Provec Kawasaki Kyalami Report
Dealers
2010 Catalog
May 17th, 2010
6th WSSP RACE POST PRESS RELEASE: KYALAMI (SOUTH AFRICA)
THE TOUGHEST RACE OF ALL
Before getting to the sixth date of the year, we were aware that it would not be an easy weekend. Last year we had our worst race here. Kyalami is a circuit with a very slippery surface full of upslopes and downslopes. It is an ancient circuit with a special charm which, apparently, seems not to be so favourable for the Kawasaki bikes. Though the precise causes must be examined, it must be said that it has been a tough and discouraging weekend.
WEEKEND RECORD
Joan Lascorz Katsuaki Fujiwara
1st Free (Friday): 6º Position 1st Free (Friday): 3º Position
1st Timed (Friday): 5º Position 1st Timed (Friday): 7º Position
2nd Free (Saturday): 10º Position 2nd Free (Saturday): 7º Position
2nd Timed (Saturday): 8º Position 2nd Timed (Saturday): 4º Position
Warm-up: 4º Position Warm-up: 13º Position
Race: 5º Position Race: 12º Position
COMMENTS
Joan Lascorz (Rider): “What a frustrating weekend! We did our best but there was no way to success. I feel powerless but I guess this was definitely not our weekend. I knew it would be hard, but we were not able to make a step forward during the whole weekend. The bike was just undriveable, and when the tyre was worn-out, it was more than enough. Now it’s time to understand why things go wrong for us in this circuit, to make a fresh start and make the best out of it at Miller Parc.”
Katsuaki Fujiwara (Rider): “What a tough race…! Truthfully speaking, I expected to do it much better. I knew it would not be easy, but not that bad. Yesterday, I was quite great at the timed laps. I was fast enough and felt great. I didn’t know how many laps I would be able to drive at good speed but I was confident to get the 5th or 6th position. It was really so painful!!! I started well, got to the 4th position and was able to keep it up. I was ok for the first three laps, but it got difficult at the fourth one. I thought, “Take it easy, there’s nothing to worry about”. Then, they started to overtake me and the bike got worse and worse. I couldn’t turn or brake hard and when the tyres were worn out, it was impossible. When I was 10th, I thought “Well, it’s enough. Nobody else will overtake me” and boom! Two more went past me. No wonder, as I was driving 3 seconds slower. I was really on the verge of “crying” over the bike. I couldn’t. I can’t believe how Joan got over it. I am eager to go to Miller and take this burden off my back, I really need to.
Guim Roda (Sports Director) “I’m really upset for not having been able to provide our riders with better bikes. The truth is, we have tried in every way but there was none at all. It is really unbelievable how hard it is to drive the Kawasaki bike at Kyalami. Last year it had been hard, but it seems as if we got a step backwards this time!!! We’ll try to work out what on earth happens here in this circuit with this bike, but just enough to renew our energy to make up for it at the coming race in the USA! Joan finished in 5th position. Looking at it objectively, at least he has saved some points. The problem is that Laverty and Sofuoglu got far ahead of us. Fuji gave up before and preferred ending the race to risking it. Foret was riding another Kawasaki and chose to get into boxes at the sixth lap when he was 15th, as there was no way he could control his bike. Thus, it plainly demonstrates that no ZX6R had an easy time during the weekend. I am sure we could have speeded up but we were not good enough at setting up the bike. Anyway, this has just been a battle, not the war. Kats and Lascorz are now eager to get to Miller Parc and make the best out of it. Thanks to Kawasaki and Motocard.com for trusting us and our capabilities at all times, through thick and thin.”
