SECOND ROW FOR VAN DER MARK
Michael van der Mark, last round winner, will start tomorrow’s fourth-round World Supersport championship race from the outside of row two tomorrow, finishing today’s 45-minute qualifying session in sixth place at Imola. The 17-lap race around the 4.936km Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari is the home race for Pata and Van der Mark is hoping that he can fight for the podium tomorrow.
Michael van der Mark:
It was difficult to make a really fast lap today. I think our race pace is not too bad but we need to find a little step, and putting in a new tyre and finding a single flying lap didn’t come so easily in qualifying. I found the limit of the bike many times so we need to do a bit of work tonight to see where the problems are and get a better set-up for tomorrow. Of course, the race is different and I will be better then, but I’m not happy with being sixth on the grid because I really wanted to be on the front row. For sure the guys will find something tonight and hopefully we can fight for the podium.
Pieter Breddels (technical co-ordinator):
Michael struggled a little in one sector this morning but his pace on used tyres is also not so bad. His ultimate lap time was not quite enough and he ended up in sixth place. But anything can happen in the race and it’s not been a bad day at all.