ROUND 12 VALLELUNGA, ITALY 30 SEPTEMBER 2007 RACE PREVIEW September 2007, Vallelunga (Italy) World Superbike returns to Italy for the third and final time in 2007, and it will be an occasion laden with passion and excitement for Italian fans – and particularly the local Roman ‘tifosi’, who have not only one hero to follow in Max Biaggi but two, if we include proven podium-hopper, Michel Fabrizio. But like every other SBK weekend this event will have much to offer the fans of Ducati, of Haga, of Rolfo, of Toseland, and because this is World Superbike, there will also be chances for the fans to meet their heroes and get their autographs. Vallelunga is a very particular track and as such a test was organised for the top teams on 7 and 8 July, and the world’s press were there to report on it in force. Thanks to Pirelli, 15 journalists were also able to try out the very same machines and Pirelli DIABLO SUPERCORSA tyres used in World Supersport his year. These tyres are first tested and proven on track in real race conditions before being produced for riders on the street. The Vallelunga race is the second last on the 2007 calendar, and at this stage Max Neukirchner leads the Pirelli “Rookie of the Year” contest for the youngest rider in the top ten, with the even younger Michel Fabrizio just outside the top ten – and with four points scoring races remaining. In Supersport Britain’s Craig Jones seems certain of victory. The long time leader of the championship in Superbike is James Toseland but with 100 points up for grabs before the end of the season at Magny-Cours, the game is not over yet. 100 points is the current points advantage of new World Supersport champion Kenan Sofuoglu. In Superbike, four riders have a chance of the title (Haga is second in the standings, 41 points from Toseland), and no fewer than six riders in STK1000 (from a field of 50), can still win. The leader is currently Massimo Baiocco, nine points ahead of Xavier Simeon, and 11 up on Niccolo Canepa. Close to the end for the STK600 class, the top three is led by Maxime Berger, ahead of Michele Magnoni and Andrea Antonelli – with only one of these three still able to lift the title. Pirelli will put four rear tyre solutions at the disposal of each SBK rider, including the ‘big’ 200 rear, due to the many slow corners at Vallelunga. WSS riders will have a choice of two fronts and three rears. More, from a press release issued by FGSport Group: ANOTHER NEW WORLD WELCOMES SBK COMPETITION HISTORY TO BE MADE IN THE ETERNAL CITY ONCE MORE For the first time since World Superbike competition began back in 1988, Vallelunga – the ‘home’ track of series organisers FGSport – is set to host SBK weekend, with track action beginning on Friday 28th September and culminating on Sunday 30th. Work at the 4.110km circuit, located some 30km north of the Italian capital city of Rome, has been ongoing for months to get the paddock and facilities ready for the biggest event the track has ever held. The circuit will feature some unique challenges for both local riders and the massed nations of World Superbike competitors, and it includes ultra-slow and ultra-fast corners. Despite most of the top teams and riders having tested at Vallelunga at some stage, this will be a new experience for many of them in real race conditions. CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT SET FOR ANOTHER THRILLING INSTALMENT James Toseland (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) left the previous SBK round at Eurospeedway Lausitz with a reduced championship advantage of 41 points over the rider with number 41 on his machine, Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia). With local hero from Rome, Max Biaggi (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), only another 12 points further from Toseland’s total of 375, it is still game-on for the top three. Even the perennial fighting qualities of twice World Champion Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) may not be enough to allow him to make up the 79 points he finds himself behind the championship leader, and another double champion Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) may even fancy his chances of making up the 42 points he lags behind Bayliss. XAUS, LANZI AND ROLFO IN A BATTLE FOR TOP SIX STATUS The previous round at Eurospeedway Lausitz had a significant effect on the clash just behind the ‘big five’. Tough weekends for both Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Ducati) and Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) allowed Roby Rolfo (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) to push his way towards a possible top six. Xaus is currently on 177 points, Lanzi on 173 and Rolfo on 166, making Vallelunga another pivotal race for all three of them. In the fight for the top ten order, another fascinating battle will hold attention until the last race of the year, with Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Germany) and Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) currently completing the top ten, with 14 points between them. Two other riders are determined to make themselves top ten men before the end of the year, however, as Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) is a bare three points adrift of Kagayama’s current total, and 2008 factory Ducati signing Michel Fabrizio (DFX Corse Honda) is only a point behind Laconi. Like Biaggi, Fabrizio is another local rider on a mission in front of his home support. MIDFIELD MAESTROS READY TO TAKE THE STEP UP The