WSBK/WSS San Marino

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MISANO ? 27, 28 and 29 JUNE ? ROUND 8

Misano cauldron awaits World Superbike contenders for San Marino Round 8

The action in the 2008 HANNspree FIM Superbike World Championship is undoubtedly set to heat up this weekend as the runners and riders head for the Misano World Circuit cauldron on Italy?s Adriatic Riviera coast for Round 8, the San Marino Round organized in collaboration with the motorcycling federation of the tiny, Italian-speaking but independent, Republic state. With 7 rounds done and dusted, the season now enters its second half and the revised Santamonica circuit could not be a better place for this next phase of the championship, with scorching weather expected at the holiday venue to liven up proceedings.

The last two rounds have produced two double winners in Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) at Miller Motorsports Park and Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB) at the Nurburgring, but more to the point they have seen Troy Bayliss?s leadership grip on a championship gradually come under threat. Still in the top slot with 227 points, the Aussie however has not won a race since his Assen double at the end of April and has seen his lead whittled down to 39. The main chasers are Checa, who alternates outstanding form (Assen and Miller) with lesser performances (Monza and Nurburgring), and Max Neukirchner (Alstare Suzuki), who has now become a regular front-runner and podium finisher. Checa and Neukirchner are on 188 and 176 points respectively.

However Troy Bayliss is the most successful winner at Misano and out of 10 races contested he has been on the podium nine times, winning six races, so it will take a lot to dislodge the Ducati Xerox rider from the top slot at what is clearly, with 25 wins out of 32 races, a circuit that is favourable to Ducati.

Fourth-placed Haga?s season is now coming on strong for Yamaha, and an incredible heroic double win in Germany just two weeks after breaking his collarbone in the USA has truly earned a place for the Japanese rider in the Superbike ?Hall of Fame?. Haga has never won at Misano in the sixteen races he has contested there, managing only three podium finishes and five retirements.

Yamaha Motor Italia WSB team-mate Troy Corser has shown a resurgence in form in the last two rounds, coming close to the win in Nurburgring race 2 before rain brought a halt to the action. The Australian also has a good rapport with Misano, having finished on the podium 14 times, but his last win was in 2000 with Aprilia. Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki Alstare) is 13 points behind Corser in sixth place. Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) is next up with 110 points, four ahead of the young Italian Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), who has occasionally shown signs of superb form in his debut season for the factory team. Vying for top Italian in the series with Fabrizio is Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati), whose second season in WSBK has so far failed to produce the scintillating performances everyone expects from this multiple champion. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) brings up the top 10, with just one truly outstanding performance to his name so far, Monza race 2, in his rookie season.

Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse riders Makoto Tamada and R?gis Laconi are still lying outside the top 10, in sixteenth and seventeenth place respectively, but the Misano race is the most important of the calendar for the San Marino-based outfit, and they will be making a major effort to perform well in front of their territorial hosts. As well as the usual fanfare of publicity and local support that the team enjoys at this race each year, the Frenchman, a three-times previous winner at Misano, and his Japanese colleague will both finally be able to enjoy the benefits of their latest rear swing-arm design on their ZX-10R machines, which will sport a special San Marino livery for this race.

Points (after 7 of 14 rounds) : Riders ? 1. Bayliss (Ducati) 227; 2. Checa (Honda) 188; 3. Neukirchner (Suzuki) 176; 4. Haga (Yamaha) 172; 5. Corser (Yamaha) 154; 6. Nieto (Suzuki) 141; 7. Xaus (Ducati) 110; 8. Fabrizio (Ducati) 106; 9. Biaggi (Ducati) 97; 10. Kiyonari (Honda) 89; etc. Manufacturers ? 1. Ducati 282; 2. Yamaha 251; 3. Suzuki 223; 4. Honda 207; 5. Kawasaki 64.

FIM Supersport World Championship

One of the pre-season Supersport title candidates Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) finally powered to the top of the points table at the last round with his third win of the year, ousting the previous leader, Joan Lascorz (Glaner Motocard.com Honda) from the top slot. The young Spaniard has been on a negative roll recently and has also been overtaken in the standings by Fabien Foret (Yamaha World Supersport) from France and the tough Australian Joshua Brookes (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport Honda). However with just nine points separating Pitt from fifth-placed Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport), who was unable to produce the winning goods in Germany after leading until the penultimate lap, this year?s Supersport World Championship is certainly shaping up into a hard-fought affair. Sixth-placed Craig Jones (Parkalgar Racing Honda) is not far off the front-runners either, the British rider nearly always in the top 6 at every race. The MIsano round will see the debut of ex-DFX Superbike rider Russell Holland in the Hannspree Honda Althea squad as replacement for the injured Tommy Hill.

Points (after 6 of 13 rounds) : 1. Pitt (Honda) 88; 2. Foret (Yamaha) 84; 3. Brookes (Honda) 81; 4. Lascorz (Honda) & Parkes (Yamaha) 81; 6. Jones (Honda) 60; 7. Rea (Honda) 51; 8. Harms (Honda) 39; 9. Lagrive (Honda) & Vizziello (Honda) 28.

Superstock 1000 FIM World Cup

In the championship that is the breeding-ground for new talent, Brendan Roberts (Ducati Xerox Junior Team) put the troubles of the previous two races behind him at the Nurburgring to claim a second win of the year on his 1098R. The young Australian however is still only in second place in the table, which is currently headed by the Belgian Xavier Simeon. The Alstare Suzuki man has so far proved to be the most consistent front-runner, scoring three third places and a win in the first four races. Davide Giugliano (Cruciani Moto Suzuki Italia) is also turning into one of the protagonists of the season but such is the competition that just a handful of points separate the Italian from seventh-placed Matej Smrz (MS Racing Honda) of the Czech Republic. The list of disappointments so far this season includes Alessandro Polita (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) in sixth and WSB tester Claudio Corti (Yamaha Motor Italia Junior Team) in ninth, while this year?s 1000 Cup new entry KTM, are finding the learning curve harder than expected and Austrian Ren? Mahr has yet to open his scorecard.

Points (after 4 of 10 rounds) : 1. Simeon (Suzuki) 73; 2. Roberts (Ducati) 63; 3. Giugliano (Suzuki) 48; 4. Berger (Honda) & Pirro (Yamaha) 43; 6. Polita (Ducati) 42; 7. Smrz (Honda) 40; 8. Magnoni (Yamaha) 24; 9. Corti (Yamaha) & Foray (Yamaha) 21

European 600 Superstock Championship

The action continues thick and fast in the Junior Superstock category as well, with the Czech Republic rider Patrick Vostarek (Intermoto Honda) proving to have the legs of 15-year-old French sensation Loris Baz (YZF Yamaha Junior Team) at the Nurburgring to record his maiden win. Third place is still in the hands of the 19-year-old from the UK, Dan Linfoot (StoneBaker Yamaha) with Daniele Beretta (Cruciani Moto Suzuki Italia) failing to score in Germany, but still in fourth. Two more Italians are in fifth and sixth, Danilo Petrucci (Trasimeno Yamaha) and Marco Bussolotti (Yamaha Motor Italia Junior Team).

Points (after 4 of 10 rounds): 1. Baz (Yamaha) 81; 2. Vostarek (Honda) 60; 3. Linfoot (Yamaha) 51; 4. Beretta (Suzuki) 42; 5. Petrucci (Yamaha) 41, 6. Bussolati (Yamaha) 40; 7. Rea (Yamaha) 38; 8. Gregorini (Honda) 30; La Marra (Suzuki) 25; 10. Lonbois (Suzuki) 23.

About the Misano World Circuit

The Misano World Circuit, which was called the Circuito Internazionale Santamonica until 2006, is located close to the seaside resort town of Misano Adriatico in the province of Rimini. Originally designed in 1969 as a length of 3.488 kilometres (2.17 miles), it hosted its first event in 1972 and then in 1993, the track length was increased to 4.064 kilometres (2.53 miles), and new facilities and pit garages were built. The latest reincarnation of the circuit came about in 2006, when the direction was changed to clockwise, the track length was increased to 4.180 km, track width to 14 meters and facilities much improved. Misano has been a regular fixture on the World Superbike calendar since 1991, and a round has been held there every year, with the exception of 1992. The circuit appears to be particularly conducive to double winners, with 11 of the 16 events producing wins for the same rider. The list in chronological order is: Polen, Falappa, Lucchiari, Kocinski, Slight, Fogarty, Corser, Bayliss, Xaus, Laconi and Bayliss again.

 

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Preview: Round 8, San Marino - 29th June

Circuit: Misano (4.180 kms)

FONSI, YUKIO AND MAX OFF TO THE SUN AND THE SEA AT MISANO.

The eighth round of this year?s Superbike World Championship takes place at the Misano circuit and will hopefully be a hotter and sunnier affair then the last round at the N?rburgring. The 4.180 kilometre track is situated only a short distance from the Adriatic coastline and has been a regular on the calendar since 1991. Last year the direction of the track was reversed - a move not popular with some riders.
Team Suzuki Alstare rider Yukio Kagayama was forced to miss the race in the last round because of a broken bone in his left hand, but is determined to make up for that in Misano. His team mate Fonsi Nieto was disappointed with his results at the N?rburgring and he too will be eager to get back to podium ways. Team Alstare Suzuki rider Max Neukirchner has been the sensation of the season so far and he will be going all out for a podium (or two) on raceday.

Fonsi
Last round was not so good for me, so I have to do better in Misano. I prefer the old layout of Misano and think the the circuit is not so good with this new direction. But it is the same for everybody and I will be doing my best to get a good set-up in practice and qualifying and make a good Superpole. When you start so far down the grid, like the last round, it is difficult to fight for the podium, so I hope to manage a good Superpole - at last!

