FIM Superbike World Championship

Losail International Circuit (Doha, Qatar)

★★★

Saturday, 26 October 2019

#QATWorldSBK: To carry on overall well-being to last race day of the year

Sandro Cortese has had high hopes for the first floodlit race of the weekend in Qatar after finishing third in Superpole.

In sweltering conditions Sandro Cortese was able to use his excellent position from the first row of the starting grid perfectly and he then kept up with the high pace of the leading group initially. In an attempt not to lose contact with the top three riders, the 29-year-old reigning Supersport World Champion unfortunately crashed out of the race when losing the front wheel in lap seven.

 

#11 Sandro CORTESE (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK, Yamaha YZF R1), Grid position 3rd / Race1: NC:

"I’m ok so far, even if the situation is difficult to bear. It was a positive day for us in many aspects, closing Superpole in third place and then racing in P4 for a long time. Of course, it's a shame that the race ended so unhappily because we all imagined the outcome differently. But racing with this fast pace, which was ridden at the front of the field, something like this can happen. So, I have to take the positives with me for tomorrow. The confidence for the bike is there, as well as I feel very comfortable at all. There are still two races to go this season and I'll give my all tomorrow to pick up where I left off. So, I’ve a clear idea for the last race day of the year. I definitely want to repeat today's performances, if possible, even to top them, in order to finish my first Superbike World Championship in style."

 

#QATWorldSBK - Superpole Result:

1 Jonathan REA / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR / 1´56.246

2 Alex LOWES / GBR / Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1 / 1´56.41 +0.185

3 #11 Sandro CORTESE / GER / GRT Yamaha WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF-R1 / 1´56.529 +0.283

 

#QATWorldSBK - Result Race1 after 17 Laps:

1 Jonathan REA / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR / 33´34.518

2 Chaz DAVIES / GBR / ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R / +2.732

3 Alex LOWES / GBR / Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1 / +5.423

NC #11 Sandro CORTESE / GER / GRT Yamaha WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1

 

#WorldSBK Standing:

1 Jonathan REA / GBR / Kawasaki / 626

2 Alvaro BAUTISTA / SPA / Ducati / 473

3 Alex LOWES / GBR / Yamaha / 321

12 #11 Sandro CORTESE / GER / Yamaha / 126