FIM Superbike World Championship Magny-Cours, France October 5, 2008 Race Results (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Troy BAYLISS (Ducati 1098 F08), 23 laps, 38:33.579 2. Noriyuki HAGA (Yamaha YZF-R1), -0.909 second 3. Troy CORSER (Yamaha YZF-R1), -2.966 seconds 4. Carlos CHECA (Honda CBR1000RR), -7.175 5. Ruben XAUS (Ducati 1098 RS08), -12.822 6. Max BIAGGI (Ducati 1098 RS08), -13.004 7. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suzuki GSX-R1000), -18.876 8. Fonsi NIETO (Suzuki GSX-R1000), -19.512 9. Max NEUKIRCHNER (Suzuki GSX-R1000), -19.627 10. Roberto ROLFO (Honda CBR1000RR), -21.425 11. Lorenzo LANZI (Ducati 1098 RS08), -25.133 12. Gregorio LAVILLA (Honda CBR1000RR), -30.538 13. Jakub SMRZ (Ducati 1098 RS08), -35.334 14. Michel FABRIZIO (Ducati 1098 F08), -38.453 15. Chris WALKER (Honda CBR1000RR), -40.008 16. Shinichi NAKATOMI (Yamaha YZF-R1), -40.802 17. Ayrton BADOVINI (Kawasaki ZX-10R), -46.941 18. Makoto TAMADA (Kawasaki ZX-10R), -50.172 19. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Honda CBR1000RR), -58.616 20. Regis LACONI (Kawasaki ZX-10R), -60.422 21. Ivan SILVA (Honda CBR1000RR), -62.852 22. Shuhei AOYAMA (Honda CBR1000RR), -81.378 23. Vittorio IANNUZZO (Kawasaki ZX-10R), -92.289 24. Karl MUGGERIDGE (Honda CBR1000RR), -1 lap, DNF 25. Christian ZAISER (Yamaha YZF-R1), -12 laps, DNF 26. David CHECA (Yamaha YZF-R1), -13 laps, DNF 27. Sebastien GIMBERT (Yamaha YZF-R1), -19 laps, DNF 28. Martin BAUER (Honda CBR1000RR), -20 laps, DNF World Championship Standings (after 26 of 28 races): 1. Bayliss, 410 * 2. Haga, 325 3. Corser, 316 4. Neukirchner, 298 5. Checa, 284 6. Biaggi, 235 7. Nieto, 234 8. Fabrizio, 203 9. Ryuichi Kiyonari, 193 10. Xaus, 171 11. Kagayama, 153 12. Lavilla, 117 13. Smrz, 116 14. Lanzi, 109 15. Muggeridge, 75 16. Rolfo, 55 17. Sofuoglu, 54 18. Laconi, 49 19. Nakatomi, 48 20. Tamada, 41 21. Tom Sykes, 35 22. Cal Crutchlow, 20 23. TIE, Badovini/James Ellison, 19 25. Russel Holland, 14 26. TIE, Gimbert/David Checa, 12 28. Leon Haslam, 8 29. TIE, Aoyama/Walker, 5 31. Niccolo Canepa, 3 32. Michael Beck, 1 * = clinches World Championship More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: Despite setting a new lap record in race one, HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider, Carlos Checa, took a seventh and a fourth in today’s penultimate 2008 World Superbike championship event at Magny-Cours in France. The races were won by Noriyuki Haga and Troy Bayliss, the Australian finally securing his third World Superbike championship title as his career draws to a close. Checa’s team-mate, Kenan Sofuoglu, battled hard in race one for a season’s best ninth place, but the after-effects of his high-speed crash at Vallelunga two weeks ago took their toll in race two as the Turkish rider struggled home in nineteenth place. Despite a limited amount of dry time on the team’s Honda CBR900RR, guest rider, Martin Bauer, standing in for the injured Ryuichi Kiyonari, took a creditable 17th in race one but crashed out of contention in race two. Carlos Checa 7th and 4th It’s quite strange that we had a different feeling from the test here last week, and I felt quite comfortable in warm-up this morning. In race one we made a risky tyre choice and it didn’t work out the way we wanted. The second race was a little better, although we had a rear stability problem exiting the tighter corners. It was costing me about three tenths of a second per lap and, towards the end of the race, I knew I couldn’t fight for the podium any more. Kenan Sofuoglu 9th and 19th The way I was feeling before the weekend, I wasn’t even sure I would be able to compete here with the amount of bruising I had after Vallelunga. After the first race, it was not so much the pain, but I was so tired, and that left me without any energy for race two. I have a month to recover now, and I want to finish the season on a high level in Portugal. Martin Bauer 17th and DNF I felt really confident going into race two, after we made the wrong tyre choice in the first race. I was behind Kenan in the second race and he went a little wide at the first right hander. I went inside him but lost the front in the corner and that was it. We went for a harder front tyre and maybe that was the problem. It’s a shame that we didn’t have some more dry laps in practice to find a better setting. Still, I have enjoyed my weekend it’s been a pleasure to work with such a professional team and I would like to thank them for all their work and to thank everybody else who made it possible. Ronald ten Kate team manager: Yes, it’s disappointing after the good test we had here and we were at least hoping to challenge for the podium. In the first race we gambled wrongly on tyres, but the second race should certainly have been better. Kenan showed a lot of determination with his battered body, but he only had enough energy for one race. I’m sorry that Martin crashed out because I believe he could have battled for some points today. More, from a press release issued by Xerox Ducati: TROY BAYLISS (DUCATI XEROX) TRIUMPHS TO TAKE THIRD WORLD SUPERBIKE TITLE; DUCATI CELEBRATES THIRTEENTH RIDER TITLE AND FIFTEENTH MANUFACTURERS TITLE Magny-Cours (France), Sunday 5th October 2008: by taking a third place finish in Race 1 and a fantastic race 2 win today at the “Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours”, Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) has this weekend been crowned with a remarkable third World Superbike title, powering his Ducati 1098 F08 to victory and snatching the title after round thirteen, despite there being one more round still to race at Portimao (Portugal). With a total of 410 championship points, and having achieved nine race wins and sixteen