MV Agusta scored their first pole position in the World Supersport Championship thanks to an incredible performance by Jules Cluzel, who clinched the fastest time,ahead of Sofouglu, Zanetti and Coghlan, just as Saturdays qualifying session was coming to a close.
The Frenchman amazed everyone by taking the chequered flag with a jaw-dropping 1'51"110, putting him at the front of the grid ahead of the turkish rider who, by then, no longer had time to respond.
Yet despite the first pole of the year, this 4th round of the World Supersport Championship would, unfortunately, see the team bring home just one point.
After a great start, Cluzel succeeded in holding on to the lead for just six laps.
He then ran off the track several times, but absolutley refused to give up and fought hard to score valuable championship points, eventually managing to finish the race in fifteenth place.
It was also a below- par weekend for his teammate Vladimir Leonov who, after a bad start, decided to retire.
Jules Cluzel: Today I really wanted to get off to a great start and not lose any positions Unluckily and Im still not sure why by lap seven my rear tyre was already chewed to pieces. I just tried to hold my position and finish the race as best I could".
Vladimir Leonov: Im disappointed. Over the weekend the mechanics and I worked really hard to get the set up on my F3 675 just right. Unfortunately, I realised almost immediately that I wouldn't be able to rely on engine braking and so preferred to head back to the pits and avoid a fall".
In Race 1, Claudio Corti started off from 21st place on the grid, hoping to ride his F4 RR up into the points. But the Russian racing teams standard bearer was shunted off the track going into the first bend, causing him to lose several vital positions.
After recovering well and notching up lap times on a par with those in the top 10, an error and a resulting fall at the Acque Minerali ended up thwarting all his efforts. Corti rejoined the race from the back of the field and, refusing to admit defeat, held on to finish the race eighteenth.
In Race 2 Cortis radiator was damaged by a stone thrown up from the rear wheel of one of the preceding bikes, forcing him back to the pits.
Claudio Corti: We didnt expect an easy race here today at Imola but, being on the home track, we were keen to show everyone just what the F4 RR is capable of. In Race I the only reason we ended up outside the points was because I made a misttake at the Acque Minerali. Then, in Race 2, the aim became to finish in the top 15 but half-way through I realised there was a problem with the bike.
I saw the engine temperature had shot up to 140° and had no choice but to head straight back to the pits. Were continuing to implement important developments on both engine and electronics and tomorrow well try out the new swingarm and other new components."
I saw the engine temperature had shot up to 140° and had no choice but to head straight back to the pits. Were continuing to implement important developments on both engine and electronics and tomorrow well try out the new swingarm and other new components."
Publikation: Alessia Riboni
