AMA Superbike Championship: Suzuki Superbike Challenge, Auto Club Speedway PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Just one week following the second round of the 2008 AMA Superbike Championship at Barber Motorsports Park, the series resumes at the third stop of the season on April 25-27 with the Suzuki Superbike Challenge at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. California Speedway Gets a New Name In February of this year the circuit announced a new partnership with the Automobile Club of Southern California, the nation’s largest member of the AAA federation, and unveiled a name change from California Speedway to Auto Club Speedway. Home Track Considering that many of the Superbike teams’ race shops are located nearby in Southern California and that Auto Club Speedway is one of the favorite testing venues on the tour, it’s not surprising that the Fontana round is viewed by many as their home round. Location, Location, Location Auto Club Speedway is located in Fontana, Calif., about 50 minutes east of Los Angeles. The region is one of the largest sportbike markets in the world. The track is just 10 minutes from Ontario International Airport, which makes it easy to access even for fans flying in from across the nation. AMA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY PARTS UNLIMITED On a Roll Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin has scored the maximum number of points in the season’s first three races, claiming three race wins, three points for most laps led, and both poles. The six-time AMA Superbike champion has looked dominating while doing so, boasting a combined margin of victory of over 27 seconds in the first three races of the year. Dating back to 2007, the Australian has won nine of the last ten AMA Superbike races. His rivals shouldn’t expect him to back off now; Auto Club Speedway is one of Mladin’s best tracks on the tour as he’s won a full half of the AMA Superbike races ever held there, winning six times in 12 contests, including the most recent race held in 2007. Role Reversal Reigning two-time AMA Superbike Champion Ben Spies has spent the majority of the last two seasons controlling the championship from the front with Mladin chasing him from second. Following two runner-up finishes and an eleventh (after crashing and remounting at Barber Motorsports Park), the Texan currently trails Mladin by 29 points in the early-season title race. Auto Club Speedway should be a welcome stop for the Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki ace, who has been even more successful than Mladin at the circuit in recent years. The 23-year-old rider has won four of the last six AMA Superbike races held at the venue. The usually consistent Spies’ 11th-place ride in Alabama was his first finish outside the top two in over 20 races, dating all the way back to the 2006 season finale when he cruised to a seventh-place result to secure his first AMA Superbike title. Emerging Superbike Stars Spies actually sits fourth in the current standings due to the strong season starts by Yamaha USA’s Jason DiSalvo and Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki’s Tommy Hayden. The two have emerged as the ‘best of the rest,’ each man claiming two podium finishes and a fourth place in the season’s opening three races. DiSalvo is second in the points (88) with a second, third, and fourth, while Hayden is third (85) with two thirds and a fourth. AMA PRO HONDA OILS SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY SHOEI Two Man Gang Graves Motorsports Yamaha teammates Ben Bostrom and Josh Herrin have been the early-season stars in the Supersport class. Bostrom has earned both poles and won the season opener at Daytona over Herrin by just fractions of a second, while Herrin returned the favor by edging Bostrom to the checkered flag at Barber Motorsports Park. Bad Luck for the Champ Monster Energy Kawasaki’s reigning class champion, Roger Hayden, will miss his second consecutive Supersport race due to the injuries he sustained during a Superbike qualifying incident at Barber Motorsports Park. The Kentuckian had surgery on his broken finger on Tuesday and has another surgery scheduled for later in the week. His recovery time is still unknown but he’s been ruled out from participating at Auto Club Speedway. Missing Favorite Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jamie Hacking’s decision to focus on the Superbike class in 2008 opens up the Supersport field considerably at Auto Club Speedway. Hacking has dominated the race since its inception, winning four of the six AMA Supersport races held at the track, including the last three in succession. Head West Young Man Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Blake Young is ranked third in the class following two top-five finishes in the class (fifth at Daytona and fourth at BMP), while a number of the pre-season favorites, such as reigning champ Roger Hayden and Erion Honda’s Josh Hayes, have failed to get their title campaigns off to ideal starts. AMA FORMULA XTREME SERIES Zemke’s Resurgence Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke bounced back from his Daytona disappointment