WSS: Yamaha Utah Sunday notes

Yamaha Supersport riders take a top five and a podium in the Salt Lake sunshine

It was a hard fought race at the Miller Motorsport Park today for Cal Crutchlow as he pulled out all the stops to challenge for the win. Crutchlow was tucked in behind race leader Eugene Laverty for the majority of the race, followed by Lascorz and Sofuoglu. Never more than a bike length away Crutchlow made several attempts to out-brake the Parkalgar Honda rider at the end of the straight but couldn't get past. AS the race drew to a close, just one lap from the end Sofuoglu put a close pass on Crutchlow, taking the second then passing Laverty for the lead. Crutchlow held on to third to take a well deserved podium for his efforts.

Team-mate Foret suffered from a less than perfect start to the race, dropping a couple of places before working his way back up to seventh by lap 11. B y lap 4 he had worked his way up to fifth, taking Nannelli and McCoy in the process. Foret held on to the position to take fifth under the chequered flag.

Crutchlow leaves Miller still leading the championship on 135 points, with a nine point advantage over second placed rider Laverty. Foret heads to Misano in seventh position on 55 points, 11 points behind sixth placed West.

Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha World Supersport Team (3rd)

"For me it was our worst race weekend so far and we still managed to finish third and only a second off the win so I'm pretty pleased to be honest. I could easily have finished fifth or sixth today so to finish third and just behind Eugene wasn't so bad in the end. We'll have to go back to the drawing board for the next race in Misano, a circuit I don't know but I'm looking forward to it to be honest. I think we and the team did a good job this weekend."

Fabien Foret, Yamaha World Supersport Team (5th)

"For most of the race was feeling pretty lonely, my start was not that great, I was pushed out to the edge of the track by another rider so I came into the first corner in a not very good position and was in tenth I think. Then I worked hard to overtake some guys, I was fast enough with good grip to get past them but then it was too late so I was just by myself. I was just doing my own race, pushing but not fighting for a podium, just looking to get the points in. I'm not so happy but at least I take away more points. We head to the next one and see what happens."

Wilco Zeelenberg, Yamaha World Supersport Team Manager

"it was an interesting race, my heart rate was quite high I have to say. Eugene put in a really good pace and I think Cal needed everything to keep up. Still he went better and better and had a good feeling on the end and was preparing on the last lap to try and pass somewhere but then Sofuoglu made a move on him and he had to settle for third. Sofuoglu then made a move on Laverty and it was quite a hard one so it could have ended differently, I think he was lucky to stay on the bike. I think all three were happy to be on the podium. For Fabien it was a bit of a disappointing start, 11th on the first lap so making it back to fifth was good. I think he enjoyed the ride but for some bits it was a bit lonely, but to get fifth and take some points is not so bad."

-credit: yamaha