Team Triumph-SC at Valencia

Monday, April 7, 2008

After showing a rather good pace for the race during the morning’s free practice their luck turned.  The afternoon’s qualifying session, which determines the starting grid, saw some unpredictable events that penalized the riders’ performance.

Ilario Dionisi, who showed increasing confidence with the bike, crashed in the final qualifying minutes at the first left hairpin.  Ilario Dionisi reports: “I suddenly lost the front tyre and I wasn’t able to do anything to rectify the problem. It’s was a real pity because the bike was running well. I recorded the second highest top speed in the speed trap and in the second and third split I was one of the quickest. In the morning’s long run I had good pace so I was confident for the next day’s race, but to start from the back makes everything more difficult.”

McCoy commented on the day: “As I rejoined the track with soft tyres for a fast lap something went wrong with the rear brake. In the morning’s free practices we found a good race set up, but unfortunately we’ll start from the sixth row.”

Sunday’s race saw Garry McCoy and Ilario Dionisi racing only a few laps before they had to stop: the Italian, Dionisi, crashed at the second lap, while McCoy got a brilliant start, but was forced to stop because of technical problems.

A disappointed Garry McCoy commented: “I had a good start but during the third lap I felt that something was not quite right with the engine, I slowed down hoping it was a temporary problem, but unfortunately it was not and I was forced to retire.  We’ll have to work hard before the next round at Assen, but the Team has the ability.”

Ilario Dionisi said: “I didn’t start well and I found myself at the rear of the pack, then another rider made contact with my bike which unfortunately forced me to crash. It’s a pity because after yesterday’s practices I was confident.”