Yukio
I had the plaster taken off my hand last Friday and then had it X-rayed again to check that everything was OK. Then I started my physiotherapy and began to strengthen my hand. It was not as bad as I expected and I feel confident that it will be OK for Misano. I am looking forward to racing there because I like the track. I was on the podium last year and I want to do the same this year.

Max
I couldn?t get the win I wanted in front of my home fans last week, so I will have to try and win in MIsano. For sure the factory Ducatis will be very strong there, so it would be very good to put one over them at their home track. Last year, I finished ninth and tenth in MIsano but I know that I can do much better this year.

2007 results
Race 1: Bayliss Aus-Ducati), 2 Corser (Aus-Yamaha), 3 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare), 9 Max Neukirchner (D-Suzuki), Fonsi Nieto (E-Kawasaki) DNF,
Race 2: 1 Bayliss , 2 Haga (J-Yamaha), 3 Biaggi (Suzuki Alstare), 4 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare), 10 Max Neukirchner (D-Suzuki), 12 Fonsi Nieto (E-Kawasaki),

 

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Corser and Haga take winning form to San Marino

After incredible rides at the N?rburgring in Germany both Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) will be relishing another chance to compete for top honours at Round 8 of the World Superbike Championship at the Misano circuit on the Adriatic coast of Italy this weekend.

Despite suffering from a broken right collarbone, plated and pinned before the N?rburgring race, Haga won both races in the German round, only just beating his team-mate Corser in race two. Arguably Corser looked favourite for the win until the track surface started to become wet, but it was still a miracle for Haga to be anywhere near a double win so soon after his big crash in America.

Both Haga and Corser have recent podium experience at Misano, each taking a second place finish on their Yamaha YZF-R1 machinery last year. Corser is a previous Misano race winner, but despite breaking the barrier of 30 individual WSB race victories last time out, Haga has still to add Misano to his list of winning venues.

After some tough early rounds Corser has been reborn as a potential winning force in the championship following strong podium results in both America and Germany. At Misano he was a double winner in the 2000 season on what used to be a predominantly left-handed circuit.

Last year the Misano venue underwent massive overhauls in almost all regards, with the most obvious one being a new track layout in places, allied to a complete change in the direction of racing. Previously Misano was an anti-clockwise circuit, featuring several long left-hand corners. In the new era it is a layout dominated by a succession of right-handers at the end of the back straight, which runs parallel to the nearby Autostrada.

Haga is aware that every performance counts as he tries to make up ground on championship leader Troy Bayliss. "So far so good. The double win in Germany, after my injury and operation in America, has made me a bit more relaxed. My first aim in Germany was to not crash and get some points, so to get a double win was a surprise. I was riding a little bit carefully because everyone around me over the weekend was saying 'don't crash!' So I was not riding too hard, but we still had a very successful outcome."

"Misano was a turning point last year so it will be an important race again this year and I have to be careful not to make a mistake. All the other riders have been fighting each other, making slip ups and we have already been unlucky and then lucky again. It's very competitive for everybody and we are out to get as many points as possible to the end. We have half the season left and to be 55 points from the lead is not so bad. But we know we cannot make any mistakes any more. All the team have been working hard towards Misano, so I am looking forward to it."

Corser's winning pedigree has been proven many times in his long WSB career, and he came close to his first Yamaha win at Misano last year. "Misano should be good and the bike is coming along fine. It will be better than last year and we got a good result at Misano then, so it should be good. I do like the track and it's good to be going in the opposite direction to the old version. It's like a completely different circuit. There have been a few races there since the tarmac went down and the track surface is pretty much bedded in now. Last year it was very new and pretty 'green'. There is always a good crowd at Misano and it's a fun race for the spectators. We're also expecting it to be as hot as ever in the sunshine."

Technically speaking - Misano according to Massimo Meregalli (Yamaha Motor Italia Team Manager)
"We treat every race in the calendar the same but because our team is based in Italy it does mean Misano is more work and there are always simply more things to do. But to race in Misano is always a good thing. After our good results in Germany we have a really high level of team morale. We are, like always, trying to improve our machine and we would like to do all the things we can to be more competitive again in Misano. It is a very different place from the N?rburgring. We will consider the set-up we used last year for the Misano race, but when you find a good base like we have now, usually we don't change it so much from race-to-race. I think we are ready and both riders are determined. We can do a god job."

Shinichi Nakatomi (Yamaha Team YZF) is currently in the same 20th position he has monopolised for some time, while Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha GMT94) and David Checa (Yamaha GMT94) maintained 23rd and 24th places overall after the N?rburgring races.

WSS
For the past two years Yamaha World Supersport riders have proved unbeatable at the Misano circuit, and that fills Broc Parkes and Fabien Foret, from the Yamaha World Supersport Racing Team, with confidence as they attempt to go from championship contenders to championship leaders again.

After a somewhat disjoined first half of the season, despite both riders having already tasted victory on the all-new Yamaha YZF-R6, the championship lead is within touching distance for both Parkes and Foret. Second overall, Fabien is only four points from championship leader Andrew Pitt, while Broc is only seven points from the lead.

Misano is a well-known venue for each rider, even in its more modern reversed layout, and Parkes in particular will have previous data still fresh in his mind from the weekend when he raced for the same team last year, on the 2007 YZF-R6.

The current championship standings show how close the 2008 WSS contest is shaping up to be, with Pitt on 88 points, Foret second on 84, Josh Brookes on 83 and Joan Lascorz and Parkes locked together on 81 points.

Three no scores have kept Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) in the lower reaches of the top ten so far, but as the race winner at Misano on 2006, Roccoli is fully motivated to return to the top step at one of three Italian-based races on the 2008 calendar.

Foret had to settle for an off-podium finish in the N?rburgring race in mid-June, but the 2002 champion sees Misano as the perfect place to get back into the lead, "I hope for better things at Misano than I had at the N?rburgring and it is one of the better tracks for me anyway. Most of the time I have had a good result there and even with the new track and riding a different bike things were not so bad last year. I feel confident and I am going to try and win the race. We have to from now on because we need to make some more points in the championship. It is a good track for Yamaha and it should be less difficult for me on this bike than it was on the other bike last season."

Parkes, now recovered fully from some painful early season injuries, said, "It would have been fantastic to have won at N?rburgring, and I felt we had done enough to get the victory there. We lost a bit of drive in the last few laps, and I had to take third. The main thing to remember is that we ran at a really high pace in that race and we will be out to make sure we can do it again at Misano, only finish on top this time."

Wilco Zeelenberg, the Yamaha World Supersport Team Manager, sees the Misano round as a strong venue for the team's YZF-R6 machine. "It was strange for Broc to have had the trouble at the end of the N?rburgring race, and we were surprised by that. So we felt bad that we didn't win at first, then we realised that we were lucky to finish the race at all. Broc was very strong in that race and I think the riders who were behind did well to follow him for so long. I think our bike is very good in the top end, and we have a wide range, but the best of the other bikes are still very good. We have a good package and we know that Pitt in particular has a strong package also. We have to win races now because we are still right in there. Both riders like Misano very much and have done well there. The Misano circuit is not the most difficult place to find a setup for and even last year we had no issue with the track being completely changed around. So our 2007 data will still be useful when we get there. Let's hope we can get up to speed quickly."

David De Gea (Yamaha Spain World Supersport Team) is still looking for points as he recovers from injury but David Salom (Yamaha Spain World Supersport Team) is still looking to come back to the fray after missing Germany, and wants to break into the regions of double figure points scores.

SUPERSTOCK
Michele Pirro (Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni), Sylvain Barrier (Yamaha YZF Junior Team) and Claudio Corti (Yamaha Motor Italia Junior Team) are Yamaha's usual entrants in the big Superstock class, while Loris Baz (YZF Yamaha Junior Team) is the best placed official Yamaha Superstock 600 rider, leading the championship and being the only rider to have scored two wins so far.

 

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Superbike - Free Practice 1st Session

1 11 Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'37.454
2 21 Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 1'37.900
3 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 F08 1'37.967
4 111 Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'38.093
5 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'38.299
6 41 Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'38.479
7 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'38.485
8 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'38.486
9 10 Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'38.490
10 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'38.675
11 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 1'38.796
12 86 Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'38.846
13 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'38.857
14 34 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'38.894
15 23 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'39.129
16 36 Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'39.169
17 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'39.202
18 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'39.223
19 44 Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'39.272
20 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'39.389
21 194 Gimbert S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'39.458
22 38 Nakatomi S. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'39.683
23 94 Checa D. (ESP) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'39.856
24 88 Aoyama S. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'40.105
25 13 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'40.879
26 64 Brignola N. (ITA) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'41.035
27 43 Pridmore J. (USA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'41.447
28 22 Morelli L. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'44.409

Superbike - Qualifying 1st Session

1 21 Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 1'36.863
2 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'37.139
3 11 Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'37.224
4 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'37.477
5 41 Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'37.542
6 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'37.574
7 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'37.618
8 111 Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 1098 RS 08 1'37.710
9 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'37.751
10 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 1'37.752
11 10 Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'37.759
12 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'37.819
13 86 Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'37.871
14 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 F08 1'38.076
15 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'38.189
16 36 Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'38.202
17 44 Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'38.206
18 23 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'38.392
19 88 Aoyama S. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'38.493
20 34 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'38.636
21 38 Nakatomi S. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'38.652
22 194 Gimbert S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'38.774
23 94 Checa D. (ESP) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'38.843
24 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'38.895
25 13 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'39.768
26 64 Brignola N. (ITA) Yamaha YZF-R1 1'40.311
27 43 Pridmore J. (USA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'40.395

 

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QUALIFYING 1 REPORT - 27/06/2008

Top five for Corser and Haga on day one

The intense heat and humidity that a settled on Misano on the first day of qualifying was no obstacle to Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) and Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) who each started out in competitive form.