podium finishes during the season, the Australian legend Bayliss has ridden the Ducati 1098 F08 factory machine into the record books, a winning bike in its debut season, a feat previously accomplished by Carl Fogarty with the 916 in 1994, and with the 996 in 1998 and by Neil Hodgson in 2003 with the 999. Todays’ results also mean that Ducati has secured the manufacturer’s title, for the fifteenth time since the championship began in 1988. This means that in the last eighteen years, the Borgo-Panigale based firm has dominated the World Superbike series, to take the constructor’s title home on all but three occasions. Today Troy started from third position on the grid and knew that to finish Race 1 with an advantage of at least 75 points over Corser, Haga and Neukirchner would be enough to take the title. He therefore rode an intelligent race, leaving Haga to lead while he concentrated on doing just enough to secure the necessary result. He remained in second place for the first nineteen laps before relinquishing that position to Nieto and eventually settling for third place on the podium. Meanwhile team-mate Michel Fabrizio rode a great race, moving up from ninth to third place, only to unfortunately crash out, unhurt, on the nineteenth lap. In Race 2 Troy was able to ride with less pressure and thus raced for the win. Caught up in a great battle with an old adversary, Haga, Troy proved himself to be the most determined, crossing the line ahead of the Yamaha rider. Unfortunately Fabrizio suffered from technical problems that prevented him from fighting up front, eventually concluding the race in fourteenth place. 39-year old Troy first celebrated a world title with Ducati in 2001, a season in which he dominated the racing on board the 996R, to finish with a 36-point advantage over second-placed rider Colin Edwards. In 2006, racing for the Ducati Xerox Team on board the Ducati 999, Troy’s twelve race wins and total of sixteen podium finishes secured him his second world title, a testimony to the incredible competitiveness of the Australian who won the championship by a clear margin of 95 points, ahead of James Toseland. Bayliss will retire from Superbike racing at the end of the 2008 season, having accumulated over the years an awe-inspiring collection of 50 race wins, 92 podium finishes and 25 pole positions. Troy Bayliss (2008 World Superbike Champion – Ducati Xerox Team – Ducati 1098 F08) “I’m extremely happy to have won my third world championship and to be able to say I have won on three different generations of the Ducati Superbike. I want to thank the entire team who have worked so hard and put a lot of trust in me. Together we have done a great job this season. These last years with Ducati, since 2000, have been a great experience for me. This whole year has been up and done, with several riders remaining consistently fast. From half way through the season we became more confident and so there was a lot of pressure but I’ve done what I set out to do, I really wanted to win on the three different Ducati Superbikes. It’s just a fantastic feeling. Now I have secured the title, I’m looking forward to enjoying the last round at the brand new track of Portimao, where I’m hoping I can finish the season on a high!” Michel Fabrizio (8th in classification, 203 points) “I am of course very disappointed with the way things went today as I hoped to do so much better. Unfortunately technical problems prevented me from finishing the races in the way I would have liked. I am obviously extremely happy for Troy, he has been a fantastic team-mate this season and he truly deserved the title. I am proud to have been his team-mate in Ducati.” Gabriele Del Torchio (CEO – Ducati Motor Holding) “I am particularly happy and proud of this victory. Exactly one year ago the MotoGP win added a very important chapter to our history but this win demonstrates, for the fifteenth time, Ducati’s supremacy in competitions for production bikes such as SBK. A triumph that confirms the success of the product that is the 1098, a winner in it’s debut year, and a point of reference not just on track but also from the commercial and design points of view. Troy is an icon of our brand, a true Ducatista, who demonstrates characteristics such as determination, intelligence, pride and competitiveness, bringing added value to our company and to our bikes. A rider that “never gives up”, he is the public’s favourite, it is impossible not to like him. He truly deserved to conclude his career triumphantly, with yet another win to add to the list, consolidating his position among the greats of motorcycling. Ducati owes a lot to Troy and he has always known how to repay the company, writing unforgettable pages of motorcycling history for us. Thanks again Troy, and a particular thanks also to the team, to Ducati Corse and all the Ducati employees who has each played their role to perfection to secure this fantastic result.” Filippo Preziosi (General Director – Ducati Corse) “Today Troy has given Ducati Corse an unforgettable gift, having now won the World Superbike Championship on three different bikes – the 998, 999 and 1098. On behalf of everybody in Ducati Corse I send a warm embrace to a rider that will remain forever in our hearts. My compliments also go to Davide (Tardozzi), to Ernesto (Marinelli) and to the whole team for the great job they’ve done.” More, from a press release issued by Yamaha: Loris Baz wins European Superstock 600 Championship with Yamaha The fifteen year-old star-in-the-making Loris Baz (Yamaha France Junior Team) took a hard fought second place in Saturday’s European Superstock 600 Championship race, and in taking the podium he also took the championship in his rookie year. The close race was a