CURTAIN THIRD ON QATAR GRID
24 February 2006 - Yamaha

Having never run the latest R6 at the Losail circuit, the Yamaha riders were disappointed to find wet conditions for yesterday''s opening practice sessions - restricting their set-up time ahead of Saturday''s 18 lap race.

Round: 1 - Qatar WSS
Circuit: Losail Circuit
Date: 24 February 2006
Temp: 23ºC
Weather: Sunny

Dry conditions also meant that yesterday''s world supersport qualifying times were redundant by the very first lap of today''s session, although in the end the expected names would be topping the leaderboard.

After ending yesterday''s wet first session in second place, Yamaha Motor Germany''s Kevin Curtain again led the hordes of riders running the new YZF-R6. The multiple Australian champion, second in last year''s series, recorded a 2:04.741 to end the day in third place despite crashing late in the session.

Team-mate Broc Parkes will start tomorrow''s race from the second row of the grid, in fifth place, after recording a best of 2:05.082. Spanish Yamaha privateer Xavi Fores of the SLM Racing team confirmed the R6''s potential by recording the sixth fastest time, with Italian Gianluca Nannelli another R6 runner in the top ten.

Reigning world champion Sebastien Charpentier (Honda) will start tomorrow''s race from pole position. His team-mate Kenan Sofuoglu starts alongside him with Katsuaki Fujiwara (Honda) completing the front row in fourth place.

Round: 1 - Qatar
Circuit: Losail Circuit
Circuit Length: 5380
Lap Record: 2'' 4.686 (Sebastien Charpentier, 2005)
Fastest Lap Ever: 2'' 3.747 (Sebastien Charpentier, 2005)
Date: 24 February 2006
Temp: 23ºC

Session 1 :
Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. 1st Qualifying 2nd Qualifying
1 S. Charpentier Honda FRA 2'' 27.755 2'' 3.093
2 K. Sofuoglu Honda TUR 2'' 21.890 2'' 4.089
3 K. Curtain Yamaha AUS 2'' 23.872 2'' 4.741
4 K. Fujiwara Honda JPN 2'' 27.615 2'' 4.756
5 B. Parkes Yamaha AUS 2'' 24.757 2'' 5.082
6 X. Fores Yamaha ESP 2'' 26.887 2'' 5.415
7 K. Andersen Suzuki NOR 2'' 25.853 2'' 5.924
8 M. Berger Kawasaki FRA 2'' 30.213 2'' 5.994
9 G. Nannelli Yamaha ITA 2'' 24.021 2'' 6.183
10 B. Veneman Suzuki NED 2'' 26.770 2'' 6.227
11 C. Zaiser Ducati AUT 2'' 26.945 2'' 6.265
12 M. Sanchini Yamaha ITA 2'' 26.670 2'' 6.362
13 G. Vizziello Yamaha ITA 2'' 27.690 2'' 6.447
14 W. De Angelis Honda ITA 2'' 29.724 2'' 6.647
15 C. Peris Yamaha CAN 2'' 30.164 2'' 6.734
16 M. Roccoli Yamaha ITA 2'' 29.666 2'' 6.818
17 A. Gobert Yamaha AUS 2'' 28.284 2'' 6.872
26 D. Van Keymeulen Yamaha BEL 2'' 30.832 2'' 7.972
28 A. Velini Yamaha ITA 2'' 30.150 2'' 8.219
29 D. Garcia Yamaha ITA 2'' 28.596 2'' 8.921
30 V. Ivanov Yamaha RUS 2'' 30.250 2'' 9.142

www.yamaha-motor.co.uk

More News
  For February 2006
  From Yamaha
  For Supersport
  Biker247.com Home Page