middle order of the current points standings is packed out with proven riding talent, with two former 250GP forces to be reckoned with, Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) and Jakub Smrz (Caracchi Ducati), respectively 13th and 14th in the standings. Some way back in points comes the first Alto Evolution Honda rider, Karl Muggeridge, who has had a more than eventful year. It continues to this moment, as he is tied on points with Shinichi Nakatomi (Yamaha YZF Team). Muggeridge’s new team-mate Yoann Tiberio, will be back for his second taste of SBK action. WORLD SUPERSPORT – ALL TO PLAY FOR BEHIND SOFUOGLU’S LONG SHADOW Currently leading the World Championship by 100-points Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) has already secured the championship in its own right, but behind him the battle for a top few championship places is still alive with fury and potential upset. Fabien Foret (GIL Kawasaki) hopes that his 26 point lead over third place rider Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport Team) will be enough to leave him on championship runner-up status, but as Parkes has won the last two races, Foret will have to display all his riding credentials to keep himself ahead of the aggressive Australian, whom he will join in the official Yamaha squad next season. In fourth place comes Katsuaki Fujiwara (Althea Honda) with Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni) only three points behind. With no previous formbook to refer to, local knowledge may play into the hands of the Italian-based riders, as Vallelunga is an integral part of their domestic series. SUPERSTOCK 1000 FIM CUP – FIVE IN THE FRAY After only finishing eighth at the previous round of the series, Matteo Baiocco (Umbria Bike Yamaha) now enjoys a reduced margin of nine points over championship second place rider Xavier Simeon (Alstare Suzuki), with two rounds to go. Such has been the competitive nature of this class that seven riders, on three different types of machine, have already scored one race win or more this season. Second place for Niccolo Canepa (Ducati Xerox 1098) at Lausitz put him third in the championship chase, four points ahead of Mark Aitchison (Celani Team Suzuki Italia) and 13 points clear of Claudio Corti (Yamaha Team Italia). With only 24 points separating the entire top five, and with 50 points up for grabs for any rider who wins the last two races, the championship is still wide open. SUPERSTOCK 600 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – BERGER OUTNUMBERED BUT AHEAD French rider Maxime Berger (Trasimeno Yamaha) will have many a hometown hero to deal with at Vallelunga before the championship ends in his own back yard in France. Michele Magnoni (Bevilacqua Yamaha) is still second on the championship, albeit 32 points behind Berger, while Andrea Antonelli (Team Italia Megabike Honda AX) finds himself with a gap of 41 points to make up on Berger, with two rounds remaining. DOUBLE TIME FOR CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE WITH MAGNY-COURS NEXT UP After the SBK legions break camp in the hills outside Rome, a quick forced march to France will bring them to Magny-Cours for the last round of all the championship classes, between 5th and 7th October. More, from a press release issued by Team Yamaha YZF: Yamaha and Haga in good position With two events to go, which means four races, Noriyuki Haga and Yamaha still have a good chance of ending up World Champion against James Toseland (Honda). The Japanese rider is currently 41 points behind the British champion. Shinichi Nakatomi (Team Yamaha YZF) will try in Italy to better his actual 15th position in the provisional standings. He is now 14 points behind Jacob Smrz (Ducati Team Caracchi). This is the first time ever that the Superbike World Championship goes to the Roman track of Vallelunga. There have been a few testing sessions at this venue, especially on July 7 and 8. The Italian riders and teams, who race there their national championship, should be more at ease in the beginning of the weekend. This circuit of Vallelunga Piero Taruffi is used mostly to test car tyres, and sometimes also by Formula 1 teams including Ferrari, Williams, Toyota, Bar-Honda. But there are no big international events, so the World Superbike teams have to adapt to a place that has not been designed for that purpose. Martial Garcia: “We made our motorcycle better and we hope to show at Vallelunga the positive results of our work. MG Competition has done its best to provide the best motorcycle with the best engine. Now, it’s Nakatomi’s opportunity to validate the result of the work that has been done. The great reliability and competitiveness of the Yamaha R1 was shown one more time recently with the victory of the GMT at the Bol d’Or (24 hour endurance World Championship race) two weeks ago.” The “Autodromo Piero Taruffi” Located 35 km north of Roma, near Campagnano di Roma, the Autodromo di Vallelunga is owned by the Automobile Club of Italy since 1967. The “international” track is 4.110 km long for the motorcycle races and 4.085 km long for the car events. Ducati tests (February 2007): Bayliss 1:38.5, Lanzi 1:38.6 FG Sport tests (July 7 and 8, 2007): 1-Xaus (Ducati) 1’36.382 2-Bayliss (Ducati) 1’36.556, 3-Corser (Yamaha) 1’36.731, 4-Toseland (Honda) 1’36.783, 5-Biaggi (Suzuki) 1’37.440, 6-Laconi (Kawasaki) 1’37.455, 7-Haga (Yamaha) 1’37.506, 8-Rolfo (Honda) 1’37.647, 9-Kagayama (Suzuki) 1’37.655, 10-Fabrizio (Honda)1’37.817 — 12-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 