November 1, 2014

Qatar WSBK: Supersport second row start for Irishman Kennedy

Qatar WSBK: Supersport second row start for Irishman Kennedy

CIA Insurance Honda’s Jack Kennedy will start the final World Supersport race of the season, at Qatar from the second row, after a 2’02.356 was enough to place him fifth on the grid.

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But the Dubliner crashed at turn 16 with less than one minute on the clock, but was unhurt at the track side. MV Agusta Corse’s Jules Cluzel has the honour of starting on pole after a super quick 2’01.851, and was only three tenths off the outright lap record, which was set by a certain Mr Crutchlow back in 2009.

But it was the Pata Honda’s who dominated the session, with champion, Michael Van Der Mark being bumped down to second with team-mate Lorenzo Zanetti rounding up the front row. Wilairot heads row two, followed by Kennedy and Mahias. DMC Panavto-Yamaha’s Kev Coghlan leadss row three, after his best time of a 2’02.477 rotation.

Initially it was Van Der Mark who darted straight to the top of the timing-screens with a 2’02.223, but Scot, Coghlan was not too far off the pace of the newly crowned champ and was up to third fastest after a 2’02.618, with twenty minutes remaining.

But the Perthshire rider’s reign inside the top three was not to last as former World Superbike rider Jules Cluzel pushed him down to fourth and off a provisional front row position, and then back down to seventh.

Kennedy was another Celt who was on a hot lap and was up to fourth with 15 minutes left of the qualifying session, pushing Coghlan further down the field. The former British Supersport rider clocked a 2’02.356, to put his Honda on the provisional second row, and that is where he stayed. At the flag San Carlo’s Kenan Sofuoglu, Rolfo and Tamburini completed the top ten.

Former MCE British Superbike rider PJ Jacobsen crashed unhurt, and quickly rejoined the session, but his off meant he slipped out of the top ten, and has to start from twelfth on the grid. British rider, Mason Law starts his second Supersport race in 17th, after a respectable 2’03.689.

Source: irish bikers