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HONDA RACING INFORMATION
ZitatAlles anzeigenFIM SUPERBIKE / SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 13 SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23 PORTIMAO, PORTUGAL PREVIEW
REA AIMING FOR MORE SUCCESS AT A FAVOURED VENUE
Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) returns to action in the FIM Superbike World Championship this weekend after his first taste of competitive MotoGP action last weekend. He raced for the Repsol Honda team as a replacement for injured regular Casey Stoner at the Misano Circuit Marco Simoncelli, finishing in eighth place.
It is back to his regular duties for Honda in the Superbike series this weekend and Jonathan once more takes on the intense challenge of the Autodromo do Algarve, in the hills behind one of Europe’s favourite holiday destinations.
The circuit near Portimao packs in a feast of different corners styles and elevation changes along its 4.592km length, making it one of the most rewarding riding experiences for any competitor on the championship trail. It is a special place for Rea, who enjoyed his first ever SBK weekend there in 2008, before embarking on his first full SBK season on 2009. Since starting his debut season he has scored five podium places from six races at the Portuguese track.
Rea, with ten career race wins to his name, has plenty of motivation to go for his first race victory in the Algarve, as he lost some points in the previous round at Germany. He is fifth in the championship rankings now, on 225.5 points and with four podiums, including two race wins, to his credit in 2012 so far.
Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda World Superbike Team) will face yet another circuit he has no prior knowledge of in his rookie season when he gets to Portimao. His aim as always is to learn the circuit and arrive at a final bike set-up, which will let him qualify inside the top 16. This then allows him to participate in superpole where he can try to improve his grid position once again.
Hiroshi has arrived in the SBK championship during one of the most competitive seasons ever and now sits 18th in the rankings, on 51.5 points.
PENULTIMATE ROUND FOR HONDA WSS RIDERS
With two rounds remaining in the 2012 FIM Supersport World Championship Jules Cluzel (PTR
Honda) is the only rider who can now prevent long-time series leader Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) from winning the title. After the Honda rider placed second in the previous round in Germany Cluzel now sits 38 points behind Sofuoglu with 50 points available for any rider who wins the final two races.Cluzel has been a strong force throughout his rookie season and in heading to Portugal the former 250GP and Moto2 rider will meet another new circuit he has never seen before. He feels, however, that he may well have a little help in that area at this round, as until very recently his PTR team was a partner of the Portuguese circuit. Because of this the team as a whole has more existing set-up data from Portimao than any other track on the calendar.
Cluzel has won two races this year, the same number as his fellow Honda rider Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda). Lowes has dropped out of contention for the championship itself after scoring 14th place in the previous round, and he is now fourth in the points table with only the Portimao and Magny-Cours rounds remaining.
Lowes sits four points from Fabien Foret
(Kawasaki) and 19 points ahead of fifth place rider Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Racing Products).
Broc has made three trips to the podium in 2012 so far and is going all out to finish his season on a high, starting at a Portimao circuit that he rates very highly.A return to front-running form for Ronan Quarmby (PTR Honda) is on the cards this weekend as the South African rider hopes for another podium success before the end of the year, to add to his third place at Imola early in the year.
Roberto Tamburini (Team Lorini Honda) kept hold of tenth position despite a DNF in the previous round. Having just missed a podium finish not once but twice this year, Tamburini is keen to round off his season with two more strong finishes to keep himself in the final top ten ranking.
Former 125GP World Champion Gabor Talmacsi (PRORACE Honda) joined the WSS fray at the mid-season point and in a very short space of time has learned how to maximise the potential of his CBR600RR. Up to 13th place already in the standings, he has a season best top six finish to his credit, which he gained at the previous round in Germany.
Imre Toth (Racing Team Toth Honda) and Balazs Nemeth (Racing Team Toth Honda) are hoping to put their run of no scores behind them at this round.
