The Donington park weekend saw Kyle Ryde make his debut on the MV Agusta F3 675 for the Schmidt Racing Team.
In sunny conditions with summer-like temperatures, the two Schmidt Racing Team riders Nico Terol and Kyle Ryde took part in the first two free practice sessions in front of a crowd of over 8000 people at Kyles home track for the seventh round of the World Supersport championship.
Fridays Free practice problems
During the morning Terol set a best of 1’32”793 to place fourteenth, though suffered an engine failure in the latter stages meaning that he couldn’t conclude the session. Kyle on the other hand, began to build confidence with his new team and new bike, but unfortunately a crashed partway through the session coming into McLeans due to him not being familiar with the new bikes gearbox. This unfortunate spill meant Kyle was unable to do more than 28th position, having set a fastest time of 1’34”796.
Despite the technicians working as hard as they could, they were unable to repair Nico Terols bike in time for the second session, meaning that Nico had to sit it out. His best time set in the morning meant he closed in twentieth place overall.
Kyle continued to work to adapt to his new bike but in the final stages of the second session crashed once again at Goddards, though without physical consequences. With a time of 1’33”903, Kyle finished in 27th position.
Both of the Schmidt Racing Team riders will take part in Superpole1 tomorrow as they try to qualify for the subsequent Superpole 2 and earn a good grid position for Sunday’s race.
Robert Balogh – Team Manager:
“Today was a difficult and unlucky day, but I’m not demoralised because the team is working well and we’ll surely do better tomorrow. I’m pleased to have Ryde on the team and all things considered he hadn’t done badly, seeing that this is his first time on an MV, after years of riding Japanese bikes. We’ll roll our sleeves up and continue to work to improve things and score the kind of results we deserve”.
Nico Terol:
“A difficult start. This morning we were working to adapt the bike to the track and it was going well when unfortunately, the engine broke. My team immediately got to work, but couldn’t get it done in time for me to take part in the afternoon’s session”.
“Tomorrow we only have a brief session in the morning and then Superpole1 in the afternoon, where I’ll try to do my best to gain a good grid position. My team did everything they could to put me in the best possible condition. It’s a difficult time but I’m sure we’ll overcome it together, by continuing to do our best”.
Kyle Ryde:
“I’m working hard to adapt to the bike, which is totally new to me. I crashed twice today, because I lost grip at the front but luckily wasn’t hurt. We had some problems in the second session which made it more difficult, but I can say that the MV has incredible potential and I’m sure that it’s just a question of time before I’m able to make the most of it”.
“I need to thank my team for what they’ve done, they’ve had to work incredibly hard to keep both me and Nico out there today”.
Terol eighth and Ryde sixteenth in Superpole1 at Donington
Today was not an easy day for the Schmidt Racing team and its two riders Nico Terol and Kyle Ryde.
The sunny, mild conditions continued at Donington Park for today’s free practice and Superpole sessions. In the morning, Terol and Ryde were on track for the brief free practice session 3, useful for making final preparations ahead of the Superpole. Terol (1’33”277) finished twentieth while Ryde (1’33”936) closed twenty-third.
Following on from yesterday’s timed practice results, both riders took part in today’s Superpole1. Unfortunately, the same technical problems that slowed the Schmidt Racing team riders yesterday emerged once more during the session. With a best time of 1’32”161 Terol achieved eighth place, while Ryde, thanks to a fastest time of 1’33”650, closed in sixteenth place. These results mean that Nico will line up on row six and Kyle on row nine of the grid for tomorrow’s 20-lap race.
Robert Balogh – Team Manager:
“Unfortunately we’re having some technical engine problems. We’ve used all the engines that the regulation allows, also because some have broken after having used them for just one session. This situation means we were unable to achieve the kind of results that my riders and team are capable of obtaining. I’m nevertheless certain that Ryde will be able to improve in the race and make up many places. He’s still building confidence with our bike and I know it’s not easy, after years of riding different machines.
For Terol, unfortunately he lost a session yesterday due to the engine problems so it won’t be an easy race for him. Nico’s goal is to reach the points zone.
Luckily, after Donington we have a full week to be able to work on the bikes, in order to prepare as well as possible for the Misano round.”
Nico Terol:
“A difficult weekend. Yesterday I didn’t ride much and today I only completed the 15-minute practice and then Superpole. The engine we used today is not very powerful and so the bike doesn’t have good top speed. I’m really sorry, because the guys are doing all they can, but we’re unable to solve the problems that are not down to us. Tomorrow, though it won’t be easy, I’ll try to take as many points as possible and then turn the page and focus on the next races.”.
Kyle Ryde:
“Today was another tough day. Last year I lapped three seconds faster than I did today, but I knew it wouldn’t be easy to adapt to a new bike, totally different to those I’ve ridden up until now. The chassis is great, but the engine doesn’t have great power and I’m still struggling to find the right feeling with the front. Tomorrow it will be important to finish the race, gain experience and build greater confidence with my MV”.
Terol forced to retire from the WSS race at Donington, Ryde closes twenty-first
The seventh round of the Supersport World Championship for Nico Terol and Kyle Ryde, the two riders of the Schmidt Racing Team. Numerous technical problems made it a difficult weekend for the team, managed by Robert Balogh, while Kyle, racing with the Schmidt Racing Team for the first time, has started to adapt to the MV F3 675, a bike that he had never ridden until now.
In today’s race, which took place in cool, sunny conditions and on a dry track, Terol lined up on row six and Ryde on row nine. Terol made a fairly good start but unfortunately, during the course of lap four, the Spaniard was forced to return to the garage due to technical problems with his bike.
In a fairly uneventful, run of the mill race Kyle started out well and was able to make up places throughout the race to reach final twenty-first position but the race was only ever going to be a practice session for Kyle to accustom himself with the bike in race conditions and get a feel of what the bike can do.
The next Supersport world championship round will take place over the weekend of 17-19 June at the Misano World Circuit in Italy.
Robert Balogh – Team Manager:
“A weekend to forget. We worked so hard and tried everything to resolve the technical difficulties but it was all in vain. I believe that the only solution now is to change bikes, to allow our riders and team to express all of their potential and obtain the kind of results we know they are capable of”.
Nico Terol:
“We had more problems with the engine and engine brake in today’s race. Immediately after the start, the bike was switching itself off and then going again but through the next corners the engine brake locked the front wheel and I risked crashing twice. At that point I preferred to stop because it made no sense to race in those conditions.
I’m really sorry for the team that has worked so hard. We need to stay united and work in the same direction, to prepare as well as possible for the next round at Misano”.
Kyle Ryde:
“A difficult race but it was my fastest session of the weekend, and I went a second quicker than I did in qualifying. I’m not looking at what everyone else is doing, and am just focused on learning and then learning some more. I’m only a second off what I did here last year, and last year I was on the podium. I’m taking the positives and now we move forward.”