Yamaha’s third generation YZF-R1 made a dream race debut in round one of the European Superstock Championship today, as the officially-supported Lorenzini by Leoni team-mates Gianluca Vizziello and Lorenzo Alfonsi swept to the first two places.
Starting from pole position, Vizziello led early on before his fellow Italian took over on lap four. The 23-year-olds matched each other lap for lap, before Alfonsi made his move on the penultimate lap to take his first win in the class and have the honour of becoming the first rider to win on the latest R1. Alfonsi had the consolation of taking a new lap record.
Riccardo Chiarello (Suzuki) rounded out the podium with the R1 of local rider Ivan Silva in fourth.
The result rounded off a great day for Yamaha as earlier in the day Yamaha Motor Italia’s Jurgen van den Goorbergh and Fabien Foret finished first and second in the supersport race on their YZF-R6s.
Yamaha Motor Germany’s Turkish rider Kenan Sofuoglu finished an impressive sixth place on his debut in the series. The 20-year-old former German Yamaha R6 Cup champion improved steadily throughout the weekend, although there was less success for his Belgian team-mate Didier van Keymeulen, also 20, who crashed out of sixth place on lap 11.
The friends celebrate
Gianluca Vizziello (Lorenzini by Leoni) - first
“It was a very hard race. Gianluca rode very well and very fast. I put in maximum effort on the last three laps and was able to get past. The bike was excellent – fast and good handling – and I am so happy to have won my first race.”
Lorenzo Alfonsi (Lorenzini by Leoni) – second
“I’m a little disappointed to miss out on the win. I tried to control my lead but some miscommunication with my pit board meant that I slowed down to much and gave Lorenzo a chance to pass. Still, it is a good result for the team and the championship and I know that my bike is very fast.”
Kenan Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motor Germany) - sixth
“As a first step I am happy with today’s result. Of course, it could have been better, but this was my first race on something bigger than a 600. I only rode the bike for the first time last week and every time I get on the R1 I am getting faster, so I am looking forward to the next race.”
Didier van Keymeulen (Yamaha Motor Germany) – DNF
“The change in temperature (from practice) seemed to affect the performance of my bike a little bit. I was running sixth but wasn’t so comfortable when I fell in the right hander.”
Starting from pole position, Vizziello led early on before his fellow Italian took over on lap four. The 23-year-olds matched each other lap for lap, before Alfonsi made his move on the penultimate lap to take his first win in the class and have the honour of becoming the first rider to win on the latest R1. Alfonsi had the consolation of taking a new lap record.
Riccardo Chiarello (Suzuki) rounded out the podium with the R1 of local rider Ivan Silva in fourth.
The result rounded off a great day for Yamaha as earlier in the day Yamaha Motor Italia’s Jurgen van den Goorbergh and Fabien Foret finished first and second in the supersport race on their YZF-R6s.
Yamaha Motor Germany’s Turkish rider Kenan Sofuoglu finished an impressive sixth place on his debut in the series. The 20-year-old former German Yamaha R6 Cup champion improved steadily throughout the weekend, although there was less success for his Belgian team-mate Didier van Keymeulen, also 20, who crashed out of sixth place on lap 11.
The friends celebrate
Gianluca Vizziello (Lorenzini by Leoni) - first
“It was a very hard race. Gianluca rode very well and very fast. I put in maximum effort on the last three laps and was able to get past. The bike was excellent – fast and good handling – and I am so happy to have won my first race.”
Lorenzo Alfonsi (Lorenzini by Leoni) – second
“I’m a little disappointed to miss out on the win. I tried to control my lead but some miscommunication with my pit board meant that I slowed down to much and gave Lorenzo a chance to pass. Still, it is a good result for the team and the championship and I know that my bike is very fast.”
Kenan Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motor Germany) - sixth
“As a first step I am happy with today’s result. Of course, it could have been better, but this was my first race on something bigger than a 600. I only rode the bike for the first time last week and every time I get on the R1 I am getting faster, so I am looking forward to the next race.”
Didier van Keymeulen (Yamaha Motor Germany) – DNF
“The change in temperature (from practice) seemed to affect the performance of my bike a little bit. I was running sixth but wasn’t so comfortable when I fell in the right hander.”
