FIM Superbike World Championship Donington Park, England April 1, 2007 Race Two Results: 1. Noriyuki HAGA (Yam YZF-R1), 23 laps, 35:26.734 2. Max BIAGGI (Suz GSX-R1000K7), -0.111 second 3. Troy CORSER (Yam YZF-R1), -1.100 seconds 4. Ruben XAUS (Duc 999F06), -5.927 seconds 5. Lorenzo LANZI (Duc 999F07), -9.834 seconds 6. Regis LACONI (Kaw ZX-10R), -12.203 seconds 7. Roberto ROLFO (Hon CBR1000RR), -22.287 seconds 8. Jakub SMRZ (Duc 999F05), -30.060 seconds 9. Karl MUGGERIDGE (Hon CBR1000RR), -37.734 seconds 10. Max NEUKIRCHNER (Suz GSX-R1000K6), -39.893 seconds 11. Giovanni BUSSEI (Duc 999F06), -41.524 seconds 12. Michel FABRIZIO (Hon CBR1000RR), -45.617 seconds 13. Steve MARTIN (Hon CBR1000RR), -52.547 seconds 14. Shinichi NAKATOMI (Yam YZF-R1), -61.669 seconds 15. Josh BROOKES (Hon CBR1000RR), -80.586 seconds 16. Aaron ZANOTTI (Yam YZF-R1), -86.912 seconds 17. Luca MORELLI (Duc 999RS), -87.181 seconds 18. Fonsi NIETO (Kaw ZX-10R), -12 laps, DNF, crash 19. Dean ELLISON (Duc 999RS), -16 laps, DNF, mechanical 20. James TOSELAND (Hon CBR1000RR), -20 laps, DNF, mechanical 21. Christian ZAISER (MV Agusta F4-1000R 312), -23 laps, DNF 22. Troy BAYLISS (Duc 999F07), DNS FIM Superbike World Championship Point Standings (after 6 of 26 races): 1. Toseland, 115 points 2. Biaggi, 110 points 3. Haga, 88 points 4. Corser, 81 points 5. Lanzi, 66 points 6. Bayliss, 64 points 7. Neukirchner, 46 points 8. Xaus, 45 points 9. Rolfo, 36 points 10. Nieto, 30 points More, from a press release issued by FGSport: 2007 SBK CORONA EXTRA SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP® DONINGTON PARK – 3rd ROUND – 30th, 31st MARCH and 1st APRIL RACE REPORT Donington Park, Sunday 1 April 2007 TOSELAND AND HAGA SHARE WINS AS BAYLISS SUFFERS INJURY A DAY OF TWO HALVES AT DONINGTON James Toseland (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) scored the first race win after race leader and Superpole winner Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) crashed out at Coppice, injuring his right little finger badly enough to require immediate surgery. Bayliss still took a new lap record of 1’31.575, on lap four of race one, and it survived race two. In the second race of an incident-strewn day, Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) won a thrilling last corner battle with Max Biaggi (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) after early leader Toseland’s machine stopped on lap four. Toseland still leads the series, however, 115 points to Biaggi’s 110, with Haga third on 88. RACE ONE James Toseland’s chase of eventual faller Troy Bayliss left him on his own when Bayliss went out, and Toseland rode with a clear head to finish the race 1.3 seconds up on Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia), with Biaggi a slow starting, fast finishing third. 51,000 spectators witnessed the action at Donington this weekend, despite cold temperatures and rain on Friday. RACE TWO With Toseland out, the second 23-lap race settled into a fast rhythm (eventually two seconds faster than race one), which was punctuated by the occasional flurry of overtaking attempts by Haga and Biaggi. On the final corner, leader Biaggi ran wide and Haga zipped past to secure his first win of the year, making him the fourth rider on the top step of the podium in only six races. Corser, a close third almost throughout, was third in the final analysis and now sits fourth overall, with 81 points. XAUS AND LANZI FIGHT IT OUT Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Ducati) may have fallen in race one but he did secure a fine fourth in race two, beating the factory machine of Lorenzo Lanzi, who had been fifth behind Haga in race one. A war between the Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse riders Fonsi Nieto and Regis Laconi went the way of Nieto in race one (sixth) but Laconi scored that finishing spot in race two, with Nieto falling out of contention. The second race gave Roby Rolfo (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) a seventh place, but Jakub Smrz (Caracchi SC Ducati) was the most impressive privateer of the day, scoring eighth in race two – after an almost equally good tenth in race one. NEUKIRCHNER EIGHTH AND TENTH Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Germany) scored eighth and tenth places at Donington to edge out some even more experienced riders again. Karl Muggeridge (Alto Evolution Honda) and Josh Brookes, his team mate, each scored