WSS: Team Alstare Vallelunga Saturday notes

THIRD QUICKEST FOR XAVI!

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Xavier Simeon kept up the pressure on his Italian rivals at Vallelunga today and finished with the third fastest lap in final qualifying. He suffered a small gearing problem in the morning session, but the team made some changes to the bike for the afternoon session and Xavi was able to lap faster and more smoothly. Ducati rider Niccolo Canepa took pole position with a lap of 1:40.806, with Claudio Corti (Yamaha) second. Xavi is third, with Ilario Dionisi (Suzuki) completing the front row of the grid.

Xavi - 3rd, 1:41.056

I'm, very happy to be the third quickest today and start the race from the front row of the grid. I'm particularly happy to do so well at my first time at this track, especially when you consider that my main rivals have all got a lot more experience of this circuit than me. In the morning practice, the gearing was too long and I couldn't not do the fast laps I wanted. So we made some changes for the afternoon and I was much happier. There is not much difference in the top lap times, so I think it'll be a close race tomorrow. My aim is to make a good start, see what happens and play it from there, but I'll be chasing a podium for sure.

Final qualifying
1 Canepa (I-Ducati) 1:40.806, 2 Corti (I-Yamaha) 1:41.016, 3 Xavi Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:41.056, 4 Dionisi (I-Suzuki) 1:41.117, 5 Aitchison (Aus-Suzuki) 1:41.351, 6 Roberts (Aus-Ducati) 1:41.412,

-credit: tas