Front row start for StoneBaker duo at Portimao
01-11-2008
2008 European Superstock 600 Championship
Rd 10 - Portimao
Qualifying 2, Saturday 1st November
After yesterday's cloudy conditions at the new Portimao motorsports complex in Portugal, the sun shone today both on the track and for team StoneBaker Yamaha. Riders Gino Rea and Dan Linfoot qualified in first and third place respectively for tomorrow's final race in the 2008 European Superstock 600 Championship, taking the squad's second pole position in a row.
It was Linfoot who made the early running, heading the timesheets five minutes into the half-hour second Qualifying session. Both riders then made lengthy pit stops to change the wheels on their machines. Taking time to get dialled back in when they returned to the track, Linfoot again led the field on a time of one minute 50.117 seconds with the final third of the session remaining. Five minutes later, Rea got took the top spot and it looked like StoneBaker was set for a one-two starting position, but from the pit lane co-team owner Andrew Stone murmured "There's still a long way to go yet". Sure enough, one minute later French wild card rider Mathieu Gines (Yamaha) slipped ahead by the narrowest of margins only for Rea to immediately reply with a lap of one minute 49.667 seconds, almost five seconds faster than he managed yesterday, to lead the pack home to the finish.
So far this year StoneBaker has been the only team in the series to place both its riders on the podium, but never in the same race. Andrew Stone has made no secret of his desire to see Linfoot and Rea together on the same rostrum and with the way the team is performing at the moment, he may just get his wish in tomorrow's ten-lap race.
Gino Rea (1st - 1:49.667):
"Two poles from the last two races shows I'm coming on strong at the end of the season and I desperately want to finish my year with a win. I really enjoyed that session. I've gelled with this track really well, all the fast sweeping corners suit my style, I don't like tight hairpins. To make sure the new tyres would last and still give good times at the end of the session we decided to use old ones at the start and once I felt comfortable with my pace I came in and changed them over. The increase in speed today came from our set up, which is really good, more track knowledge and no damp patches as well as the tyres. I just want to make a good start to the race, lead the field and get that win."
Dan Linfoot (3rd - 1:50.022)
"I'm not 100 percent happy to be third, but I'm a lot happier than I was yesterday. I was immediately more confident on the track, there was so much more grip on the racing line. I went out on my first flying lap and was two seconds faster than I was yesterday straight away. We made some changes to the suspension and gearing and with a tyre change as well, it all helped. I reckon with the extra heat in the track, more rubber laid down and more circuit knowledge, today's times will be irrelevant in the race - we could see lap times in the one-48's. Qualifying is not my strong point, but this is my best starting position of the year, so that's got to be good for the race. I always go better in the race, but Gino will have something to say about it too so we'll just have to give it our best shot. I just want to win the race and grab second place in the championship."
Andrew Stone (Joint Team Owner)
"I'm happy. You know damn well what's going to happen tomorrow, don't you? We came here to win this race and we've dominated Practice and Qualifying and it's going to go all the way to the wire. I just want to see both riders on that rostrum tomorrow and get the positions in the championship they deserve - and they deserve second and third place in the series. As for which one wins - I don't care, I really don't care. We're going to make some slight changes to the bikes tonight, it will be a gamble but we know there's more speed in them yet. I just want to say goodbye to a fantastic season in style."
2008 European Superstock 600 Championship
Rd 10 - Portimao
Final Combined Qualifying Result
1. Gino Rea (GBR) - Yamaha: 1:49.667
2. Mathieu Gines (FRA) - Yamaha: 1:50.022
3. Dan Linfoot (GBR) - Yamaha 1:50.117
Sponsors
Team Beowulf Racing.
The great race at the new Portimao circuit brings an end to our season in World Superbike Superstock 600, with riders Gino Rea and Dan Linfoot.
The season has been a success with Gino third and Dan fifth in the championship standings following three victories and five additional podiums in total. The results have also acted as a stepping stone to the riders for next season, with both securing high profile, career progressing rides for 2009.
Thank you for all of the emails, calls, texts and visits throughout the year. It has been much appreciated.
