PARKALGAR HONDA’S Craig Jones kicked off his 2008 World Supersport Championship campaign with a well-earned podium at the challenging Losail circuit in Qatar.
Brit Jones was racing for the podium right from the start, leading the opening lap of the season for his new Parkalgar Honda team. He was lying in a close fourth on the last lap when leader Fabien Foret on a Yamaha ran out of fuel promoting him onto the rostrum.
“You could say I was gifted the podium when Fabien ran out of fuel but that just shows the importance of the team and back-up you get and I must thank my Parkalgar Honda crew for all of their support and preparation – this podium is for them," he said.
“On the last lap I was in contention with the riders in front for the win. Going into the hairpin I missed first gear and lost all drive out of the corner which meant I had to settle for third - otherwise I would have tried an overtake for sure.
“A headwind on the straight matched to my choice of gearing – using first gear for the hairpin rather than second – meant I was losing out a little on the straight every lap. I reeled the riders in through the rest of the circuit and was quicker. Overall, I am happy with the speed of my Parkalgar Honda and am pleased to get third place points in the bag."
Fellow Brit Jonathan Rea may require surgery on his right-hand after a crash in the race which also saw his Ten Kate Honda team-mate Andrew Pitt fall.
Results:
1 5 23 B. PARKES AUS Yamaha World Supersport Yamaha YZF-R6 18 2’02.675 275,1 2’02.636 263,0 25 25 1
2 6 26 J. LASCORZ ESP Glaner Motocard.com Honda CBR600RR 18 0.048 2’02.645 263,7 2’02.718 253,2 20 20 2
3 2 18 C. JONES GBR Parkalgar Racing Team Honda CBR600RR 18 0.755 2’02.668 264,3 2’02.273 253,2 16 16 3
4 12 25 J. BROOKES AUS Hannspree Stiggy Motors.CBR600RR 18 9.502 2’03.270 268,3 2’02.986 259,3 13 13 4
5 3 14 M.LAGRIVE FRA Intermoto Czech Honda CBR600RR 18 11.962 2’03.113 259,9 2’02.554 259,3 11 11 5
6 13 77 B. VENEMAN NED Ressoftware Hoegee SuzukI GSX-R600 18 17.428 2’03.664 267,6 2’03.205 261,8 10 10 6
7 22 127 R.HARMS DEN Hannspree Stiggy Motors.CBR600RR 18 17.660 2’03.562 270,3 2’04.178 258,6 9 9 7
8 9 44 D.SALOM ESP Yamaha Spain Yamaha YZF-R6 18 17.888 2’03.446 273,7 2’02.866 258,6 8 8 8
9 20 9 C.WALKER GBR Kawasaki Gil Motor Sport Kawasaki ZX-6R 18 25.883 2’03.871 272,3 2’03.994 267,6 7 7 9
10 16 105 G.VIZZIELLO ITA Berry Racing Honda CBR600RR 18 32.236 2’04.407 270,9 2’03.428 257,4 6 6 10
11 17 38 G.LEBLANC FRA CRS Grand Prix Honda CBR600RR 18 32.573 2’04.051 261,1 2’03.443 253,8 5 5 11
12 8 47 I. CLEMENTI ITA Triumph Italia BE1 Racing Triumph 675 18 35.117 2’03.873 266,3 2’02.862 260,5 4 4 12
13 18 17 M.PRAIA POR Parkalgar Racing Team Honda CBR600RR 18 36.390 2’04.625 263,7 2’03.660 258,6 3 3 13
14 23 31 V. KALLIO FIN Benjan Racing Team Honda CBR600RR 18 36.608 2’04.379 273,7 2’04.349 264,3 2 2 14
15 19 21 K. FUJIWARA JPN Gil Motor Sport Kawasaki ZX-6R 18 37.096 2’04.322 275,8 2’03.959 266,9 1 1 15
16 27 83 D. VAN KEYMEULEBNEL Ressoftware Hoegee SuzukGSX-R600 18 38.526 2’04.560 263,7 2’04.867 263,7
17 26 37 W.DE ANGELIS RSM Intermoto Czech Honda CBR600RR 18 42.675 2’04.756 261,1 2’04.792 251,4
18 24 4 L. ALFONSI ITA PMS Kawasaki ZX-6R 18 43.375 2’04.633 277,2 2’04.600 267,6
19 25 32 M.GIANSANTI ITA Berry Racing Honda CBR600RR 18 44.319 2’05.014 266,9 2’04.657 263,7
20 30 51 S. BARRAGAN ESP Glaner Motocard.com Honda CBR600RR 18 45.924 2’04.556 258,6 2’05.550 255,6
21 29 57 I. DIONISI ITA Triumph - SC Triumph 675 18 47.277 2’04.728 262,4 2’05.251 250,8
22 34 72 A. MAGDA HUN Factory Racing Honda CBR600RR 18 1’24.963 2’06.554 261,8 2’07.459 261,1
23 33 199 D. DELL’OMO ITA HP Racing Team Honda CBR600RR 18 1’25.440 2’07.312 258,6 2’07.323 258,6
24 36 888 J. PEDRO SUBIRATESSP Yamaha Spain Yamaha YZF-R6 17 1 Lap 2’08.890 263,0 2’09.188 253,8