A subtly new track layout on the first corner and partial track re-surfacing could not mask the bumps that were evident in several places on the Misano track, but despite this each YMI rider has already made good inroads in their overall machine set-up.

With the air temperature hitting 34?C during the afternoon qualifying, Corser went third on the stopwatch and Haga fifth, with Corser having started out fastest of all 27 competing riders in the first unofficial session this morning. Corser took over two tenths of a second from his morning time in official qualifying, using race tyres in each session.

A tough first day for the other officially supported Yamaha riders, Shinichi Nakatomi (Team YZF Yamaha), Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha GMT94) and David Checa (Yamaha GMT94) saw them 21st, 22nd and 23rd respectively.
Troy Corser (3rd - 1'37.224 - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team)
"Hot work today but it is going OK. We are trying some things on the bike and our lap times are comparable with the others, and we can still put in a tyre towards the end and go even faster. I'm feeling not to bad now and we are just fine-tuning the bike, working around our base setting. Even this morning, right out of the box, the bike felt pretty good. It's well bumpy out there, especially off the back straight. They have resurfaced some of it but there is less grip in those places also. The entry to the last corner is also very bumpy on the braking entry. The track is short and pretty intense in general and you have to work in the corners, but I feel good about this weekend."

Noriyuki Haga (5th - 1'37.542 - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team)
"It's pretty bumpy and that doesn't make our set-up easy to find on the first day so we will continue to work on our suspension, concentration on bump-absorption. No problems really, just fine-tuning. Top five is OK today but we will try some more tyres once we have dealt with the bumps. The new track layout in a couple of places is OK, but for me not so much has changed compared to last year."
Massimo Meregalli (Team Manager, Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team)
"We are in a good position in the first day, both close to the top, and we are much better on the first day than we were at the start of the season, fighting each time. We are already there. We must be positive about all of it and we have reached a base setting that works everywhere. Even the set-up of each rider is quite similar, despite having very different riding styles. It is strange but it works for both of them."


Qualifying 1

Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time

1, Troy Bayliss, Ducati, AUS, 1'36.863
2, Jakub Smrz, Ducati, CZE, 1'37.139
3, Troy Corser, Yamaha, AUS, 1'37.224
4, Max Biaggi, Ducati, ITA, 1'37.477
5, Noriyuki Haga, Yamaha, JPN, 1'37.542
6, Regis Laconi, Kawasaki, FRA, 1'37.574
7, Lorenzo Lanzi, Ducati, ITA, 1'37.618
8, Ruben Xaus, Ducati, ESP, 1'37.710
9, Max Neukirchner, Suzuki, GER, 1'37.751
10, Karl Muggeridge, Honda, AUS, 1'37.752
11, Fonsi Nieto, Suzuki, ESP, 1'37.759
12, Makoto Tamada, Kawasaki, JPN, 1'37.819
13, Ayrton Badovini, Kawasaki, ITA, 1'37.871
14, Michel Fabrizio, Ducati, ITA, 1'38.076
15, Carlos Checa, Honda, ESP, 1'38.189
16, Gregorio Lavilla, Honda, ESP, 1'38.202
17, Roberto Rolfo, Honda, ITA, 1'38.206
18, Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda, JPN, 1'38.392
19, Shuhei Aoyama, Honda, JPN, 1'38.493
20, Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki, JPN, 1'38.636
21, Shinichi Nakatomi, Yamaha, JPN, 1'38.652
22, Sebastien Gimbert, Yamaha, FRA, 1'38.774
23, David Checa, Yamaha, ESP, 1'38.843
24, Kenan Sofuoglu, Honda, TUR, 1'38.895
25, Vittorio Iannuzzo, Kawasaki, ITA, 1'39.768
26, Norino Brignola, Yamaha, ITA, 1'40.311
27, Jason Pridmore, Honda, USA, 1'40.395

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QUALIFYING 1 REPORT - 27/06/2008

Parkes fastest yet again

Once more Yamaha World Supersport Team rider Broc Parkes headed up a WSS qualifying session, going fastest today and therefore setting a new track best on Misano's slightly altered track layout. His 1'40.132 was 0.255 seconds faster than next rider, Andrew Pitt, and 0.427 seconds faster than his own team-mate Fabien Foret.
Foret put in his quickest lap towards the end the afternoon qualifying, jumping to a provisional front row starting position in a session which witnessed 34?C air temperatures at its peak.

The heat had even more of an effect on the track surface, with the asphalt on the 4.226km Misano circuit hitting 53?C during qualifying.

Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) fell heavily at the Curva Del Rio corner in the untimed morning session, having collided with another rider. He still went 14th on his number two bike this afternoon on a track he took a win at for Yamaha in 2006.

David Salom (Yamaha Spain World Supersport) returned to World Supersport Championship racing in good form, going 11th out of 38 riders.
Broc Parkes (1st - 1'40.132 - Yamaha World Supersport Team)
"It all went good today and we actually spent quite a bit of time working on race set-up because we wanted to see how the bike and tyres would react in these hot conditions. It all worked well and we already have a good set-up. We'll carry on working to get things even better tomorrow. They have changed the first chicane a bit and I like it, it makes more sense in that section of track, and the pit exit is also improved. I like this track anyway, always have, even though it is bumpy in places. But once you work out where the bumps are, it's OK."

Fabien Foret (3rd - 1'40.559 - Yamaha World Supersport Team)
"It's good to be on the front row already on Friday and we had a good session this morning. We lost a bit in the afternoon but we still got third. It's not like we are struggling or anything like that, but I just didn't feel I could push as hard this afternoon. We still have tomorrow and I really like this track, so we will find the right solution."
Wilco Zeelenberg (Team Manager, Yamaha World Supersport Team)
"Very good for the first day and I think Broc could start the race tomorrow the way things are, without doing any laps on Saturday. It's incredible how fast he can be even on the first day, which has been the case for a few races in a row now. We still have to find something more for Fabien, to give him more feel and confidence but we will find it for him. It is all relative, because he is not completely happy right now but he still on the front row on the first day. So now we have to find him a bit more confidence in the front end, for both race distance and a single fast lap time."
Massimo Roccoli (16th - 1'41.437 seconds - Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni)
"This morning I crashed at the inside of the Curva del Rio, because of a slower rider in front. Lascorz and I were following the rider and Lascorz had to move quickly to avoid him, and we collided. I hit my head, right elbow and right shoulder very hard. We had to spend a lot of time fixing the electronics on the crashed bike and we only got ten laps this afternoon. The second bike is not set-up properly yet for the high temperatures."
David Salom: (11th - 1'41.089 seconds - Yamaha Spain)
"Almost in the top ten on the first day is a good result for us and it's good to be back racing in the World Championship. We will try to make a good final grid position tomorrow."


Qualifying 1

Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time

1, Broc Parkes, Yamaha, AUS, 1'40.132
2, Andrew Pitt, Honda, AUS, 1'40.387
3, Fabien Foret, Yamaha, FRA, 1'40.559
4, Jonathan Rea, Honda, GBR, 1'40.690
5, Mark Aitchinson, Triumph, AUS, 1'40.708
6, Matthieu Lagrive, Honda, FRA, 1'40.718
7, Joshua Brookes, Honda, AUS, 1'40.770
8, Joan Lascorz, Honda, ESP, 1'40.850
9, Barry Veneman, Suzuki, NED, 1'40.857
10, Craig Jones, Honda, GBR, 1'40.922
11, David Salom, Yamaha, ESP, 1'41.089
12, Vesa Kallio, Honda, FIN, 1'41.214
13, Danilo Marrancone, Yamaha, ITA, 1'41.224
14, Robbin Harms, Honda, DNK, 1'41.263
15, Gianluca Vizziello, Honda, ITA, 1'41.439
16, Massimo Roccoli, Yamaha, ITA, 1'41.473
17, Garry McCoy, Triumph, AUS, 1'41.477
18, Roberto Lunadei, Honda, ITA, 1'41.548
19, Gianluca Nannelli, Honda, ITA, 1'41.571
20, Russell Holland, Honda, AUS, 1'41.605
21, Danilo Dell'omo, Honda, ITA, 1'41.744
22, Ivan Clementi, Triumph, ITA, 1'41.958
23, Alessandro Brannetti, Yamaha, ITA, 1'41.965
24, Didier Van Keymeulen, Suzuki, BEL, 1'42.000
25, Gregory Leblanc, Honda, FRA, 1'42.100
26, Miguel Praia, Honda, POR, 1'42.115
27, Lorenzo Alfonsi, Honda, ITA, 1'42.287
28, Jesco Gunther, Triumph, GER, 1'42.447
29, Arne Tode, Triumph, GER, 1'42.626
30, Chris Walker, Kawasaki, GBR, 1'42.684
31, Katsuaki Fujiwara, Kawasaki, JPN, 1'42.739
32, Graeme Gowland, Honda, GBR, 1'43.121
33, Ruggero Scambia, Triumph, ITA, 1'43.130
34, Balazs Nemeth, Honda, HUN, 1'43.214
35, William De Angelis, Honda, ITA, 1'43.260
36, Santiago Barragan, Honda, ESP, 1'43.455
37, Javier Hidalgo, Yamaha, ESP, 1'43.906
38, Attila Magda, Honda, HUN, 1'45.229

 

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Round 8, San Marino (at Misano)

Circuit: 4.226 kms Conditions: Dry, hot, sunny 30-34C
Friday qualifying, 27th June

HARD WORK IN THE HEAT.

Temperatures rose to 34C this afternoon at Misano circuit and Max, Fonsi and Yukio had to work hard in difficult conditions as they began finding good set-ups for their GSX-R1000 Suzukis. Maxi ended the fastest of the trio, in ninth place, with Fonsi eleventh and Yukio twentieth. Yukio?s was suffering from his injured left hand and there was some speculation about whether or not his it would be strong enough to ride, but the gritty Japanese rider is determined to be on the grid on raceday and today was just the start. Troy Bayliss (Ducati) ended with the day?s fastest lap, with Jakub Smrz (Ducati) second, Troy Corser (Yamaha) third and Max Biaggi (Ducati) fourth.

Max - 9th, 1:37.751
We began with one bike with the Nurburgring set-up and the other bike with a slightly lowered front and that was the one that worked better. I had some problems exiting the corners because the bike was spinning a bit and that caused me to lose time. Otherwise I probably could?ve finished much higher up. I think we?ve more or less decided on which rear tyre to use in the race, but we?re not sure about the front yet. One thing I do know, is that it?s going to be a very difficult day on Sunday to do two races in this kind of heat!

Fonsi -11th, 1:37.759
After Germany, today was much better and I was happy to be amongst the fastest in the morning session. Later, it was hard to find that last three or four tenths of a second, but the lap times are very, very close, so I am not unhappy. Tomorrow I want to be fast straightaway and do a good Superpole so that I don?t have to start way down the grid again. I don?t think I have ever ridden in such heat as today. After five or six laps, it was difficult to breathe properly and there?s no air coming inside the helmet. Sunday is going to be very tough for all of us.

Yukio - 20th, 1:38.636
It was very difficult for me out there today because of my hand. The doctors told me that it would be three weeks before the bone would be OK and longer for the ligaments I damaged. The ligaments are causing me problems when I am trying to get the bike to change direction - especially from left to right. Tomorrow I might try a pain-killing injection. It will be good for the pain, but the problem is that it will reduce the feeling in my hand!

Friday qualifying
1 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:36.863, 2 Smrz (CZ-Ducati) 1:37.139, 3 Corser (Aus-Yamaha) 1:37.224, 4 Biaggi (I-Ducati) 1:37.477, 5 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:37.542, 6 Laconi (F-Kawasaki) 1:37.574, 7 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 1:37.618, 8 Xaus (E-Ducati) 1:37.710, 9 Max Neukirchner (D-Alstare Suzuki) 1:37.751, 10 Fonsi Nieto (E-Suzuki Alstare) 1:37.759, 20 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare) 1:38.636,

 

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KAWASAKI PSG-1 CORSE: GREAT IMPROVEMENTS

Regis Laconi and Makoto Tamada who took the 18th and 17th qualifying time in free practice this morning, regained lost ground during the qualifying session in the afternoon, when they reached 6th and 12th placements, showing a clear improvement at the Santa Monica?s track, where the 8th round will be disputed on Sunday 29th June.

The technical choices adopted by the team as the sessions wore on gave good results to Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse, which still has the possibility to improve the riders? overall positions.

REGIS LACONI #55: ?This morning?s result didn?t scare me as we used the free practice session to verify the feeling with the bike and I have to say that I?m really satisfied about it. I still feel some chattering though, especially in the last two curves of the track. Tomorrow we?ll focus on reducing the problem. The most difficult thing is to keep our energies for Sunday?s races, considering the high temperature of these days.?

MAKOTO TAMADA #100: ?I used the first free practice session this morning to study the track properly, because it is partly changed from last season. Besides I also improved the feeling with the ZX-10R, which wasn?t perfect with my riding style earlier. First of all we changed the swing arm to the new one, which has just arrived, and I quickly felt a clear improvement. Now the bike is much more manageable when braking, and as confirmation of that I regained almost a second.?

FRANCESCO MASTRANDREA (Technical Director): ?We are satisfied about the results achieved considering that we used the free practice session to gauge he feeling of the riders with the bikes. Tomorrow we?ll focus on satisfying Makoto?s requests regarding the set up of his ZX-10R, while the technical team working with Regis will use the time at its disposal to reduce the chattering experienced by the rider especially in the last two bends.?

 

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QUALIFYING 2 REPORT - 28/06/2008

Brilliant 42nd Career Superpole for Corser

Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) was the fastest rider going into the Superpole contest at Misano and despite being down in the first two splits he rallied on the final section of the 4.226km circuit to record an outstanding 1'35.993 second lap. That new track best time delivered Corser his 42nd career Superpole win, extending his record to exactly twice as many as the next best riders in the all-time rankings.

Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) continued to try and find an ideal set-up for his machine in practice today and qualified 14th in Superpole, making for a fourth row start for Sunday's 24 lap races. Haga's team will now make final adjustments to the machine in morning warm-up tomorrow, but all who know Haga understand that he can fight for podiums almost irrespective of his qualifying position.

The Misano circuit has proved to be bumpier than last year, but its altered layout proved no challenge to Corser, who was simply peerless in getting the most out of the available grip from the track surface in the two days of qualifying and practice. He is looking for his first win of the 2008 season, despite some tremendous front-running rides and five podium finishes so far.

Such was the intensity of the practice sessions that Corser and Haga were the only Yamaha riders inside the top 16 places after regulation qualifying, and thus David Checa (Yamaha GMT94) in 18th place was not in Superpole, despite setting a time only 1.462 seconds from Corser's pre Superpole best. Shinichi Nakatomi (Team YZF Yamaha) earned a 20th spot on the grid, with Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha GMT94) 21st fastest.
Troy Corser (1st - 1'35.993 - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team)
"Practice has been going well and we've found a good setting for the race tomorrow. We made some changes for Superpole, and it helped the bike. I feel I can push the bike as hard as I want to and it feels just like it did in Germany. It's always good to beat Ducati here in qualifying or Superpole or a race. It is going to be two long races tomorrow in the heat, so we'll see how we go then."

Noriyuki Haga (14th - 1'37.395 - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team)
"I am not completely happy with the set up we have right now and we will have to find something more for tomorrow, in the warm-up session. It has not been as simple in practice as we hoped it would be but we know which direction to go in and we still have the chance to check our final set-up before the races. For sure I expect the races to be better than qualifying."
Massimo Meregalli (Team Manager, Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team)
"Troy did a great job today and all weekend, and is ready to race on Sunday. We know Nori and for me tomorrow he will find something more. He is not 100% happy with his bike set-up but in my mind I know he can be right there tomorrow. Troy is happy with all things on the bike and is not just fast over one lap. I feel very positive about the chances for good results from both riders. It will be very hot, but it always is here, and we know where we stand with tyres."


Superpole

Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time

1, Troy Corser, Yamaha, AUS, 1'35.993
2, Troy Bayliss, Ducati, AUS, 1'36.106
3, Ruben Xaus, Ducati, ESP, 1'36.189
4, Michel Fabrizio, Ducati, ITA, 1'36.403
5, Max Biaggi, Ducati, ITA, 1'36.506
6, Lorenzo Lanzi, Ducati, ITA, 1'36.609
7, Jakub Smrz, Ducati, CZE, 1'36.652
8, Regis Laconi, Kawasaki, FRA, 1'36.691
9, Fonsi Nieto, Suzuki, ESP, 1'36.746
10, Max Neukirchner, Suzuki, GER, 1'36.856
11, Carlos Checa, Honda, ESP, 1'37.143
12, Makoto Tamada, Kawasaki, JPN, 1'37.183
13, Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki, JPN, 1'37.243
14, Noriyuki Haga, Yamaha, JPN, 1'37.395
15, Karl Muggeridge, Honda, AUS, 1'37.950
16, Ayrton Badovini, Kawasaki, ITA, 1'37.962

Qualifying 2

Pos., Rider, Nat., QUAL I, QUAL II
1, Troy Corser, AUS, 1'37.224, 1'36.412
2, Troy Bayliss, AUS, 1'36.863, 1'36.435
3, Jakub Smrz, CZE, 1'37.139, 1'36.820
4, Regis Laconi, FRA, 1'37.574, 1'36.871
5, Michel Fabrizio, ITA, 1'38.076, 1'36.938
6, Carlos Checa, ESP, 1'38.189, 1'37.054
7, Max Neukirchner, GER, 1'37.751, 1'37.166
8, Fonsi Nieto, ESP, 1'37.759, 1'37.187
9, Max Biaggi, ITA, 1'37.477, 1'37.234
10, Ruben Xaus, ESP, 1'37.710, 1'37.304
11, Lorenzo Lanzi, ITA, 1'37.618, 1'37.373
12, Makoto Tamada, JPN, 1'37.819, 1'37.390
13, Yukio Kagayama, JPN, 1'38.636, 1'37.409
14, Noriyuki Haga, JPN, 1'37.542, 1'38.359
15, Ayrton Badovini, ITA, 1'37.871, 1'37.562
16, Karl Muggeridge, AUS, 1'37.752, 1'37.739
17, Roberto Rolfo, ITA, 1'38.206, 1'37.830
18, David Checa, ESP, 1'38.843, 1'37.874
19, Gregorio Lavilla, ESP, 1'38.202, 1'37.891
20, Shinichi Nakatomi, JPN, 1'38.652, 1'38.133
21, Sebastien Gimbert, FRA, 1'38.774, 1'38.213
22, Ryuichi Kiyonari, JPN, 1'38.392, 1'38.288
23, Shuhei Aoyama, JPN, 1'38.493, 1'38.323
24, Kenan Sofuoglu, TUR, 1'38.895, 1'38.394
25, Vittorio Iannuzzo, ITA, 1'39.768, 1'38.873
26, Norino Brignola, ITA, 1'40.311, 1'40.311
27, Norino Brignola, ITA, 1'40.311, 1'40.311
28, Jason Pridmore, USA, 1'40.395, 1'40.947

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QUALIFYING 2 REPORT - 28/06/2008

Parkes on Pole and Foret third on the grid

Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport Team) saved his best for last in qualifying and powered his way to pole for an impressive fourth time in succession. His best time of 1'39.398 was fully 0.442 ahead of next best rider, Andrew Pitt. Fabien Foret (Yamaha World Supersport Team) finished the day third on the combined timesheets, and now starts Sunday's 22-lap WSS race from the front row.

