By Despite track conditions varying throughout Friday afternoon’s competition at Imatranajo, opening IRRC practice sessions at the ex Grand Prix venue still provided an abundance of first class action.
Supersport:
Topping the Supersport time sheets was Performance Racing Achterhoek’s Pierre Yves Bian (2.10.556), who finished almost two and half seconds quicker than nearest pursuer in practice Felix Nassi (2.13.085).
Third quickest behind impressive event wildcard Nassi was fellow countryman Pauli Pekkanen (2.13.220), whilst series leader Matthieu Lagrive (2.13.311) got his maiden Imatranajo tenure off to a solid start by finishing fourth fastest.
Fifth and sixth quickest Laurent Hoffmann (2.15.120) and Terlicko victor Jonathan Goetschy (2.17.347) both showed accomplished form, whilst Russia’s Artur Nangiev (2.18.153) sprung it’s fair to say a surprise by scooping seventh within the time sheets.
Concluding the ten fastest middleweight class racers from today were Jochen Rotter (2.18.680), Ilja Caljouw (2.18.800) and Pertti Lindegren (2.18.872).
IRRC Imatranajo – Supersport first practice results:
1 Pierre Yves Bian 2.10.556
2 Felix Nassi 2.13.085
3 Pauli Pekkanen 2.13.220
4 Matthieu Lagrive 2.13.311
5 Laurent Hoffmann 2.15.120
6 Jonathan Goetschy 2.17.347
7 Artur Nangiev 2.18.153
8 Jochen Rotter 2.18.680
9 Ilja Caljouw 2.18.800
10 Pertti Lindegren 2.18.872
11 Peter Paloranta 2.18.937
12 Henrik Voit 2.19.567
13 Jani Vaahtera 2.21.622
14 Mikko Uski 2.26.387
15 John Ross Billega 2.26.581
16 Sebastian Frotscher 2.29.073
17 Miroslav Sloboda 2.36.826
18 Thomas Walther 2.37.941
19 Erwan Bannwart 3.23.875
Superbike:
Touted by many as Finland’s current leading closed roads exponent, Markka Racing’s Erno Kostamo delighted the local crowd today at Imatranajo by finishing on top in a high quality opening IRRC Superbike practice session.
Kostamo’s time of 2 minutes 01.226 seconds, was just enough to head the time sheets by only 0.132 of a second clear of Czech roads legend Marek Cerveny (2.01.621).
Photo by Robby Repsol
Cerveny’s Wepol Racing by Penz 13.com team mate Danny Webb (2.01.621) third fastest, already looks extremely competitive at Imatra as he bids to build up over the weekend his already healthy looking 33 point IRRC Superbike series lead.
Making a popular return to roads action, the ever cheerful Horst Saiger maiden roads stint aboard YZF R1M Yamaha machinery began in extremely positive fashion by finishing fourth quickest, under 0.3 behind IRRC title favourite and fellow Imatra debutant Webb.
Placing’s fifth and sixth on today’s time sheets were claimed respectively by local stars Marko Ratto (2.02.782) and Juha Kallio (2.03.424).
Finalising the ten quickest 1000cc racers from today were the IRRC great that is Didier Grams (2.04.013), the improving Tomas Borovka (2.05.323), Nico Muller (2.05.485) and event wildcard Carl Joha Kallmann (2.06.061).
IRRC Imatranajo – Superbike first practice results:
1 Erno Kostamo 2.01.226
2 Marek Cerveny 2.01.358
3 Danny Webb 2.01.621
4 Horst Saiger 2.01.876
5 Marko Ratto 2.02.782
6 Juha Kallio 2.03.424
7 Didier Grams 2.04.013
8 Tomas Borovka 2.05.323
9 Nico Muller 2.05.485
10 Carl Joha Kallmann 2.06.061
11 Jamie Coward 2.07.109
12 Jani Ratto 2.07.158
13 David Datzer 2.07.577
14 Pavel Tomecek 2.08.140
15 Markus Karlsson 2.08.597
16 Jan Kopponen 2.09.530
17 Martin Jessopp 2.09.883
18 Eddy Maniquet 2.10.326
19 Lasse Karki 2.11.888
20 Timo Schonhals 2.12.139
21 Ales Nechvatal 2.12.347
22 Robert Heitzinger 2.13.804
23 Ryan Trocherie 2.15.448
Words by Stevie Rial
