2007 FIM Superbike World Championship Brands Hatch, England August 4, 2007 Superpole Results: 1. Troy BAYLISS (Ducati 999F07), 1:25.607 2. James TOSELAND (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:25.635 3. Noriyuki HAGA (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:25.878 4. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suzuki GSX-R1000K7), 1:25.961 5. Troy CORSER (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:26.127 6. Max BIAGGI (Suzuki GSX-R1000K7), 1:26.200 7. Ruben XAUS (Ducati 999F06), 1:26.476 8. Lorenzo LANZI (Ducati 999F07), 1:26.488 9. Roberto ROLFO (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:26.717 10. Michel FABRIZIO (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:26.946 11. Steve MARTIN (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:27.206 12. Regis LACONI (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:27.260 13. Karl MUGGERIDGE (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:27.343 14. Max NEUKIRCHNER (Suzuki GSX-R1000K6), 1:27.449 15. Fonsi NIETO (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:27.564 16. Shinichi NAKATOMI (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:27.817 The Rest Of The Grid: 17. Jakub SMRZ (Ducati 999F05), 1:28.219 18. Marty NUTT (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:28.548 19. Dean ELLISON (Ducati 999RS), 1:29.030 20. Luca MORELLI (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:30.289 21. Stefano CRUCIANI (Suzuki GSX-R1000K6), 1:30.638 More, from a press release issued by Scuderia SC Caracchi: BRANDS HATCH: NO LUCK FOR TEAM SC CARACCHI Difficult day for Scuderia SC Caracchi today in Brands Hatch. In Supersport Gianluca Nannelli earned just one position on the starting grid as for yesterday; the trouble has been a lack of grip at the front on the very fast corners of Brands Hatch course, and all the adjustments made to bike’s set up did not give a solution. A true pity for Gianluca that considers Brands Hatch one of his favourite track and will force him to an heavy race tomorrow. “I’m rather disappointed because I would took a good result here at Brands Hatch.” has been the disappointed comment of Gianluca Nannelli. “Unfortunately we went on with handling problems that did not allow me to ride as I like. The bike hasn’t front grip, probably because is too stiff behind, but all the work made with my engineer did not improve the situation in a significant way. Tomorrow it will be heavy indeed to fight with the front group, also because it’s easy to be done prisoner in the group at the first corner after the start. I have a lot of pain at the injured knee, this track is physically demanding, you have to push on the restfoot in the corners and ant the end of the session the pain was terrible. As always tomorrow I’ll visit the Clinica Mobile to have an important help before the start.” In Superbike also Jakub Smrz has been busy to find a good set up, experiencing some different set up issues, but he could not score a better place as 17th in qualifying, and he was knocked off the Superpole admission just during the last minute of final qualifying. “We experimented several different set up issues here in Brands Hatch.” said Jakub Smrz at the end of practices “Unluckily the grip troubles did continue and the today’s warm temperature did amplify them. The only positive thing has been the very good work the team has done on the engine, which is one of the fastest in the speed trap control. The problem is how to make the best use of this power; if we have a good grip we could get the power down properly. That is the right direction in which we have to work, but this during a GP’s practice session isn’t easy to do with the necessary calm.” More, from a press release issued by FG Sport Group: BAYLISS TAKES 17TH CAREER SUPERPOLE WIN – BAYLISS EDGES OUT TOSELAND IN EXCITING SUPERPOLE CONTEST A strong home crowd nearly had a Superpole win for James Toseland (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) to take into Sunday’s races, but the perennially combative Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) left his best to last to score his 17th career Superpole win, and his fifth of the year. His pole win puts him level with another SBK legend, Doug Polen. Bayliss has now scored half of the available pole wins of the 2007 season, overhauling Toseland by only 0.028 seconds. HAGA AND KAGAYAMA COMPLETE FRONT ROW QUARTET Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) and his fellow countryman Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) improved on their regulation qualifying performances to take front row starts, with Haga just overhauling Kagayama with one of his all action ‘specials’ in Superpole. Haga had only been seventh into Superpole, and Kagayama – a former British Championship regular – was down in ninth. Haga is the most successful rider in recent Brands history, and his front row start puts him in the perfect position for more podium success. CORSER HEADS SECOND ROW AS SUPEPOLE CHANGES EVERYTHING Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) was second fastest into Superpole but a drop in pace in the second track sector eventually put him down in fifth. Although only 12th after regulation qualifying an immaculate lap from Max Biaggi (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) saw him up to sixth on the grid, a great performance for a rider new to this most tricky of circuits. A possible front row start for Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Ducati) became a second row slot, while the factory machine of Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) was eighth. ROLFO NINTH AFTER DRAMATIC LAP Roby Rolfo (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was in the running for the award for the most dramatic Superpole lap, drawing smoke from his tyres around the circuit, losing time as he did so, and he went from sixth in regulation to a third row start in ninth place. He was followed by another all-action rider, Michel Fabrizio (DFX Corse Honda) tenth. One-off BH rider Steve Martin (Yamaha YZF) was impressive throughout qualifying, scoring an 11th place on the grid from a total of 21 qualifying riders. He even deposed the factory Kawasaki of Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) who had been eighth in