FIM CEV Repsol, Albacete: Canet, Vierge and Morales take pole positions
Today’s qualifying sessions for the FIM CEV Repsol meeting in Albacete took place under patchy skies, with early cool temperatures gradually warming up as the day went on. In the Moto3™ World Junior Championship category Canet posted the best time, as did Vierge in the Moto2™ European Championship and Morales in the Superbike European Championship, the three riders earning pole positions in their respective races tomorrow, while Sardanyons claimed victory in the first race of the weekend of the Kawasaki Z Cup.
Arón Canet (SPA-Honda) earned his second pole of the season in the inaugural Moto3™ Junior World Championship category. On a newly surfaced and slightly longer reconfigured track, the Moto3™ riders lapped slightly slower than in previous meetings. In both sessions, Arón Canet (SPA-Honda) was the fastest, marking his best time in the afternoon session.
Joan Mir (SPA-Ioda-Honda) and Nicolò Bulega (ITA-KTM), who will start from the second and third position respectively on the front row of the grid tomorrow, were clearly among the front runners right through the qualifying sessions, improving their times by a few tenths in the afternoon session. The second row will be formed by the Laglisse Academy trio of riders: Albert Arenas (SPA-Husqvarna), Davide Pizzoli (ITA-Husqvarna) and Lorenzo Dalla Porta (ITA-Husqvarna).
Xavi Vierge (SPA-Tech3) will take the first place on the Moto2™ European Championship grid ahead of Edgar Pons (SPA-Kalex) tomorrow. The Targobank Motorsport rider led in both sessions, breaking the streak of poles garnered by category leader, Edgar Pons (SPA-Kalex), who starts from second position this time round. As the afternoon session went on, Alan Techer (FRA-Tech 3) drove down his time bit by bit to finally set his fastest lap three from the end. Of the Superstock 600 riders, Marcos Ramírez stood out.
Carmelo Morales (SPA-Yamaha) led both sessions of the Superbike European Championship category, taking pole position with a time of 1:31.689. Accompanying him on the front row will be Iván Silva (SPA-BMW) and Robertino Pietri (VEN-Yamaha), who both posted their best times in the first session. Starting on the second row will be Adrián Bonastre (SPA-BMW), followed by Mashel Al Naimi (QAT-Kawasaki) – quickest privateer rider – and the leader of that subcategory, Axel Maurin (FRA- Kawasaki).
The first of the two Kawasaki Z Cup races to be held this weekend was run today. Joan Sardanyons rode a clever race, gradually moving up to challenge the strongman of the category, Víctor Lozano, who ended up coming off. Sardanyons – now overall leader thanks to today’s 25 points – was joined on the podium by Francisco Valera and Daniel Carrau.
Sunday’s race schedule is as follows (local time):
Superbike (20 laps): 11h
Moto2™ (20 laps): 12h
Moto3™ (19 laps): 13h
Superbike (20 laps): 14h
Kawasaki Z Cup (19 laps): 15h
As usual, the entrance to the paddock will be free this weekend. In addition, FIM CEV Repsol fans who make their way on Sunday after 9.00 a.m. to the Circuito de Albacete Accreditation Center can pick up a pass to join the Pit Lane walk that will take place before the start of racing.
From Spain, races can be seen live via the MotoGP™ Channel of Movistar which will broadcast all of the races scheduled in the Moto3™ Junior World Championship, Moto2™ European Championship and Superbike European Championship categories. The Energy channel of Mediaset Spain will also cover the FIM CEV Repsol, broadcasting the Moto3™ Junior World Championship and Moto2™ European Championship races, and the first of the Superbike European Championship races. BT Sports (UK) and Eurosport through Eurosportplayer (France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland), will also offer coverage of the Moto3™ Junior World Championship, Moto2™ European Championship and Superbike European Championship races, with live broadcasts of each of the races scheduled for this weekend on one of their TV channels or via digital broadcast. In Italy, Sky will broadcast live the Moto3™ Junior World Championship and the Moto2™ European Championship races.
In other countries, all the races can be seen on the Championship Youtube channel.
Source: CEV Repsol