Michel Fabrizio finished ninth in today’s first qualifying practice at Magny-Cours in France ahead of Sunday’s two 13th-round races. His Pata Honda team-mate Leon Haslam was 12th fastest as local rider Sylvain Guintoli took provisional pole position.

In damp but drying conditions this morning at the 4.411km circuit near Nevers in central France, Italian Fabrizio set the fastest time in his first event with circuit knowledge on Jonathan Rea’s CBR1000RR. Recent visits to Istanbul and Laguna Seca were new circuits for the 29-year-old and he is happy to be on familiar territory.

Haslam, who was sixth fastest this morning, continues to explore the parameters of the CBR as his injury-blighted season winds down, but the 30-year-old British rider and his crew admit to looking in the wrong direction today.

As long as the weather doesn’t intervene, Haslam is confident of improvement in qualifying and free practice sessions tomorrow morning before the afternoon’s Superpole to determine final grid positions for Sunday’s two 23-lap races at Magny-Cours.

Michel Fabrizio – P9

It was quite a good day and the feeling is improving. I am also happy to be on a track that I know – this makes the job easier for me. There are a couple of things we need to work on this evening but we know the area to work in. I think there is a lot of room to improve things but the main area will be with engine braking.

Leon Haslam – P12

It didn’t go so well this afternoon after we made a couple of steps but went the wrong way. We put a new tyre in but couldn’t go any faster, so I’m quite disappointed really. This morning wasn’t too bad and the start of qualifying was average, but we know what the wrong moves were and changing them will only improve the bike for tomorrow.

Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator

It was a difficult day with varying conditions but the qualifying session stayed dry and Michel went ninth fastest. We’re quite happy although there are still improvements to be made because lap times are not where they should be. Leon didn’t have such a good day and he doesn’t belong in 12th place. We went the wrong way with set-up so need to speak with him more and look at the data to improve things for tomorrow.


2013 World Superbike championship, round 13 – Magny-Cours, France

First qualifying results:

1 Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Aprilia 1m38.709s
2 Tom Sykes (GBR) Kawasaki 1m39.095s
3 Chaz Davies (GBR) BMW 1m39.378s
4 Jules Cluzel (FRA) Suzuki 1m39.380
5 Eugene Laverty (IRL) Aprilia 1m39.451s
6 Davide Giugliano (ITA) Aprilia 1m39.549s
7 Vincent Phillipe (FRA) Suzuki 1m39.579s
8 Marco Melandri (ITA) BMW 1m39.678s
9 Michel Fabrizio (ITA) Pata Honda 1m39.799s
10 Michele Pirro (ITA) Ducati 1m39.821s
12 Leon Haslam (GBR) Pata Honda 1m40.202s

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