Pirelli Notes from Miller Motorsports Park
"Just a few dry practice sessions on Saturday gave WSBK teams a limited possibility to set up their machines, since Sunday qualifying saw a constant downpour of rain. Hard-compound SCR2 Diablo Rain tyres were supplied in order to guarantee excellent performance on this wet abrasive track and to keep riders' confidence in such difficult conditions, considering the need for numerous changes in traction control settings. As always, Pirelli was prepared with full-rain, intermediate and Diablo Superbike slicks, a total of 1500 tyres for this USA Round. Superpole's variable conditions left two Ducatis and two Yamahas on the front row for race day.
Cold temperatures overnight made for a cold but drying track for morning warm-up, but the cloud break showed promise. Even with 3 front and 3 rear solutions available for dry racing, including last year's race-winning tyres, 20°C on the asphalt and uncertain bike settings pushed all riders towards the SC1 mid-soft Diablo Superbike rear tyre solution for Race 1, the most performing choice for colder conditions. Still, some riders pushed too hard at the race start and caused increased tyre wear, accelerated also by various wet spots on the track. It was pole sitter and Best Lap winner Carlos Checa (Ducati) who used his Diablo Superbike SC1 tyres to lap consistently in the 1'49 and 1'50s, finally earning a 2.7 second win over Ducati riders Smrz and Guintoli, the latter his first podium of the season.
Race 2 brought only one tyre change by Lascorz (Kawasaki) who switched to the A front, although many discussed changes with the sun out and a warming track. Aprilia riders Camier and Biaggi came back to fight in Race 2 for a 2nd and 3rd place finish, but double-winner Checa (Ducati) set the Best Lap of 1'48.827 and repeated his excellent results of three years ago at Miller Motorsports Park. Biaggi was preceded by Laverty (Yamaha) and Fabrizio (Suzuki) to make 4 manufacturers in the top five."
Pirelli BEST LAP Awards:
SBK Race 1 - Carlos Checa (Althea Racing), 1'49.779 (Lap 7)
SBK Race 2 - Carlos Checa (Althea Racing), 1'48.827 (Lap 4)
Total BEST LAP (SBK): Biaggi M. (Aprilia Alitalia Racing): 3, Checa C. (Althea Racing): 3, Haga N. (PATA Racing Team Aprilia): 1, Sykes T. (Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike): 1, Camier L. (Aprilia Alitalia Racing): 1, Fabrizio M. (Team Suzuki Alstare): 1
