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2015 Phillip Island - Michael van der Mark

PHILLIP ISLAND PROGRESS FOR VAN DER MARK

  |   News Racing

Michael van der Mark set the fourth fastest time on his Pata Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP in this afternoon’s second free practice session at Phillip Island in Australia in preparation for Sunday’s opening round of the 2015 World Superbike championship. The 22-year-old Dutch rider ended the day in seventh place overall after a slow start in this morning’s opening free practice session at the 4.445km Phillip Island circuit when cooler track conditions were more favourable for setting a faster time.

Michael van der Mark (P7, 1m31.693s): “This afternoon we made a really big step because, to be honest, this morning’s first session was a bit of a disappointment. During the test we had some difficulties and we changed the set-up a lot, but we found out this morning that those changes weren’t working. We started this afternoon with some more changes and immediately the feeling was completely different, even though the track conditions were not so good like this morning. In the end I set my fastest time in a long run and the bike is much easier to ride now, especially changes in direction. That’s what we were working for and to be fourth in the second session and seventh overall makes me really happy, but we’ll keep working to improve.”

Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator: “Michael did not have an easy morning session today. We went the wrong way with the setting on the bike and changed it for the afternoon. Immediately the feeling was back and when we put in the last tyre he managed to do a really good run and did a 31.6 as a fastest time. But he could also manage 32.0s easily and to do that in the hot conditions when the grip was lower is very good.”