pre-Superpole qualifying. Laconi’s team-mate Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) found a lack of rear traction in Superpole, and finished 15th. Karl Muggeridge (Alto Evolution Honda) headed off Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Germany) for 13th place, with the last placed rider in Superpole being the last placed rider to qualify for Superpole, Shinichi Nakatomi (Yamaha YZF). More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: Best of British at Brands Hatch James Toseland will start the final UK round of the Superbike World Championship from the front row after securing the second fastest lap in today’s Superpole session. The HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider secured provisional pole in scorching conditions with a lap time of 1’25.635, but he was knocked off the top spot by Australian Troy Bayliss. The Brit had hoped to secure pole for his final home race of the season. However, he is now more determined than ever to achieve two race wins tomorrow. Double victory has so far eluded the HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider this season, but he has high hopes of finally achieving his aim in front of a forecast record home crowd. Team-mate Roberto Rolfo heads up row three in ninth position after setting a lap time of 1’26.717. The Italian rider is working hard to find the optimum set-up for the HANNspree Ten Kate Honda at the Kent circuit. Both riders are determined to improve on their performances in tomorrow’s two 25-lap races. Toseland will officially start the day for visitors with a rendition of the national anthem from the Director’s Terrace at 10.10am. Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager: “We always aim for the front row and pole position would have been a nice bonus. We are happy with the progress James has made so far, we seem to have found some consistency and we are more or less ready to race. It would have been nice to have seen Roby on the second row. We know that he has the ability to be consistently fast, he just needs to be closer to the front at the beginning of the race.” James Toseland: “To be honest I am gutted to not have taken pole position. I put everything into that lap and the weekend’s been going really well. I am disappointed, but I have a good package and I don’t intend to be beaten.” Roberto Rolfo: “I am unhappy with my Superpole lap because there is one corner that I am still struggling to get to grips with. I was hoping that I would be able to improve today. I was okay during the first section of the track but I lost time during sector two. I then made a mistake in the final part and couldn’t get a good lap time. My aim for Superpole was to get into the second row so I am disappointed, but we will work hard in the morning to improve before the race.” More, from a press release issued by Team Yamaha YZF: Nakatomi and Martin in Superpole The weekend did not start so well for Shinichi Nakatomi with a serious crash on Friday morning. Nothing was broken, but his body was stiff because of the violence of the accident. Courageously, the Japanese rider was 16th in the first qualifying session, and then on Saturday he qualified for Superpole with the 16th time. He finally was 16th in this Superpole. Steve Martin had a hard time in the beginning to adapt to two different bikes with two different teams. One of his Yamaha R1 is taken care of by the MG Competition technicians, and the other one by the people of the Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha team, both bikes been entered under the Team YZF Yamaha colours. Steve Martin will ride this British bike for the rest of the season in the British Superbike championship. 15th on Friday, the Australian rider was much faster on Saturday and ended up 11th, in front of Max Biaggi (Suzuki). In the Superpole, Steve was again 11th and he will start tomorrow from the third row. Shinichi Nakatomi: “We changed the setting for today. We progress little by little. My feeling is better. We did not have enough time to test what we wanted because of my crash. It was hard to qualify for Superpole. We will improve the settings and I will try to do the same race that I did at Brno.” Steve Martin: “The potential of both motorcycles is about the same. We are moving forward. I am very happy. We keep on progressing. And we will continue to go forward.” Martial Garcia (team-manager): “The qualification of Shinichi Nakatomi for the Superpole is a very good surprise, considering the consequences of his accident. His back and feet are hurting. This result proves that our achievement at Brno was not caused by luck. The bike is better and better. Steve Martin is a great rider with a lot of experience. He loves Brands Hatch. His 11th position is a nice way for him to say thank you to our team for the opportunity that we give him to race with us.” More, from a press release issued by Team Alstare Coron Extra Suzuki: Brands Hatch Superpole: Front row for Yukio, second row for Max The superb weather continued at Brands Hatch today and both Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra riders Yukio Kagayama improved their positions in the Superpole shoot-out qualifying session. Yukio finished fourth fastest overall and will start from the front row of the grid for the first time this season and Max showed he too will be a force to be reckoned with after a stunning Superpole lap. Despite his relative lack of circuit knowledge, he managed to shave over a second off his previous best lap time to end sixth quickest. Troy Bayliss (Ducati) put in a blistering Superpole lap to deprive James Toseland (Honda) from taking top spot in front of his home fans. Third quickest is Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha), with Yukio fourth, making it four different manufacturers on the front row. Yukio – 4th, 1:25.961 “I am very happy to be on the front row here at Brands Hatch. It is a circuit I like very much and I am happy because I have many fans in England and this is a good way to say ‘thank you’ to them all. My Superpole lap was not so bad and I am happy because this is my first front row of the year. I think tomorrow will be two long, hard races and because the weather is probably going to be as hot, or maybe hotter, they are going to be very physical races. I don’t think anybody