BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team - WSBK - Silverstone - Qualifying Practice 1

Silverstone – Free Practice & Qualifying Practice 1.

Friday, 2nd August 2013.

Weather conditions: Cloudy in the morning, sunny in the afternoon.

Temperature: Air: 21 – 24 °C, Track: 26 – 34 °C

Number of riders participating: 18 from 11 teams

Fastest lap Free Practice: Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) 2:06.056 min

Fastest lap Qualifying Practice 1: Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) 2:05.355 min

The BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team has completed an intensive day’s work  preparing for Sunday’s races at Silverstone. The British race track hosts the ninth round of the 2013 FIM Superbike World Championship. The weekend started with dry conditions in the afternoon for factory riders Marco Melandri (ITA) and Chaz Davies (GBR). Marco finished eighth with his BMW S 1000 RR in today’s first qualifying practice while Chaz was 12th.

In the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, Sylvain Barrier (FRA) from the BMW Motorrad GoldBet STK Team secured provisional pole-position after posting the fastest time in today’s first qualifying session with his BMW HP4. His team-mate Greg Gildenhuys (RSA) finished 17th.

Marco Melandri:

Fastest lap Free Practice: 2:07.005 min (P5)/Fastest lap Qualifying Practice 1: 2:06.590 min (P8)

“Going back out of the track is the best cure for us as riders after what had happened in Moscow. This afternoon there’ll be a meeting with all riders and the organiser, there it will be decided if from now on we will meet on a regularly basis to share our thoughts about safety issues. This would be very important.

The track conditions here in Silverstone are getting more and more difficult and we were struggling a bit to absorb the bumpy surface. In addition, I had a pretty good feeling with used tyres but with new tyres I was struggling to go fast. We will now work on improving my feeling on the bumps and with new tyres. I think that it will be a very slow and difficult race. We will find out after the first laps but I am quite optimistic that we can be among the front runners.”


Chaz Davies:

Fastest lap Free Practice: 2:08.450 min (P14)/Fastest lap Qualifying Practice 1: 2:06.826 min (P12)

“Today was not too easy. We are at a bumpy track again. We started our work with the set-up we were successful with in Russia, but it seems that these settings are not ideal for bumps so we need to go away from that and find something that works on this surface and also something that helps us to find more grip as it is bumpy and slippery here. This morning was difficult but already this afternoon the bike definitely went in the right direction but we still need to improve. In general I think we have found the right way, we just need to keep working in this direction for tomorrow.”

Serafino Foti (Sport Director BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team):
“I want to compliment to the team, who keep their focus, continue to work hard and demonstrate to be real professionals. The track conditions are getting more difficult and this has not been helpful for our work. Marco has a good pace and with used tyres, he has a good feeling. Chaz was struggling a little bit more but we are confident for the races. In the Superstock class, Sylvain got the provisional pole position. Greg still has to learn the track as he is riding here for the first time.”

Andrea Dosoli (Technical Director BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team):
“Today both crews used the two dry sessions to work hard on the bike. We expected to have some difficulties on this bumpy surface and unfortunately both riders are still struggling with the rear end of the bike which is not absorbing the bumps as they expected. I addition to the bumpy surface, Chaz was still lacking some side grip and this combination makes the rear end of the bike a bit unstable. This is the main area on which we will focus now. We need to improve the riders’ confidence in the rear end. On this long race track, as soon as you do so a bit you can make a big step in terms of lap times. We are losing time mainly in the first and the last sector and these are the areas where our efforts will be focused. I am confident that in tomorrow’s Superpole, both riders will be able to fight for the first two rows.”