1:38.138 World Championship standings: 1- Toseland (Honda) 375 points, 2-Haga (Yamaha) 334, 3-Biaggi (Suzuki) 332, 4-Bayliss (Ducati) 296, 5-Corser (Yamaha) 254…15-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 47 Official Vallelunga stats Practice record (June 8, 2007 / 3rd race of the Italian championship): 1:39.027 Marco Borciani (Ducati) 149.41 kph Lap record (June 10, 2007 / 3rd race of the Italian championship): 1:39.837 Norino Brignola (Ducati) 148.202 kph 13th and last round of the Superbike World Championship: October 7th at Magny-Cours (France) More, from a press release issued by Honda: World Supersport and Superbike Championships 2007 Round 12, Vallelunga Italian Round Race Preview 28-30 September 2007 World Supersport Round 12 of 13 SOFUOGLU STILL HUNGRY DESPITE CHAMPION STATUS Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) has already been crowned the World Champion of 2007 in the World Supersport class, but despite all his success so far he is determined to sign off the season with a flourish, beginning at the new-to-WSS circuit of Vallelunga, near Rome. The 4.110km track includes both fast and very slow sections, each of which promise close action between all the top players in the series. Pitted against a field of riders still fighting for overall season-ending position, many of whom are proven race winners on their day, Sofuoglu is still ravenous for more silverware in the last two races. He has already amassed six wins and four other podium finishes this year, not to mention four poles. Such has been his pace in qualifying that he has finished on the front row of every single race so far. His lead is currently 100 points, from French rider Fabien Foret. Sebastien Charpentier (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) has had little fortune in race trim this year, with his often untouchable pace sometimes melting as races draw to a conclusion. His best finish is fourth, despite starting from the front row seven times, and taking three poles, two in succession at the most recent races. The double champion for Honda, in 2005 and 2006, approaches the final two races with one clear goal in mind – to finish the season on a high note. Katsuaki Fujiwara (Althea Honda Team CBR600RR) lost the third place he had been occupying for some time after a retirement due to injury during the Lausitz race three weeks ago, but he comes back to the fray once more at Vallelunga, fully ready to reclaim his top three status. Lorenzo Alfonsi (Althea Honda Team CBR600RR) is another rider who suffered somewhat in the final round, but the Italian rider is more than ready to come out with all guns blazing to blast himself back into the top ten. He is currently 11th in the standings, one point and one place ahead of Charpentier. Sofuoglu’s enthusiasm for riding and competition has not abated at all after his championship win and indeed, like the champion he is, it seems only going for every victory will truly suffice. “I can’t wait for this weekend,” enthused Sofuoglu in the run-up to the final Italian race of the season. “I feel like I have something to prove after Lausitz. I really wanted to win there and I tried my best but it didn’t work out. This weekend I am so determined and I really want to win the race. These could be my last two races in Supersport and I want to go out on top. My ambition is to get at least two podium finishes, but of course, I want the victories!” Charpentier’s Vallelunga motivation is driven not only by his pride and professionalism, but also by the knowledge that his speed is still such that he can win if things work out in a real race setting. “I was disappointed at Lausitz,” said Charpentier, who led the German race for a time. “Qualifying went really well and I was on pole position, but immediately the grip on the tyre began to go and I couldn’t push as hard as I wanted to. It’s been a tough season, but I’m still determined to finish it with a successful race. The team is working really hard to solve the problems and I am confident we can end on a good note.” Fujiwara seeks to grab as many points as possible at Vallelunga, especially as he was forced out of the previous race with a foot and ankle injury “I wanted to finish the race in Lausitz no matter what but the pain was so bad I really had to stop,” said ‘Kats’. “I will see how it goes at Vallelunga but I absolutely want to be able to attack and reach the podium.” Alfonsi is another hoping to make up for the disappointment of his most recent race finish. “It will be good to be back at Vallelunga,” said Alfonsi. “I was ready for a good finish in the last rounds until another rider caused me to go off, just as I was setting consistent and fast lap times.” World Superbike Round 12 of 13 TOSELAND GETS SET FOR THE FINAL PUSH James Toseland (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) enters the first ever SBK race weekend at Vallelunga, near Rome, with a 41 point championship lead, and a determination to at least leave for the final round at Magny-Cours the following weekend in a position to secure the World Championship. If he were to outscore his main rivals by a sufficient margin at Vallelunga, however, he would be crowned champion at the Italian race itself, without the need for the final round to be counted. The 2004 champion has led the standings from the first meeting at Qatar back in February, has won eight races thus far, including his first career double at Brands Hatch in August, bringing his career wins total to 16, contributing to a combined podium