2007 SBK CORONA EXTRA SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP® DONINGTON PARK – 3rd ROUND – 30th, 31st MARCH and 1st APRIL SUPERPOLE Donington Park, Saturday 31st March 2007 BAYLISS THE RECORD BREAKER AGAIN WITH SUPERPOLE WIN 14 TROY WINS AS THE OTHER TROY CRASHES Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) made dramatic inroads into the best practice laps in the Superbike category at Donington and topped it off with the very best for last in what was a dramatic Superpole. His Superpole winning lap was a remarkable 1’30.370, beating even the previous best lap he set in final practice, shortly before Superpole. His only real rival to take the pre-race honours was Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) but Corser fell from his machine on turn one, blaming a gust of wind, and thus he now starts from the back of row two, in eighth place. FRONT ROW FOUR FEATURES FOUR DIFFERENT MACHINES With Corser eventually out of the running for top honours, his team-mate Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) salvaged a superb second place in Superpole, with a 1’31.084. After some difficult rounds so far Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) scored a magnificent third place on the big ZX-10R in Superpole, having been eighth in regular qualifying. The local crowd at Donington can expect great things from James Toseland (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) on raceday, as he qualified on the front row, despite consistently losing time in the last sector of each lap. Track temperatures for Superpole dropped just before the start of the session and thus three riders in total either crashed or ran into trouble. LANZI INTO THE TOP FIVE WITH XAUS JUST BEHIND Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) clearly liked riding a Superbike around Donington and went fifth on the grid, one up on consistently fast private entry, Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Ducati). A relatively sedate weekend so far for Max Biaggi (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) placed him seventh in Superpole (6th after regulation) keeping him on row two. Corser, as mentioned before, completes row two. MUGGERIDGE LEADS THE THIRD ROW CHOIR Karl Muggeridge (Alto Evolution Honda) found a good set-up from his machine for the first time this season and finally ended up qualifying ninth after Superpole, and thus the best of the true privateers. Behind him Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki) was a disgruntled tenth, and slow in the slow sections of the track, while yet another private rider on a mission, Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Germany) slotted into 11th place in the final pre-race reckoning. ‘Guest Qualifier’ Giovanni Bussei (Sterilgarda Ducati) went 12th. The last row featured only two qualifiers who actually completed Superpole, Michel Fabrizio and Steve Martin (both DFX Corse Honda), in 13th and 14th respectively. Neither Josh Brookes (Alto Evolution Honda) nor Roby Rolfo (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) completed their laps, with Brookes falling at high speed and Rolfo running wide at the Melbourne loop, and therefore proving unable to continue. WORLD SUPERSPORT – RIBA QUICKEST ON DRY SECOND DAY On a dry but cold track surface Pere Riba (Gil Kawasaki Motorsport) secured pole position with a new track best of 1’34.066, despite a fast crash in the morning session. Simone Sanna (Racing Team Park Algar Honda) was second best rider on show, in the only dry 45-minute qualifying session, while championship leader Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) went third quickest. Last rider on the front row proved to be Pioneer Hoegee Suzuki pilot Barry Veneman, making for a very cosmopolitan top rank. 2006 WSS Monza race winner Yoann Tiberio (Stiggy Motorsports Honda) was fifth fastest, one place up on a rider on a 2006 machine, Lorenzo Alfonsi (Althea Honda) and two ahead of late crasher Fabien Foret (Gil Motorsport Kawasaki). SUPERSTOCK 1000 FIM CUP – PIRRO AGAIN THE FASTEST Michele Pirro (Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha) scored a fabulous rookie pole position in the big Superstock