Toth is 19th and Nemeth 23rd in the rankings, with Toth taking the best finish inside the team so far, fourth place at Monza in May.In his rookie season Mathew Scholtz (Bogdanka PTR
Honda) is now 24th in the rankings, Valentin Debise (SMS Honda) is 26th. Martin Jessop (Riders PTR Honda) has scored a lone point in 2012, but hopes to move on from that total over the final two rounds and races of the season.After Portimao the final round of the year takes place in France, at the Magny-Cours Circuit, on Sunday October 7.
HONDA RIDER COMMENTS
Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team):
"I’m really looking forward to this weekend because I love riding at Portimao – it’s a very challenging circuit from a rider’s point of view.
It’s also where I had my first World Superbike race so it holds some special memories for me. We made some positive steps with the Fireblade at Nürburgring, but there’s still lots more to do, especially with the electronics, working on acceleration on the side of the tyre to improve corner exit. We also need to work on the engine characteristics to smooth out the power delivery, so there’s a bit to do. It certainly won’t be easy, but I think we can approach the weekend with some confidence in our challenge because the bike has gone well at Portimao in the past and I have a pretty good connection with the circuit."Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda World Superbike Team):
"I have never been to Portimao before so I am looking forward to seeing the track. I have watched some videos of other races and it looks very interesting, especially the first and last corners. There are also many up and down sections and my team have told me that there are some blind corners as well. I will do many laps on the scooter when I arrive in Portugal, but this is nothing compared to my race bike. We will start with the same base setting that we have used in the last few races and probably not make many changes until I understand the racetrack a bit better. It looks like a difficult track to learn but I am looking forward to riding at Portimao this weekend."Jules Cluzel (PTR Honda):
"I will be ready for Portimao, but it is another new track for me. I heard it is a good track and I like to learn new circuits. I need something extra to be World champion because if Kenan finishes well he will be the champion, no matter what else happens. I will try to finish the best I can. I think it is not easy when you learn new circuits, but I hope that my team’s previous experience there will help me, because most of my rivals will know the track very well. But in Germany that was the same situation and I was second behind Kenan there. I was able to win the last race, but I made two mistakes in the final laps. I just need a chance at this round."Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda):
"I am really looking forward to Portimao because it is a track that I particularly like riding at.
My last two races in the championship have not gone to plan, but I am feeling good for this weekend. I can just enjoy riding my bike and dig-in to the finish. There are two races left and I will do everything I can to win them. "Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Racing Products Honda):
"I hope for a good one in Portimao, We did not really have the pace at the last race, but normally it is a good track for me. I just want to try and finish the last two races very strongly. Portimao is quite fast in places so you still need some real power from the engine and also a good set-up, and if you can get that all working well you can be quick here. It is an awesome track to ride, one of the best in the world, because it is so different. The layout there is unique and a lot of fun."Ronan Quarmby (PTR Honda):
"I think I am just going to Portimao, put to my head down and make sure I get good points on the weekend. The races in Germany and Russia were a disappointment so even though I always train hard, I have put an extra little bit into my preparation to make sure I am really ready. I do like the circuit in Portugal; it’s an awesome track. The up and down sections are good, but my favourite part is the long last corner. You can get the bike a little sideways, but still feel in control there. In the race last year I think I was fastest in the last sector. PTR is a quality team and the guys work really well so I am looking forward to the final two rounds."Roberto Tamburini (Team Lorini Honda):
“I think we can make a good race. I had a problem and crashed at the Nürburgring last time out, but I think we can still improve the bike a little to be able to stay with the best riders in supersport. I am in tenth position in the championship and with two good races at Portimao and Magny Cours we can remain in the top ten.”Gabor Talmacsi (PRORACE Honda):
“I am keen to get to Portimao because it is a new generation of race track, so I have extra motivation to learn it. Every race we have been going better and better so if we can replicate this kind of result again I will be happy. I do not know so much about the track, but I have been playing it on the computer game and watching videos of the previous superbike and supersport races. I will go early and do a lot of laps on the bicycle and running to see how it is. The first day will be difficult of course, like at the Nürburgring, but I think on the second day we will find the set-up and I will know the track better.”