HANNspree Ten Kate Honda's Carlos Checa (Photo: Honda Pro Images) » More Photos

HANNSPREE TEN KATE HONDA MAKES GOOD PROGRESS

The HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Superbike riders finished their second day of qualifying for the IDS Italian Round of the Superbike World Championship at Monza. Both Carlos Checa and Ryuichi Kiyonari are making their debut at the Autodromo Nazionale and placed their new CBR1000RR Fireblades on the 4th and 8th place on the grid respectively, in the Superpole qualifying.

After struggling to keep his lap times consistent in the qualifying sessions, Checa managed to find a consistent race pace and was one of the fast men in the free practice ahead of the Superpole qualifying. The third man to start his Superpole lap, Checa managed to set a satisfactory fast time and secured a front row start next to pole sitter Bayliss, Neukirchner and Haga.

Teammate Ryuichi Kiyonari started the day as one of the fastest men in the final qualifying practice, but faced some critical moments later in the afternoon when he nearly lost control of his bike twice in his Superpole lap and will start from the second row tomorrow.

Carlos Checa, Honda CBR1000RR

"I'm quite satisfied with the Superpole result I set this afternoon. Coming were we started from this morning, we have improved a lot."

"We have been struggling with the setting of the bike in the qualifying sessions and have only been able to resolve it and find the right racing pace in the final part of the session."

"I find the track quite difficult to ride, but we are stepping up. There are still some areas in which we have to improve, like in the exit of the first chicane."

"Considering the start of the weekend I find the result positive and am confident we can have a good race tomorrow."

Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda CBR1000RR

"The qualifying session this morning was a lot better for me then yesterday. The feeling with the machine is good and I start to understand the circuit a lot better and I have been able to improve my lap times."

I'm a bit disappointed with my Superpole qualifying, but with a good start from the second row and fast first lap I can catch the top group and fight for a good result."

The machine is perfect, the engine is fast, the set up is good, now I can only work on myself and try to ride more smoothly in the corners. In Valencia I had a good qualifying session but couldn't make it to the podium, tomorrow I will try and push hard for a good result and make that last step.