MORE THAN ONE MONTH AFTER HIS INJURY ON THE NURBURGRING, MAX BIAGGI IS BACK IN THE SADDLE ASTRIDE THE APRILIA RSV4 OPERATED BY TEAM ALITALIA. THE CORSAIR IS MOTIVATED TO END THE SEASON WELL ON THE TRACK WHERE HE TOOK A DOUBLE VICTORY LAST YEAR. Noale, October 2011 Max Biaggi will be in Portimao, just a little over a month after suffering a fracture to his metatarsus on the Nurburgring. This was an event which, especially for the five-time world champion, felt like a poor practical joke, given the dynamic of the accident and the particularity of the fracture which forced Max to skip the Italian round in Imola and the French round in Magny Cours, besides the German round where the accident occurred. The Roman rider’s conditions are certainly not optimal, but the situation has improved enough to inspire optimism. The last doubts will be removed with the first tests on Friday, although the situation and Max’s great desire already provide high hopes for the best. “I really hoped to get back onto the track quickly confirmed Max this is the first time in my career that I’ve missed races. Obviously my condition is not at 100%, but the desire to get onto the track in Portimao is very strong. The kind messages I received from my fans certainly helped to speed up my recovery! Portimao is a beautiful track, very demanding and spectacular. Last year I took the first double victory for myself and Aprilia, so we’ll know straight away during the Friday practice sessions what results we can aim for. I’ve worked as much as possible to recover muscle tone and to prepare as best I can”. Leon Camier also has some excellent reasons to aim for good results. Fifth place in the rider standings is not that far off and two good performances in Portimao could give him a satisfying ranking in his second official year in the World Superbike championship. “Last weekend was looking really good for us said Leon – after finishing 4th and learning a lot in the first race, I was confident a podium wasn’t far away in Race Two. Unfortunately we were advised to go with a different tyre and it wasn’t the way to go. I’m really looking for a strong end to the year. There are some things we’ve been wanting to try but they haven’t made it on to the bike yet, so we’ll do what we can this weekend. To be lying 6th in the World Championship is something we should definitely be pleased with, but the most important thing is I’m confident I know what we need to do to make the next step.” More, from a press release issued by Team Pedercini: The thirteenth and final round of the Superbike World Championship and the tenth and final round of the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup will take place at the “Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao, Portugal over the weekend of October 14/15/16. Designed to be one of the best and most modern circuits in Europe, the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve benefits from the best conditions of safety and comfort both for drivers and the public. There are 64 different possible layouts of the circuit, including those that have already been approved by the FIA for Formula 1 and by the FIM for the World Superbike Championship races. The natural relief of the terrain enabled the creation of a unique circuit, with accentuated undulations, making driving a pleasure, since the curves and straights follow each other at an exciting rhythm with accentuated declines. For the public this characteristic is spectacular, allowing a wide view from any stand. Team Pedercini rider Roberto Rolfo will not take part in the last round of the World Superbike Championship in Portimao. He recently crashed on his bicycle while training and broke his left kneecap and for this reason he will unfortunately missout on the Portuguese Round. Spanish rider Santiago Barragan Portilla will replace Roberto Rolfo. Barragan was born 24 years ago in Almandralejo, Spain. In 2010 he won the European Superstock 1000 championship while this year he competes in the Spanish Stock Extreme championship with the Kawasaki Extremadura Junior Team; he currently lies in second position in the championship standing. Team Pedercini Superbike riders interviews Mark Aitchison :”After a pretty disastrous day in Magny Cours I am out to make amends in Portugal. After a big crash in race one I was left with an injury to my left ankle and tailbone. This week I have been trying cooperate my injuries but to fully recover it requires more time. In any case I am positive that if I recover well after the practices then I should be fine for the races. I love riding the Portimao circuit and I’m sure it will be interesting on the Superbike. I look forward to a fun weekend ahead”. Santiago Barragan: “I’m very happy to have the opportunity to ride in the Superbike category. I’m obviously sorry for Roberto but I’m sure he’ll be back soon. I’m familiar with the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R Superstock machine because I’m riding it in the CEV Extreme championship but I have never ridden a Superbike and so I think I’ll need some time to find the right feeling with the bike. I know the team’s technical staff is very professional and I’m sure they’ll help me adapt as quickly as possible. I want to enjoy myself and take this opportunity to do my best for the Pedercini team and for my supporters.” More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: The 13th final round of this year’s World Superbike