From a press release issued by Team Alstare Suzuki: 2008 Superbike World Championship Winter tests: Phillip Island, January 8-10 Day 3, January 10 Conditions: Hot and sunny, 37C. YUKIO FASTEST! Team Alstare Suzuki rider Yukio Kagayama ended the 3-day tests at Phillip Island with the fastest lap, a tenth of a second ahead of Troy Bayliss (Ducati). Yukio posted a lap of 1:32.1 in the morning session and, as the temperature rose steadily, it was clear that it would take something special to beat it. Bayliss looked the most likely, but crashed just after midday and was taken to hospital with a suspected broken collarbone. Yukio’s team mate Fonsi Nieto ended joint third quickest and was very happy with the progress made during the three days. Alstare Suzuki rider Max Neukirchner was deemed not fit enough to take part today and was forced to watch from the sidelines instead. Yukio (96 laps, best lap 1:32.10) I am a happy man today, not just because I set the fastest lap here, but because we have done a lot of very good work during these three days. The mechanics have worked very hard (last night they finished after midnight!) and that allowed me to put in a lot of laps and give them a lot of information and data. It was very hot today, so that we had to make a lot of adjustments to the settings. All in all, this test has been very productive and a good way to start 2008. Fonsi (74 laps, best lap 1:32.3) Today was much better than yesterday and I think I rode very well -especially in the morning. In the afternoon it was very hot and that caused us all some problems. But today I found a good rhythm with my bike and that makes me very happy. I am now much more comfortable on the bike and that is making it easier to ride. The engine feels surprisingly strong and I’m beginning to enjoy riding it. I think I may have to change my riding style from last year, but I know it will reap rewards. Now, I’m already looking forward to my next time out on the bike. More, from a press release issued by FG Sport Group: KAGAYAMA FASTEST AS BAYLISS BREAKS HIS COLLARBONE YUKIO IMPROVES TIMES DESPITE HOT TEMPERATURES Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki) scored the fastest time of all three days of testing today, despite temperatures that climbed to 38°C, as Phillip Island felt the full weight of an Aussie summer. His 1:32.1 just beat the previous best, set by Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) but that was the least of the 2001 and 2006 champion’s worries, after he fell at the bottom of MG and broke his right collarbone. Bayliss was in the process of overtaking another rider, but when he realised he could not make the pass, he got on the rear brake and was highsided off. Initial X-Rays at Melbourne Hospital are not 100% conclusive, as the bones are not displaced, but circuit medics say his injury should be healed in around 21 days – enough time for Bayliss to be fit for the start of the season. CLOSE TIMES PROMISE EXCITING ACTION FOR 2008 SEASON Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), Fonsi Nieto (Alstare Suzuki) and Ruben Xaus (Ducati Sterilgarda Go-Eleven) all shared the lap time of 1:32.3, ensuring that there should be close and intense competition when the season kicks off in Qatar on 23 February. Only one tenth of a second behind this trio of talent came Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia), the 2007 season runner up. Yamaha were testing their variable intake system at PI and should race with it in 2008. CORSER CLOSE BUT CONCENTRATING ON RACE TIMES Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) was the early pace maker in the previous Qatar tests, but this time around he was not quite in with the fastest, but still only 0.0.6 seconds from Kagayama’s best time over three days. The second Ducati Sterilgarda Go Eleven rider Max Biaggi had a good test, despite Ducati twin-cylinder power being a new experience for him, and the multiple 250GP champion set a 1:32.8, only 0.7 seconds from the very fastest. KAWASAKI MEN HAPPY AFTER FIRST TEST AGAINST MAIN RIVALS Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) could not improve on his best of 1:33.0 today, but that was still an impressive time for such a relatively new ZX-10R machine, in its first real test against the very best of its rivals. Makoto Tamada (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) made great leaps in his set-up and pace today, setting a 1:33.4, almost two seconds up on his earlier marks. Illness affected Max Neukirchner’s entire test, and thus the Alstare Suzuki rider only scored a best time of 1:35.5. WORLD SUPERSPORT Broc Parkes (Yamaha WSSP Team) shaved two tenths of a second from his best time from day two to leave the tests the fastest man, his 1:34.6 a clear 0.4 seconds faster than Hannspree Ten Kate Honda duo Andrew Pitt and Jonathan Rea. On the new Yamaha R6, 2007 PI WSS race winner Fabien Foret (Yamaha WSSP Team) made adjustments in set-up to take him to a new best of 1:35.2, while the man who took his GIL Kawasaki ride over, Katsuaki Fujiwara, was top man in green, securing a best of 1:35.6. Fujiwara’s new team-mate Chris Walker proved to have good WSS skills at such an early stage in his first WSS season, setting a best of 1:35.7, equalled by local hero Josh Brookes (Stiggy Motorsports Honda). Garry McCoy (Triumph Caracchi) set a best of 1:35.9, with Robbin Harms propping up the times, on a 1:36.4. SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – TIMES COMBINED: 1. Kagayama (JPN-Suzuki) 1:32.1 2. Bayliss (AUS-Ducati) 1:32.2 3. Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati) 1:32.3 4. Xaus (ESP-Ducati) 1:32.3 5. Nieto (ESP-Suzuki) 1:32.3 6. Haga (JPN-Yamaha) 1:32.4 7. Corser (AUS-Yamaha) 1:32.7 8. Biaggi (ITA-Ducati) 1:32.8 9. Laconi (FRA-Kawasaki) 1:33.0 10. Tamada (JPN-Kawasaki) 1:33.4 11. Neukirchner (GER-Suzuki) 1:35.5 SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – TIMES COMBINED: 1. Parkes (AUS-Yamaha) 1:34.6 2. Rea (GBR-Honda) 1:35.0 3. Pitt (AUS-Honda) 1:35.0 4. Foret (FRA-Yamaha) 1:35.2 5. Fujiwara (JPN-Kawasaki) 1:35.6 6. Walker (GBR-Kawasaki) 1:35.7 7. Brookes (AUS-Honda) 1:35.7 8. McCoy (AUS-Triumph) 1:35.9 9. Harms (DEN-Honda) 1:36.4 More, from a press release issued by Xerox Ducati: BAYLISS INJURED WHILE FABRIZIO CONTINUES TO IMPROVE ON THE FINAL DAY OF TESTING AT PHILLIP ISLAND. Phillip Island (Australia), Thursday 10th January: Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) fractured his collarbone this afternoon after high-siding while attempting to pass French rider Regis Laconi. Bayliss was taken to hospital in Melbourne for further assessment. New signing Michel Fabrizio continued to show great progress, concluding the final session with the third fastest time of 1m32.3s, just one tenth off the pace of his team-mate. Troy Bayliss 1m32.2s “Basically I went to pass Regis Laconi around Lukey Heights but when I realised I couldn’t make it, I had to brake hard and high-sided coming in to the MG hairpin. I have fractured the collarbone close to the sternum and have also chipped the end of the sternum. I am not in too much pain and for now it doesn’t seem as bad as the last break I had to my collarbone. I plan to come straight back to Italy to get further tests and the treatment that I need in order to be back on the bike as soon as possible. Up until my fall we were making great progress, testing a lot of tyres with Pirelli. We made a long-run and I was feeling good about how everything was going. This isn’t an ideal outcome of course but I’m happy with the progress we made this week and now just have to concentrate on getting better as quickly as possible.” Michel Fabrizio 1m32.3s “Overall, I’m happy with this week’s test results. I had a fall on Tuesday but I’m fine now, although I was pretty tired after we finished the long-runs. Basically everything has gone well, my times have not been bad and I was especially happy with the second fastest time that I set this morning. We have really clocked up a lot of miles on the track this week! We are still working towards the right set-up and although there’s still work to be done, we’re definitely on the right track. There are still two tests to come of course so let’s say that we, and me especially, will continue to improve over the next few weeks.” Davide Tardozzi, Ducati Corse Superbike Project Leader: “We would also like to welcome Heather Watson to Team Ducati Xerox. Heather will undertake the role of press officer.” TIMES: Kagayama (Suzuki) 1m32.1s; Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1m32.2s; Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 1m32.3s; Xaus (Ducati) 1m32.3s; Nieto (Suzuki) 1m32.3s; Haga (Yamaha) 1m32.4s; Corser(Yamaha)1m32.7s; Biaggi(Ducati)1m32.8s; Laconi (Kawasaki) 1m33.0s; Tamada (Kawasaki)1m34.6s; Neukirchner (Kawasaki) 1m35.5s. More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki Press Office: Team Alstare Suzuki’s Yukio Kagayama ended the three-day tests at Phillip Island with the fastest lap on his new GSX-R1000, a tenth of a second ahead of Troy Bayliss. He posted an unofficial lap time of 1:32.1 in the morning session and, as the temperature rose steadily, it was clear that it would take something special to beat it: Bayliss looked the most likely but crashed just after midday and was taken to hospital with a suspected broken collarbone. Kagayama’s team mate Fonsi Nieto ended joint third quickest, happy with the progress made during the three days, but Max Neukirchner was deemed not fit enough to take part and was forced to watch from the sidelines. Yukio Kagayama – 96 laps. Best lap 1:32.10: “I am a happy man today, not just because I set the fastest lap here, but because we have done a lot of very good work during these three days. The mechanics have worked very hard – last night they finished after midnight!) – and that allowed me to put in a lot of laps and give them a