WORLD SUPERBIKE AT ARAGON. ON A FRIENDLY TRACK MAX BIAGGI SEEKS TO CONTINUE THE POSITIVE TREND AFTER HIS DOUBLE WIN AT MISANO. EUGENE LAVERTY IS EAGER FOR REDEMPTION WITH HIS SIGHTS SET ON THE PODIUM. Aragon, 27 June 2012 The Superbike weekend at Aragon promises to be a heated one, and not only because of the expected temperatures. With the double victory in Misano at the end of two commanding performances, Max Biaggi has shaken up the rankings, extending his lead over the rivals, who will be looking to challenge the leadership of the Corsair straight away. Even the tests which were held last week on the Spanish track showed that Max Biaggi is in grand form – focused and motivated as always. In any case, the races will be another story: the tight battle for the top positions will have an ideal venue in the technical and fast track of Aragon Motorland. Max Biaggi is calm, but does not underestimate the difficulties: “The Misano races left a nice memory. The team is working well and I’m more focused than ever, even though the tests last week didn’t go as we’d hoped, so we’ll have to get the most out of what we have to work with. Those who were unlucky at Misano will certainly be eager to redeem themselves, so I expect the qualifying sessions and races to be extremely tight, where small details and motivation will make the difference”. Eugene Laverty used the tests at Aragon to improve the feeling with his RSV4 after the difficulties during the last race weekend. The rider from Toomebridge sees the podium as his minimum goal, a result that is within reach if Eugene is able to find the right pace straight away. “I’m entering Aragon in a positive frame of mind following our successful test at the same circuit last week. We discovered the electronics problem that has hindered us over the past three rounds and so I aim to be back on the podium again as we were in Assen and Monza. In one hand I’m angry that this issue has cost us severely in the championship fight but at the same time I’m relieved that at last we’ve fixed the problem. We are only at the halfway point of the season and so there are plenty of races left for me to fight my way back into the top five in the championship”. More, from a press release issued by Effenbert Liberty Racing Team: A LONG HOT SUMMER! The SBK is going to come back on track for the eighth round of the World Championship that opens the summer series of Grand Prix, the Effenbert team is ready to race after the plunge into the sea of admirers for the Sirolo event and the Wdw. Everything is ready for the eighth round of the Superbike World Championship that it will to be held in Spain on the the Motorland Aragon circuit next weekend and will see the Liberty Racing Team with its three riders Sylvain Guintoli, Jakub Smrž and Maxime Berger motivated to repeat the results of the beginning of the season. During the break after the Misano GP of the production-based racing series championship, meantime the Effenbert Team came on track before to Sirolo and then to the WDW 2012, the two spectacular events that had allowed to the fans to come into contact with the Czech crew “pure racing” mood. Now the concentration returns highest for the Spain Gp where in 2011 Liberty Racing ran the 2 races with alternate fortunes. Sylvain Guintoli in fact concluded both manches in the eleventh position, while the team mate Kuba Smrž, that recorded good times during the qualifying sessions, unluckily crashed down in both races. On the wake of the great achievements obtaining at the beginning of 2012, the Liberty Team looks at Aragon animated by good intentions, it’s up to Guintoli, Smrž and Berger turn them into performance worthy of the Liberty team. About the track The Aragon circuit will host for the second time the Superbike Grand Prix of Spain, the track measurs 5,344 meters. Best known as the Motorland Aragon circuit has 17 turns, 10 right and 7 left-and thanks to a straight of over 1,300 meters opposite the box offers to the riders several overtaking opportunities. Performance guaranteed by the layout of the track and then of course the Spanish public that crowds always numerous Superbike races. More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: FIXI Crescent Suzuki is heading to the Motorland Aragon circuit for the eighth round of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship with renewed vigour following positive tests at the Spanish circuit last week. Leon Camier and John Hopkins completed a day of thorough testing on their Yoshimura-powered Suzuki GSX-R1000s – after the first day was hampered by inclement weather. The whole team will now be looking to kick-start the season, as the second-half of the calendar gets underway following a mid-season break. Camier already has plans on new ideas for the weekend, after he and his crew assessed the data from the test and found some important pointers. While team-mate Hopkins will be racing at Aragon for the first time, the test gave him an insight into what to expect at the 5,344m circuit and is keen to get back on track with an increased confidence and an improved state of fitness. The Motorland Aragon circuit is situated approximately 120kms from Zaragoza and is one of the newest tracks on any race calendar. It is an ultra-modern facility which has its roots firmly established in a solid history of street racing in the nearest town of Alcaniz – which hosted road-race events between 1963 and 2003. The eni FIM World Superbike Championship uses the 5,344m variant of the circuit, which has a very long straight of almost 1.8 kilometres. The layout is technically demanding with 17 turns throughout its anti-clockwise rotation, with ultra-quick sections leading into fast, narrow corners and a combination of turns that suit a flowing riding style. The circuit features undulating sections, blind crests and downhill corners. The Motorland Aragon circuit is certainly a very challenging track for riders, machines and tyres alike, but also one that looks like providing plenty of entertainment for the fans. FIXI Crescent Suzuki takes to the track on Friday morning for the first free practice session, before qualifying gets underway in the afternoon, when both Camier and Hopkins will be aiming to secure their positions in Saturday’s Superpole. Sunday’s two races make up round eight of this season’s Championship, with the first event getting underway at 12.00hrs local time (11.00hrs BST). Leon Camier: “We definitely left Aragon last week with a lot of info and data and we’ll start the race weekend trying some ideas based on what we found. I don’t think we’re far from where we want to be at all, but the competition is so tough these days and the smallest of differences can be crucial. Firstly we have to qualify well and if we can do that, I feel that we can run with the leaders. Aragon is a tough circuit, but enjoyable to ride as long as you have a good bike set-up. So far, our FIXI Crescent Suzuki GSX-R’s base setting has been pretty good, so we’ll start working from that position, hopefully be more competitive in Superpole and get a good grid position.” John Hopkins: “After the tests in Aragon last week, I stayed in Spain and spent some time near Barcelona. It was great to finally catch up with some good weather, have some rest and do some training. I swam every day and find it one of the best forms of training for me. At the Aragon tests, we found a much better base setting for my FIXI Crescent Suzuki and, most importantly, made some big steps rebuilding my confidence. I really enjoyed riding the Aragon circuit and I’m looking forward to going there again, with the mindset of turning my poor first half of the season into a strong and positive second half.” Jack Valentine – Team Manager: “Losing a day to the weather in the tests last week was a bit of a shame, but I’m very happy with all the hard work Leon, John and the team put in. It was good to see John getting more and more confident and I think he’ll be back to his old self again this weekend. Our main focus this weekend is for our riders to qualify in the positions where they should be – on the front two rows of the grid. If they can do that, I am confident they can compete with the front runners.”