Garnier Racing Team Junior, First row for Sylvain Barrier

This is only the second race of the Garnier Racing Team Junior in the FIM Cup Superstock 1000 and already the second time that one of its Yamahas is on the front row with Sylvain Barrier. Gregg Black had an unfortunate little crash but could still manage to finish in 22nd position.

Maxime Berger (Honda Ten Kate) did a very good job and grabbed the pole position with a new track record with a time of 1’41.108. Davide Giuliano was second on his MV Agusta, in front of the first of the 14 Yamahas who entered the event, with Sylvain Barrier riding it. This is a nice achievement for the young Frenchman who is faster than the official motorcycles of Xavier Simeon and Claudio Corti. A podium result is a possibility if Sylvain has a good start and the race goes well.

Gregg Black, who raced in the 600 cc class until last year, is learning the 1000 cc category. He is a good 22nd on the grid. He had a small crash without serious consequence and still could do 10 laps in the only timed session that lasts only 30 minutes. That was enough to help him improve the setting of the R1, and some more work will be done tomorrow during the warm up session.

Sylvain Barrier: “We tried a new setting because in the beginning it was going in the wrong direction. We made a few modifications when I put on the new tyres. Then I went for my quick laps. The first one was OK but there was a rider in my way in the second lap. Generally speaking, things went well. We have to work for a better stability and on the rear shock absorber. We will try two or three things tomorrow during the warm up and it should be OK.”

Gregg Black: “We found a better setting. I had my confidence back. I progressed with the lap times. I was not trying that hard when I crashed. Tomorrow, my goal is to score points.”

Michel Garnier (team manager): “Sylvain has a lot of possibilities, he is a good rider, and he can be with the front riders. We worked really hard on the settings. We have to develop this bike. This is the second time that we are on the front row (with the 3rd time) but the race is another thing. If he has a good start, he can do good, maybe on the podium. Gregg had some trouble, with a small crash. There is a lot of work to do on his bike. He must stay on his wheels and finish in the top 15 or 20. He is on the 5th row. He usually starts well and I will be happy if he finishes 12th or 13th and scores some points.”

Qualifying results:
1   21 Berger M. (FRA) Honda CBR1000RR 1′41.108
2   34 Giugliano D. (ITA) MV Agusta F4 312 R 1′41.636
3   20 Barrier S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R1 1′41.988
4   71 Corti C. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1′42.199 ….
22 25 Black G. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1′44.109 …