points in two races for the first time this year. WORLD SUPERSPORT – SOFUOGLU WINS AFTER AGGREGATE RACE A two part 22-lap World Supersport race saw long term race leader and championship top man Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) the eventual winner on aggregate, leading over the line in each of the two halves of the race. A clutch problem in the opening leg could have made the outcome very different for Sofuoglu, in a race with many problems for some top riders. Second place went to aggressive Dane Robbin Harms (Stiggy Motorsports Honda) with Katsuaki Fujiwara (Althea Honda) third and local man Craig Jones (Reve Ekerold Honda Racing) a fine fourth. Gil Kawasaki riders Pere Riba and Fabien Foret had bad luck on raceday, with Riba punished for a jump-start and finishing 15th overall instead of on a possible podium, while Foret retired in leg one with an engine problem. In the championship, Sofuoglu is well clear on 70 points, with Fujiwara second on 43 and Harms third on 39. SUPERSTOCK 1000 FIM CUP – CANEPA GIVES DUCATI 1098 A WIN FIRST TIME OUT Niccolo Canepa and his Ducati Xerox 1098 were first time winners in the Superstock class of 2007, but only after a series of dramatic incidents. The race was shortened to eight laps, after a crash in the first start caused dirt to be deposited on the circuit. Michele Pirro (Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha) led that contest but while lying second in the second leg, he crashed with just over a lap left, and took out the leader, Ayrton Badovini (Biassono Unionbike MV Agusta) in the process. Claudio Corti went second, with Didier Van Keymeulen (TTSL MGM Racing Yamaha) third. SUPERSTOCK 600 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – MIGNONI THE WINNER Michele Magnoni (Bevilacqua Yamaha) scored his first win in the smaller Superstock class, from Andrea Antonelli (Team Italia Megabike Honda) and Domenico Colucci (Ducati Xerox Junior Team). More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: World Superbike Championship Round three: Donington Park, UK Sunday 1 April Race report Toseland maintains advantage in eventful home round HANNspree Ten Kate Honda’s James Toseland maintained his Superbike World Championship lead by the narrowest of margins at Donington Park today. The Yorkshireman suffered mixed fortunes in the two 23-lap races at the 4.02km track in front of a home crowd of 51,000 spectators. Toseland extended his championship advantage to 25 points after securing victory in race one. He quickly moved into second position on track during the opening lap and set about hunting down rival Troy Bayliss. The HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider took the lead – after the Australian crashed out on lap five at Coppice – and maintained station with consistent laps to pass the chequered flag first. A strong performance from team-mate Roberto Rolfo saw the Italian move from 16th on the grid to a ninth place finish – securing further valuable points and demonstrating his increasing potential in the ultra-competitive championship. Race two was a different matter with Bayliss out of contention as a result of his injuries. The Australian was taken to Derby Royal Infirmary for plastic surgery to his right hand after he lost a finger, which became trapped underneath the bike during his accident. HANNspree Ten Kate Honda’s Toseland started the race as the firm favourite for victory. The 26-year-old moved into the lead on the opening lap and set about opening up a gap over Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser. However, misfortune struck on lap three when a mechanical problem caused the CBR1000RR to stop on the entrance to Redgate – ending Toseland’s race prematurely. A three-way dice for the lead ensued between Haga, Corser and Max Biaggi. It was Haga who emerged triumphant from a thrilling manoeuvre at the last corner on the final lap. The Japanese rider’s move past Biaggi ensured that HANNspree Ten Kate Honda’s Toseland remained ahead of his Italian rival in the standings by five points. Team-mate Rolfo once again enjoyed an improvement in performance equalling his highest finish to date – moving from 15th on the grid to seventh at the chequered flag and ninth position overall. Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager: “Everything was going so well that we were almost waiting for something to go wrong and that’s exactly what happened. We had a perfect race one win from James and a perfect Supersport win from Kenan. We were hoping for another win from James and he was looking in great form. However, coming onto the main straight, the quickshift started to cut the ignition continuously, causing the bike to stop when closing the throttle for the first corner. We are checking the data from the sensors inside and around the engine now to try to discover the cause of the problem. On a positive note, we know that James is in great form and that the bike is capable of winning races, so we will come back in fighting form for the next round and Roby had two great races.” James Toseland: “To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. That double win has eluded me once again. I felt really confident about winning the second race, but unfortunately as I was shifting up the gear on the start/finish straight I felt a problem with the engine, which caused the bike to stop when I shut the throttle for the first corner. I don’t know what the problem was but it meant that I was unable to continue. This is as disappointing for the fans as it is for me and I’m sorry that I was unable to give them a better result.” Roberto Rolfo: “Race two was good – I enjoyed it very much. Race one was more difficult as I found it hard to find a good rhythm at the beginning because of some riders in front of me. It was not so easy for me to concentrate. In race two, I had a very good start and tried to push hard from the first to the last lap. I must say that I am happy because I improved my feeling on the bike. It wasn’t easy to start from the back but I think next time if I start from further up I can achieve a top five place. ” Race one results 1. J. Toseland, 35.28:222 2. T. Corser, +1.368 3. M. Biaggi, +2.448 4. N. Haga, +9.249 5. L. Lanzi, +18.028 6. F. Nieto, +18.956 7. R. Laconi, +29.998 8. M. Neukirchner, +30.296 9. R. Rolfo, +30.525 10. J. Smrz, +36.661 Fastest Lap, T. Bayliss, 1.31:575 Race two results 1. N. Haga, 35.26:734 2. M. Biaggi, +0.111 3. T. Corser, +1.100 4. R. Xaus, +5.927 5. L. Lanzi, +9.834 6. R. Laconi, +12.203 7. R. Rolfo, +22.287 8. J. Smrz, +30.060 9. K. Muggeridge, +37.734 10. M. Neukirchner, +39.893 DNF, J. Toseland Fastest Lap, N. Haga, 1.31:634 Championship standings 1. J. Toseland, 115 points 2. M. Biaggi, 110 3. N. Haga, 88 4. T. Corser, 81 5. L. Lanzi, 66 6. T. Bayliss, 64 7. M. Neukirchner, 46 8. R. Xaus, 45 9. R. Rolfo, 36 10. F. Nieto, 30 More, from a press release issued by Team YZF Yamaha: Good progress in race 2 Noriyuki Haga wins the first race this year for Yamaha in the Superbike World Championship. Shinichi Nakatomi finishes the weekend well after a difficult start. In race 1, Troy Bayliss (Ducati) takes the lead in front of James Toseland (Honda) and Regis Laconi (Kawasaki). Unfortunately, Bayliss crashes and hurts one of his fingers, which makes him unable to start the second event. So Toseland is a strong leader, in front of Troy Corser (Yamaha), Max Biaggi (Suzuki) and Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha). This is how they finish, which is very positive for Yamaha in the Manufacturers Championship. Shinichi Nakatomi has a difficult time because of a wrong tyre choice. He can finish only 17th. In race 2, Toseland has to retire early because of a technical problem. Haga, Biaggi and Corser have a beautiful fight together and Haga wins it with a tiny margin. Nakatomi this time is more at ease. He does a good race and finishes in 14th position. Shinichi Nakatomi: “The first race was really difficult, so we tried a new setting and selected another tyre. Everything was better in race 2. I was more competitive and I am happy I scored two points.” Team-manager Martial Garcia: “First of all, congratulations to Yamaha for the first victory this year in World Superbike. We ourselves had a tyre choice problem in race 1. And then, with a better choice and finally a good set up, we finished 14th with 2 points that will be precious for the championship. Nakatomi did his quickest time of the week end during race 2. We are going the right way.” Race 1: 1-Toseland (Honda), 2-Corser (Yamaha), 3-Biaggi (Suzuki), 4-Haga (Yamaha), 5-Lanzi (Ducati)…17-Nakatomi (Yamaha) Race 2: 1-Haga (Yamaha), 2-Biaggi (Suzuki), 3-Corser (Yamaha), 4-Xaus (Ducati), 5-Lanzi (Ducati), 14-Nakatomi (Yamaha) World Championship standings: 1-Toseland (Honda) 115 points, 2-Biaggi (Suzuki) 110, 3-Haga (Yamaha) 88, 4-Corser (Yamaha) 81, 5-Lanzi (Ducati) 66…18-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 12 4th round of the Superbike World Championship: April 15th at Valencia (Spain) More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse: Sunday Apr 1 2007 Raceday BAYLISS CRASHES OUT OF DONINGTON SUPERBIKE RACE 1 AND INJURES RIGHT HAND Donington (UK), Sunday 1 April: Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) crashed out at Coppice corner on lap 6 of the first World Superbike race at Donington Park today, injuring his hand in the process. Troy was accelerating through Coppice while in the lead and the rear of the bike just snapped away from him and he high-sided into the gravel. In the early afternoon he was taken to the nearby Derbyshire Royal Infirmary for reconstructive surgery on the little finger of his right hand, which had been mangled in the crash. Lorenzo Lanzi was left to fly the flag for the Ducati Xerox Team but the Italian could only manage fifth in the two races as James Toseland (Honda) and Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) shared the two wins. “My team did wonders this weekend because I crashed twice” declared Lorenzo. “The first day was wet and I was unable to do many laps. The second day I crashed again when it was important to do a lot of kilometres. I started from row 2 so I think I can be quite satisfied with the result. We improved a lot in race 2 after making several minor changes, but I got a bad start. I was quicker in the second race and had the same pace as the guys up at the front in the final stages. It was a great battle with Ruben, but with a better start I could have fought for the podium with the top 3.” Race 1: 1. Toseland (Honda); 2. Corser (Yamaha); 3. Biaggi (Suzuki); 4. Haga (Yamaha); 5. Lanzi (Ducati Xerox); 6. Nieto (Kawasaki); 7. Laconi (Kawasaki); 8. Neukirchner (Suzuki), etc. Race 2: 1. Haga; 2. Biaggi; 3. Corser; 4. Xaus (Ducati); 5. Lanzi; 6. Laconi; 7. Rolfo (Honda); 8. Smrz (Ducati), etc. Points (after 3 of 13 rounds): Riders – 1. Toseland 115; 2. Biaggi 110; 3. Haga 88; 4. Corser 81; 5. Lanzi 66; 6. Bayliss 64; etc. Manufacturers – 1. Honda 124; 2. Suzuki 110; 3. Yamaha 98; 4. Ducati 94; 5. Kawasaki 40. More, from a press release issued by Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra: 2007 Superbike World Championship Round 3, Europe, Donington, GB Sunday 1st April 2007 Circuit: 4.023 kms. Crowd: 51,000. Conditions: Dry, sunny/cloudy 9-13C. SUPERMAX TAKES A SECOND AND A THIRD! Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Max Biaggi took a superb pair of podiums at Donington Park today. In mostly sunny, but very cold, conditions, Max took a hard-fought for third in the opening race after being ninth at the end of the first lap. But better was to come in the second race; Max made a better start this time and fought Yamaha team mates Corser and Haga throughout the 23-lapper after early leader James Toseland (Honda) went out with a mechanical problem after two laps. Max charged into the lead after fourteen laps and looked on course for victory until he made a small error exiting the final corner on the last lap, allowing Haga to take the chequered flag instead. Max’s points tally today moves him to just five points behind series leader James Toseland, with third-placed Haga twelve points behind. Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Yukio Kagayama was forced to sit out today’s races because of doctor’s orders and so could not increase his standing in the overall points total. MAX Well, I’m pretty happy in one way – I got two podiums – and a little bit disappointed because I should’ve won the second race. I led going into the final turn, but then ran a little wide and that was just enough for Haga to slip through and into the lead. The finish line is very close to the exit of the corner, so there was no chance of me being able to out-drag him to the line. We all make mistakes and although it cost me the victory, I still got second place and that, together with my third in race one, means that overall it was a good day. We didn’t make any changes to the bike from the first race to the second – apart from fresh tyres of course. In the first race I didn’t make a good start, so I had a lot of work to do to catch up the front three. It was about half race distance by the time I did that and then I had to try and catch James and Troy. James was too far away, but I did get pretty close to Troy by the end, but not close