FIM Cup Superstock 1000 - Valencia • Ondra Jezek #69

The second race of the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup took place in Spain. Ondra Jezek brings home 5 points for 11th place.

19.04.2010 (14:12), admin, Articles, commented 2×, viewed 293×

Ondra Jezek was looking forward to this weekend. Valencia is one of his favorite tracks. Not surprisingly, last year he scored here in his debut in the Superstock 1000 class with a surprise victory in free practice and seventh place in the race.
Friday's free practice was well, as expected. Little adjustments to the chassis, but everything went o.k. except for an unexpected problem with the cooling liquid leak at Ondra´s motorcycle. For this reason, he completed only seven laps. Untill qualification problem has been solved. Ondra went on track to start the first qualification with a good result. In the middle of it he held a promising sixth place. Unfortunately, after change to new tires he improved the time with negligible 0.2 seconds which ultimately meant eighteenth interim position.

Saturday's free practice began great for Ondra. Immediately after the beginning he leaped among the best three. In the fifth lap of the training however he collided with one of the slower riders in the last corner and finished in a muddle in the gravel. From the crash he came, fortunately, only with a hit to the hip but the motorcycle was ready for a frame replacement. Ondra´s mechanics Honza Muller and Michal Kněžínek had once again entertainment. By afternoon they had to build a new bike! In a large effort they excelled and Ondra went into the final training. Unfortunately, once again showed his Aprilia insipid performance in particular at the exit of corners and despite all the efforts and improvements to yesterday's highs of almost one second that was not enough for better than 16th place on the grid.

Sunday started well. After consulting with Aprilia engineers Ondra has succeeded in improving the chassis settings. This was confirmed in a warm-up with 9th place. The race start was not bad. Ondra has maintained his position and gradually began to work his way forward. Twice a pity that the engine of his Aprilia was not able to compete in power with his competitors. Despite great efforts he ended just behind the top ten, while the eighth place was in sight.

Ondra Jezek:
"The race weekend in Valencia for me wasn´t quite easy. In the first free practice, I made just four quick laps due to a technical failure. In the second I had an unpleasant crash, which fortunately for me, ended well. After unsuccessful qualification, where except the engine power I also faced a not entirely optimal suspension setting, I was determined to fight out the top ten. Sunday's warm-up showed that this could be real. Start of the race was good for me. I got to the third row of the starting line, but in the first two corners my opponents closed me a bit and I lost again the gained position. When during the race I got before Rene Mahr, I went to chase the trio fighting for eighth place. In the last few laps I had them close but unfortunately there was no overtaking space. I'm sorry for that, from the race in Valencia I certainly promised myself with much more than the eleventh place. Team boss Martin Smrz is satisfied with the result. To my satisfaction a piece is missing. I believe to have a more powerful engine in Assen so to be able to fight at least for the top ten."

FIM SUPERSTOCK 1000 Race (13 laps, 52,065 km):
1. A. BADOVINI ITA BMW Motorrad Italia STK BMW 21'17.508
2. D. GIUGLIANO ITA Team06 Suzuki -3.080
3. S. BARRIER FRA Garnier Junior Racing BMW -4.693
11. O. JEZEK CZE MS Racing Aprilia -17.578
14. M. SALAC CZE MS Racing Aprilia -28.565