Cal Crutchlow second fastest at Parkalgar

Factory Yamaha man Cal Crutchlow started his 2009 season where he finished 2008 by running at the front of the time sheets after day one at the Parkalgar circuit in Portugal.

The British rider had a trouble free first day despite riding in fully wet conditions in the morning before upping his pace on a drying track this afternoon.

In the final ten minutes of the 90 minute long session the track began to dry dramatically with Crutchlow setting the benchmark 1m 49.166s lap time.

He was finally knocked off the top spot by Spanish rider Joan Lascorz onboard his Provec Motocard.com Kawasaki who posted a 1m 49.046s in his very last flying lap.

Crutchlow said: “The conditions were pretty horrendous to be honest in terms of grip, but getting the bike to work on a drying track is an area we wanted to work on so from that point of view it was good.

“The bike felt different compared to when I tested here two months ago, but I guess that’s just down to the track conditions.

“I was just cruising today but I saw Lascorz out on track and he was pushing really hard – out of control!

“At the end of the session there were still wet patches on track and I’m 4.2 seconds off what I was doing in the test so if it’s dry things should be a lot better tomorrow.”

2007 World Supersport champion Kenan Sofuoglu claimed third with Barry Venaman riding the Hoegee Suzuki fourth.

Parkalgar Honda rider Eugene Laverty was 16th fastest.

1 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’49.046
2 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1’49.166
3 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1’49.366
4 77 Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 1’49.407
5 1 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1’49.592
6 117 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 1’49.941
7 105 Vizziello G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1’50.276
8 51 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’50.496
9 69 Nannelli G. (ITA) Triumph 675 1’50.499
10 24 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph 675 1’51.067
11 14 Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1’51.142
12 21 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’51.553
13 13 West A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1’51.572
14 55 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1’51.759
15 8 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1’52.024
16 50 Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 1’53.098
17 19 Szkopek P. (POL) Triumph 675 1’53.207
18 83 Holland R. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1’54.395
19 30 Günther J. (GER) Honda CBR600RR 1’55.419
20 99 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’56.155
21 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 1’56.706
22 28 Vos A. (NED) Honda CBR600RR 1’56.738
23 32 Lai F. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1’56.831
24 7 Vostárek P. (CZE) Honda CBR600RR 1’57.141
25 9 Dell’Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 2’00.266
26 5 Pradita Doni T. (INA) Yamaha YZF R6 2’01.302
27 88 Guerra Y. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 2’06.423