On-Form Supersport Pairing Ready To Go Again WSS, Kyalami, South Africa Strong recent results for Joan Lascorz and Katsuaki Fujiwara have put each rider’s confidence at a high level as the Kyalami round approaches this weekend. Lascorz took his Provec Motocard.com Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R to a fine second place at Monza last time out, while team-mate Katsuaki Fujiwara was sixth in the Italian race, held on May 10th. The new model Ninja ZX-6R has proved its credentials already and with ever-improving set-up and a greater pool of data to draw on, the fact that Kyalami is a new track for the team does not reduce their combined confidence and determination to succeed. Joan Lascorz: “We had a good result at Monza despite my early problems in the first laps, and that gives me and the team a good feeling that we can have even more positive results from now on. Kyalami is another new track for us but there are points at stake, so we will be out to improve our championship position yet again.” Katsuaki Fujiwara: “Our base setting has been much improved at the last races and it was good for me to run near the front at Monza, for some of the race at least. One of our rival teams has tested at Kyalami in the winter, so we will have to make the most of our practice time. I have raced at Kyalami before, so that will help us if I can remember it well when I get there.” More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Tean Kate Honda: After two impressive rides at Monza last Sunday, Hannspree Ten Kate Honda’s Jonathan Rea is looking to make the next step towards his debut World Superbike podium in round six of the 2009 series at Kyalami in South Africa this weekend (15-17 May). Rea finished in fifth place in race one at Monza and took fourth in the second outing, underlining the steps he and his team have made since the third round at Valencia in the ongoing development of Honda’s CBR1000RR Fireblade. His team-mate, Carlos Checa, will be looking for a return to the form that saw him take two wins and five further podium finishes in his rookie year last season. With a best result of fifth so far during the current campaign, the Spanish ace will be seeking a welcome return to the rostrum in South Africa. The Hannspree duo tested at the 4.26km Kyalami circuit near Johannesburg last December and, in spite of significantly lower temperatures expected this weekend, are hoping that the data gathered then will serve them well. Jonathan Rea I really enjoyed Monza and, although it would’ve been great to get on the podium, it was really encouraging that we were able to build on the big step forward we made between Valencia and Assen. I feel like the bike is getting close to where I want it to be now. Everyone in the whole team has been working so hard and they deserve some real reward for their efforts now. We had a good test at Kyalami in December and got through a lot of work. Hopefully, it won’t take us too long to find a good setting and then we can start to fine tune things, but I’m definitely looking for another step forward this weekend. Maybe a step up, as well, to the podium. Carlos Checa I felt a little frustrated after Monza because after an encouraging start to the weekend, the bike developed a little bit of chatter again. The development is definitely going in the right direction and we could see this at Assen, but still there are some problems to look at, like the opening of the throttle while still on the side of the tyre. But I’m sure we can keep the momentum going when we arrive at Kyalami. The track is quite bumpy and I also had some chatter problems during the test, but the circuit is fun to ride and I’m looking forward to returning there. More, from a press release issued by Honda: South African World Superbike at Kyalami Wednesday 13 May 2009 World Superbike and World Supersport preview HONDA RIDERS PREPARE TO RACE UNDER AFRICAN SKIES Kyalami returns to the motorcycle World Championship scene this weekend when the South African circuit hosts the sixth rounds of the World Superbike and World Supersport Championships. The last time Kyalami was on the calendar was in 2002, and this will be the sixth time that Kyalami has hosted a WSB event. There have been three previous Honda race wins in the Superbike class at the venue and the Honda teams are focussed on improving on that. The data gleaned from the rewarding WSB post-season winter test session at the demanding track will be of immense value when race practice begins on Friday. A less than perfect Superpole session in the previous Monza round left Leon Haslam (Stiggy Racing Honda CBR1000RR) with a lot to do on raceday and with many of his key rivals having tested at Kyalami in the winter months he will need to make the best of qualifying to improve on his season total of three podiums so far. He is now fourth in the championship chase, on 103 points. Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR) is a strong second in the World Supersport championship standings, and having taken two wins so far this season his aim for Kyalami is clear; to win again and peg back his 18-point disadvantage to series leader Cal Crutchlow. The 4.263km Kyalami circuit, located on the outskirts of the Johannesburg Metropolis, is one of the slower tracks on the calendar and has a very short 470 metre front straight. There are, however, some very high speed cornering sections and a great degree of rise and fall in gradient as the lap unfolds. Kyalami is also situated at high altitude, which robs all machines of significant amounts of top end power. In winter testing the best lap times were in the sub 1’40 second region, but a change to the final chicane since then will introduce one unknown element for all the riders. The Supersport class will now have two on-track session on Friday at Kyalami, not one as in previous rounds. Ten Kate Honda Superbike riders, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Ten Kate Racing Honda CBR1000RR), Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) and Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) all tested at Kyalami last December. Rea is eighth overall, Kiyonari moved into tenth after his double podium finish at Monza. Checa is now 12th. After a difficult Monza weekend, Tommy Hill (Honda Althea CBR1000RR) is working to promote himself in the rankings, but Vittorio Iannuzzo (Squadra Corse Italia Honda CBR1000RR) will not be attending the Kyalami or Miller rounds due to the global economic crisis. John Hopkins (Stiggy Racing Honda CBR1000RR) is still injured after his heavy Assen fall and will not be racing in South Africa, while Monza stand-in rider Jake Zemke is back in AMA action in the USA this weekend. World Supersport Championship Other than Laverty and Crutchlow, 2007 World Champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) is the only Supersport rider to have taken a win in 2009, at the very first round of the year in Australia. He is now third in the standings, with his team-mate, reigning World Champion Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) immediately behind him. Both Ten Kate WSS riders tested alongside their WSB teammates at Kyalami last December, and therefore they should start the weekend with useful data to help them find a race set-up quickly. Australian riders Anthony West (Stiggy Racing Honda CBR600RR) and Mark Aitchison (Honda Althea CBR600RR) had tough weekends in Monza, as each retired after crashing. Aitchison’s team-mate Matthieu Lagrive (Honda Althea CBR600RR) also fell in the race at Monza, but remounted to finish just out of the points in 16th place. Lagrive is now 11th, on 25 points. Gianluca Vizziello (Stiggy Racing Honda CBR600RR) leads Miguel Praia (Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR) in the championships standings, with the Italian 17th and the Portuguese 18th. After the Kyalami round both WSB and WSS championships enjoy one weekend off before reforming in America, at the Miller Motorsports Park, between 29th and 31st May. WSB Rider Quotes Leon Haslam said: “We had a bit of a mixed weekend in Monza. I didn’t qualify well, but was able to make my way forward in the races. Unfortunately, I had to withdraw from the first race in the last laps with a technical problem, but finished the second in seventh. I am looking forward to racing in Kyalami. I’ve done some testing here in 2004, but that was before they changed the track and took out the chicane. Most of the teams have tested here this winter and start with a slight advantage, but I am sure I can join the fight for a good result this weekend.” Jonathan Rea said: “I really enjoyed Monza and, although it would’ve been great to get on the podium, it was really encouraging that we were able to build on the big step forward we made between Valencia and Assen. I feel like the bike is getting close to where I want it to be now. Everyone in the whole team has been working so hard and they deserve some real reward for their efforts now. We had a good test at Kyalami in December and got through a lot of work. Hopefully, it won’t take us too long to find a good setting and then we can start to fine tune things, but I’m definitely looking for another step forward this weekend. Maybe a step up as well, to the podium.” Ryuichi Kiyonari said: “I am still very happy from the two visits to the podium at Monza last Sunday and I would like to thank my team again for all the hard work they have done to give me such a good bike to ride. I want more again at Kyalami this week but I know we will all have to work even harder now, especially the rider! I liked the circuit at Kyalami and did many laps when we tested there at the end of last year. I was not as fast as I would like to be but it was good to spend some time getting to know the circuit hopefully this will allow us to concentrate on finding the right setting for this weekend and then I will go fast!” Carlos Checa said: “I