Discovering Assen
It was the first time for Beau Beaton and Randy Pagaud on the fast Dutch track, which is not easy to learn. Markus Reiterberger, who raced here before, was faster with the sixteenth position.
The weather was quite good today, which was helpful for the riders. The first day was used mostly to set up the bikes, as this is the first race of the season.
Born on October 22, 1986, Beau Beaton comes from Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. On Michel Garnier’s request, Steve Martin, endurance World Champion and adviser to the team, suggested Beau who has been riding motorcycles since the young age of 3. In 2010 Beau took on Superstock 1000 A & B Grade category alongside the Australian Superbikes. With a mechanical DNF in the first round at Phillip Island, Beau climbed his way back to take out the 2010 ASBK Superstock 1000 B Grade title.
Born on March 9, 1994, in Trotsberg, Germany, Markus Reiterberger has been the overall winner of the Yamaha-R6-Dunlop-Cup in 2010 in Germany. Racing people started noticing him when he finished 11th in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in 2008. Markus is this year the only German rider, all categories (Superbike, Supersport, and Superstock 1000) together.
Born on February 28, 1991 in Champagnolle (France) Randy Pagaud finished fourth of the Pirelli 600 Trophy in France in 2010. Then he became part of Michel Garnier’s Superstock 1000 team for the last two races of 2010 in Imola and Magny-Cours. That’s when he discovered the class, carefully and building his experience step by step.
Michel Garnier (team owner): “The afternoon session was a little bit negative for us because we had some fork problems. We could not solve this problem today so we saved the new tyres for tomorrow. We shall try to improve to qualify well on Saturday. Our problem must be solved for Monza. We would have appreciated to have here the assistance that was promised to us by Bitubo.”
Markus Reiterberger: “The practice session was OK. We changed a few things after the morning session and it was good, better than before. The top speed was very good. The bike is sometime difficult to ride in the corners. We are looking forward to improve.”
Beau Beaton: “We had a few difficulties, like finding a good setting and feeling comfortable on the bike. Of course it’s a new track for me so I am still learning the track. It’s very fast. That’s OK, we are still working on gearing, fork settings, spring settings, little things like that that will make a difference.”
Randy Pagaud: “This was my first time on this track this morning and it was not easy because it’s a fast track. If you miss one corner, it’s a disadvantage for the next one. This afternoon, we started with a better set up and it helped. We need to improve the bike a little bit and I have to find a good rhythm. I have a good feeling on the bike, I am happy to be here and it will be better tomorrow.”
Results of the 1st practice session:
1- Davide Giugliano – Althea Racing – Ducati 1098R – 1’39.538
2- Sylvain Barrier – BMW Motorrad Italia – BMW S1000RR – + 0.377
3- Danilo Petrucci – Barni Racing Team – Ducati 1098R – + 0.515
4- Lorenzo Baroni – Althea Racing – Ducati 1098R – + 0.516
5- Andrea Antonelli – Team Lorini – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 0.562
6- Roy Ten Napel – Domburg Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 0.640
7- Fabio Massei – Team Piellemoto – BMW S1000RR – + 1.427
8- Eddi La Marra – Team Lorini – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 1.476
9- Luca Verdini – Ten Kate Junior Team – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 1.511
10- Lorenzo Zanetti – BMW Motorrad Italia – BMW S1000RR – + 1.523
11- Jeremy Guarnoni – MRS Yamaha Racing France – Yamaha YZF R1 – + 1.569
12- Bryan Staring – Team Pedercini – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 1.853
13- Sheridan Morais – Lorenzini by Leoni – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 1.918
14- Lorenzo Savadori – Lorenzini by Leoni – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 2.139
15- Niccolò Canepa – GoEleven – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 2.173
16- Markus Reiterberger – Garnier Alpha Racing Team – BMW S1000RR – + 2.174
…
26- Beau Beaton – Garnier Racing Team – BMW S1000RR – + 4.156
27- Randy Pagaud – Garnier Racing Team – BMW S1000RR – + 5.884
