Michael van der Mark and Lorenzo Zanetti will both start tomorrow’s final 2014 World Supersport championship race from the front row of the grid after setting the second and third-fastest times respectively in this evening’s final qualifying session at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.
Van der Mark, who was crowned 2014 World Supersport champion in September, has been dominant in all sessions but was pipped to pole position by French rider Jules Cluzel in the closing stages of qualifying.
The Dutch ace worked together with his Italian Pata Honda team-mate during the early stages of this evening’s session and the pair lapped within three hundredths of a second of each other on their Honda CBR600RR machines.
Tomorrow’s 15-lap final race of the season at the 5.380km Losail circuit, in which Zanetti is still aiming for a top-three championship finish, will start at 20.15 local time (GMT +3).
Michael van der Mark – P2, 2m02.223s
The day has gone really well, I think. We made a few changes to the bike and they worked really well – they were just what was needed. I did a long run in the third free practice which was at quite a good pace. Then, in qualifying, I was fast and worked a bit with Lorenzo but, when it came to putting in my fastest lap, I missed a little on the slipstream on the long straight and lost two or three tenths.
But in the end I’m really happy – we are fast and, I think, more consistent than the other guys, so I’m really looking forward to the race tomorrow.
Lorenzo Zanetti – P3, 2m02.245s
I wasn’t really happy after FP3 because I was a bit slower on the harder tyres. For qualifying I came back to the SC1 and the feeling was a lot better. Mikey and I helped each other a bit with the slipstream but I am so happy that I was able to make the fast lap by myself. That is important to me and means I can fight for the podium tomorrow.
I need to do some more work with the team to improve the rear grip because, after some laps, it drops off a bit. Maybe it’s a problem for the other riders, too, but I want to finish this last race on the podium. I need to be there to stand any chance of finishing third in the championship.
Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator
Michael was leading qualifying right until the last moments after setting his fastest time at the beginning of the session. He is in second place but his pace is really good and he has been strong in all sessions, so he can go for the win tomorrow. Lorenzo has had more of an up and down weekend but, in the end, he did a similar lap time to his team-mate by himself.
Second and third on the grid is good and tomorrow both guys can fight for the podium so well done to them.
| Qualifying Results |
| 1 | Jules Cluzel | 2m01.851s | FRA | MV | MV Agusta RC |
| 2 | Michael van der Mark | 2m02.223s | NED | HONDA | Pata Honda World Supersport Team |
| 3 | Lorenzo Zanetti | 2m02.245s | ITA | HONDA | Pata Honda World Supersport Team |
| 4 | Ratthapark Wilairot | 2m02.261s | THA | HONDA | Core PTR Honda |
| 5 | Jack Kennedy | 2m02.356s | IRL | HONDA | CIA Insurance Honda |
| 6 | Lucas Mahias | 2m02.408s | FRA | YAMAHA | MG Competition |
| 7 | Kev Coghlan | 2m02.474s | GBR | YAMAHA | DMC Panavto-Yamaha |
| 8 | Kenan Sofuoglu | 2m02.492s | TUR | KAWASAKI | San Carlo Puccetti Racing |
| 9 | Roberto Rolfo | 2m02.934s | ITA | KAWASAKI | Team GO Eleven |
| 10 | Roberto Tamburini | 2m02.981s | ITA | KAWASAKI | San Carlo Puccetti Racing |