constant battle with fellow Yamaha riders Linfoot and Gines, and Baz was only outbraked by Linfoot on the entrance to the final corners of the Magny-Cours circuit. Baz happily shares the success of his championship victory with Martial Garcia’s Yamaha France Junior Team, who have provided strong support and a fast R6 Yamaha to Loris all season long, providing him with the opportunity to shine on track. This season the young rider won 3 races out of 8, at Valencia, Monza and Brands Hatch. He finished second at the Nürburgring, at Brno and finally this weekend at Magny-Cours. He also took third at Misano, giving him a respectable 7 podiums in 9 races. Loris Baz (Yamaha France Junior Team) “This race was for me like the others. We are all young, so the start is always hot. I didn’t want to take chances. I had a good security margin. On my pit board, I saw that at one point I was 3rd and Bussolotti 7th. Then I was 4th and he was 5th. So I passed two riders to have a good gap. In the last lap, I could have tried to win, but I wanted to play it safe. Thank you to my team, to Yamaha, to Jean-Claude Olivier, to my parents, to all the people who help me and to my fan club who came all the way from Spain.” This is now the third consecutive European Superstock 600 Championship win for Yamaha as the manufacturer continues to dominate the class.Year on year the challenge of competitor machines has been met with a further leap forward by the legendary YZF R6 taking it to the next level again. Straight out of the box, the new for 2008 R6 has proved itself a formidable track weapon in the hands of the talented young riders of the future, featuring chassis and swing-arm improvements which raised corner speed and improved handling. The YCC-I system improved performance, particularly mid-range, again offered serious advantages to the riders on track.The Superstock class itself is as close to production as possible in racing, only minor differences separate the winning R6 on track and the road going Supersport machine found in the Yamaha dealer. More, from a press release issued by Sterilgarda Go Eleven: Good race day for Team Sterilgarda Go Eleven which has brought all its rider near to the podium. Alex Polita make the opening with his best seasonal performance: after a poor sprint he started a wonderful recovery from the 12th place to the 4th one, passing many riders included his direct rivals for the title win, Berger, Roberts and Simenon. He finished just some tenths behind the podium. As well, in SBK race-1 Max Biaggi ends in 4th position just behind the duo Haga-Corser, while Ruben Xaus was forced to take the way of the pits by an hitch occurred to his gears. In race-2 the Spanish rider started very well immediately taking the seventh place just ahead of his team-mate. Lap by Lap Xaus grabbed the 5th position coming very close to the leading pack made by four rivals. Then some raindrops reminds him what happened at Donington and he wisely decided to take care making his pace slower. At that point his followers came close to him and he started a thrilling battle against Biaggi which ends with Xaus (5th) ahead of the Roman champion (6th). MAX BIAGGI | Ducati 1098 RS | 4th & 6th Classified: “Today we were subjected to a gap of power respect to the factory bikes, nevertheless we succeeded to do a good work. I reached my top very easily but I could not do better than that because we miss that half-second per lap which would have given us the chance to fight for the victory. In race-2 I started a thrilling battle against Ruben, fighting with fair-play and making us and – I hope – the followers enjoining the show. Now I’m 6th on the championship ranking and I hope I can confirm the position in the last two race of the season at Portimao the next month”. RUBEN XAUS | Ducati 1098 RS | Retired & 5th Classified: “In race-1 I made a good start but than I run into hitches with the gears and I took the way of the pits. In race-2 I did a good sprint again and I started a forceful recovery on the leaders lap by lap. When some rain began to fall, the lost podium at Donington came into my mind and I slowed down my pace more than three seconds. All the riders behind me within three seconds recovered on me and at that point I started to open the gas again but I lost the chance to finish on the podium. In the last laps I started a very engaging duel against my team-mate in which we passed and passed again each others several times. It was a great thrilling duel”. ALEX POLITA | Ducati 1098R | 4th Classified: “When the green light appeared I stayed inside but it was a bad choice. I did not lose heart and I recovered lap by lap up to reach the leaders three laps to go. I tried to enter the battle and I grabbed the forth place. I’m sorry because of the bad start which compromised my race. If I had sprinted better maybe I could win. Anyhow the result is good and I finished ahead all the rivals who fight for the final win. The race at Portimao will be crucial and definitive. I’m ready to play all my cards in order to win the championship”. More, from a press release issued by FGSport Group: Bayliss SBK World Champion for the third time! Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) clinched the FIM Superbike World Championship for the third time today after finishing third in race 1 at Magny-Cours in front of 78,000 spectators. The Australian rider then celebrated his title in the best possible way by winning race 2. Victory in race 1 and second place in race 2 went to Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB), who moves into second place in the table, with just the final round at Portimao (Portugal) remaining on November 2. Race 1 The race was dominated by Haga, with his third win in a row, the Japanese rider finishing 6″ ahead of Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki Alstare), who had a good race to finish runner-up, and Bayliss, who stayed out of trouble to take the title. Fourth went to Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati), who came on strong towards the end. Max Neukirchner (Alstare Suzuki) was sixth, followed by Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) and Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), who faded with tyre problems after a good early part. Three laps from the end Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) crashed out while fighting for a podium place with Nieto and Bayliss, while Frenchman Régis Laconi took his PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki to a respectable eleventh place. Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB): “It’s a great result, the bike is working very well. During this weekend the weather was not so good but my team made a good set-up on the bike for me and I had a very comfortable feeling riding it. I want to say thanks to Yamaha, congratulations for Nieto and of course Troy for winning the title.” Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki Alstare): “For sure it was a really hard race with these conditions, it was very cold on the track. I tried to push at the beginning on a full fuel tank, but I had a lot of problems. In the end I came past Troy, I didn’t want to make him crash because he was fighting for the championship. I love this track and it’s great to be on the podium again.” Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox): “This last championship has been up and down the whole year, everyone has been fast but a little bit inconsistent and that made it easier for me. Half-way through the year we were very confident but it was a case of not losing the title rather than winning it. I did what I set out to do and win three titles on three different Ducati machines, so that’s a great achievement. Finally it’s done and I can go out and relax a bit more and see if I can win race 2!” Results: 1. Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 38’33.367 (157,878 kph); 2. Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 6.223; 3. Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 6.875; 4. Biaggi M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 7.237; 5. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 8.925; 6. Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 10.714; 7. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 16.176; 8. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 22.661; 9. Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR1000RR 27.224; 10. Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 31.300; 11. Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 35.558; 12. Muggeridge K. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 35.774; 13. Gimbert S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R1 36.078; 14. Nakatomi S. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 36.289; 15. Walker C. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 40.472; 16. Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 40.497. Race 2 Bayliss and Haga thrashed out a duel for the entire second race, but two laps before the end the newly-crowned champion made his attack and went on to conclude a triumphant day with the win. Third place on the podium went to Corser, who also rode an attacking race, with Checa finishing fourth. There was a terrific scrap for fifth between Sterilgarda team-mates Ruben Xaus and Max Biaggi, with the Spaniard getting the edge in a sprint finish with the Italian. The second race was not so good for the Suzuki riders, with Yukio Kagayama, Nieto and Max Neukirchner finishing in that order behind Biaggi. Roberto Rolfo (Honda Althea) and Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati RG) both finished in the points, but it was a race 2 to forget for Fabrizio, who only finished 14th. Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox): “It was a great race in the end, we made one change and put on a harder front tyre for the second race. The grip was similar but more consistent during the race. I was struggling on the exits to the tight corner, losing a bit to Nori, but it’s always like this. You lose some and gain some. I gave it my all, there wasn’t much to lose, I put three good laps together at the end and it was a great win.” Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia): “In the last five laps my rear tyre started to go off and I could not open the gas, but Troy and I had a great fight. Once again a big thanks to the team, they did a great job all weekend.” Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia): Starting from the third row meant that it was going to be a tough race for me, but I managed to get a good start and get through the first few laps. I had a bit of a tussle with Rolfo and Checa, and then when the rain started to come, I thought this is my chance to make up some time. I caught these guys but couldn’t go any further. The front tyre was almost finished on the right side and I almost took Troy out. Shame I was so far back, but now we’ll see if we can win one at the next round.” Results: 1. Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 38’33.579 (157,864 kph); 2. Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 0.909; 3. Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 2.966; 4. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 7.175; 5. Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 1098 RS 08 12.822; 6. Biaggi M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 13.004; 7. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 18.876; 8. Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 19.512; 9. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 19.627; 10. Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 21.425; 11. Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 25.133; 12. Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 30.538; 13. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098 RS 08 35.334; 14. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 F08 38.453; 15. Walker C. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 40.008; 16. Nakatomi S. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 40.802. Points (after 13 of 14 rounds): Riders – 1. Bayliss (Ducati) 410 punti; 2. Haga (Yamaha) 325; 3. Corser (Yamaha) 316; 4. Neukirchner (Suzuki) 298; 5. Checa (Honda) 284; 6. Biaggi (Ducati) 235; 7. Nieto (Suzuki) 234; 8. Fabrizio (Ducati) 203; 9. Kiyonari (Honda) 193; 10. Xaus (Ducati) 171; etc. Manufacturers 1. Ducati 520; 2. Yamaha 461; 3. Suzuki 384; 4. Honda 379; 5. Kawasaki 82. FIM Supersport World Championship The Supersport title was also assigned immediately after the SBK race, and it went to another Australian, Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), who took the win. Pitt, who won the same title seven years ago, benefitted from a contact between Robbin Harms (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport Honda), Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport), which eliminated two of his rivals for the title, even though Rea remounted to finish tenth. In the race, Pitt was followed home by a fast improving Barry Veneman (RES Software Suzuki), who held off a late attack by Joshua Brookes (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport Honda) and Matthieu Lagrive (Intermoto Czech Honda). Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni) and Gianluca Nannelli (Honda Althea) took the next two places, with Roccoli getting the edge on the last lap. Fabien Foret (Yamaha World Supersport), returning to the track after his crash at Brno, ran well to finish in eighth place. Results: 1. Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 37’57.929 (153,364 kph); 2. Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 1.250; 3. Brookes J. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1.514; 4. Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1.685; 5. Van Keymeulen D. (BEL) Suzuki GSX-R600 5.075; 6. Roccoli M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF-R6 13.171; 7. Nannelli G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 13.386; 8. Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R6 19.563. Points (after 12 of 13 rounds): 1. Pitt (Honda) 194; 2. Rea (Honda) 164; 3. Brookes (Honda) 157; 4. Parkes (Yamaha) 139; 5. Lascorz (Honda) 105; 6. Foret (Yamaha) 105; 7. Jones (Honda) 100; 8. Veneman (Suzuki) 92; etc. Superstock 1000 FIM Cup First win of the season for Matej Smrz (MS Racing Honda), the Czech rider getting the better in a hectic final few laps over Frenchman Freddy Foray (Coutelle Suzuki) and Claudio Corti (Yamaha Motor Italia Junior Team), who scored his first podium this year. There were upsets for the four riders fighting for the title, which will now go down the wire in Portimao. The best finisher was Alex Polita (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati), who finished fourth, ahead of the new points leader Xavier Simeon (Suzuki Alstare). Out of the points was Brendan Roberts (Ducati Xerox Junior Team) with gearbox problems, while Maxime Berger (Hannspree IDS Ten Kate Honda) could only finish 11th. All four are separated by nine points and still have a chance of taking the title. Results: 1. Smrz M. (CZE) Honda CBR1000RR 24’07.794 (153,554 kph); 2. Foray F. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 0.463; 3. Corti C. (ITA) Yamaha YZF-R1 0.543; 4. Polita A. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1.001; 5. Simeon X. (BEL) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1.792; 6. Millet J. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R1 2.556; 7. Barrier S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R1 8.425; 8. Foray K. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R1 8.701. Points (after 9 of 10 rounds): 1. Simeon (Suzuki) 131; 2. Polita (Ducati) 127; 3. Berger (Honda) 124; 4. Roberts (Ducati) 122; 5. Pirro (Yamaha) 89; 6. Smrz (Honda) 73; 7. Giugliano (Suzuki) 72; 8. Antonelli (Honda) 57. More, from a press release issued by Team YZF Yamaha: 2 points for Nakatomi With his 14th position in race 1, Nakatomi earned 2 points for the World Championship. The next race will be the last one of this year, at Portimao in Portugal. Troy Bayliss (Ducati) was the quickest at the start of the first race in front of Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha). Then the Japanese rider took the lead and kept it until the end of the event. Behind Haga, Fonsi Nieto did a good race to finish second, in front of Troy Bayliss who was crowned World Champion for the third time. Nakatomi, who was 19th in the beginning, progressed to 14th position. In race 2, there was a tremendous fight between Bayliss and Haga, and the Australian rider finally was the winner. Troy Corser finished 3rd in front of Carlos Checa. Shinichi Nakatomi, having shattering problem again, was 17th. Shinichi Nakatomi: “In race 1, I had some shattering problem after 10 laps. It was difficult to push. For race 2, we changed the set up but the shattering problem came back. I crossed the front a few times. It was a difficult race. Magny-Cours was not so good, so I shall change my mind for the next event at Portimao.” Team-manager Martial Garcia: “Nakatomi earned a good 14th position in race 1, fighting with Sebastien Gimbert. He had some shattering problems, which happened again in race 2. It’s why