Parkes has been fast all weekend and put in a special effort on soft tyres near the end of the session to guarantee his optimum starting spot. Both Yamaha riders have won a race this year, Parkes in Losail and Foret in Monza, and now each has another genuine opportunity to add to their haul of trophies.

Track temperatures at the 4.226km Misano circuit were over 50?C again today, despite this each rider is confident that they have found a good race set-up and tyre selection.

Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) was held up in qualifying and could not make the most of his best chance to move up from the fourth row of the grid. David Salom (Yamaha Spain World Supersport) was 17th today, despite crashing at a key moment in qualifying.
Broc Parkes (1st - 1'39.398 - Yamaha World Supersport Team)
"We had a really good pace all weekend. The bike's race set-up is good and we have been working on that since the last race in Germany, so we think we will be all set for tomorrow."

Fabien Foret (3rd - 1'40.011 - Yamaha World Supersport Team)
"A front row start is OK, and we will see how things work out tomorrow. I think most people are struggling with the heat. I wanted to find a perfect setting but it is very difficult in these conditions to get a perfect bike. It was not too bad near the end but in my best lap someone took my line and then I had to push in the very last lap, with no more chances left. I pushed, but not too much, to make sure I got a good lap time without too much risk. A front row start was our target and we hit it. Now we have to get a good start and see what happens."
Wilco Zeelenberg (Team Manager, Yamaha World Supersport Team)
"Broc was very good today, even better than yesterday. Fabien was held up by traffic, but he still did a 1'40 flat and is starting from the front row. I think Broc has a little better feeling on this track at the moment, and he's been safe, good and fast. Both riders are fast and fit, the tyres all seem good so we are not worried about doing 22 laps in very high temperatures tomorrow."
David Salom: (17th - 1'41.089 seconds - Yamaha Spain)
"I couldn't avoid crashing but fortunately I haven't injured myself and my bike is basically OK. This morning the free session was great but I couldn't improve my times this afternoon during the qualifying. With three minutes to go I tried to improve my time again but unfortunately I crashed. I think that tomorrow I'll be fighting to be in the top ten anyway."


Qualifying 2

Pos., Rider, Nat., QUAL I, QUAL II
1, Broc Parkes, AUS, 1'40.132, 1'39.398
2, Andrew Pitt, AUS, 1'40.387, 1'39.840
3, Fabien Foret, FRA, 1'40.559, 1'40.011
4, Craig Jones, GBR, 1'40.922, 1'40.052
5, Joshua Brookes, AUS, 1'40.770, 1'40.145
6, Jonathan Rea, GBR, 1'40.690, 1'40.151
7, Russell Holland, AUS, 1'41.605, 1'40.257
8, Mark Aitchinson, AUS, 1'40.708, 1'40.282
9, Barry Veneman, NED, 1'40.857, 1'40.443
10, Joan Lascorz, ESP, 1'40.850, 1'40.470
11, Matthieu Lagrive, FRA, 1'40.718, 1'40.526
12, Vesa Kallio, FIN, 1'41.214, 1'40.575
13, Massimo Roccoli, ITA, 1'41.473, 1'40.681
14, Robbin Harms, DNK, 1'41.263, 1'40.765
15, Danilo Marrancone, ITA, 1'41.224, 1'40.785
16, Gianluca Vizziello, ITA, 1'41.439, 1'40.818
17, David Salom, ESP, 1'41.089, 1'41.274
18, Ivan Clementi, ITA, 1'41.958, 1'41.147
19, Garry McCoy, AUS, 1'41.477, 1'41.365
20, Didier Van Keymeulen, BEL, 1'42.000, 1'41.465
21, Roberto Lunadei, ITA, 1'41.548, 1'41.720
22, Alessandro Brannetti, ITA, 1'41.965, 1'41.551
23, Gianluca Nannelli, ITA, 1'41.571, 1'41.611
24, Chris Walker, GBR, 1'42.684, 1'41.581
25, Gregory Leblanc, FRA, 1'42.100, 1'41.587
26, Ruggero Scambia, ITA, 1'43.130, 1'41.640
27, Danilo Dell'omo, ITA, 1'41.744, 1'41.978
28, Arne Tode, GER, 1'42.626, 1'41.763
29, Miguel Praia, POR, 1'42.115, 1'41.822
30, Lorenzo Alfonsi, ITA, 1'42.287, 1'41.995
31, William De Angelis, ITA, 1'43.260, 1'42.116
32, Katsuaki Fujiwara, JPN, 1'42.739, 1'42.133
33, Graeme Gowland, GBR, 1'43.121, 1'42.162
34, Jesco Gunther, GER, 1'42.447, 1'42.676
35, Santiago Barragan, ESP, 1'43.455, 1'42.693
36, Balazs Nemeth, HUN, 1'43.214, 1'42.950
37, Javier Hidalgo, ESP, 1'43.906, 1'43.264
38, Attila Magda, HUN, 1'45.229, 1'43.318

 

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DUCATI XEROX RIDERS BAYLISS AND FABRIZIO TAKE FRONT ROW PLACES FOR TOMORROW'S RACES AT MISANO

Despite the continuation of the heat wave today at the Misano World Circuit, the Ducati Xerox riders Troy Bayliss and Michel Fabrizio both put in flying Superpole laps, fast enough to secure themselves second and fourth place respectively on the grid for tomorrow's Superbike races. This is the third time this season that both Ducati Xerox factory riders line up alongside each other on the front row.

The second qualifying session that took place this morning saw both Ducati Xerox riders pick up the pace, to improve once more on the best times they set yesterday. As a result, Bayliss qualified second fastest and Fabrizio fifth fastest for the afternoon's Superpole. Bayliss has recorded very fast times throughout the weekend, in keeping with the results he has achieved at this track in recent years, while Fabrizio gradually improved his times over the sessions, with his fastest time of the weekend so far being the 1m36.4s registered during Superpole.

Troy Bayliss 1m36.1s
"We've been working well all weekend. In Superpole I knew I was making good time but then I made a small mistake in the last split which cost me the pole I think, but we're happy. Corser was really fast today and he has had some good results here in the past, as have I, so tomorrow we should see great racing. We're all going to have to cope with the heat but it's always this way at Misano so overall I'm feeling pretty confident for tomorrow."

Michel Fabrizio 1m36.4s
"I'm very happy with a front row start. I had a bit of cramp at the end of my Superpole lap which perhaps affected me a little but I'm content with the result. Tomorrow will be hard as Troy and I will have to get ahead of a Yamaha and the heat wont help of course, but I hope we can do well and build on our points. The Ducati's are going well here this weekend so let's hope that continues tomorrow."

TIMES (Superpole): 1. Corser (Yamaha) 1m35.9s; 2. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1m36.1s; 3. Xaus (Ducati) 1m36.1s; 4. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 1m36.4s; 5. Biaggi (Ducati) 1m36.5s; 6. Lanzi (Ducati) 1m36.6s

 

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Final qualifying, Saturday 28th June

HARD DAY IN THE HOT SUN.

It was a hard day in the hot sun for Fonsi Nieto, Yukio Kagayama and Max Neukirchner at Misano today and, despite their grid positions, all three are in a positive frame of mind about tomorrow?s pair of 24-lap races. The day started overcast, but the sun soon burned off the clouds and the temperatures began to rise straightaway. When Superpole began, the track temperature was over 50 degrees centigrade and the sixteen rider shoot out was dominated by Ducatis. They filled six out of the top seven places, but it was Troy Corser?s Yamaha that topped them all. The Aussie lapped under 1:36 - the only rider to do so - to claim his forty-second pole position of his career. Fonsi ended ninth fastest, with Max tenth, with Yukio defying the pain barrier to finish thirteenth.

Fonsi - 9th, 1:36.746
Today was very hard, because of the heat, but also because we have six very strong Ducatis in the championship and this circuit seems to suit them well. It?s going to be two hard races tomorrow and the heat is going to affect the performance of the tyres for sure. My Superpole wasn?t so bad and one tenth of a second made such a big difference. It seems that I?m never lucky on my Superpole lap, so once again I?m going to have to get two good starts in the races to get good results.

Max - 10th, 1:36.856
My first Superpole split was good, but the second was not because I made a small mistake at one of the fast right-handers and lost a little time. I?ve had a little problem getting the bike to keep the line on the brakes and that has been costing me time. My set-up is not quite right, so we may try something in the warm-up tomorrow and see if we can improve the bike. It?s really strange to see six Ducatis in the top seven, but I am determined to get two good starts and make sure they don?t dominate the races.