score of 56. The 26-year-old Yorkshireman, now resident in the Isle of Man, leads Noriyuki Haga in the championship fight, with Max Biaggi only 12 points behind the Japanese rider. Toseland and his team have already tested at Vallelunga, alongside most of his rivals in early July, setting fast times and finishing in the top handful of riders, and ahead of both Haga and Biaggi. Roberto Rolfo (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) had a strong showing in the previous round in Germany, and is ready to make a play to finish inside the top six of the championship series. Currently eighth overall, he is only 11 points from joining the top sextet. Michel Fabrizio (DFX Corse Honda CBR1000RR) is one of two top Superbike riders (the other Biaggi) to be racing at their true home circuit, and the young Roman is convinced even at this early stage that he can challenge for his second podium finish of the year this weekend. He is currently only 14 points from an overall top ten placing. Karl Muggeridge (Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR) and Yoann Tiberio (Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR) line up as team-mates for the second time, with the experience and pace of Muggeridge aiding the young French rider in his quest to make the jump from the WSS series to Superbike. Great improvements in machine settings and overall race readiness were evident at the previous round in Germany and Muggeridge feels this will be carried on into the last two races. Luca Morelli (DFX Corse Honda CBR1000RR) is another Italian on a mission at home, the teenage rider having already shown flashes of speed in his first SBK season. Toseland, the class act of the year in a particularly tough season for overall competitiveness, knows that there is still a lot of work to do in his quest for his second world championship title. “We are so close to the end of the season now, but it still feels a long way away to me – particularly after what happened in Lausitz,” said Toseland, alluding to his bad luck in the first race at the previous championship round, which allowed his rivals to reduce his points lead somewhat. “I still have a good advantage, but I know that in racing anything can happen and you can’t relax until you have two hands firmly on the trophy. I am trying to focus on the individual races and getting on the podium, but I am not letting go of my lead without a fight.” Rolfo knows he can count on home support at this race, and is confident to meet the first ever World Superbike challenge at Vallelunga head on. “I’m looking forward to racing at an Italian track again,” said the former 250c world championship runner-up. “We tested at Vallelunga earlier this year and I really enjoyed the circuit. There are some slower parts on this track and I found that the feeling on the bike improved a lot on these sections so I feel quite confident about the race. Vallelunga is a very narrow circuit for Superbikes and I think there will be a lot of close calls during the race. I feel fit and healthy for the final rounds and I like the fact that they are so close together!” Fabrizio’s third Italian race of the season is now truly a home race. He understands that the expectation level has been raised at this event, but he is firmly focused on a podium finish, immaterial of the unique circumstances that surround this particular weekend. “For me Vallelunga will be a very important, because I will race in front of my own public,” said Fabrizio. “In Vallelunga I have a lot of memories and it’s very good to remember this at the start of the races. I believe that this weekend will be exceptional for me, for my team and for Honda. I want a podium or two, absolutely!” Muggeridge is one of the riders with zero experience of the new-for-2007 circuit, and is understandably eager to get out there and have a close look at the layout. “I haven’t even seen the place so I am keen to get there,” said Muggeridge. “I understand it has a mix of fast and slow sections, but we’ll just have to wait and see. The bike was good in the last race, despite some small problems, so we’re going to try and have two strong races. It’s been good having Yoann in the squad now; he’s a young kid, he’s very positive about everything and that helps the whole team.” Morelli, a regular in the Italian national series before his mid-season promotion to SBK racing, is well aware of the significance of the first ever Vallelunga SBK race. “After much time I will return to Vallelunga and for me this event will be fundamental for my chances next season,” said Morelli. “To continue my partnership with Honda and Team DFX is my first choice and I will do all in my power for the best results. We expect a lot of Italian spectators to be there, and for them I will race at 200%. I hope that in Vallelunga and Magny-Cours the name Morelli should be present near the top of the final results.” Tiberio will experience only his second competitive Superbike outing this coming weekend, and his enthusiasm for the big capacity machine has already given him a small reward. “I hope to bring a lot of the lessons I learned at Lausitz to this weekend’s race in Italy,” said Tiberio. “The Vallelunga race should be exciting and I can’t wait to get back onto the track. I scored a point in Germany and it would be great to be able to do that again in Italy. Now I know that racing a Superbike was fun, but it can also be very hard!” Magny-Cours (7 October) will be the final round of the championship season, one week after the Vallelunga race.