by winning the Formula Xtreme race at Barber Motorsports Park. The Californian also added a Supersport podium, proving that the popular rider will be a force to be reckoned with in his return to support class duty after picking up three years worth of Superbike experience. The Champ’s Struggles Continue Two-time reigning Formula Xtreme champion Josh Hayes saw his title defense take another hit in Alabama. After losing his Daytona 200 victory due to a disqualification, Hayes crashed out of the lead at Barber Motorsports Park. Even though he remounted to finish seventh, he’s already dug himself a huge hole, sitting 40 points out of the championship lead in his quest to claim a third straight FX crown. Still in Front Despite running off track briefly during the race, Attack Kawasaki’s Chaz Davies held onto the FX points lead by finishing third at Barber Motorsports Park, a fine follow-up to his Daytona 200 victory. His former 250cc World Grand Prix teammate, Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas, is ranked second on the strength of fourth and second-place finishes in the year’s opening two races. AMA SUPERSTOCK SERIES PRESENTED BY DYNOJET Still the Man Jordan Suzuki’s Aaron Yates continues to be the clear favorite in the AMA Superstock class, picking up his second consecutive win of the season at Barber Motorsports Park. The Georgian has only won at Auto Club Speedway once, taking the 2002 AMA Supersport race victory at the circuit. Consistency Pays Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki’s Chris Ulrich is second in the Superstock points race, following up his Daytona fourth with a third at Barber Motorsports Park, the Californian’s first podium in the class since the category switched to a 1000cc format. There’s a Honda in the Mix While Suzuki has dominated the Superstock class as of late, Corona Honda’s Jake Holden proved that he and his Honda CBR1000RR to be a factor as well with an impressive performance at Barber Motorsports Park. Coming back strong from a disappointing 13th place ride at Daytona, Holden took the pole, Honda’s first in the class since the days when riders on Honda CBR600s used to harass the favorites in the 750 Supersport class. Coverage on SPEED Both rounds of the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited from Fontana will be telecast nationally on SPEED. The races will be shown back-to-back on Sunday, April 27 starting with Saturday’s race at 4:00 pm Eastern followed by Sunday’s race at 5:00 pm Eastern. The AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei will be airing at 6:00 pm Eastern on Sunday April 27. Coverage of AMA Formula Xtreme and AMA Superstock presented by Dynojet begins at 12:00 pm Eastern, Tuesday, April 29. Tickets Tickets for the April 25-27, 2008 Suzuki Superbike Challenge are available online at www.autoclubspeedway or by calling (800) 944-RACE. More, from a press release issued by Michael Jordan Motor Sports Suzuki: MICHAEL JORDAN MOTOR SPORTS SUZUKI READY FOR FONTANA Aaron Yates Seeks Third Consecutive AMA Superstock Win Aurora, IL (April 23, 2008) Michael Jordan Motor Sports Suzuki’s Aaron Yates and Geoff May return to racing action at Fontana, California’s Auto Club Speedway this weekend, April 25-27, 2008, for the next round of Superbike doubleheader weekends. Last year, Yates earned a third place podium finish, and his new teammate Geoff May earned fifth place in the Superstock class. In last week’s Superstock race at Barber Motorsports Park, Yates captured the Jordan Suzuki team’s second win of the new season. In addition to Superstock racing, both Jordan Suzuki riders compete in the AMA Superbike series. While May races both classes on his production-based Superstock Suzuki GSX-R1000, Yates rides a full Superbike in the event. With two Superbike races and a Superstock race scheduled this weekend, both riders have the opportunity to reach the podium three times during their visit to Fontana, California. AMA Superbike Championship points standings, after two rounds. AMA Superstock Points: Aaron Yates, 1st place (73) Geoff May, 3rd place (53) AMA Superbike Points: Geoff May, 7th place (65) Aaron Yates, 9th place (60) For more information on the Jordan Suzuki team, visit the race team website at www.23race.com. Fans can watch the AMA Superbike Championship series on SpeedTV. More, from a press release issued by Sterilgarda Go Eleven: Assen, preview WSBK’08 Round 4 Everything is ready for the forth round of the World Superbike Championship, starting the next Friday at Assen, Holland. Team Sterilgarda Go Eleven feels confident after the unlucky Spanish round at Valencia. On the Dutch track, nicknamed the university of motorcycling for its elevated level of difficulty, both Max Biaggi and Ruben Xaus did very well in the past season, taking the third place on the podium at last year round. Bad weather is expected in Holland as usual during this season and the rain forecast for the whole week-end might change the race into a lottery. Good news come from the physical conditions of the riders: Max Biaggi is on the road to recovery and Ruben Xaus is spurred by a revenge will. To cap it all, Alex Polita is improving