| Boucher Wins In Dominican Republic: Women's Cup Race Report |
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| December 1, 2008 | |
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Caribbean Report #3 Saturday November 29th 2008 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Qualifying is Complete: Let's Go Racing
Marie Josee Boucher set the pace in the qualifying session this afternoon for the Pro Honda Oils Women's Cup Challenge class in this the fourth annual Carrera International motorcycle races. All ten WCC riders attacked the track in an impressive display of speed and skill. Unlike some of the regular D-R race classes the women's timed session ran an uninterupted and aside from raising some eyebrows as their times were evident, uneventful series of laps. For reference purposes be aware that the existing Superbike lap record as recorded by the 07 Dominican champion Franklynn Dominques, sits in the low one minute and seventeen second bracket. Marie Jo ran the Excel Moto Honda CBR1000 down to the one minute twenty-one second mark after a brief practice effort that prepared the Montreal fast femme for her run against the clock. Just before the qualifying session and then shortly after, we spoke with the girls in the order of their starting positions. Marie-Josee: "I would have liked to practice more but it's getting very hot and we have qualifying coming up so I want to save my energy. Both bikes are perfect thanks to Alain (Larouche) once more. This track is a good mix the straight is like Calgary, some of the high speed sweepers are like Mosport and this place is flat like SMP. If I can lose two or three seconds I'll be happy." After the timed session she added, "I guess three seconds was a lot to ask because we didn't get there. I'll save it for the race." Second fastest qualifying position went to Genvieve Lesieur on her Suzuki GSXR. "Gigi" took the time to learn the right lines and her times dropped with each circulation. Genevieve: "I haven't ridden my bike in quite awhile so for the first few laps I had to get used to it again. Then it was Yes! This is my bike it's perfect! We're here more as a demonstration, to have fun. I'm going to do just that. As for qualifying yes I'm happy. I always want to go faster and do better but it's ok. The heat here will really test us in the race." Josée Bouchard: "I'm not as quick as I want to be I'm still having problems in the tight corners - I like fast sweepers. I'm also having problems with shifting, if I don't preload the shifter I get a false neutral. After qualifying I was very, very happy to be third, very happy. I've never done so well before. When they told me, I was jumping in the air." Vanessa Gareau: "It makes a big difference being on my own bike again, it feels good, I'm excited. I'm off my lap time but it's coming. I never really put out until the race and I'm very comfortable here so we'll see. It's hard for me to believe this is actually happening it's been a long time and a lot of work, hopefully it's worth it. To start on the front row is good and I'm on the outside so I have a good line going into turn one, the start will be very important." Natalie Catherine Provost: "I feel really good. I think I'm doing really well, no issues. Lap times are good so we'll see what happens. It's weird the way things have gone we just got the bike and then we're out for practice and now qualifying it's happened so fast, more practice would have been nice. Roxanne Gravelle: "I went wide in turn three and rode off track, I damaged my front wheel and almost fell but I saved it. I strained my wrist yesterday riding that other bike and this excursion aggravated it. Manon Lemire: I have the same problem here as I have everywhere, I'm slow, but I'm really enjoying the experience of this trip." Maude: "It's ok. I wasn't expecting too much. It's not my bike so I'm not going that fast. I think the day will seem long but I don't care. We're here to have fun. My bike isn't that fast and I know it. It's ok I'm ready to race." Anissa Burachynsky: "Well the bike is good and I'm glad to be back on it in spite of the fact that the last time I rode it I got thrown off in a vicious high-side. (at SMP) I wasn't hurt but it put a big dent in my ego. Today I just wanted to have fun and not push to exhaustion. This heat can get to you. Racing is supposed to be fun especially this weekend." Kana Masumoto: "I feel much better than yesterday, on my own bike. There are places where I shift up and right away have to shift down for the next turn. I didn't bring any gearing so there's not much I can do about that. This heat is killing me it's tough out there. My bike is slow compared to the six hundreds so I don't mind starting from behind them." The Women's Cup Challenge is title sponsored by Pro Honda Oils and proudly supported by Parts Canada, Professional Motorsports Productions, Yamaha Canada, RACE Superseries, Pirelli Tires and Hot Lap Events. Unofficial Race Results Race One |