lot of information and data. It was very hot today so we had to make a lot of adjustments to the settings. All in all this test has been very productive and a good way to start 2008.” Fonsi Nieto – 74 laps. Best lap 1:32.3: “Today was much better than yesterday and I think I rode very well, especially in the morning. In the afternoon it was very hot and that caused us all some problems. But today I found a good rhythm with my bike and that makes me very happy. I am now much more comfortable on the bike and that is making it easier to ride. The engine feels surprisingly strong and I’m beginning to enjoy riding it. I think I may have to change my riding style from last year, but I know it will reap rewards. Now I’m already looking forward to my next time out on the bike.” More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: Haga and Corser move forward at Phillip Island Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) completed a tough but successful three day test at Phillip Island in conditions which varied from relatively cool to exceptionally hot, finding real improvements while using Yamaha’s YCC-I variable intake system in full race trim. Noriyuki Haga (Position: 6th – Best time: 1:32.4) “It’s gone very well. We spent the days testing new parts, the results are good so now I am just waiting for the race. I’ve tried new suspension, new swing arm linkages and many tyres and the variable inlet trumpets. Before coming to Phillip Island I tested the variable inlet trumpets for two days in Japan and the feeling is very good. We can see from the power curve that it is better and as a rider it gives me a better feeling. It gives us increased adjustment and for sure we will use this from now on.” Haga’s personal best time of 1:32.4 was only 0.3 seconds from the best over the three days of testing, while Corser set a 1:32.7, both concentrating their efforts on finding good race settings and tyre options in the constantly changing track conditions. Corser in particular found the surface uncharacteristically bumpy in places, and the final day of testing, run in ambient temperatures of 38°C at times, was hard work for all. As well as successful trials of the YCC-I system, the team evaluated swingarm and linkage developments, with Corser also trying out new braking components. The very high temperatures of the final day are not expected to be experienced at the Phillip Island race itself, on 2 March. Troy Corser (Position: 7th – Best time: 1:32.7) “We’ve had a lot to test but we’ve seen a direction – some were good and some not so good. I’ve been working to improve the stability on the bike and we’ve also been trying some new discs to give us better braking. We’ve had a whole range of front forks, rear shocks and a different swing arm link and tyres to test. The actual one lap fast times on the final day didn’t really come but we gained a lot of data, a lot of feedback and have a good race speed. I only spent the final afternoon using the variable inlet but I’ve been able to feel a bit different power. I think we’ve still got a bit of work to do to find the best bike balance here but it’s definitely been a positive test.” Massimo Meregalli (Team Coordinator – Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) “We have to be happy with this test because we are better than last year and the year before and in particular over a race distance our speed is good. Still this circuit remains difficult for us because it offers not the grip level that makes are bike work perfect. It is difficult to say the difference between us and the competition, because we did our long run at around 12 noon, most others did theirs at a different time. We were happy with ours, especially the one from Noriyuki, so we are leaving Phillip Island feeling optimistic. Both riders used the variable intake system properly for the first time and both of them were very happy with it. It is a positive step and for sure we will use it at the first race in Qatar.” Circuit Length: 4.445km, Temp: First day 20°C, rising to last day 38°C Weather: Dry, sunny Parkes hot at home as Foret continues progress Broc Parkes left his home circuit of Phillip Island with the best lap time of the three day test in the Supersport category, while his new team-mate, Fabien Foret (Yamaha World Supersport Team) also made great progress with the new Yamaha YZF-R6. Parkes set a blistering 1:34.6, some 0.4 seconds faster than his closest rivals, and easily inside the previous lap records. Foret found the set-up changes he needed to set his best of 1:35.2 on the very last day. It had been a tough test because of the every increasing temperature, and the fact that since the last test there, the track has become bumpy in places. A lot of effort was focused on finding suspension setting that worked effectively, as the previous test of the brand new machine was conducted on the smooth and flat circuit at Qatar, in late November. Broc Parkes (Position: 