Championship takes place at the Autodromo do Algarve at Portimao in Portugal this weekend and Team Alstare Suzuki rider Michel Fabrizio is looking to end the season on a high after a recent run of disappointing results. The year began with promise and all the hard work put in over the winter has shown that the GSX-R1000 Suzuki is competitive: The first three rounds of the year saw Fabrizio knocking on the door of the podium and he was finally rewarded with a third place in race two at Monza. Unfortunately, that has been the highlight of the year so far and since the eighth round in Brno, things have not gone as well as expected. Fabrizio’s race pace has been consistently good throughout the season, but problems in Superpole have meant that he always has a lot to do to challenge the leaders. This weekend he has two chances to improve on his recent poor run – just one finish in the last six races – and end the season on a positive note. Michel Fabrizio: “Portimao is a very challenging circuit. It is very technical and there are many changes of elevation and a variety of fast and slow corners. Like most circuits, it is one that requires a good bike set-up. Shaving off those last fractions of a second is difficult and so it is so important to get comfortable with the bike as soon as you can, make a good Superpole; and give yourself a chance. “The year started quite well and we could see that the bike was competitive. Monza was a great result and we thought that we could build on that and get more podiums. The next three rounds saw three DNFs, but we got a pair of fourths in Brno and felt that the podium was not so far away again. Since Brno though, things have not worked out well for us and I have had six no-scores and that is not good enough by any means. I have won in Portimao before – in 2009 – and so I am no stranger to the podium there. I would like to forget my recent poor form and finish the season with a pair of good results this coming weekend and end the season on a high: That’s what I’ll be aiming for.” 2010 results: Race 1: 1 Max Biaggi (ITA-Aprilia), 2 Leon Haslam (GBR-Alstare Suzuki), 2 Jonathan Rea (GBR-Honda), 4 Carlos Checa (ESP-Ducati), 5 Leon Camier (GBR-Aprilia), 6 Shane Byrne (GBR-Ducati). 11 Michel Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati). Race 2: 1 Biaggi, 2 Haslam, 3 Cal Crutchlow (GBR-Yamaha), 4 Checa, 5 Camier, 6 James Toseland (GBR-Yamaha). 11 Michel Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati). More, from a press release issued by Paul Bird Motorsports: Bird Hoping To Bow Out In Style The 13th and final round of the World Superbike Championship takes place in Portugal this coming weekend with both Kawasaki Superbike Racing Team riders Joan Lascorz and Tom Sykes out to finish off the season in style for the Paul Bird Motorsport Team. Having run the official Kawasaki team since 2009, the Portimao race marks the end of an era for the Penrith-based team who have given the Japanese factory its most successful season in many years this year so a strong performance is expected to bow out in style. For Yorkshireman Sykes, another race win and further Superpole success would add to the achievements already completed with the 2011 Ninja ZX-10R while for WSB rookie Lascorz, any race finish higher than fifth would be a season-best individual result for the Spaniard. Greater points scoring consistency across the year saw Joan overtake Tom in the championship standings after the last round in France with Lascorz now in 11th place and Sykes 13th just nine points behind. Both riders still have realistic ambitions of finishing inside the top ten with only 12 points separating the four riders currently competing for that spot. Tom Sykes: “Portimao is a bit of a unique circuit but it is a fantastic facility and a circuit that provides great racing. My aim is to be consistent throughout race weekend and make the most of the race package. The year has been up and down. I am not where I wanted to be in the table now but we have shown signs of real potential and we have certainly improved the package to run with the top five or six in the series. Where we are now is where I wanted to be in the middle part of the season. Of course we have reached maximum in qualifying, won a race and taken a fastest lap, so we have actually achieved the maximum in all aspects at certain times. I am refreshed after the last round and I am confident that the new Ninja ZX-10R should work well this weekend again.” Joan Lascorz: “This track is where I tested a WSB bike for the first time at the end of 2009 when Kawasaki let me try the bike so I have good memories. When we look at the season so far we can say in some ways it is not bad but we have also had some bad luck. It was great to see Tom winning in the wet in Germany and it was very motivating for me. Tom is so good in Superpole and I’m better over a long distance at the moment. I’m happy with some of the races this season but not too happy about Superpole. I need to find more force to push the bike harder for just one lap and I am sure I will improve in that area.” Paul Bird, Team Owner: “This weekend is the last one we will be involved in World Superbikes so I am demanding even more effort than normal so we can go out in style. There is no reason why we can’t be challenging all weekend and hopefully Tom and Joan can deliver to reward the team for their hard work over the three years we have been involved with Kawasaki. The ZX-10R is