he could finish only 17th, close to the points.” Race 1: 1- Haga (Yamaha), 2-Nieto (Suzuki), 3-Bayliss (Ducati), 4-Biaggi (Ducati), 5-Neukirchner (Suzuki)”¦14-Nakatomi (Yamaha) Race 2: 1- Bayliss (Ducati), 2- Haga (Yamaha), 3-Corser (Yamaha), 4-Checa (Honda), 5-Xaus (Ducati)”¦17- Nakatomi (Yamaha) Superbike World Championship standings: 1- Bayliss (Ducati) 410 points, 2- Haga (Yamaha) 325, 3- Corser (Yamaha) 316, 4- Neukirchner (Suzuki) 298, 5- Checa (Honda) 284″¦19- Nakatomi (Yamaha) 48 14th and final round of the Superbike World Championship: November 2nd at Portimao (Portugal) Team YMF Yamaha Superstock YZF Yamaha Junior Team FIM Cup Superstock 1000 Brilliant 7th position for Barrier Still suffering from his crash at Brno, Sylvain Barrier did a very good race at Magny-Cours, finishing 7th only 8 seconds behind the winner. There was a great fight in the beginning between Freddy Foray (Suzuki) and Xavier Simeon (Suzuki). Smrz (Honda) the pole man was in fourth in this early stage and Barrier (Yamaha) sixth. Simeon kept the lead for a while, until Smrz passed him and went to win the event in front of Foray, as Simeon did a little mistake and could finish only fifth. Barrier was always with the leading group and did a very courageous race, rewarded with the seventh position. Sylvain Barrier: «I had a cool start. Then I gained a few positions when I braked on the outside. I was 6th after one lap, then 5th in a good group but I started to feel the pain 6 laps from the finish. I had to slow down a bit, so I was 9th but came back to 7th and from then I had to resist the pain until the end.” Martial Garcia (team-manager): “I am extremely satisfied of this good result, as Sylvain is only coming back to racing after his injury. He is still suffering from some nerves and ligaments. This is a very brilliant 7th position.” FIM Cup Superstock 1000 race results: 1-Smrz (Honda), 2-F. Foray (Suzuki), 3-Corti (Yamaha), 4-Polita (Ducati), 5-Simeon (Suzuki), 6-Millet (Yamaha), 7-Barrier (Yamaha) FIM Cup Superstock 1000 Championship standings: 1-Siméon (Suzuki) 131 points, 2-Polita (Ducati) 127, 3-Berger (Honda) 124, 4-Roberts (Ducati) 122, 5-Pirro (Yamaha) 89″¦22-Barrier (Yamaha) 13 More, from a press release issued by Team Alstare Suzuki: FONSI BACK ON THE PODIUM! Team Suzuki Alstare rider Fonsi Nieto had his best weekend of the year since the opening round in Qatar, by taking a superb runner-up spot in race one at Magny-Cours today. Fonsi had started from the front row of the grid and spent most of the race fighting with Troy Bayliss (Ducati) and eventual race winner, Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha). Because of a problem with the gearchange on his number one bike, he used his spare bike in race two, but did not like the feel of it as much and could only manage eighth place. His team mate, Yukio Kagayama was disappointed to finish eighth in race one and seventh in race two. Team Alstare Suzuki rider Max Neukirchner had grip problems in both races and ended fifth in the first race and ninth in the second. Troy Bayliss (Ducati) finished third in race one and that was enough to give him the Superbike World Championship title, with one round (Portimao) remaining. Fonsi – Race 1: 2nd, Race 2: 8th The first race was a good result for me. Everything worked very well and the only problem I had was at the start when my fuel tank was full and the the bike was not so easy to handle. After some laps, the fuel was less and I was able to push harder. For race two, I had to use my spare bike because the gearchange was not working properly on my number one bike. My spare bike did not feel as good or as fast, so I just had to ride as hard as I could without doing anything stupid. Eighth is not wonderful, but this weekend I have scored more points than any other weekend except the first round in Qatar and that makes me happy. Max – Race 1: 5th, Race 2: 9th I don’t want to say this weekend has been bad, but that’s how it is. In the first race, I lost grip very soon and the rear was spinning a lot. I rode the bike as hard as I could and managed to finish the race, so perhaps eighth is not that bad. We changed to a softer rear spring for race two, but the bike felt the same! The rear was spinning a bit more and it was difficult getting the bike to change direction. If we had not lost day one of practice because of the bad conditions, maybe we would’ve found a better set-up for the bike for today. But that’s the way it is sometimes and it’s better I forget about today and start thinking positively about Portimao. Yukio – Race 1: 8th, Race 2: 7th I am disappointed and a bit frustrated this weekend because I feel that I have given 100 per cent, as usual, but my bike was not as good as it should’ve been. In the warm-up this morning, we found a better set-up for my bike and the grip was better, so we used this set-up in the first race. But the bike felt different, did not give any better grip and lost positions because I could not lap fast. But I never want to give up, so I rode my best and finished the race. For race two, we adjusted the rear shock in order to give more grip and the feeling was a bit better, but not enough to challenge the top positions. At the start of the season, our bike was fast and strong, but maybe the other bikes have caught us up and passed us and maybe now their package is better than ours. We have to work hard for the last round, but I want to show that I am a good rider and end the year with a good result. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: Haga rules in race one and Corser performs for another podium finish Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) took a race win and a second place at the Magny-Cours races to go second in the championship with one round remaining. Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) recovered from sixth in race one to finish third in race two and now sits third overall, nine points behind his team-mate Haga. Haga was imperious in race one after his strong qualifying performances and Superpole win, taking the lead from fast-starting Troy Bayliss before blasting away to record a margin of victory of six seconds. Fonsi Nieto was second, with Bayliss third. Corser was sixth after crash in Superpole saw him start 12th on the grid. In race two, Haga led for most of the 23-laps, but could not hold onto the fleeing Bayliss in the last sector, and had to settle for second, one place up on a resurgent and determined Corser. Bayliss had already won the championship outright after his first race podium, leaving Haga and Corser to fight out the overall second place in the championship rankings at the final round in one month’s time. Bayliss now has 410 points, Haga 325, and Corser 316. Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha GMT94) went 13th in the opening race at his home circuit, but retired in the pits in race two. David Checa (Yamaha GMT94) did not finish either race, retiring in race one and crashing out of race two. Shinichi Nakatomi (Team YZF Yamaha) went 14th and scored two points in race one, but just missed out on a points scoring finish in race two, by one place and less than one second. Noriyuki Haga (1st and 2nd – Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) “The weather conditions have been not so good this weekend but the team gave me a good bike and I could compete well all weekend. I was riding comfortably at the front in race one to win so thanks to Yamaha and congratulations to Troy Bayliss, the champion of the world. Thanks to all in the team for all the hard work, and for the support from the fans. The last five laps of the second race I could not open the gas the way I wanted but Bayliss and I had a great fight for the win.” Troy Corser (6th and 3rd – Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) “Starting from the third row was always going to be tough for these races. I got a good start in race two and got though quickly but I had a little bit of a tussle with Rolfo and Checa. When the rain started to come I could see the guys in front had started to slow down, and I knew I had a chance to make up some time. I really didn’t care if I crashed or not I just went as hard as I could. I caught those guys but once I had I really couldn’t go much further. The lap times came down again to mid 1’40s. The bike was pretty consistent but I just couldn’t push any harder on the front tyre because the right-hand side was almost finished. I nearly took Troy out down the hill at one time so I had to let the brake off or I would have taken both of us out. Lucky enough there was enough room to get through. But race two was good and we go to the next race to see if I can win one there.” Massimo Meregalli (Team Manager, Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) “We won the first race and were nearly there in race two. It was a really good race for both riders in the second race. In the last few laps our tyres started to drop off and it was impossible for our guys to get back to Tory at the end. Over the weekend as a whole we got pole, a win in race one and then two podiums in race two, so it’s been positive. The next race will be a challenge for everyone on a new circuit. Today’s results are thanks to a lot of hard work from the team so a thank you to them as well.” Shinichi Nakatomi (14th and 16th – Team YZF Yamaha “In race 1, I had some chattering problem after 10 laps. It was difficult to push. For race 2, we changed the set up but the chattering problem came back. I crossed the front a few times. It was a difficult race. Magny-Cours was not so good, Portimao will be better.” More, from a press release issued by Honda: CHECA IN THE TOP FOUR AT MAGNY-COURS Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) took a best of fourth in race two at Magny-Cours, to add to a race one seventh place, and keep him fifth in the overall championship rankings. The Spanish rider, twice a winner in WSB this year already, was looking set for a podium in race one at one stage, having qualified fourth in Superpole. His choice of soft tyres in the opener did not pay off and he fought hard in the latter stages to get seventh, with Noriyuki Haga securing the win. In race two, on a different tyre choice, he was seven seconds from the winner Troy Bayliss, who also secured the championship at this round, the third of his career. Several riders had difficulty working out a good set-up and tyre choice this weekend, as practice and qualifying were held in changeable conditions, from nearly dry to fully wet. Superpole was run under normal ‘dry’ rules. Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR Jr) secured his best finish of the season, ninth, in race one, but only went 19th in race two, as his heavy bruising and joint pain from his big Vallelunga crash finally took its toll. He was 14th in Superpole. Two encouraging races for Roberto Rolfo (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR1000RR) ended in an eventual technical retirement in race one, after being knocked off track early on, and a tenth place in race two. The Italian rider was an impressive fifth in Superpole. With regular rider Ryuichi Kiyonari out injured, stand-in rider Martin Bauer (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) went 17th in race one, but fell in race two. Bauer had just missed out on a Superpole qualifying place by one position. Gregorio Lavilla (Vent-Axia VK Honda CBR1000RR) was the last rider in Superpole, 16th, and rode hard in each 23-lap race to