class, thanks to a best time of 1’34.690. He outpaced the Ducati Xerox 1098 of Niccolo Canepa to score his early psychological victory, with former champion Didier Van Keymeulen (TTSL MGM Racing Yamaha) finally third. Ayrton Badovini (Biassono Unionbike MV Agusta) was again the best MV rider in the pack, fourth fastest. SUPERSTOCK 600 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – MAGNONI MAGNIFICENT Michele Magnoni (Bevilaqua Yamaha) headed up a close qualifying session at Donington, taking his Yamaha to a 1’37.263. He was only 0.059 seconds ahead of Sylvain Barrier (Coutelle Junior Team Yamaha) and 0.092 up on Maxime Berger (Team Trasimeno Yamaha). Local fans were behind the fourth place push of Briton Greg Black (Politas Racing Team Yamaha), fourth. Andrea Antonelli (Team Italia Megabike Honda) was fifth, still only 0.380 seconds down. More, from a press release issued by HAHNspree Ten Kate Honda: World Superbike Championship Round three: Donington Park, UK Saturday 31 March 2007 Superpole Toseland on front row for home round HANNspree Ten Kate Honda’s James Toseland will start from the front row at Donington Park tomorrow following an eventful Superpole session in which three riders crashed out. Despite making a slight mistake through the Craner Curves section of the 4.02km track, Yorkshireman Toseland secured the fourth fastest time of 1.31:399. It was a frustrating end to the day for the 26-year-old as he had hoped to celebrate the circuit’s 20th anniversary by equalling the achievement of manager Roger Burnett who scored the first ever Superpole at Donington Park. However, he is confident that he will still be able to put in two strong race performances for the home crowd at the opening UK and European event of the 2007 Superbike World Championship. His team-mate Roby Rolfo was less fortunate and starts the 23-lap races from 15th on the grid after failing to start his fast Superpole lap. The Italian rider endured a slight problem with the HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR on his warm-up lap, which caused him to run onto the grass and end Superpole prematurely in the gravel. Rolfo is hopeful that he can turn his fortunes around tomorrow to demonstrate his top six potential in the ultra-competitive championship. Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager: “We are feeling mixed emotions today. Roby had to retire from Superpole on the warm-up lap due to a braking problem. I just hope that tomorrow he will have a good race. For James, we had a small hiccup at the end of free practice and we couldn’t test the qualifier. It’s always a bit strange for the rider to go out on the Superpole lap without testing the tyre so this dented his confidence a little. He did a good lap and we are happy to be on the front row. We know that in the race James is always a different rider. We hope for good weather and with the extra boost of the home crowd support he should have a good race.” James Toseland: “I made a mistake on my Superpole lap through Craner Curves and nearly lost the front end. I needed an advantage going into the Melbourne loop section of the track because that has been my weak point. The mistake meant that I didn’t get that advantage and that is disappointing. I’m on the front row and I will give it my all tomorrow to please the home crowd.” Roberto Rolfo: “I worked really hard during the free practice and tried to find a better balance on the bike. At the end of the session I felt ready and I was confident for the Superpole lap, but unfortunately I had a problem with the brake and had to run onto the gravel during the warm-up. It was disappointing but I will try my best to do well tomorrow.” Superpole: 1. T. Bayliss, 1.30:370 2. N. Haga, 1.31:084 3. R. Laconi, 1.31:377 4. J. Toseland, 1.31:399 5. L. Lanzi, 1.31:504 6. R. Xaus, 1.31:686 7. M. Biaggi, 1.31:689 8. T. Corser, 1.31:132 9. K. Muggeridge, 1.32:077 10. F. Nieto, 1.32:178 15. R. Rolfo, 1.32:877 More, from a press release issued by Scuderia SC Caracchi: DISAPPOINTING DAY AT DONINGTON FOR SCUDERIA SC CARACCHI (Donington Park 2007, March 31) A light sun welcomed today the SBK Circus at Donington, but the temperature remained quite cold, as well