Practice Report

Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team with some work to do after day one in Thailand

Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team

Thai Round

Chang International Circuit, Thailand

WorldSBK 2017, Round 2

The first day of WorldSBK action at the Chang International Circuit has drawn to a close, with the Red Bull Honda World Superbike duo of Stefan Bradl and Nicky Hayden 12th and 13th respectiely in the combined times of today’s two free practice sessions at the Thai circuit. Both riders will therefore have to try and make their way through Superpole 1 in order to battle for a spot in the first four rows of the grid for race one.

Both riders spent the entirety of their track-time evaluating the new solutions and settings developed for their Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 machines by the team and its technical partners after the opening round. With 45 and 40 laps completed during the day, Bradl and Hayden have given the team a significant amount of information to work with ahead of tomorrow.

Superpole 1 at the Chang International Circuit begins at 13:30 local time (GMT +7), with race one scheduled to get underway at 16:00.

Stefan Bradl
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Nicky Hayden
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Stefan Bradl

Stefan Bradl 6

12th / 1'34.691

We were expecting a bit more of an improvement this morning but in the afternoon we did make a step in the right direction on many areas that were affecting our performance in Australia, such as engine brake but also traction, spinning and wheelie control. Still, we are trying to put everything together so we need to keep working in this same direction but we indeed found some improvement. We are still chasing and we don’t have the right tools to be up there with the fastest riders, but we are moving upwards.

Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team
Nicky Hayden

Nicky Hayden 69

13th / 1'34.949

Today we had some inconsistency with the bike on corner entry: because of that it was hard for me to try and find the limit as well as pushing for a competitive time. This prevented me from finding the right feeling with the bike. However, we know where the problem is, so it’s a matter of keep working hard and come back stronger tomorrow.

Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team
Pieter Breddels

Pieter Breddels

We made quite a number of changes from Phillip Island to here: with Stefan they worked out quite well and we were able to make some steps forwards. We’re still 12th and 13th after today, but these positions do not reflect our potential. He is steadily building a bit of confidence with the bike and with some more tweaks this will carry over into tomorrow. The Fireblade is giving him a consistent response and there’s a clearer direction to follow with the setup. Nicky had more of a difficult day and different issues to address, but we are investigating and analysing the data in order to come up with a plan for tomorrow.

Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team
Thai Round

Chang International Circuit, Thailand

WorldSBK 2017, Round 2

Sunny / Dry / 34
Friday 10 Mar 2017, 08:46 UTC
  • Air Temp: 34°C
  • Humidity: 47%
  • Ground Temp: 45°C
# Rider Num Nationality Nat. Team Constructor Constr. Time/Gap
1 Jonathan Rea 65 GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1033.573
2 Tom Sykes 66 GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki +0.210
3 Marco Melandri 33 ITA Aruba.it Racing Ducati +0.279
4 Chaz Davies 7 GBR Aruba.it Racing Ducati +0.322
5 Alex Lowes 22 GBR Pata Yamaha Yamaha +0.443
6 Xavi Fores 12 SPA BARNI Racing Team Ducati +0.601
7 Jordi Torres 81 SPA Althea BMW Racing Team BMW +0.672
8 Michael van der Mark 60 NDL Pata Yamaha Yamaha +0.718
9 Markus Reiterberger 21 GER Althea BMW Racing Team BMW +0.837
10 Eugene Laverty 50 GBR Milwaukee Aprilia Aprilia +0.945
11 Lorenzo Savadori 32 ITA Milwaukee Aprilia Aprilia +0.981
12 Stefan Bradl 6 GER Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team Honda +1.118
13 Nicky Hayden 69 USA Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team Honda +1.376
14 Leon Camier 2 GBR MV Agusta Reparto Corse MV Agusta +1.380
15 Randy Krummenacher 15 SWI Puccetti Racing Kawasaki +1.498
16 Riccardo Russo 84 ITA Guandalini Racing Yamaha +1.892
17 Román Ramos 40 SPA Team Go Eleven Kawasaki +1.969
18 Alex De Angelis 15 RSM Pedercini Racing SC-Project Kawasaki +2.244
19 Ayrton Badovini 86 ITA Grillini Racing Team Kawasaki +2.676
20 Ondrej Jezek 37 CZE Grillini Racing Team Kawasaki +2.995
Rider Standings
Sunday, 26 Feb 2017 - Open world standings grid
# Rider Num Nationality Nat. Points Pts. Team Constructor Constr.
1 Jonathan REA 65 GBR 50 Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki
2 Chaz DAVIES 7 GBR 40 Aruba.it Racing Ducati
3 Tom SYKES 66 GBR 26 Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki
4 Alex LOWES 22 GBR 26 Pata Yamaha Yamaha
5 Xavi FORES 12 SPA 21 BARNI Racing Team Ducati
6 Leon CAMIER 2 GBR 19 MV Agusta Reparto Corse MV Agusta
7 Marco MELANDRI 33 ITA 16 Aruba.it Racing Ducati
8 Michael VAN DER MARK 60 NDL 16 Pata Yamaha Yamaha
9 Eugene LAVERTY 50 GBR 14 Milwaukee Aprilia Aprilia
10 Jordi TORRES 81 SPA 9 Althea BMW Racing Team BMW
11 Lorenzo SAVADORI 32 ITA 7 Milwaukee Aprilia Aprilia
12 Alex DE ANGELIS 15 RSM 7 Pedercini Racing SC-Project Kawasaki
13 Markus REITERBERGER 21 GER 7 Althea BMW Racing Team BMW
14 Randy KRUMMENACHER 15 SWI 6 Puccetti Racing Kawasaki
15 Nicky HAYDEN 69 USA 5 Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team Honda
16 Román RAMOS 40 SPA 5 Team Go Eleven Kawasaki
17 Joshua BROOKES 25 AUS 4 ERMotorsport-EliteRoads.com.au Yamaha
18 Stefan BRADL 6 GER 2 Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team Honda
Stefan Bradl
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Nicky Hayden
Images are copyright but free for editorial use
Stefan Bradl
Images are copyright but free for editorial use
Stefan Bradl
Images are copyright but free for editorial use
Nicky Hayden
Images are copyright but free for editorial use
Stefan Bradl
Images are copyright but free for editorial use
Nicky Hayden
Images are copyright but free for editorial use
Nicky Hayden
Images are copyright but free for editorial use