Brno (Czech Republic), Tuesday 6th July: The Ducati Xerox team gears up for Round 9 of the World Superbike Championship, taking place this weekend at the Automotodrom Brno in the Czech Republic. Eighth round Misano was extremely hard fought, as well as being the hottest event on the 2010 calendar so far, but Michel Fabrizio’s determination paid off when he reached the podium in Race 2 (third), having just missing out on a top three finish in race 1 (fourth). Noriyuki, starting from further down the grid, finished the races in seventh and ninth position, consolidating fifth place in the overall championship standings. Straight after the Misano round, the factory team moved on to an equally hot Imola to participate in the official tests scheduled by championship organisers Infront Motor Sports at the “Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari”. During the two day session Noriyuki and Michel concentrated mainly on tyre testing, with Pirelli bringing various new compounds to the track, and by the close of play Michel had recorded the second fastest time overall, Noriyuki the fifth. Attention now turns to the upcoming Czech event. Brno was one of only two rounds in which Noriyuki failed to achieve a podium finish last season, mainly due to the fact that he was riding with a fractured scapula after a bad accident at Donington Park. In spite of his serious injuries, the Japanese rider rode two strong races and finished well inside the points zone in both. Michel, on the other hand, was fast in all the practice sessions but a costly mistake put paid to his chances in Race 1. He reached the podium in the second race but had hoped to do better at the track at which he has had most success in recent years. Both Ducati Xerox riders hope for a much better performance at the Czech circuit this season. Noriyuki Haga (5th in championship, 151 points) Noriyuki has won only one race at Brno, back in 2005. “I like the Brno track and don’t really know why I haven’t done better. I have won a race there but that feels like a few years back now! Last year was especially hard work after the accident at Donington, I needed lots of painkillers in order to get through race day and all in all the results were not so bad; of course we want to do a lot better than that this year though.” Haga’s Superbike form at Brno: 2009: Race 1 8th, Race 2 6th 2008: Race 1 6th, Race 2 7th 2007: Race 1 4th, Race 2 4th 2006: Race 1 4th, Race 2 3rd 2005: Race 1 7th, Race 2 winner Michel Fabrizio (8th in championship, 131 points) Michel has scored six podiums over eight races at the Czech track but a race win has thus far eluded him. “Traditionally I’ve done well at Brno in recent years but, although I’ve had a lot of podium success, I haven’t ever won a Superbike race there. I was happy to be back on the podium at Misano just recently but I really had to fight tooth and nail to get there; the competition won’t be any easier to beat at Brno, but I’m feeling confident that I can do well.” Fabrizio’s Superbike form at Brno: 2009: Race 1 DNF, Race 2 3rd 2008: Race 1 3rd, Race 2 2nd 2007: Race 1 6th, Race 2 3rd 2006: Race 1 3rd, Race 2 2nd CIRCUIT DATA: Country: Czech Republic Name: Automotodrom Brno Circuit length: 5.403 km Pole position: left Corners left: 6 Corners right: 8 Race distance: 20 laps = 108.060 km LAP RECORDS: Fastest lap Biaggi (Aprilia) 1’59.961 (2009). Superpole Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1’58.345 (2008). 2009 RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Biaggi (Aprilia); 2. Checa (Honda); 3. Rea (Honda); Race 2 1. Spies (Yamaha); 2. Biaggi (Aprilia); 3. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox)