World Superbike

Second Row for Ten Kate Honda in Supersport after Wash Out

2 Mins read

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda are targeting victory in tomorrow's Supersport race at Misano with both their riders starting on the second row of the grid.

With rain eliminating any hopes of any improvements, the times from Friday's session decided the grid, meaning Fabien Foret will start from fifth, with Florian Marino eighth.

After suffering a big accident in wet conditions in Australia, Foret took the safe option and with tomorrow in mind, is confident of his pace in the dry.

“If it's wet tomorrow, I'll find out how the track is then. I didn't go out today because I didn’t think that there was much to learn, not because I had a problem with the big crash I had in the wet at Phillip Island. The circumstances were very different then and I preferred not to ride this afternoon. Yesterday and this morning, I have enjoyed getting comfortable on the bike again, with a complete free range of movement. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's race because on longer runs I think we are all quite close – OK, I would have liked the front row but fifth is OK.”

On the second Honda CBR600RR, Marino did decide to go out and was fastest of the 16 riders to brave the conditions. The 18 year old is in confident mood ahead of tomorrow's race and is looking to mix it with the leaders.

“I had a new setting for this afternoon which I wanted to try but when the rain started we knew that we would have to wait until the warm-up tomorrow. I did a few laps just to get a feeling for the surface in the wet but the forecast is for dry weather tomorrow afternoon. This morning, the bike definitely felt better than yesterday, so we wanted to make more progress. I will try to make up some positions early in the race and hopefully I can fight near the front again.”

Team manager Ronald ten Kate felt the weather prevented his riders from qualifying on the front row, which he feels the bike is capable of, but fancies his riders' chances of making up for that tomorrow.

“Well, we didn't really get the best out of yesterday's first qualifying and the rain stopped us improving the positions today. For the race, however, I am positive that both riders can run with the guys on the front row and I believe there will be another intense and classic Supersport battle out there tomorrow afternoon.”

Sam Lowes will start the race from pole position after edging out fellow Briton Chaz Davies. Kawasaki pair David Salom and Broc Parkes will complete the front row for tomorrow’s race.

Luca Scassa, who shares the championship lead with Davies, will not take part after being handed a suspension by the FIM after lapping the Misano circuit earlier in the year as part of his role as a riding instructor. As this is against the rules, the Italian has been disqualified from the event.

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