the thermometer recorded about 10°C more as yesterday. However the dry track allowed the riders to push at the best, giving also some difficult because the racing lines, with all the track wideness available are, of course, different as that forced to follow in a narrow, dry strip. No lucky today for Gianluca Nannelli; after a crash during the morning’s session, more painful as bad, Nannelli did not find a good set up for his 749R, and, more, in the final qualifying lap with soft tyres, after a good time at the second split that pot him in seventh position, in the final split he found a group of riders that slowed him action. Nannelli finished 12th fastest and will start from the third row tomorrow. “Actually it hasn’t been a good day today!” related Gianluca Nannelli at the end of practice session “On the dry track we found some handling problems that we haven’t been able to solve completely. The morning’s crash happened in a very sliding point, where several other riders did crash; I’ve been lucky that everything finished with any serious damage, for me and for the bike too, but we lost some precious time. The team is already working to find a set up that could put in order today’s troubles and we’ll test it during tomorrow’s warm up. Tomorrow the race will be hardly conditioned by the weather. I start from the third row, we’ll see what it could be possible to do; it comfort me to see, as often happens, that our bike is the fastest in the speed trap.” Also Jakub Smrz in Superbike had problems with the handling, missing the access to Superpole at the last moment of final qualifying session. Also for the young Czech rider however the challenge of tomorrow is quite hard. “The dry track changed the conditions.” said Jakub Smrz at the end of qualying. “The bike package today wasn’t perfect and I’ve been not performing as I would to be. The problems went on also during the free practice session in the afternoon, so I don’t know we could be competitive tomorrow for a good race. Unfortunately I fault the Superpole because during the decisive lap I’ve done some mistake during the last split; that’s a pity because at the second split I recorded the 12th fastest and in the final section Bussei overtook me for some hundred of second.” Superbike The grid Pl., Rider, Nat., Bike, Qualifying, Superpole 1. BAYLISS Troy, AUS, Ducati 999 F07, 1’31.052, 1’30.370 2. HAGA Noriyuki, JPN, Yamaha YZF R1, 1’32.360, 1’31.084 3. LACONI Regis, FRA, Kawasaki ZX 10R, 1’32.199, 1’31.377 4. TOSELAND James, GBR, Honda CBR 1000RR, 1’31.695, 1’31.399 5. LANZI Lorenzo, ITA, Ducati 999 F07, 1’31.655, 1’31.504 6. XAUS Ruben, ESP, Ducati 999 F06, 1’31.479, 1’31.686 7. BIAGGI Max, ITA, Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K7, 1’32.182, 1’31.689 8. CORSER Troy, AUS, Yamaha YZF R1, 1’31.132, crash 9. MUGGERIDGE Karl, AUS, Honda CBR 1000RR, 1’32.847, 1’32.077 10. NIETO Fonsi, ESP, Kawasaki ZX 10R, 1’32.188, 1’32.178 17. SMRZ Jakub, CZE, Ducati 999 F05 Scuderia SC Caracchi, 1’33.484 Supersport The grid Pl., Rider, Nat., Bike, Time 1. RIBA Pere, ESP, Kawasaki ZX6RR, 1’34.066 2. SANNA Simone, ITA, Honda CBR 600RR, 1’34.195 3. SOFUOGLU Kenan, TUR, Honda CBR 600RR, 1’34.382 4. VENEMAN Barry, NED, Suzuki GSX600R, 1’34.470 5. TIBERIO Yoann, FRA, Honda CBR 600RR, 1’34.609 6. ALFONSI Lorenzo, ITA, Honda CBR 600RR, 1’34.670 7. FORET Fabien, FRA, Kawasaki ZX6RR, 1’34.737 8. FUJIWARA Katsuaki, JPN, Honda CBR 600RR, 1’34.953 9. CHECA David, ESP, Yamaha YZFR6, 1’34.959 10. GIMBERT Sebastien, FRA, Yamaha YZFR6, 1’35.038 12. NANNELLI Gianluca, ITA, Ducati 749 R Scuderia SC Caracchi, 1’35.220 More, from a press release issued by Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra: 2007 Superbike World Championship Round 3, Europe, Donington, GB Final qualifying, 31st March 2007 Circuit: 4.023 kms Conditions: Mostly dry, cold. ROW TWO FOR MAX, NO START FOR YUKIO. Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Max Biaggi will start from the second row of the grid at tomorrow’s third round of the Superbike World Championship at Donington. Max had struggled a little in qualifying, but then put in a blistering lap of 1:32.182 in the afternoon practice, over two seconds quicker then his previous best time! He then followed that by going even faster in Superpole, but many of his rivals also went quicker. At the end of the 16-rider Superpole shoot-out, Max finished seventh. His team mate Yukio Kagayama underwent a further examination this morning before practice and, although he was eager to race, the medics declared him ‘unfit’ and so he took no part in today’s proceedings. Troy Bayliss (Ducati) took Superpole with a lap of 1:30.370, nearly a second quicker then his nearest rival Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha). Third quickest is Regis Laconi (Kawasaki), with James Toseland (Honda) completing the front row of the grid. MAX – 7th, 1:31.689 I was happier after my performance in the untimed session this afternoon, but I knew Superpole would be hard. I managed to go a bit faster on my Superpole lap, but so did some other riders and so I ended seventh. But the second row of the grid is not so bad, especially if I can make my usual good start. There are two very long races tomorrow and anything can happen, so we’ll just have to see how it goes. I’ll be aiming for two good starts and two good results – hopefully podiums. YUKIO (non-starter) I wanted to race today, but the doctors said ‘NO!’ This morning my back was a bit sore but that was all. I could remember everything form yesterday, no problem. But if the doctors tell you not to race, that is that! Now I’m looking forward to the next race at Valencia and putting these disasters behind me. Final qualifying 1 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:30.370, 2 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:31.084, 3 Laconi (F-Kawasaki) 1:31.377, 4 Toseland (GB-Honda) 1:31.399, 5 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 1:31.504, 6 Xaus (E-Ducati) 1:31.686, 7 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:31.689, 8 Corser (Aus-Yamaha) 1:31.132, 9 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda) 1:32.077, 10 Nieto (E-Kawasaki) 1:32.178. More, from another press release issued by Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra: 2007 Superstock 1000 FIM Cup Round 1, Europe, Donington, GB Final qualifying, 31st March 2007 Circuit: 4.023 kms Conditions: Mostly dry, cold. MORE DISAPPOINTMENT FOR XAVI Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Xavier Simeon suffered severe tyre problems today and could only manage the 19th fastest time in qualifying. In final qualifying his rear tyre started moving on the rim and that caused the bike to be unbalanced and suffer a lot of vibration. Xavi ended with a best lap of 1:36.613, two seconds slower then pole-setter Michele Pirro (Yamaha) and knows that he has his work cut out if he is to get a good result tomorrow. XAVI – 19th, 1:36.613 This is not the way I wanted to start my debut in this class at all! I am very disappointed with what happened today and I have to get myself into a positive frame of mind for tomorrow. I know that the fifth row of the grid is a long way from the front and that I am going to need the best start of my life, if I am to have any chance at all of catching the leaders. There’s going to be a lot of traffic to get through and that’s the kind of thing that wears tyres out more quickly. But I want to do the best I can and see what happens. I cannot say what position I will be in at the end, but I’d like to think I could be in the top ten at the least. Final qualifying 1 Pirro (I-Yamaha) 1:34.690, 2 Canepa (I-Ducati) 1:35.035, 3 Van Keymeulen (NL-Yamaha) 1:35.193, 4 Badovini (I-MV) 1:35.302, 5 Corti (I-Yamaha) 1:35.368, 6 Dello’Omo (I-MV) 1:35.475, 19 Xavier Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:36.613. More, from a press release issued by Team YZF Yamaha: Difficult practice On a track that was new for him, Shinichi Nakatomi was handicapped by bad weather and he had to be careful not to crash, which made the beginning of this weekend difficult. The first day of practice was hard for Shinichi Nakatomi, the Japanese rider discovering the track in cold (7° C) and wet conditions. It was important not to crash and get hurt for the following two days. It was a little bit easier on Saturday when the track was dry. The wind was sometime quite