Kawasaki Palmeto PL Racing Press Release:
American Kenny Noyes rode the race of his life at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, Valencia, and emerged at the end of the 19 laps as FIM CEV SBK International Superbike Champion. He went into the ninth and final round trailing former Spanish Champion Ivan by four point and needing either win or finish second ahead of Silva.
Starting fourth off the second row, Noyes got the hole-shot and, with Venezuelan teammate Robertino Pietri in his slipstream, opened slight gap over Morales and Silva, but on lap three they both got past the Venezuelan and closed on the leader. On lap seven Morales when into the lead and Silva slipped under Noyes out of Turn 2 but the American dived under Silva at Turn 6 and tucked in behind the new leader.
Once the gap over Silva had grown to a just over a second, Noyes slowed his paces slightly, but then Noyes lost some valuable time finding his way past a lapped rider and Silva was suddenly only .4 back. With five laps remaining Noyes upped the pace and not only pulled clear of the BMW rider, he also closed on Morales and looked set to make a move when Silva lost the front on the entrance to turn four at the start of lap 17.
The Palmeto PL team quickly got the board and informed Noyes that his only rival had crashed. He then slowed and cruised home to take the title. Pietri was third, giving Palmeto PL not only the title but also two podium places.
Kenny Noyes:
“My strategy from the beginning was to push as hard as a could on the opening laps and try and get some distance between me and Silva. The opening push was enough to do that. When Morales came by, I thought that would be OK because it is good to have a wheel to follow at Valencia, but when Silva slipped under me out of turn 3, I realized I had to pass him back immediately and push again. When I saw on my board that I had 1.1 seconds over Silva, I slowed just a bit, but on the next lap I saw he had closed to .8 and then I had some trouble with a lapped rider and my board told me he was just .4 back. I made a second hard push and in three laps I was back with Morales and had put Silva over a second back. I was starting to think about making a move on Morales, but with two laps to go, my board said Silva was out. I had to take a long look back to believe it and I saw beautiful empty track!
I didn´t think I could do a whole race in the 35´s. But that´s what it took today.
Silva went down pushing hard and it was the only time all year he´s failed to score. He pushed us hard and was fighting right to the end. I´m so grateful to the team, to Kawasaki and to Michelin for all the work they put in, and it was great to be on the podium with Robertino again. That made it ever more special for Palmeto PL.
Robertino Pietri:
“After I lost my chance for the championship in Portugal, my job this weekend was to work for the team. On the opening laps I was second behind Kenny and tried to hold Morales and Silva back, but they had a better pace than I did today. The season has been a good one for me. I finished fourth in the points and had my share of podiums in a championship that has some really strong riders up front. I want to congratulate Kenny and the team for winning this first edition of the new FIM CEV Repsol Superbike International Championship. This team is really like a family and riding for them had made me grow as a rider and made me love racing even more.”
Race Result:
1. Morales (Spain) Kawasaki ZX1000-R
2. Noyes (USA) Kawasaki ZX1000-R
3. Pietri (Venezuela) Kawasaki ZX1000-R
4. Ramos (Spain) Kawasaki ZX1000-R
5. Rodriguez (Spain) Suzuki GSX1000-R
6. Plassen (Norway) Ducati 1198
7. Martinez (Spain) Kawasaki ZX1000-R
8. Rivas (Spain) BMW R1000SS
9. Pouhair (France) BMW R1000SS
10.Llano (Spain) Kawasaki ZX1000-R
Final Championship Standings:
1. Noyes 160
2. Morales 145
3. Silva 144
4. Pietri 125
5. Barragan 123
6. Rivas 113
7. Rodriguez 71
8. Ferrer 53
9. Kuperinen 44
10. Gomez 43
For more information: www.plracing.es
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