Yukio - 13th, 1:37.243
I think the base set-up of my bike is quite good, so we will not make any big changes in the warm-up tomorrow. We?ve been working a lot on the electronics, trying to improve the feeling of the bike and we?re making progress. But my biggest problem is my injury. I had a small painkilling injection this morning, but I don?t think it worked! I had a stronger one in the afternoon, but I was still suffering a lot of pain - especially on the braking. Tomorrow is going to be very, very hard. But my job is a racer and I have to race tomorrow. If I have to forget the pain, that?s what I have to do, because I want to race.

Final qualifying
1 Corser (Aus-Yamaha) 1:35.993, 2 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:36.106, 3 Xaus (E-Ducati) 1:36.189, 4 Fabrizio (I-Ducati) 1:36.403, 5 Biaggi (I-Ducati) 1:36.506, 6 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 1:36.609, 7 Smrz (CZ-Ducati) 1:36.652, 8 Laconi (F-Kawasaki) 1:36.691, 9 Fonsi Nieto (E-Suzuki Alstare) 1:36.746, 10 Max Neukirchner (D-Alstare Suzuki) 1:36.856, 13 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare) 1:37.243

 

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Surprise victors at Misano event

Carlos ChecaThe HANNspree Superbike World Championship made its second visit to Italy this weekend for the eighth event on the calendar. Current series leader Troy Bayliss was hoping for a repeat of the double win he achieved in last year?s championship at the Misano circuit, but was beaten to the chequered flag by surprise victors Max Neukirchner and Ruben Xaus in races one and two respectively.

Xaus grabbed the holeshot in the opening leg and dominated the 24-lap race until lap 15. The race then became a four-way battle with Troy Corser, Bayliss and Neukirchner joining the mix. Neukirchner didn?t steal the lead until lap 18, but maintained his position at the front of the pack for the remaining race distance to pick up the maximum 25 points.

The second race, which was red-flagged and restarted due to liquid spillage on the track, was once again dominated by Xaus, Bayliss and Corser. Bayliss initially took the holeshot, but was passed by fellow Australian Corser on lap five. The race then became a cat and mouse chase between the two Troys until the 20th lap when Xaus took the lead and the top step of the podium.

Meanwhile, HANNspree Ten Kate Honda?s Carlos Checa claimed two solid points scoring finishes at the Misano event. The 35-year-old Spaniard clinched fifth and eighth in the two races. However, his team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari had a frustrating day in Italy. The 25-year-old Japanese rider struggled to get to grips with the layout of the San Marino track and could only manage 14th and 13th place finishes.

The third HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider Kenan Sofuoglu also had a disappointing day at Misano. The young Turkish rider scored 18th place in race one, but was forced to retire from the second race. The 2007 World Supersport Champion has struggled to adapt to the larger capacity Honda machine so far this season.

HANNspree Honda Althea?s Roberto Rolfo scored 17th and 18th positions at his home round. The 28-year-old Italian is still recovering from the broken collarbone he sustained in a mountain biking accident.

Race one ? result
1 Neukirchner M. Suzuki GSX-R1000 39'27.918
2 Corser T. Yamaha YZF-R1 +0.542
3 Bayliss T. Ducati 1098 F08 +2.249
4 Xaus R. Ducati 1098 RS 08 +3.028
5 Checa C. Honda CBR1000RR +5.408
6 Lanzi L. Ducati 1098 RS 08 +5.518
7 Smrz J. Ducati 1098 RS 08 +6.202
8 Lavilla G. Honda CBR1000RR +18.279
9 Nakatomi S. Yamaha YZF-R1 +19.072
10 Haga N. Yamaha YZF-R1 +19.132
14 Kiyonari R. Honda CBR1000RR +34.902
17 Rolfo R. Honda CBR1000RR +49.290
18 Sofuoglu K. Honda CBR1000RR +59.304

Race two ? result
1 Xaus R. Ducati 1098 RS 08 39'19.710
2 Biaggi M. Ducati 1098 RS 08 +1.035
3 Bayliss T. Ducati 1098 F08 +4.158
4 Haga N. Yamaha YZF-R1 +5.466
5 Corser T. Yamaha YZF-R1 +6.759
6 Lanzi L. Ducati 1098 RS 08 +13.468
7 Neukirchner M. Suzuki GSX-R1000 +15.221
8 Checa C. Honda CBR1000RR +16.687
9 Smrz J. Ducati 1098 RS 08 +17.030
10 Nieto F. Suzuki GSX-R1000 +17.681
13 Kiyonari R. Honda CBR1000RR +31.304
18 Rolfo R. Honda CBR1000RR +41.136
RET Sofuoglu K. Honda CBR1000RR

Standings after eight rounds

1. Bayliss T. 259

2. Neukirchner M. 210

3. Checa C. 207

4. Haga N. 191

5. Corser T. 185

6. Nieto F. 151

7. Xaus R. 148

8. Biaggi M. 117

9. Fabrizio M. 111

10. Kiyonari R. 94

18. Sofuoglu K. 32

20. Rolfo R. 20

 

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MAX GOES INTO SECOND IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP!

Team Alstare Suzuki rider Max Neukirchner took a superb win in the first race at Misano today and seventh in race two, to move into second place in the championship behind Troy Bayliss (Ducati). After his tremendous performance in race one, when he charged from the third row of the grid to take the chequered flag, another good result was on the cards for race two. But the second race was red-flagged after one lap and Max, like most riders, changed his rear tyre. Despite the bike having the same set-up and the same type of tyre, Max had problems exiting the corners and lost time trying to catch the lead group. Nevertheless, he was happy to take his second ever World Superbike win today and leave Misano second in the championship.
Team Suzuki Alstare rider Fonsi Nieto did not have such a good day. He crashed in the first race, but remounted to finish 12th. He used a harder tyre in race two, but the much higher temperature meant the tyre didn?t work well. He then got caught up in a group and ended tenth.
It was always going to be a difficult day for Fonsi?s team mate Yukio Kagayama. Although he had pain-killing injections in his injured left hand, the heat and two long 24-lappers meant he had to dig very deep just to finish the races. Despite the pain, he managed a superb 11th in race one and 12th in race two.

Max - Race 1: 1st, Race 2: 7th
I am very happy to win my second race and the feeling was very good - especially as I had started from the third row of the grid. I was patient and just worked my way up though the field and once I was in front, I knew I could win. We didn?t change anything for race two, so I am a bit surprised why I couldn?t do as well. The tyre was the same, but it didn?t work the same way. I didn?t make a good start, so there was always going to be some work to do, but I was losing time exiting the turns and it was hard to pass some of the other riders. But, at the end of the day, I am happy because I am second in the championship and not so many points behind the leader.

Fonsi - Race 1: 12th, Race 2: 10th
At the moment, I am not happy and also I have no luck. Starting from row three of the grid always makes problems and you have to push hard to catch the front runners if you are to have any chance of a good result. Maybe I was pushing too hard in the first race, trying to catch the leading group, and that?s why I lost the front and crashed. It was only a small crash and I got back on the bike straightaway, but it ruined any chance of a good result. We used a harder tyre in race two, but the higher temperature meant it didn?t work so well. The high temperature also meant that my bike?s engine was running too hot when I was in the slipstream trying to catch the other riders. The engine wasn?t getting enough cool air and its temperature went up, and when that happens you lose power. So I couldn?t catch the front guys and ended 10th. The lack of air coming into my helmet made it difficult to breathe at times, so today was very exhausting. But forget the heat, I am not happy today, because I know it should?ve been much better.

Yukio - Race 1: 11th, Race 2: 12th
Today the bike was good, but the rider?s performance was not! I had pain-killing injections before both races and both times they worked for some laps, but nowhere close to the race distance. It was a big problem getting the bike to change direction and sometimes on the brakes. The broken bones heal quickly, but the ligaments take longer and they were causing me the problems today. After six or seven laps in both races, I began suffering with the pain, so I tried to use my right hand and arm more. But when the bike was shaking a bit, I found it difficult to hold the left side and it was not easy to push hard. Today, my left side performance was not as good as it should be and I am sorry because the bike has the potential to be on the podium. My team did a great job this weekend and I am just sorry I was not able to give them better results.

Results
Race 1: 1 Max Neukirchner (D-Alstare Suzuki), 2 Corser (AUS-Yamaha), 3 Bayliss (AUS-Ducati), 4 Xaus (E-Ducati), 5 Checa (E-Honda), 6 Lanzi (I-Ducati), 7 Smrz (CZ-Ducati ), 8 Lavilla (E-Honda), 9 Nakatomi (J-Yamaha), 10 Haga (J-Yamaha), 11 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare), 12 Fonsi Nieto (E-Suzuki Alstare),

Race 2: 1 Xaus (E-Ducati), 2 Biaggi (I-Ducati), 3 Bayliss (AUS-Ducati), 4 Haga (J-Yamaha), 5 Corser (AUS-Yamaha), 6 Lanzi (I-Ducati), 7 Max Neukirchner (D-Alstare Suzuki), 8 Checa (E-Honda), 9 Smrz (CZ-Ducati), 10 Fonsi Nieto (E-Suzuki Alstare), 12 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare)

Points: 1 Bayliss 259, 2 Neukirchner 210, 3 Checa 207, 4 Haga 191, 5 Troy Corser (Aus-Yamaha Motor Italia) 185, 6 Nieto 151, 7 Xaus 148, 8 Biaggi 117, 9 Fabrizio 111, 10 Kiyonari 94, 11 Kagayama 82.

 

[KUCIAR666]

RACE REPORT 29/06/2008
Corser on the podium in San Marino

Pole position starter Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) looked set for his first win of the 2008 season on two occasions at Misano but he had to settle for a second in race one and a good points score of fifth in race two after running off track and ultimately avoiding a crash. He also set a new lap record, 1'37.580, on lap two of race two, which he led for 10 laps.

Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) struggled hard in qualifying and the first race, finding himself only 19th after one lap. He recovered to gain six points for tenth. In race two Haga felt he had a better technical package and he made real progress from his grid position of 14th, to hold off his team-mate by just over a second.

In the opening 24-lap race Corser looked on for his first win of the year in race until Max Neukirchner surprised the whole paddock by turning a tenth place in qualifying into a race win. Haga was struggling through the race and finished just behind Shinichi Nakatomi (Team YZF Yamaha) who had two great races in the points, ninth and then 15th. Race two was taken by Ruben Xaus, from Max Biaggi.

In the championship itself, Haga is now fourth, on 191 points to championship leader Troy Bayliss's 259, while Corser is fifth, only six points from Haga.

David Checa (Yamaha GMT94) was 15th in race one and 16th in race two, while Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha GMT94) just missed a point in race one and retired in race two.

Troy Corser (2nd and 5th - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team)
"Race one was looking really good until Max Neukirchner appeared and our whole weekend hasn't been bad in general. Our rear tyre moved about a bit more in the second race than the first, especially under braking. We had made a couple of little changes to the front suspension for the second one, but not enough to affect the rear in any way. I ran on when the bike jumped out of gear in the second and lost some time, and the chance of a second podium."

Noriyuki Haga (10th and 4th - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team)
"We got caught in race one when Laconi crashed and I had to avoid him so to come from so far back was not easy. Race two was better and I got good points, but it has been a very hard weekend for me. I have not been able to do the same running training I would do normally, because of my injury. In this heat it made a difference and I didn't have my normal strength."

Massimo Meregalli (Team Manager, Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team)
"We saw definitely that Troy is back. He had a good weekend. He worked hard and was rewarded with a Superpole win, and a good podium finish for his efforts. Nori didn't find the set up he was looking for until the 2nd race where he showed us that even when it wasn't possible to win he rode to get the best result, had he started further up the grid, the result would possibly have been more points. He is still always competitive. With six races still to run everything is still possible.

Shinichi Nakatomi (9th and 15th - Team YZF Yamaha)
"On Friday, we could not find the right setting, even if we tried many different possibilities. I did not have enough feeling. On Saturday, we had a much better set up. I had a good start on race and I could follow Lavilla, but I made some small mistakes. I pushed really hard. I am happy with race one. In race two, the temperature was hotter. It was difficult for me to follow the riders who have traction control, because I don't have any and I had to accelerate later than them. The tyres started to move a lot after 10 laps, front and rear. I am happy with race one because I had a lot of stress because of previous not-so-good results. Today, it was better.""

Martial Garcia (Team YZF Yamaha Team Manager)
"After difficult practice sessions, we found a good set up during the warm up. This result is fantastic! Shinichi finishes ninth only 19 seconds behind the winner, and in front of Noriyuki Haga. This is the opportunity to score seven points and to make a progression of one position in the championship. Shinichi had a good start in race two, but unfortunately it was black flagged because of Muggeridge's crash. At the restart, Nakatomi was blocked and it was difficult to pass. He still finished 15th, with one championship point. I am happy because everybody could see the progression we made this weekend."

Circuit Length: 4060
Temp: 31
Crowd: 68000
Weather: Hot and Sunny

2008 WSB San Marino - Misano 29/06/2008
Race 1 - 24 Laps
Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time
1 Max Neukirchner Suzuki GER 39'27.918
2 Troy Corser Yamaha AUS 0'0.542
3 Troy Bayliss Ducati AUS 0'2.249
4 Ruben Xaus Ducati ESP 0'3.028
5 Carlos Checa Honda ESP 0'5.408
6 Lorenzo Lanzi Ducati ITA 0'5.518
7 Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 0'6.202
8 Gregorio Lavilla Honda ESP 0'18.279
9 Shinichi Nakatomi Yamaha JPN 0'19.072
10 Noriyuki Haga Yamaha JPN 0'19.132
11 Yukio Kagayama Suzuki JPN 0'28.098
12 Fonsi Nieto Suzuki ESP 0'34.385
13 Shuhei Aoyama Honda JPN 0'34.572
14 Ryuichi Kiyonari Honda JPN 0'34.902
15 David Checa Yamaha ESP 0'39.979
16 Sebastien Gimbert Yamaha FRA 0'44.669

Race 2 - 24 Laps
Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time
1 Ruben Xaus Ducati ESP 39'19.710
2 Max Biaggi Ducati ITA 0'1.035
3 Troy Bayliss Ducati AUS 0'4.158
4 Noriyuki Haga Yamaha JPN 0'5.466
5 Troy Corser Yamaha AUS 0'6.759
6 Lorenzo Lanzi Ducati ITA 0'13.468
7 Max Neukirchner Suzuki GER 0'15.221
8 Carlos Checa Honda ESP 0'16.687
9 Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 0'17.030
10 Fonsi Nieto Suzuki ESP 0'17.681
11 Michel Fabrizio Ducati ITA 0'21.356
12 Yukio Kagayama Suzuki JPN 0'28.676
13 Ryuichi Kiyonari Honda JPN 0'31.304
14 Gregorio Lavilla Honda ESP 0'32.339
15 Shinichi Nakatomi Yamaha JPN 0'33.716
16 David Checa Yamaha ESP 0'34.171

Best Lap
Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time
Troy Corser Yamaha AUS 1'37.580

Rider Standings 29/06/2008

Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Points
1. Troy Bayliss Ducati AUS 259
2. Max Neukirchner Suzuki GER 210
3. Carlos Checa Honda ESP 207
4. Noriyuki Haga Yamaha JPN 191
5. Troy Corser Yamaha AUS 185
6. Fonsi Nieto Suzuki ESP 151
7. Ruben Xaus Ducati ESP 148
8. Max Biaggi Ducati ITA 117
9. Michel Fabrizio Ducati ITA 111
10. Ryuichi Kiyonari Honda JPN 94
11. Yukio Kagayama Suzuki JPN 82
12. Lorenzo Lanzi Ducati ITA 80
13. Gregorio Lavilla Honda ESP 75
14. Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 72
15. Karl Muggeridge Honda AUS 59
19. Shinichi Nakatomi Yamaha JPN 24
23. David Checa Yamaha ESP 7
24. Sebastien Gimbert Yamaha FRA 7

Manufacturer Standings 29/06/2008

Pos. Manufacturer Points
1. Ducati 323
2. Yamaha 284
3. Suzuki 257
4. Honda 226
5. Kawasaki 64

RACE REPORT 29/06/2008
Foret fights hard for fourth

Despite finishing the first lap in 15th position, after being run wide in the first chicane by another rider, Fabien Foret (Yamaha World Supersport Team) battled back to finish fourth and retain his second place in the championship after seven rounds.

Broc Parkes looked like a sure podium finisher until he lost the front end on lap nine of the Misano World Supersport race, dropping from second to 17th, before re-starting his stricken machine.

Each of the two top Yamaha riders had started from the front row, but in a race littered with crashes and retirements, and conducted in temperatures of 33?C, few pre-race plans came to a satisfactory climax in the Misano cauldron.

Parkes leaves the Misano round with both the circuit best WSS lap, set in qualifying, and the new official lap record, 1'40.187, set on lap three of the race.

Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) had work to do after qualifying on the fourth row, but recovered his speed and composure in front of his home fans to record seventh in the race, and jump up to ninth in the championship. David Salom (Yamaha Spain World Supersport Team) fell on lap three, after tangling with another rider.

Fabien Foret (4th - Yamaha World Supersport Team)
"I got pushed wide by another rider in the first corner and that put me way back in the order. Things could have been much better because I didn't come here to finish fourth. This morning our set-up was good but it was a little bit more difficult this afternoon. I think the bike may have been a bit more sensitive in the heat. I could not find the same rhythm after the first chicane incident. The biggest problem was at that point, but in the traffic you slow down and afterwards it was difficult to get a good rhythm again."

Broc Parkes (10th -Yamaha World Supersport Team)
"We got out of the gate good and put some laps together but I didn't want to keep pulling Andrew along. When I went into the last right on the ninth lap I crashed as I released the brake, and the bike was gone very quickly. I thought it was just a small front-end slide but when I got on the gas I was already on my way to the ground. I picked the bike up and the handlebar was out of position, but I continued to get as many points as possible."

Wilco Zeelenberg (Team Manager, Yamaha World Supersport Team)
"This is Misano, we know there is a narrow line here and a few people crossed it. Fabien was pushed wide by another rider in turn one after his start had been not that bad. Lascorz went into him and hit him really hard so Fabien was quite angry. I think he went to 15th place but he rode a good race from then on to get fourth. Fabien is second overall still and Broc third but it's hard to say anything about today except that we are disappointed with the results, after such good qualifying performances."

Massimo Roccoli (7th - Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni)
"I had a hard time at the start because of my qualifying position, then getting involved in a fight with another rider. When I got past him I could make up ground. From a row further forward I really think I could have got a top five or maybe even top four finish today."

David Salom: (DNF - Yamaha Spain)
"I started quite good and in the second lap I was behind Foret, so I wanted to go with him. Suddenly Lagrive passed me, but he crashed and hit my bike. I couldn?t avoid crashing. It's a real pity because I am sure we could fight for a top ten finish. Luck is not with us this season."