strong, making it harder for the riders. Nakatomi concentrated on the setting of his Yamaha so he could hope for good results on Sunday. Shinichi Nakatomi: “We progressed with the set up. I am riding here for the first time. I like this track, even if it is difficult. We worked as much as possible during the practice sessions and we will continue to do so during the warm up tomorrow.” Martial Garcia (team-manager): “The rain during the practice made it hard and did not allow us to solve our rear tyre grip problem. Our rider discovers this track which is very special. We chose not to take too many chances as long as the motorcycle is not yet perfectly set up.” Qualifying results: 1-Troy Bayliss (Ducati), 2-Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha), 3-Régis Laconi (Kawasaki), 4-James Toseland (Honda), 5-Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati)…22-Shinichi Nakatomi (Yamaha) World Championship standings: 1-Toseland (Honda) 90 points, 2-Biaggi (Suzuki) 74, 3-Bayliss (Ducati) 64, 4-Haga (Yamaha) 50, 5-Corser (Yamaha) 45 …15-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 10 More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse: Saturday Mar 31 2007 Superpole TROY BAYLISS (DUCATI XEROX) POWERS TO 14TH CAREER POLE WITH RECORD-BREAKING LAP AT DONINGTON Donington (UK), Saturday 31 March: Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox Team) set a record-breaking lap time of 1m30.370s at the Donington Park circuit to power to his 14th Superbike career pole. The Australian, who turned 38 yesterday, was seven tenths clear of second-placed Yamaha man, Noriyuki Haga and a full second quicker than Régis Laconi (Kawasaki) and James Toseland (Honda), who make up the front row of the grid. Lorenzo Lanzi made a massive improvement today to shoot up to fifth place after qualifying fourth in today’s final session. “There seemed to be a lot of wind out there, I didn’t do the first section well and went a bit wide on the left down through Craner but tried to keep cool for the rest of the lap” declared Troy. “I was a little bit disappointed as I thought I could do a 29.9 because, although most of us are pretty even on the first two splits, I’m really strong on the last section of the track. That could come in handy tomorrow because it’s a long hard race and that’s a good place to pass up the inside. We tried a long-run this afternoon but times started dropping off after about thirteen laps, so we tested another tyre, the lap times were a bit slower but we’re very confident for the race. It’s looking good for us, hopefully there’ll be some good weather and some good racing for everyone.” “Fifth place is not bad but I thought I could get onto the front row” commented Lorenzo. “I said yesterday that I had to improve in the final split but instead of improving I made a mistake on my Superpole lap. At the penultimate corner I came in too fast and didn’t open the throttle quick enough. I thought I could have done a low 1.31 lap which would have been enough for the front row. However it’s OK, the feeling with the bike is good, race set-up is not bad either so we’ll see how it goes tomorrow. From Friday to Saturday we have changed quite a lot to improve the feeling even though I had a crash today. I’ll try and get a good start tomorrow. I’m right behind Troy on the grid so for both of us to get away from the rest would be great!” Starting-grid: 1. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1m30.370s; 2. Haga (Yamaha) 1m31.084s; 3. Laconi (Kawasaki) 1m31.377s; 4. Toseland (Honda) 1m31.399s; 5. Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) 1m31.504s; 6. Xaus (Ducati) 1m31.686s; 7. Biaggi (Suzuki) 1m31.689s; 8. Corser (Yamaha) 1m31.132s; 9. Muggeridge (Honda) 1m32.077s; 10. Nieto (Kawasaki) 1m32.178s. TV Coverage : Eurosport (Europe): Sunday 1 April, 1100 GMT race 1 (live). British Eurosport (UK): Saturday 31st March, 2000 Superpole (delayed). Sunday 1 April, 1200 race 1 (live), 1530 race 2 (live). Eurosport 2 (Europe): Saturday 31 March, 1500 Superpole (live). Eurosport (Italy): Sunday 1 April, 1300 race 1 (live). La7 (Italy): Saturday 31 March, 1650 Superpole (live), Sunday 1 April, 1250 race 1 (live), 1620 race 2 (live).