felt a little frustrated after Monza because after an encouraging start to the weekend, the bike developed a little bit of chatter again. The development is definitely going in the right direction and we could see this at Assen, but still there are some problems to look at, like the opening of the throttle while still on the side of the tyre. But I’m sure we can keep the momentum going when we arrive at Kyalami. The track is quite bumpy and I also had some chatter problems during the test, but the circuit is fun to ride and I’m looking forward to returning there.” Tommy Hill said: “We had some problems with fuel in the last races and I only just made the end of the second race at Monza, so I just missed out on points. We also need to improve some chassis set-up issues this weekend.” WSS Rider Quotes Eugene Laverty said: “It is my first time here and I think it should be good. As it is a new circuit for nearly all of the riders, we have an extra practice session on Friday which will give us more time to learn the circuit and find a good setting. Ten Kate Honda is the only team to have tested here, so it is a fairly level playing field for us all. I think Kyalami will suit the Parkalgar Honda as it is at the moment; it has a fantastic chassis and will cope very well with the long corners where it really excels. I am looking forward to the race and I think we can do well here.” Kenan Sofuoglu said: “I want to forget about Monza because it was a very disappointing weekend for me. The big crash I had on Saturday was not good for my confidence and the race was very hard for me. When we arrive in South Africa, we will have a long meeting to see where were the problems that we had in Monza. Then we can start working on Friday afternoon to improve everything, especially the handling under braking which was my main problem in Monza. Like I said before, I am lucky to be with a very professional team and I know that we can work together to get a much better result at Kyalami.” Andrew Pitt said: “Fifth place was not where we really wanted to be at Monza after a couple of difficult races, but I felt the bike was pretty good there, especially at the start of the race. Now we need to take the good things from that and work them into a good setting for Kyalami a setting that will make the rear tyre last. It was pretty hot when we tested there in December so I imagine it’s going to be a lot cooler. We also tested with the old bike there but, hopefully, we’ll get a chance to dial the good bits into the new CBR600RR and get it working around Kyalami. It’s pretty bumpy and rear grip was an issue during the test, so it’s going to be another weekend of hard work, especially if we’re going to start getting the results we need.” Anthony West said: “I have put the Monza race behind me, and I’m fully focused on the race in South Africa this weekend. We will have to work hard in the qualifying sessions to make the necessary development on our bikes. We are still trying to find some more acceleration at the moment. I hope this weekend will be a more positive one than the last and I’m going out to get a good result.” Mark Aitchison said: “I am really looking forward to starting the South Africa race weekend, as I want to make up for the bad result I had during the Monza race. I am determined to gain some valuable points in order to improve my position in the championship standings. We have the bike working really well and I hope we find a good setting for the Kyalami circuit.” Matthieu Lagrive said: “I came away from the last round in Monza extremely disappointed and so I’m hoping to have a much more positive weekend in Kyalami. The track is new for us but we know the bike has a very good level of performance and we are confident we can find soon a good set-up for the race weekend”. Miguel Praia said: “With Kyalami being a new circuit to most of the riders, it will be a good chance for us to show our real potential, everyone will have the same time to learn and adapt to the circuit. After taking 12th at the last round I feel there is momentum behind me now and the top ten is my next goal.” Gianluca Vizziello said: “I am satisfied with my result in the last race in Monza, it looks like we have finally found the way forward. I hope I can continue the progress. The Kyalami circuit is a new track to me. I hope I can adapt to the place quickly, and go home with a good result.” More, from a press release issued by Team ParkinGo Triumph BE1 Racing: Team ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Racing is already in South Africa, where round six of World Supersport will start on Friday. The WSS returns for the first time at Kyalami in seven years. The last race took place in 2002 and was won by raining champion Andrew Pitt. The same year, Gianluca Nannelli made his debut in the WSS for team Rox in the saddle of a Ducati. Kyalami is a 4263 metres long track that seems to adapt to the features of the Daytona 675. However, the track