha 1m 16.554
8 Dean Thomas, Ducati 1m 16.712
9 Steve Hislop, Ducati 1m 16.810
10 Simon Crafar, Yamaha 1m 16.961
11 Gary Mason, Honda 1m 17.181
12 John Crawford, Suzuki 1m 17.194
13 Mark Burr, Kawasaki 1m 17.367
14 Jason Davies, Yamaha 1m 17.415
15 Dean Ellison, Honda 1m 17.440
16 Adrian Coates, Suzuki 1m 18.433