a fantastic machine and I’m proud of what we have done in giving Kawasaki their most successful season in years and we hope to work together in future.” The opening race gets underway on Sunday 16th October at 12.00 CET with race two at 15.30 CET and British viewers can catch the action live on British Eurosport. More, from a press release issued by Castrol Honda: Castrol Honda seeks positive finale The Castrol Honda team is determined to finish the 2011 World Superbike championship season on a high at this weekend’s final round (14-16 October) at Portimao in Portugal. It has been a frustrating season for both riders and the team behind them, with Jonathan Rea missing three months after a mid-season crash and his team-mate, Ruben Xaus, also battling injuries. The pair was re-united at Imola where Rea returned to the top step of the rostrum for the first time since April. Xaus, however, suffered a further crash at Magny-Cours in France two weeks ago, sustaining neck injuries, which have forced the 32-year-old Spaniard to sit out this weekend’s finale. Xaus will be replaced in the final round by Karl Muggeridge, who rode for the team in the World Supersport and Superbike championships. The 37-year-old Australian first rode for Castrol Honda team principal, Gerrit ten Kate, in 1999 and won the World Supersport t itle in 2004 before graduating to the World Superbike championship. Muggeridge rode a Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade to the 2010 German Superbike title and finished third in this year’s series. Jonathan Rea I really like the Portimao circuit. I made my World Superbike debut there in 2008 and just missed out on a podium, but I’ve had a lot of other good experiences there. It’s been an interesting month since I came back from injury and, of course, the win at Imola was amazing. But we’re still working hard on the development of elements of the 2012 bike, so it’s a slightly strange situation racing and testing at the same time. Magny-Cours gave us some different set-up issues to Imola, which just showed that it’s not an easy process, and Portimao is another circuit with its own characteristics. While the testing and development work will continue at Portimao, it would be nice to finish the seaso n on a high, so we can go into the winter in a confident frame of mind. Karl Muggeridge Obviously, I’m sorry for Ruben because it’s never good to miss out through injury, especially the last round of the season. However, I hope I can bring something positive to the team to help the guys finish the year on a good note. I’ve got no pre-conceived ideas on where I should be over the weekend, so we’ll just take each session as it comes and try to make some steps forward in each one. I haven’t ridden at Portimao since the first race here in 2008 and the CBR that I’ve been riding in the German championship is a quite different bike to the current Castrol Honda version. So it’s a big task but one that I’m determined to make the most of. Ronald ten Kate team manager So, we head into the last round of the season and it’s definitely one t hat we want to do well in to finish the year on a high note. Over the last two months, we’ve been constantly working to improve the current CBR machines so we’re looking forward to this opportunity to harvest something from all that effort. The speed that Jonathan has shown in the last two races has given us all confidence, so we’ll give it everything we’ve got over this Portimao weekend. Our sympathies go out to Ruben, who is forced to miss this final round after his big crash in France. However, it will be good to welcome Karl back into the team and we’re all looking forward to working with him again. More, from a press release issued by Supersonic Racing Team: Next weekend will be the last race of the SBK season, on the Portuguese track in the Algarve province in Portimao. Maxime Berger and the Supersonic Team from Danilo Soncini, will certainly fight for the maximum. Not only for the 2011 championship, but also because the team decided to end its activities just after the two races in Portimao. The Portuguese circuit covers an area of almost 300 hectares and is the largest investment ever made in the Algarve. Situated in Escapadinho and only one hour drive from the Faro airport and can be reached via the A22. The track used for the Superbike races is having a length of 4.592 kilometres, and could have 64 possible variants in the general configuration, it is easily to adapt to any type of motoring event. The creator of this system is the local entrepreneur and motorsport enthusiast Paulo Pinheiro, for which the circuit is the fulfilment of a dream and a project that lasted seven years. Maxime Berger: “I like this track a lot and I always picked up good results. I was on the podium both in 2010 and 2008 in the Superstock class and I still hold the lap record in my category with a time of 1’45 “180. It will be the first time to race with a Ducati Superbike and I can not wait to get on track and start working with my team. Portimao will be my last race of the season and the last race with the Supersonic Team. On one hand I’m very disappointed, but on the other hand I am happy, because I had the possibility to debut in the Superbike class and got a wonderful experience that surely will be important for my future. This weekend I want to end as the best to close my first Superbike Championship and give great satisfaction to my team and to my supporters.”