his feeling with the motorbike race by race; after the good forth place taken in Spain, the STK1000 rider powered a great second place at the first round of the Italian National Contest (CIV) the last Sunday at Mugello. MARCO BORCIANI | Team Manager: “We are going to face the round in optimal conditions. Both Max and Ruben took the podium last year and I’m sure they have what it takes this time too. Rain is expected for the week-end but I hope the track will be dry on Sunday, seeing that the sea is nearby and the weather changes very quickly here. I feel confident about Polita too. He did very well at the first round of the Italian championship and his feeling with the motorbike is getting perfect”. More, from a press release issued by Alstare Suzuki: ALSTARE SUZUKI MEN FOCUS ON ASSEN The dramatic events and disappointment of the last round in Valencia has been firmly put aside for Team Alstare Suzuki and Fonsi Nieto, Yukio Kagayama and Max Neukirchner’s thoughts are focused on Assen this coming weekend. Neukirchner’s collarbone is healing very well and, although he will not be at 100% in Assen, he expects to be competitive right from the start of first practice. Seeing his maiden WSBK win disappear within sight of the chequered flag was a big blow, but the young German has erased that memory and is looking forward instead. Kagayama was not 100% fit himself in Valencia but the three week break from the last round means that he is now ready for Assen. Fonsi Nieto: “Valencia did not work out the way I would’ve liked but that’s gone now and I am thinking about Assen. Like most riders, I still prefer the ‘old circuit’ but we have to deal with what we’ve got now. Last year I was on a different bike, so I will have to spend some time learning how to go round Assen on my Suzuki before I can push hard. Also, I know that I have to do better in Superpole and give myself a better grid position for the races.” Yukio Kagayama: “This season has already been a bit of a mixture for me, but I am hoping for much better results in Assen – I need them! I was not fully fit at Valencia, but I am in better condition now and hungry for the podium. Last year in Assen I finished seventh in the first race and 11th in the second, so this year I need a big improvement.” Max Neukirchner: “Valencia is forgotten and all I am thinking about now is the future – and that starts with Assen. My injury gets better every day and I hope that I will be able to give 100% at Assen. I managed two top-10 places in last year’s races, so this year I am chasing podiums for sure -as long as my collarbone is up to it!” More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing: Netherlands World Superbike at Assen Wednesday 23 April, 2008 World Superbike and World Supersport preview ASSEN CHALLENGE AWAITS HONDA RIDERS The ever-evolving Circuit van Drenthe near Assen has long been a classic venue for motorcycle races of all kinds, making it one of the most eagerly anticipated events in any race season. For the significant numbers of Honda riders in this year’s World Superbike Championship the lure of Assen is as strong as ever, particularly as the passion of the local Dutch race fans is second to none. Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) may be a rookie in World Superbike terms, but has been racing at Assen for his entire GP career, and knows the 4.555km circuit at least as well as any of his competitors. He has lost little time in transferring his GP knowledge to the Superbike scene in general, and he currently lies fourth in the overall championship rankings. He its on the same 72 points total as third ranked Troy Corser, who has more podium finishes to his name so far in 2008. Checa’s exploits on the all-new 2008 Honda Fireblade may have been exceptional given his relative lack of Superbike experience, but he is by no means the only Honda rider to have posted impressive rides early in the new season. British Superbike Champion in 2006 and 2007, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) has been on a steep upward learning curve in WSB alongside Checa, and a personal best of fourth in the most recent race at Valencia underlines the fact that a another new force has entered the intensely competitive world series this year. ‘Kiyo’ is currently 12th, one place behind another former BSB champion, Gregorio Lavilla (Vent Axia VK Honda CBR1000RR) who has scored points in every 2008 race so far, giving him a current total of 32. He only made the transition to the new Fireblade at Valencia, making his early season performances all the more impressive in his return to regular WSB competition. Just one place and eight points behind Kiyonari is another full-season Honda World Superbike rookie, Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR Jr). The Turkish rider is still learning how to apply the skills that took him to the 2007 World Supersport Championship in the Superbike arena, but has already scored a top ten finish and points in every round so far. For unavoidable logistical reasons Roberto Rolfo (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR1000RR) has had to develop his 2008 machine largely during race weekends