Superbike World Championship First Round at Losail/Qatar The first round of World’s Superbike Championship takes place at Losail / Qatar 23-25 February. The fabulous Losail Circuit on the outskirts of Doha was inaugurated in 2004. The track itself is a flowing layout of 5.38 kilometres, featuring a main straight of 1100 metres, surrounded by artificial grass designed to prevent sand from the neighbouring desert from blowing onto the circuit. In 2005 World’s Superbike Championship was at guest at Losail for the first time. Winner of the Superbike heats were Troy Corser and Kagayama. Team Klaffi Honda’s rider Frankie Chili finished 5th , Max Neukirchner 8th. This year Team Klaffi Honda’s rider is Alex Barros. The climber from MotoGP to SBK Alex Barros: “What do I expect of the races? For sure I hope to be competitive and to be able to fight for podium and victories. Before the Losail round there was only time for some test rides in Sicily. I was happy with the result. The bikes performed well, the team worked hard and everyone is very enthusiastic knowing that they have a real chance to fight for victories and good results. By the way – the layout of the bike is really beautiful – yellow and green.” Klaus Klaffenböck: “žDuring the days before the first race time was really running away. We were very busy to prepare the bikes in time. But everyone is very enthusiastic. And though there was only one test before I think Alex is able to fight for victories and good results.” Alex Barros review of his last races at Losail: “In 2004 we had good chances to fight for the lead but unfortunately there was the touch with Valentino which threw me out of the trajectory and I ended up going to the dirty side of the track where Nakano had left oil. I slipped and almost fell costing me many positions. Because this happened at the beginning of the race I was able to recover and finish 4th. I think Qatar 2005 was the worst weekend regardless of having finished the race in top 10 and being able to overtake some riders. Unfortunately we did not have a good front tire for this circuit To be honest I never did have a good feeling on the bike to try and fight for better positions and this does not make me happy. I did not enjoy myself, I was very slow, I could not fight for positions and simply had to be happy with what I had, frustrating! “ SBK on TV Europe: Eurosport 2 live on Saturday the 25th Superbike race I 10.oo Superbike race II 13.3o. Brazil: Rede TV Alex Barros # 4 Born: 18.10.1970 at Sao Paulo Nationality: Brazlian Height: 1,74 m Weight: 69 Kg Marital status: married with Patricia: Hobbies: His family and movies Highlights First race – 1978 Ciclomotor class – Interlagos Grand Prix races – 251 First Grand Prix – 1986 Spain Cat. 80cc (Autisa) First Fastest lap – 1992 Hungary Cat. 500cc (Cagiva) First Podium – 1992 Holland Cat. 500cc (Cagiva) First Victory – 1993 Spain Cat. 500cc (Suzuki) First Pole Position – 2000 Italy Cat. 500cc (Honda) Grand Prix wins – 07 Second places – 11 Third places – 13 Podiums – 31 Pole positions – 05 Fastest laps – 14 Best Championship position – 4th place (2004 / 2002 / 2001 / 2000 / 1996)