1st – Best time: 1:34.6) “It’s been a good test and we’ve been working really well. The engine, chassis and suspension is all working together, we’ve tried a lot of things and it seems that every direction we went in was a good one and we kept improving. The new bike is a big improvement especially the engine, it’s got more torque which makes it more user friendly and it’s also giving us better tyre life. All in all I’m really happy, at the Qatar test I was quickest and I’ve been fastest all three days here in Phillip Island so hopefully we can keep the momentum going until the first race.” Fabien Foret (Position: 4th – Best time: 1:35.2) “My test was much better on the final day and I did a few fast laps at the end, so I am a bit happier than I was on day one or two. I am still working on the feel and feedback from the front and because of the very hot conditions everyone seemed to be looking for grip. Turn one was very bumpy, but the grip was the biggest thing for me in the heat.” Wilco Zeelenberg (Team Coordinator – Yamaha World Supersport Team) “The test went OK even if the conditions changed each day and the track was quite bumpy in places compared to the experience we had at the Qatar tests. It was very smooth and flat there. It was 20°C on the first day, 30°C on the second and then 38°C today, so we have tested the new bike in every condition except rain. We had to work hard for three days to find the best suspension settings and we still have work to do to be exactly where we want to, but we still have the time and space to do that. We have been fast, so that is not an issue. We also did some successful long runs to choose tyres.” Circuit Length: 4.445km Temp: First day 20°C, rising to last day 38°C Weather: Dry, sunny Superbike times combined 1. Yukio Kagayama (JPN-Suzuki) 1:32.1 2. Troy Bayliss (AUS-Ducati) 1:32.2 3. Michel Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati) 1:32.3 4. Ruben Xaus (ESP-Ducati) 1:32.3 5. Fonsi Nieto (ESP-Suzuki) 1:32.3 6. Noriyuki Haga (JPN-Yamaha) 1:32.4 7. Troy Corser (AUS-Yamaha) 1:32.7 8. Max Biaggi (ITA-Ducati) 1:32.8 9. Regis Laconi (FRA-Kawasaki) 1:33.0 10. Makoto Tamada (JPN-Kawasaki) 1:33.4 11. Max Neukirchner (GER-Suzuki) 1:35.5 Supersport times combined 1. Broc Parkes (AUS-Yamaha) 1:34.6 2. Jonathan Rea (GBR-Honda) 1:35.0 3. Andrew Pitt (AUS-Honda) 1:35.0 4. Fabien Foret (FRA-Yamaha) 1:35.2 5. Katsuaki Fujiwara (JPN-Kawasaki) 1:35.6 6. Chris Walker (GBR-Kawasaki) 1:35.7 7. Josh Brookes (AUS-Honda) 1:35.7 8. Garry McCoy (AUS-Triumph) 1:35.9 9. Robbin Harms (DEN-Honda) 1:36.4 More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: TROY’S FAST LAP ROO-INED! Five minutes from the end of this three-day test, Troy decided to put on a super sticky tyre and try and post the fastest lap of the day. He was on course for his quickest lap, when he was forced to slow down because of a kangaroo on the track! The large marsupial was right in the middle of the track and its presence was enough to destroy any chance Troy had of setting his quickest lap! Even without the problem ‘roo, these tests have given Troy and the team plenty to think about. But, the three days have allowed the team to collect a lot of data and decide in which direction to go next time out. Troy’s former team mate Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) set the fastest lap of the tests, with a lap of 1:32.1. Just one tenth of a second behind is Troy Bayliss (Ducati), but the Aussie crashed just after midday and was taken to hospital with a suspected broken collarbone. Troy (best lap 1:32.7) Well, it’s not been too bad, but I’m a little disappointed that I wasn’t able to go any quicker – and not just because of the ‘roo! We solved one particular problem today – which was good – but it threw up another problem, and that is to be solved. We’ve done a lot of work on the rear suspension and linkages, probably more than we’ve ever done before, trying to get better grip. Also we’re trying to get the power curve a bit more usable because the bike feels a bit peaky at the moment – and that’s something you don’t need at a track like Phillip Island. Considering I felt I was struggling a bit with the bike, to finish just half a second off is not so bad. The track is definitely more bumpy then last year and that means we have to work a lot harder to get the set-up right. That’s hard enough, but then the very high temperatures meant that we also had grip problems, so that was something else to sort out. Just before my ‘fast lap’ I saw a marshal waving a yellow flag, but I couldn’t see any bikes on the track, just a couple of geese. But on the next lap, I saw why he had waved the flag, because there was a wallaby on the track (not a kangaroo!). It was the biggest wallaby I’d ever seen and it was in the middle of the track, so that was it for my ‘fast lap’. I don’t think our next racetrack – Qatar – has any ‘roos or wallabies, so I guess I should be safe enough there!