StoneBaker second after Q1
05-09-2008
2008 European Superstock 600 Championship
Rd 08 - Brands Hatch
Qualifying 1, Friday September 5th
It's been a day of mixed fortunes for StoneBaker Racing at the end of the opening Qualifying session for the eighth round of the European Superstock 600 Championship at Donington Park. Rider Gino Rea claimed second place in the standings, missing pole by the narrowest of margins. After dominating this morning's Free Practice session teammate Dan Linfoot crashed out, uninjured, on his first flying lap of the timed period.
Having to contend with constant rain throughout the day, the morning belonged to Linfoot. The Knaresborough rider immediately set the fastest lap and then continued to up his pace. Pulling in after six laps because he couldn't see his pit board due to the spray on the track, Linfoot was confident that his time of one minute 53.455 seconds would not be beaten and retired from the session to conserve his tyre supply. Rea in contrast took a "no risk" approach to the wet conditions and steadily increased his speed to end the half-hour in ninth pace with a lap timed at one minute 56.853 seconds.
This afternoon saw Rea take control. Never out of the top four throughout the session, Gino's final lap saw him look set for pole position with a lap of one minute 51.943 seconds. Just as the team began to celebrate, Italian Marco Bussolotti (Yamaha) - whom Rea had just usurped for the top spot - suddenly reappeared at the top of the scoreboard with a lap just four-hundredths of a second faster. For Linfoot, there was disappointment. Exiting Redgate corner just two minutes into the session, he was thrown into the dirt as the rear of his StoneBaker Yamaha swung round on him. Whilst the damage to his machine was not extensive, it was bad enough to leave Dan unable to remount and continue.
With more rain forecast for tomorrow's second Qualifying session, the two StoneBaker boys will have very different objectives. Rea will not want to fall back from his second place whilst Linfoot will simply want to get on the grid.
Andrew Stone (Joint Team Owner)
"I feel despondent for Dan who's had an unlucky off, but Gino has kept the team flag flying. We are still chasing the team goal of having both riders standing side by side on the podium. There's only three rounds left to do this but things are far from over - I know Dan will be there in the second Qualifying session. Fingers crossed we keep the rain coming in - we don't want a dry session tomorrow!"
Gino Rea (Rider)
"That was a pretty enjoyable session. I'm just getting so much more confident with the bike - riding in the wet was an absolute pleasure. I took it really easy this morning. We made some changes to the bike during the interval, but they didn't improve things so I pulled in during this afternoon and we changed them all back. I was feeling more and more confident and put in that flying lap at the end which I thought would be good for pole, but Bussolotti has just beaten it by a tiny margin. As for tomorrow, I just want things to stay as they are. I won't be bothered if the rain is worse because that means no one will be able to go any faster. That said, the wetter the track gets, the less greasy it seems. I heard the surface was re-laid recently, so perhaps that has something to do with it."
Dan Linfoot (Rider)
"It's been a day of two halves. These are the ups and downs of racing. This morning I was fastest and felt really happy and confident going into the afternoon. I wanted to replicate that or even go a bit quicker. Exiting Redgate I had the bike dead upright and the back suddenly swung round really violently throwing me up into the air. I thought I could save it but landed on my chest and was thrown into the mud. The bike was too damaged to continue. I've now just one session left to qualify. Today has been wet and if tomorrow is half-wet or even dry, I should be ok. If it's wetter, today's times will be hard to beat. I can't afford to make any mistakes."
2008 European Superstock 600 Championship
Rd 08 - Donington Park
Qualifying 1 Result
1 Marco Bussolotti, ITA (Yamaha) - 1'51.899
2. Gino Rea, GBR (Yamaha) - 1'51.943
3.Davide Fanelli ITA (Triumph) - 1'52.681
DNQ Dan Linfoot, GBR (Yamaha)
Sponsors
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.