enough to get past. Race two was a great race. Luckily the weather was much better today and the fans who were here, saw some great racing. I had a big battle with Nori and Troy and nobody knew who was going to win. I took the lead and I’m not saying that it was an easy lead, but I felt pretty comfortable. I knew that Nori was very close and that Troy was not far behind either, but I was happy to be in front going into the last lap. Then, a bit of a mistake by me in the final corner and victory became a second! But that’s racing! I’m really enjoying my life here. I like the racing and I like the atmosphere off the track because it is much more human and also more relaxed. On the track we riders fight as hard as we can, but afterwards it’s good that we can smile together. YUKIO It was very frustrating for me being at the track, feeling OK and not racing. I don’t like it! Maybe the doctors made the right decision, but I still wanted to be out there fighting, fighting, fighting. But now, I will get ready for the next race in Valencia, where I hope to get two good results, because I want them and I need them. Results Race 1: Toseland (GB-Honda), 2 Corser (Aus-Yamaha Motor Italia), 3 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), 4 Haga (J-Yamaha), 5 Lanzi (I-Ducati), 6 Nieto (E-Kawasaki), 7 Laconi (F-Kawasaki), 8 Neukirchner (D-Suzuki), 9 Rolfo (I-Honda), 10 Smrz (CZ-Ducati), Race 2: 1 Haga, 2 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), 3 Troy Corser (Aus-Yamaha Motor Italia), 4 Xaus (E-Ducati), 5 Lanzi, 6 Laconi, 7 Rolfo, 8 Smrz, 9 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda), 10 Neukirchner, Points: 1 Toseland 115, 2 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 110, 3 Haga 88, 4 Troy Corser 81, 5 Lanzi 66, 6 Bayliss 64, 7 Neukirchner 46, 8 Xaus 45, 9 Rolfo 36, 10 Nieto 30, 12 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 23, More, from a press release issued by Scuderia SC Caracchi: VERY GOOD SMRZ AT DONINGTON, NANNELLI HAS A GOOD FINAL STAGE (Donington Park 2007, April 1) Cold and wind aalso for race day at bDonington, but the Sunday has been a Paradise if compared with the previous couple of days. The dry track allowed regular races, as well during the morning warm up we could see several crashes in all the classes. In Superbike Jakub Smrz has been author of two excellent races, despite a bad start in both the legs, closing quickly the gap and reaching the tenth and eight final position, after overtaking riders on factory or factory-supported bike. “Today I’m rather satisfied.” commented a smiling Jakub Smrz at the end of the day. “It’s a pity that in both the legs I made a bad start that forced me to earn several positions. More in race-1, when I reached the 12th position, somebody did hurt my steering bar, damaging my clutch and sending me behind three position. Well, I start to overtook once more and I finished tenth, but I’m sure that without this trouble I could earn a couple of position more. At the end of race-2 I could see Rolfo before me, but it was too late and I did like better to bring at the team a precious result as to try an attack in the final laps. I’m happy because I’m finding an always better feeling with this bike and we have still two rounds, Valencia and Assen, on circuits that I know, so I hope to get more good performances.” Gianluca Nannelli had a black and white day. After the warm up he did not find a good set up and for the race he had not a good start. When the race stopped with red flag after 11 laps he was only in 15th position. After a small modify to front set up during the interval, the new start for the second heath showed Gianluca have a good start and recording lap times like the leaders, and at the end of the eleven laps of the second heath he scored the 7th place. However the gap in the first heath put him in 10th position in the aggregate result. “I’m not actually happy for a tenth place!” said Gianluca Nannelli at the end. “But looking the race I’ve seen That in the second heath I recorded very good lap times. Probably I earn also more confidence in the bike and I was able to ride with fighting style as I’m using to do. During morning warm up the strong wind and the cold track caused several crashes, so we couldn’t test correctly all the set up we made after the prectices. But yoy know, races are in this way, sometime it’s sufficient a genial, small touch and you get more as after two days working.”