maintain his status as top privateer. He took tenth and then 12th place finishes. He is now 12th overall, on 117 points. Lavilla’s team-mate Chris Walker (Vent-Axia VK Honda CBR1000RR) recovered from qualifying 23rd to grab two 15th place finishes and two more points. He has now been 15th on five occasions since joining the WSB series at Brands Hatch. Karl Muggeridge (DF Racing Honda CBR1000RR) went 12th in race one, from 18th on the grid, but was unable to finish the second race. Shuhei Aoyama (Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR) had two difficult races, after finishing qualifying 28th, scoring 19th in race one and 22nd in race two. In the championship standings, Bayliss has an unbeatable 410 points, points, Haga 325, Corser 316, Neukirchner 298 and Checa, 284. Checa said: “It’s quite strange that we had a different feeling from the test here last week, and I felt quite comfortable in warm-up this morning. In race one we made a risky tyre choice and it didn’t work out the way we wanted. The second race was a little better, although we had a rear stability problem exiting the tighter corners. It was costing me about three tenths of a second per lap and, towards the end of the race, I knew I couldn’t fight for the podium any more.” Sofuoglu said: “The way I was feeling before the weekend, I wasn’t even sure I would be able to compete here with the amount of bruising I had after Vallelunga. After the first race, it was not so much the pain, but I was so tired, and that left me without any energy for race two. I have a month to recover now, and I want to finish the season on a high level in Portugal.” Bauer said: “I felt really confident going into race two, after we made the wrong tyre choice in the first race. I was behind Kenan in the second race and he went a little wide at the first right-hander. I went inside him but lost the front in the corner and that was it. Still, I have enjoyed my weekend it’s been a pleasure to work with such a professional team and I would like to thank them for all their work and to thank everybody else who made it possible.” Rolfo said: “In the first lap of race one someone hit my rear tyre and I was forced to go on the gravel and I lost quite a few places. To get back into the race from so far back was not easy, but the bike was working well and I reached thirteenth place in few laps. Unfortunately, we had some technical problems. After race two I’m pretty happy because after a good start I was able to remain with the first group of riders at the start.” Muggeridge said: “It was going OK until the first spots of rain hit my visor. I can’t go faster than other riders in a straight line on my bike so I had to slow a bit around the corners when the rain spots appeared. I couldn’t go catch the guys in front again when the rain didn’t come to anything. I was stuck where I was.” Lavilla said: “We have been working hard but every time we miss a practice it is bad. We make steps forward every time we go on track and we are the best privateers so that is positive. I am trying to finish the season on a high.” Walker said: “I’m happy to have two points’ scoring finishes having battled with practices and qualifying. Starting from 23rd and the seventh row doesn’t make life easy so I really push hard for a decent start. I’m happy to walk away with two 15th positions.” Aoyama said: “Two tough races because we did not get a great chance to find the best set-up as practice was so disturbed by changing weather. This was a difficult track to set-up for.” The final round of the series takes place at the all-new circuit of Parkalgar, near Portimao, in Portugal on November 2. More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: PODIUM FROM THE THIRD ROW FOR TROY! Despite starting from the third row of the grid, Troy rode superbly to take a podium in the second race at Magny-Cours today. He made a tremendous start and was already sixth at the end of the first lap. He then moved up to third place by lap five and was in a three-way battle at the front for the majority of the 23-lapper, but could do nothing about Troy Bayliss (Ducati) and Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) at the end. The podium followed a difficult first race, where Troy suffered grip problems, but determinedly carried on and eventually finished sixth. His fellow countryman,Troy Bayliss finished third, behind Haga and Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki), but that was enough for him to take the Superbike World Championship title. Troy – Race 1: 6th, Race 2: 3rd It was good to take a podium today, but it was a shame because I’m sure the results would’ve been better if I hadn’t had to start from the third row of the grid. In race one, I struggled trying to feel what the tyre was doing and just couldn’t push hard at all. We were using the electronic suspension and it works very well when the tyre is new and maybe not so well at the moment when the tyre is old and worn out. We didn’t use the electronic suspension in the second race and ran the bike as normal and, for me, it felt better. It still used the tyre up, but I had more feeling for what was going on. The last few laps were really hard and I nearly took out Troy (Bayliss) towards the end of the race. I was going down the hill and almost lost the front when I braked hard. I had to let the brakes off or I would have hit Bayliss. If I had stayed on line, probably we’d both have gone down. Instead I was just able to avoid him, though I did have to take to the astroturf at the side of the track! I want to say a big thank you to all my mechanics for the great work they did this weekend and I also want to congratulate Bayliss on taking the title. He has worked really hard all year and deserved it.