is practically new to the majority of the riders. In fact, except for Ten Kate, none of the teams will be able to use previous data for bike setup. Performing well in practice sessions is therefore fundamental. GIULIANO ROVELLI – TEAM MANAGER: “The result at Monza should spur the team to improve. It’s very important that we find a good setup in the first practice session so that both McCoy and Nannelli can start the race from the first rows. I also hope our Daytona 675 will be highly competitive on such a technical track and I’m confident both our riders will perform at their best”. More, from a press release issued by InFront Motorsports: Kyalami gears up for World Superbike return The Hannspree FIM Superbike World Championship is back in action again just a few days after last weekend’s dramatic and exciting races at Monza. On Sunday evening all the bikes and ancillary material used at Monza were crated up and air-freighted to South Africa. This weekend the Superbike and Supersport teams will be getting to grips with the Kyalami circuit on the outskirts of Johannesburg, which will again be the venue for a world championship round for the first time since 2002. The track is situated on the plateau surrounding South Africa’s most important city, and it has always been the scene for some spectacular racing, with a prestigious list of winners over the years. In the five editions held there from 1998 to 2002, Colin Edwards is the most successful rider with three wins to his name, following by Pierfrancesco Chili, Carl Fogarty and Troy Bayliss, the last winner, on 2 each and one for Ben Bostrom. The layout of the track, measuring 4.263 metres, is technically challenging. It has 11 left-hand curves and 6 right, and a difference in elevation between the various parts of the circuit, that makes it difficult for riders and forces them to remain fully-focussed throughout the entirety of the lap. Back in December all the manufacturer appointed test teams, except for Kawasaki, tested here, and unofficial times were well under the previous records of 1’41″321 for Colin Edwards (Honda) in pole position and the 1’42″178 of Noriyuki Haga (Aprilia) as fastest lap. The quickest rider in the tests was Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), ahead of Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike) and Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox), the only men to dip under the 1’40″ mark. Haga, Troy Corser (who won’t be present this weekend), Ruben Xaus, Regis Laconi, Gregorio Lavilla and Broc Parkes are the only riders in the WSBK championship to have raced at Kyalami. MOVE ON UP FABRIZIO With his win at Monza (the first for an Italian there for 9 years) and second place in race 2, Michel Fabrizio can now lay claim to being a true title contender. The win was a weight off the young Italian’s shoulders and after his performance in testing here, Fabrizio now hopes to be able to cut loose in the rest of the season. Two more positive results could help him become the third force in the title battle between Haga and Spies. HAGA BRUISED, SPIES ATTACKS Haga’s impact with a pigeon at 250 kph in the early part of the race, followed by his crash at the Parabolica, left him with a severe hematoma on his right arm. The points leader underwent physiotherapy but will possibly not be at 100% this weekend, and this could play into the hands of Spies. The Texan missed a big opportunity at Monza to take maximum points after running out of fuel in race 1, but in any case managed to make up 6 points on his rival. HONDA, APRILIA AND BMW MAKE PROGRESS The Italian Round at Monza showed Honda, Aprilia and BMW all making good progress. The Japanese manufacturer was back on form again thanks to two excellent thirds from Ryuichi Kiyonari and a fourth and fifth place from Jonathan Rea, who will be aiming to capitalize on that in South Africa. Aprilia were in the top 6 over the weekend thanks to Max Biaggi, who would surely have obtained a podium had he not received a penalty for cutting the chicane. Positive signs are also coming from BMW, with Ruben Xaus taking two top 10 scores at Monza to make up for Troy Corser’s bad day. The Australian will be replaced by his fellow Aussie and the team’s tester Steve Martin for the Kyalami race. ABSENT AT KYALAMI Suzuki Alstare probably came off the worst from Monza after losing their number 1 rider Max Neukirchner, who was taken out at the start of race 1 and who suffered broken and dislocated bones to his right leg. The most optimistic of forecasts points to the German being out of action for two months, just in time for the last race before the summer break at Brno. In the four races he will miss, the Alstare Brux team has opted to replace him with Fonsi Nieto, who rode for the team in 2008. Brendan Roberts, who was also involved in the same incident, will also be absent after suffering considerable bruising but the Australian presents no broken bones. Team Guandalini will