2012 World Supersport - Round 5
For this round, the series' regular Aussies, Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Honda) and Jed Metcher (Rivamoto Junior Team), were joined by Billy McConnell and Glen Richards, both of whom race Triumph Daytona 675s for the Smiths Gloucester squad in the UK domestic Supersport series.
QUALIFYING
PTR Honda's Jules Cluzel topped the qualifying session, followed by Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda), Parkes and Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki DeltaFin Lorenzini). Local knowledge benefitted Richards and McConnell, who qualified fifth and seventh respectively. In the 35-strong field for this round, Jed Metcher qualified the Rivamoto Yamaha in 13th.
RACE
As in the last race at Monza, Parkes bolted from the start, but by the end of the first lap, he'd been reeled in by Cluzel. The Frenchman then controlled the lead for the next half dozen laps, with Parkes, Richards and Lowes close behind. Metcher improved three places to be tenth at the end of the opening lap, but at the front, it was developing into a two way battle between Cluzel and Lowes. After a poor start, Sofuoglu had passed Parkes for third place by lap 7, with Lowes passing Cluzel for the race lead a lap later.
While Parkes held station in fourth, Lowes had to call on all his skill and determination to hold off Cluzel, then Sofuoglu. The Brit could never pull a lead of more than 0.7 seconds on the chasing pair, and when Sofuoglu made a late bid for the lead, Lowes dug deep to hold off the Turk, recording the fastest lap of the race on the penultimate lap, then going on to take his first ever World Supersport victory. Riding with an injured finger after a crash in qualifying, Lowes was ecstatic at securing his maiden win.
"It's great to take my first World Supersport in front of my home crowd and I'm really grateful for the support," Lowes said. "There's a bit of a break now which is good as I can sort out my injured finger. I'll be training hard to come to Misano as fit as ever and ready to rock and roll."
Parkes finished fourth, just over eight seconds behind the race winner, with Richards finishing fifth, McConnell ninth and Metcher 13th.
Lowes's victory tightens up the championship table, but Sofuoglu still leads with 81pts, from Lowes (76), Cluzel (64), Fabien Foret (Kawasaki, 64) and Parkes (55).
DONINGTON WORLD SUPERSPORT RESULTS
Race: 22 laps
1 Sam Lowes Honda 33'43.603
2 Kenan Sofuoglu Kawasaki +0.678
3 Jules Cluzel Honda +3.987
4 Broc Parkes Honda +8.088
5 Glen Richards Triumph +11.786
6 Sheridan Morais Kawasaki +20.849
7 Ronan Quarmby Honda +23.795
8 Valentine Debise Honda +24.094
9 Billy McConnell Triumph +26.663
10 Fabien Foret Kawasaki +26.806
13. Jed Metcher Yamaha +34.035
Fastest lap: Lowes - 1'31.097
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (AFTER FIVE OF 13 ROUNDS):
1 Sofuoglu 81
2 Lowes 76
3 Cluzel 64
4 Foret 55
5 Parkes 42
6 Baldolini 38
7 Quarmby 34
8 Morais 27
9 Leonov 26
10 Lanzi 25
15 Metcher 14
The next round of the 2012 World Superbike Championship will be at Miller Motorsport Park, America on May 28th. World Supersport do not take part in this round, with their next race being at Misano on June 10.
Images: 2SNAP, courtesy of IRPR
Images: 2SNAP, courtesy of IRPR