up to now, but advances were made recently, despite torrential rain, during a two-day test at Monza. Rolfo, a real fan of Assen, is currently 16th in the table. Karl Muggeridge (DFX Corse Honda CBR1000RR) scored a superb sixth place in race one at the Valencia round in early April, showing his real abilities when his new machine set-up and tyre choices worked in harmony. He is 14th in the standings after round three. Muggeridge’s team-mate Russell Holland (DFX Corse Honda CBR1000RR) had a very tough Valencia race weekend and the first season WSB rider is now placed 20th in the championship, on 10 points. Unlike most of the other WSB rookies fielded by Honda this year, Shuhei Aoyama (Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR) enters the class after a career largely spent on 250cc two-strokes. He is still finding his limits on a 200bhp+ Superbike and only had the chance to move onto his 2008 CBR1000RR at Valencia. His team-mate Luca Morelli (Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR) has more experience of SBK racing than Aoyama, but as things stand each is yet to score in the 2008 championship. Checa, who came close to a home win at Valencia, stated: “I am looking forward to the next race in Assen. I like the track a lot and the atmosphere in Assen is always great. If we can continue the progression we have shown in the last races I am confident we can achieve good results. There will be some pressure on the team to perform well at their home track, but if we continue the rate of improvement we made in the last few races, we can fight for a win. It will not be easy, but after the Valencia race I have plenty of confidence we can be right there.” Kiyonari said: “Assen is a completely new track to me, but with all the data and the experience of the team I am confident about my chances here. For the team’s home race I would like to step on the podium, after coming so close to it in Valencia. I really have developed the taste for it and my confidence with the bike is still growing after each outing. My lap times have continuously improved in the last races, but I still need to work on my starts. I am too slow and lose too much valuable time in the first laps of the race and then find it hard to close the gap with the top after the tyres have gone. My understanding of the tyres is getting better.” Sofuoglu said: “I have been waiting for the race in Assen. After completing my first three races in Superbike I now want to put my experience into practice at one of my favourite circuits. It could be the chance for me to jump into the top ten. It’s strange for me to be saying that after finishing almost every race in the top three last season, but I guess it’s the learning curve I am still going through. Over the last few years I have done well in every race in Assen.” Rolfo stated: “We are glad to have been able to test in Monza for two days. For sure the tests were a good preparation for the next races of the season. We improved the base set-up of our bike significantly and we found some good solutions that could be used in Assen. I like to ride on the ‘TT’ circuit and I have obtained good results here in my last races.” The World Superbike Championship round at Assen is followed by a visit to another classic circuit, Monza, between nine and 11 May. World Supersport Championship After a dramatic World Supersport Championship race in the third round at Valencia the title fight has now taken on a very different character from the one it had after the opening flyaway rounds. A multitude of crashes and no-scores in Spain leaves some key Honda riders with work to do at Assen this weekend, to ensure they get back into championship contention. Privately entered Spanish rider Joan Lascorz (Glaner Motocard Honda CBR600RR) has been on sparkling form throughout the early part of the 2008 season, taking his first WSS race win at his home race in Valencia on April 6, and earning himself a useful 16-point lead over Broc Parkes into the bargain. Lascorz also has a 21-point lead over third placed Fabien Foret. Top official Honda entrant after three rounds, Josh Brookes (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsports Honda CBR600RR), was forced to retire at Valencia and is currently ranked fourth, on 33 points. In fifth place, official Honda rider Craig Jones (Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR) is on form again and has now scored two podiums in three starts. He will begin his Assen weekend with an updated engine spec on his 2008 machine, offering him hope for another podium finish. Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) has experienced two race weekends of agony so far, sweetened by one day of ecstasy, when he won on home tarmac at Phillip Island. Two DNFs, however, hold him down in sixth place at present, on the same 25 points level as Robbin Harms (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsports Honda CBR600RR) another officially-supported rider who failed to score after a fall at Valencia. Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) is still looking for his first taste of podium champagne in this rookie WSS season, and is currently eighth in the standings. He has scored top six finishes in the two races he has completed and is a consistently fast qualifier, despite his relative lack of 600cc experience. The top ten in the championship is almost completely dominated by Honda machines, with only Parkes and Foret not riding the CBR600RR. For the next two meetings ninth placed rider Gianluca Vizziello joins current tenth placed competitor Gianluca Nannelli (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR600RR) on another official Honda entry. The team’s other CBR600RR will eventually be ridden by 2008 signing Tommy Hill (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR600RR). The Englishman continues his recuperation process after a pre-season fall. Nannelli himself is still recovering from a shoulder injury, but is otherwise ready to face one of his favourite circuits. Brookes said: “The last race was just unlucky because of a flat tyre, but I guess that can happen to anyone and I can only hope that it will never happen again. I feel really positive about this weekend after having spent some time at the team’s headquarters in Sweden. I really feel that the team is working hard for me and that they are making great progress with the bikes.” Pitt said: “We’ll have to bounce back and try and put what happened in the last race behind us. So far I’ve missed two races this year and will have to make up the loss of those valuable points. I try not to let it effect me too much, but there is a fair bit of pressure, I simply cannot afford to make any more mistakes for the rest of the season. We’ll have to qualify well and I need to win the race, or at least be on the podium.” Harms said: “I have been training hard the last couple of weeks and I feel in good shape. Assen is a track I like, but I was unlucky last year when I only managed one practice session before I fell and broke my collarbone. Previously, I have done well here both in Supersport and 125cc racing, so hopefully this time I will be able to get back that feeling again.” Rea said: “I have never been to Assen before but I have been watching the DVDs supplied by the team to get an impression of the track. I am very optimistic about riding the home race for the team in front of their fans and hope we can give them some good racing and put both riders on the podium. My performance in the last three races has only been satisfactory for me. I want to be riding where I belong and claim the top spot of the podium.” Nannelli said: “My physical condition is now better than in Valencia. I’m still feeling pain on my right shoulder, but I’m used to pain! I like Assen, even if I preferred the track the way it was before it was modified. Also, the surface has got a lot of grip, even when it rains. Our main goal is to be very fast from the first practice day and I will try to do my best in the race as always.” More, from a press release issued by Team YZF Yamaha: Superbike World Championship Round 4 Assen (Netherland) 4/27/07 Team YZF Yamaha The development goes on After two good races in Phillip Island and Valencia, Shinichi Nakatomi is now ready for the famous Assen event in the Netherlands, on one of the oldest and most famous circuits in the world. Nakatomi is regularly developing the R1 and he should be able to keep on finishing in the top 15, with the riders who earn points for the championship. The team keeps working on the bike and hopes a good result on the circuit van Drenthe of Assen. Martial Garcia (team manager): “We keep on working on the Yamaha R1 to develop it. Our motorcycle is more and more consistent. Between Australia and Spain, we finished three times in a row in the top 15. Now our goal is to be regularly in the top 10.” Assen and the Circuit Van Drenthe It’s a very interesting track, which has great flowing corners. It often rains here but grip levels are very high even when it does rain. Circuit Van Drenthe is 2 km away from Assen and 110 km northeast of Amsterdam. Because England is but a short drive away, British fans flock to the circuit each year. The first Dutch TT was held in 1925 and racing has never stopped at the Dutch “cathedral”, except during the two world wars. The current track is mainly used for motorcycle racing, with only a handful of car races organised here each year. This track had good grip and good drainage. That makes it a great track when it rains because it doesn’t “hold” water. The layout requires inch-perfect lines and that’s why riders often take longer to adapt to Assen than other tracks. Races are often won or lost in the last chicane at Assen. Those willing to be brave on the brakes are hard to beat there but it takes great skill and balance to avoid running off the track and crashing or hitting another rider. Assen requires a very smooth riding style. The smallest mistake can wreck a whole lap as the rider struggles to make up the time lost on those ultra-quick turns. On a Superbike, it’s hard to keep the front wheel on the ground and that only means more problems for riders each time they exit a corner and get on the gas. The last right-left flick before the final chicane is one of the most difficult sections of the track. Riders are