StoneBaker head the field after free practice
31-10-2008
"We're here to play the game!" were the words of StoneBaker team owner Andrew Stone as rider Gino Rea crossed the finishing line 1.202 seconds ahead of the rest of the pack in the dying moments of this morning's opening Free Practice session for the final round of the 2008 European Superstock 600 Championship at Portimao, Portugal. Team mate Dan Linfoot was sixth.
The half-hour session had been dominated by Italians Daniele Beretta (Suzuki) and Marco Bussolotti (Yamaha) with Rea running in the top half-dozen. With five minutes to go, the Epsom teenager came in to the pits for adjustments to his front suspension and then after one warm-up lap blasted his way up through the field into top place with his final flying lap timed at two minutes 7.479 seconds.
Team mate Dan Linfoot stayed out on the track for the full half-hour and was rarely out of the top four. Finding the conditions slippery he was nudged back to sixth towards the end of the session with a time of two minutes 9.364 seconds but is confident there is more speed to come later today.
The riders and squad are now fired up for this afternoon's opening Qualifying session. However, local weather conditions are proving to be unpredictable. Although there was no rain during this morning's outing, the track was still damp from an earlier downpour. Cloud conditions are currently overcast, with the threat of rain never far away, making tyre selections tricky until the session actually begins.
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Team StoneBaker.
The great race at the new Portimao circuit brings an end to our season in World Superbike Superstock 600, with riders Gino Rea and Dan Linfoot.
The season has been a success with Gino third and Dan fifth in the championship standings following three victories and five additional podiums in total. The results have also acted as a stepping stone to the riders for next season, with both securing high profile, career progressing rides for 2009.
Thank you for all of the emails, calls, texts and visits throughout the year. It has been much appreciated.