will make a break on the rest and I expect that four of five riders will be fighting for the podium. Hopefully I will be one of them! ” Max – 6th, 1:26.200 “I think that sixth fastest today is not too bad at all, considering that this is my first time here and all I’ve done is four hours and one lap! We’ve been progressing every session and trying to get as much circuit knowledge as quickly as possible at one of the most difficult racetracks in the world. Laguna Seca is strange but Brands Hatch is ten times more complicated, because there are so many ups and downs, blind corners and lots of bumps. But the more I ride this track, the more fun it becomes. I know that’s it’s going to be hot tomorrow and there are going to be two long, hard races but I’m happy that there are two races because it gives me more opportunity to learn the track ” More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: TROY HAPPY WITH FIFTH. Troy just missed out on a front row grid in the Superpole shoot-out at Brands Hatch this afternoon, but his Superpole lap of 1:26.127 was enough to put fifth quickest and just behind pole position on the grid. That was taken by fellow countryman Troy Bayliss (Ducati), ahead of crowed favourite James Toseland (Honda). Third fastest in Superpole today is Troy’s team mate Noriyuki Haga, with Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) fourth. Troy – 5th, 1:26.127 Superpole didn’t quite work out, probably because we used a slightly different torque setting to what we had in practice. But I’m happy that we made progress in the bike’s set-up today and I think I have a good set-up for the race and race tyres. Also, because of the slope of the grid, I’d rather be fifth (and just behind pole) then fourth and be at the bottom of the slope. This afternoon, I felt more comfortable on the bike and I did about 18 or 19 laps and the tyres were more or less OK at the end. It seems like the tyres are lasting – and that’s a good sign. At the moment, it seems that my bike is not as fast as some of the others – particularly on the fast back straight – so we’ll make a little change to the rear shock in tomorrow’s morning warm-up. At the moment, things are going OK and I hope that will continue tomorrow and I’ll be challenging for podiums in both races. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: Haga Third, Corser Fifth in Final Qualifying It all came down to Superpole today as the Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team battled to take third and fifth qualifying positions for tomorrow’s race at Brands Hatch. Haga, using his usual wild riding style, put in a flying lap in Superpole to top the leader board. He was only beaten by Bayliss and Toseland, who went first and second respectively. He’d made steady progress throughout the day on his set-up and the improvement showed when he went second fastest in free practice just prior to Superpole. Corser was on good form today, finishing this morning’s qualifying session in second place overall. He then topped the board in the afternoon’s practice, having completed a long run during the hour-long session. The Team Yamaha YZF squad had success today with both their riders qualifying for Superpole. Steve Martin, who is due to ride in the next British Superbike round for the Virgin Media Optima Loans Yamaha team next weekend, has joined the team for this weekend to provide them with some comparison testing between the UK and French-run teams’ R1s. Steve has a wealth of experience and this showed as he moved up through the leader board during the day. He went into Superpole in 11th and maintained this grid position to start ahead of Laconi. Shinichi Nakatomi put yesterday’s crash behind him and took half a second off his time to qualify 16th. A podium from either Haga or Corser tomorrow will give Yamaha its 150th WSB podium, an achievement narrowly missed out on at Brno two weeks ago. Noriyuki Haga (3rd – Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) “I’m disappointed to have missed out on pole today. I’ve struggled with finding some good rear feeling but we are getting there. I’m confident I can go faster with that resolved. Tomorrow is going to be a tough race; Toseland has a fast pace. But that doesn’t mean I won’t be up there on the podium!” Troy Corser (5th – Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) “Today’s result is okay, obviously I’d like to be higher up the grid but I’m happier with fifth than fourth because it puts me on the outside and in a better position for the first corner. I didn’t make any mistakes on my Superpole lap. We ran a slightly different torque setting to what we’d had in practice and maybe we could’ve done with less effect than we had but I’m comfortable with all the set-up progress we made today. My race times are pretty close to Toseland’s and, if I can manage that again tomorrow I’ll be looking good for a high finishing position.” Massimo Meregalli (Team Coordinator, Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) “We’ve solved most of the setting issues we had and we’ve made good progress today; better than yesterday. Corser did a good long run this afternoon and has chosen a tyre. Tonight, as we always do, we’ll check everything and then we’ll be ready for the race. I’m quite confident for tomorrow.” Steve Martin (11th – Team Yamaha YZF) “Today I’ve tried both my Virgin Yamaha British Superbike and the Team Yamaha YZF bike and I feel that they both have the same potential. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.” Shinichi Nakatomi (16th – Team Yamaha YZF) “I changed some of my settings for today and, bit by bit, the bike’s feeling better. I’m very pleased that I qualified for Superpole after all the lost time because of my crash yesterday. I’m hoping that I can have as good a race tomorrow as I had at Brno two weeks ago.” Martial Garcia (Team Manager, Team Yamaha YZF) “After yesterday’s crash it was a pleasant surprise to see Tomi qualify for Superpole, especially as his back and feet are hurting. This reinforces to me that our Brno race result was not by chance and that the bike is getting better and better. Steve is a great rider with lots of experience and I’m pleased to have him working with us this weekend. He loves Brands and 11th position is a good reflection of the team work between us all.”