going so fast there that they find it very difficult to push the bike into making the change of direction from right to left, especially when it’s windy. World Championship standings: 1-Bayliss 128 points, 2-Nieto 80, 3-Corser 72, 4-Checa 72, 5-Xaus 68″¦21-Nakatomi 7 Assen stats Practice record (2007): 1’38.603 James Toseland (Honda) 166.303 kph (Nakatomi : 1’40.824 / 17th) Lap record (best race time 2007): 1’39.770 Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) 164.358 kph Race 1 result 2007: 1-Toseland (Honda), 2-Haga (Yamaha), 3-Xaus (Ducati), 4-Bayliss (Ducati), 5-Lanzi (Ducati)”¦ 13-Nakatomi (Yamaha) Race 2 results 2007: 1-Bayliss (Ducati), 2-Toseland (Honda), 3-Biaggi (Suzuki), 4-Corser (Yamaha), 5-Rolfo (Honda)”¦ 12-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 5th round of the Superbike World Championship: May 11th at Monza (Italy) YZF Yamaha Junior Team Barrier and Baz after a brilliant start Sylvain Barrier and Loris Baz both had a good race in Valencia. The first one was careful and finished 14th, while the second one scored a superb victory and made a name for himself in the racing world. For his first Superstock 1000 season, Sylvain Barrier did not want to take too many chances in Spain and made sure he would finish in the top 15. This 14th position in the Valencia race was part of the plan. A logical progress is expected in the Netherlands where Barrier is much more at ease. He finished 2nd last year of the Assen Superstock 600 race. Sylvain Barrier: « I want to do better than in Valencia. I have less pressure, more experience. I did some testing in France that went fairly well. I like the Assen track better than Valencia.” Martial Garcia (team-manager): “Sylvain Barrier will try his best to show us his progress. His mission is to reach the top 10.” FIM Cup Superstock 1000 standings: 1-Roberts (Ducati), 2-Giuliano (Suzuki), 3-Siméon (Suzuki), 4-Polita (Ducati), 5-Corti (Yamaha)”¦14-Barrier (Yamaha) Assen stats Practice record (2007): 1’42.773 Claudio Corti (Yamaha) 159.560 kph Lap record (best race time 2007): 1’42.548 Didier van Keymeulen (Yamaha) 159.906 kph Race result 2007: 1-Pirro (Yamaha), 2-Corti (Yamaha), 3-van Keymeulen (Yamaha), 4- Dionisi (Suzuki), 5-Baiocco (Yamaha) Superstock 600 European Championship Loris Baz became the youngest winner in the history of the European Superstock 600 Championship when he won the race in Valencia only 15 years, 2 months and 4 days old. The old record belonged to another Frenchman, Maxime Berger, winner at Lausitz in 2005 at 16 years, 2 months and 14 days. The Assen race will be a good occasion for the young Baz to score some points that will be useful for the championship. Loris Baz: « I never raced or trained in Assen, so I do not know the track”¦ except on PlayStation! I will discover it for real and learn. I talked a lot about it with my coach Adrien Morillas and racers Fabien Foret and Sylvain Barrier who know the place well. It will be a weekend of hard work but I am not worrying. Anyhow I am confident and my goal is to confirm my result of Valencia with a good position in Assen, to make my championship position strong.” Martial Garcia (team-manager): “We are waiting for the confirmation of the prodigy. He was astonishing in Valencia.” Superstock 600 European Championship standings: 1-Baz (Yamaha), 2-Arcas (Honda), 3-Petrucci (Yamaha), 4-Linfoot (Yamaha), 5-Beretta (Suzuki). Assen stats Practice record (2007): 1’45.415 Roy Ten Napel (Yamaha) 155.560 kph Lap record (best race time 2007): 1’45.262 Roy Ten Napel (Yamaha) 155.783 kph Race result 2007: 1-Antonelli (Honda), 2-Barrier (Yamaha), 3-Berger (Yamaha), 4-Black (Yamaha), 5-Magnoni (Yamaha) Note : 8 Yamaha R6s in the top 9 More, from a press release issued by Team Triumph Italia BE1 Racing: Assen, preview WSS’08 Round 4 Team Triumph Italia BE1 Racing is gearing up for the forth round of the Supersport season which is going to take place from the next Friday at Assen. The Dutch track has been nicknamed the University of Motorcycling due to the average high speeds reached by the riders. The team leaded by Giuliano Rovelli is going to make its own debut on the track which has ever been the stage of one world race at least since 1949. In spite of its lack of information about the circuit, the team aims to improve his previous performances anyway, also thanks to the experience of Ivan Clementi. The Italian has always been author of great performances on this track, both in GP than in Superbike. He will help his team-mate, Mark Aitchison, to learn the so called Tourist Trophy track, and getting the best set-up for the bike. GIULIANO ROVELLI | Team Manager: “In the forth round we will take to the track developments which will give us some more chance to make a step forward. After Valencia, we worked on the engine power delivery and the exhaust and we think to have reached a satisfying result. We are trying to capitalize the data collected during the first three round which have given us the opportunity to improve continuously and we want to keep this way. We would like to give our rider the conditions to finish into the top-10 permanently, cutting the gap to the best teams race by race”.