Circuit Length: 4060
Temp: 32
Crowd: 68000
Weather: Hot and Sunny

2008 WSS San Marino - Misano 29/06/2008
Race 1 - 22 Laps
Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time
1 Andrew Pitt Honda AUS 37'8.387
2 Craig Jones Honda GBR 0'5.347
3 Jonathan Rea Honda GBR 0'9.183
4 Fabien Foret Yamaha FRA 0'13.784
5 Robbin Harms Honda DNK 0'15.863
6 Mark Aitchinson Triumph AUS 0'15.967
7 Massimo Roccoli Yamaha ITA 0'21.689
8 Barry Veneman Suzuki NED 0'24.070
9 Ivan Clementi Triumph ITA 0'26.075
10 Broc Parkes Yamaha AUS 0'30.387
11 Gianluca Vizziello Honda ITA 0'32.578
12 Chris Walker Kawasaki GBR 0'34.648
13 Gianluca Nannelli Honda ITA 0'36.040
14 Joshua Brookes Honda AUS 0'37.896
15 Danilo Marrancone Yamaha ITA 0'40.167

Best Lap
Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time
Broc Parkes Yamaha AUS 1'40.187

Rider Standings 29/06/2008

Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Points
1. Andrew Pitt Honda AUS 113
2. Fabien Foret Yamaha FRA 97
3. Broc Parkes Yamaha AUS 87
4. Joshua Brookes Honda AUS 85
5. Joan Lascorz Honda ESP 81
6. Craig Jones Honda GBR 80
7. Jonathan Rea Honda GBR 67
8. Robbin Harms Honda DNK 50
9. Massimo Roccoli Yamaha ITA 34
10. Gianluca Vizziello Honda ITA 33
11. Chris Walker Kawasaki GBR 31
12. Matthieu Lagrive Honda FRA 28
13. Barry Veneman Suzuki NED 27
14. Gianluca Nannelli Honda ITA 23
15. Mark Aitchison Triumph AUS 20
24. David Salom Yamaha ESP 8

Manufacturer Standings 29/06/2008

Pos. Manufacturer Points
1. Honda 165
2. Yamaha 125
3. Triumph 48
4. Suzuki 36
5. Kawasaki 35

RACE REPORT 29/06/2008
Pirro second at Misano

Michele Pirro (Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni) remains the top Yamaha YZF-R1 rider in the championship after a fine second place at his home round in Misano. He sits on 63 points, 21 points from leader Xavier Simeon. Race winner Alessandro Polita is only four points up on Pirro, who led the first lap and was always in contention for the podium places over all 14 laps.

Claudio Corti Yamaha Motor Italia Junior Team) was unable to match his set-up to the Misano circuit and thus finished 12th in the race, and is now 10th in the championship.

Claudio Corti (12th - Yamaha Motor Italia Junior Team)
"I had real problems finding a set-up this weekend and that made things difficult for me today. I'm disappointed but I think there is nothing more I could have done today."

Circuit Length: 4060
Weather: Hot and Sunny

2008 Superstock San Marino - Misano 29/06/2008
Race 1
Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time
1 Alessandro Polita Ducati ITA 23'37.092
2 Michele Pirro Yamaha ITA 0'1.471
3 Maxime Berger Honda FRA 0'2.382
4 Brendan Roberts Ducati AUS 0'5.234
5 Xavier Simeon Suzuki BEL 0'6.999
6 Andrea Antonelli Honda ITA 0'7.826
7 Domenico Colucci Ducati ITA 0'11.349
8 Freddy Foray Yamaha FRA 0'13.493
9 Chris Seaton Suzuki AUS 0'14.110
10 Kenny Foray Yamaha FRA 0'15.238
11 Luca Verdini Yamaha ITA 0'17.081
12 Claudio Corti Yamaha ITA 0'17.546
13 Barry Burrell Honda GBR 0'18.799
14 Sylvain Barrier Yamaha FRA 0'23.705
15 Matteo Baiocco Kawasaki ITA 0'23.818

Best Lap
Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time
Michele Pirro Yamaha ITA 1'40.044

Rider Standings 29/06/2008

Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Points
1. Xavier Simeon Suzuki BEL 84
2. Brendan Roberts Ducati AUS 76
3. Alessandro Polita Ducati ITA 67
4. Michele Pirro Yamaha ITA 63
5. Maxime Berger Honda FRA 59
6. Davide Giugliano Suzuki ITA 48
7. Matej Smrz Honda CZE 40
8. Freddy Foray Yamaha FRA 29
9. Andrea Antonelli Honda ITA 28
10. Claudio Corti Yamaha ITA 25
11. Michele Magnoni Yamaha ITA 24
12. Kenny Foray Yamaha FRA 24
13. Chris Seaton Suzuki AUS 20
14. Fabrizio Perotti Suzuki ITA 15
15. Domenico Colucci Ducati ITA 14
25. Sylvain Barrier Yamaha FRA 4

Manufacturer Standings 29/06/2008

Pos. Manufacturer Points
1. Ducati 104
2. Suzuki 92
3. Honda 81
4. Yamaha 75
5. Kawasaki 17

 

[KUCIAR666]

DOUBLE PODIUM FOR BAYLISS (DUCATI XEROX) IN EXTREMELY HOT CONDITIONS AT MISANO

Both Race 1 and 2 at the Misano World Circuito saw a hard fought battle between several of the Ducatis, both factory and privateer, the two factory Yamahas and the Suzuki of Neukirchner, with Ducati Xerox factory rider Troy Bayliss eventually taking two third places on the podium.

Bayliss and Corser dominated the first half of Race 1 until Neukirchner managed caught them both to ultimate pass and take the win ahead of the two Australians. A run-in during lap eleven of the same race between Fabrizio and Max Biaggi saw the premature end to Fabrizio's race, an unfortunate finish after making such a strong start.

In Race 2 Fabrizio suffered a technical problem on the second lap but the race was then almost immediately red-flagged due a technical problem for Muggeridge also, which left oil on the track, and led to a restart of the race, a fortunate outcome for Fabrizio allowing him to make the restart too.

Bayliss made a flying start to the restart and the first nineteen laps saw him and Corser swapping between first and second positions, before Xaus and then Biaggi too picked up the pace to overtake, with Bayliss struggling to keep up due to his soft tyre choice. Ducati took all three podium places as a result, with the two Ducati Sterilgarda Go Eleven riders eventually finishing ahead of Troy Bayliss. Michel rode in seventh place for most of the race before tyre wear meant he lost a few places to finish in eventual eleventh place.

Troy Bayliss now holds 259 championship points, while Neukirchner moves into second place with 210 points ahead of Carlos Checa (207). Michel Fabrizio lies in eighth place with 111 points.

After a very positive weekend, Ducati continues to lead the manufacturers championship with 323 points ahead of Yamaha (284 points).

Troy Bayliss (Race 1 - 3rd, Race 2 - 3rd)
"It was really hot here today like every year. I had been feeling good all weekend and was feeling confident before race 1. We had chosen a hard tyre which we thought would be good but then I struggled throughout the race. I can't take anything away from Neukirchner and Corser though as they rode a great race. After Race 1 we changed the tyre for the second race, thinking that was the problem, and that was as a bit better but it was still difficult and towards the end I was losing grip with the rear. Again I take my hat off to the guys ahead of me, Ruben and Max (Biaggi), who did a fantastic job. I can say that the day has been one of the hardest of my career, but in the end we've gained more points. I'd have liked to have done better today but there you go."

Michel Fabrizio (Race 1 - DNF, Race 2 - 11th)
"In Race 1 unfortunately I touched Max right at the start during the second lap and I came off, there's nothing else to say. I went to apologise to Max immediately. Then in race 2 we had a technical problem with a cable and so we had to go out with the second bike for the restart. This meant that we had exactly the same set-up as in Race 1 - as we didn't finish the first race we couldn't know exactly how good the set-up was or whether we would finish the race with the tyre choice we made. We chose a softer tyre but unfortunately it wasn't the best decision. I'm sorry for today's results as, after a positive Friday and Saturday I hoped we could go better, I was hoping for a different result."

RESULTS: Race 1 - 1. Neukirchner (Suzuki); 2. Corser (Yamaha); 3.Bayliss (Ducati Xerox); Race 2 - 1. Xaus (Ducati); 2. Biaggi (Ducati); 3.Bayliss (Ducati Xerox)

CLASSIFICATION: Riders - 1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 259 ; 2. Neukirchner (Suzuki) 210; 3. Checa (Honda) 207; 4. Haga (Yamaha) 191; 5. Corser (Yamaha) 185; 6. Nieto (Suzuki) 151.... 9. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 111. Manufacturers - Ducati 323; Yamaha 284; Suzuki 257; Honda 226; Kawasaki 64

 

[KUCIAR666]

HOT DAY AT SANTA MONICA?S TRACK

The Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse team is astonish in front of the disagreeable events happened today at Santa Monica?s track, in Misano Adriatico.

Regis Laconi and Makoto Tamada were ready to give glorious moments to the team and to the many important guests such as: Federico Pedini Amati, President of San Marino, Tonino Macina, Director of the Tourism Department, Antonello Bacciocchi, Minister for the Tourism Department and Amedeo Michelotti, President of the FSM, but the unlucky episodes made them just feel disappointed.

In race 1 both the riders crashed, Regis lost control of the front of the bike while Makoto Tamada, who was willing to take home important points, pushed too much his ZX-10R and went down. The only wounds brought back by the riders are psychological as they really wanted to give great moments to the team in the ?Big Home? where Anna Falchi and the comics of Zelig ? Le Barnos? were present too as guests of the white and blue team.

Although the unpleasant vicissitude the riders didn?t loose the determination in race 2 but technical problems made them unable to demonstrate their potentialities.

Now the team wants to leave this bitter day behind and use the Mugello test (2-3 July) to solve the problems found here and go on towards better perspectives.