replace him with Gregorio Lavilla. SUPERSPORT Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha World Supersport) picked up his second win of the year at Monza and the British rider is rapidly becoming the man to beat in the championship. His chief rivals before the season start, Andrew Pitt and Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) are struggling. The two champions are however the only riders to have tested at Kyalami and this could give them an advantage. The only man able to keep up with Crutchlow at the moment is Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda), also a two-time winner this season, while Spain’s Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Provec) is making major progress. Kyalami will be an important test for Crutchlow in view of the remaining rounds of the season, while Yamaha, with their R6, have finally produced a valid alternative to the dominating Honda machines after years of trying. More, from a press release issued by Stiggy Racing Honda: Stiggy Team Ready For South-African Round The Stiggy Racing Team has landed in South Africa for the sixth round of the Superbike World Championship in Kyalami, and was greeted by the Management of Honda South Africa, in their Johannesburg headquarters on Wednesday afternoon. President Yoshiaki Nakamura, a former racer himself, credited the Stiggy Racing team on their successful performances in the Superbike series so far, and was delighted to present the fastest Honda Superbike rider, Stiggy Racing’s Leon Haslam, to the staff at his Johannesburg office. When asked about the successful development of the Stiggy Racing Honda Superbike, Leon Haslam noted that they had started the development on a stock-standard machine only four months ago, but succeeded to turn it into a competitive Superbike that already holds four podium finishes to it’s tally after five WSB rounds. Haslam heads to Kyalami fourth in the championship, after another strong performance in Monza last weekend. Despite qualifying low on the grid, and retiring from the first race due to issues with the electronics of his bike, he pushed hard all weekend and secured a perfect seventh place in the second race. The competition arrives at Kyalami a step ahead in preparation, as they tested their machines at the track in the official Pirelli test in December last year. But Haslam is no stranger to the track himself, and is confidently looking forward to starting the preparations ahead of Sunday’s race. With the bikes crated immediately after the Monza race, the first qualifying sessions on Friday will prove particularly important to find the right set-up for the machines at the technically challenging South African track. Haslam will be flying solo in Kyalami, as team mate John Hopkins is still unfit to compete after the injuries he sustained in Assen, and will not be replaced for the South-African round. Anthony West, currently fifth in the championship rankings, suffered a disappointing race in Monza, but will mount a fresh charge for the podium this weekend. Team mate Gianluca Vizziello showed improved his performance and took a 14th place home. Leon Haslam, WSBK: ” We had a bit of a mixed weekend in Monza. I didn’t qualify well, but was able to make my forward in the races. Unfortunately, I had to withdraw from the first race in the last laps with a technical problem, but finished the second in seventh. I am looking forward to racing here in Kyalami. I’ve done some testing here in 2006, but that was before they made some changes to the track and took out the chicane. As soon as the bikes arrive from Monza, we’ll start preparing and work towards raceday. Most of the teams have tested here this winter and start with a slight advantage, but I am sure I can join the fight for a good result here this weekend “. Anthony West, WSS: ” I have put the Monza race behind me, and I’m fully concentrating on the race in South Africa this weekend. We will have to work hard in the qualifying sessions to make the necessary development to our bikes. We are still trying to find some more acceleration in the bikes. I hope this weekend will be a more positive one than the last one, I am going out to set a good result “. Gianluca Vizziello, WSS: ” I am satisfied with my results in the last race in Monza, it looks like we have finally found the way forward. I hope I can continue the progress. The Kyalami circuit is a new track to me, but I hope I can adapt to the track quickly, and set a good result in the race here this weekend “. Johan Stigefelt, Teammanager: ” I am looking forward to the next round in South Africa. It will be interesting to see what our bikes can do on this technical track with its differences in elevation. We have never been here before, but the track looks great, and I am confident we can chase some good results for both sides of the garage. After the Monza round, everyone in the team is fired up again and ready to set out for a good performance “.