THE ALTHEA RACING TEAM AND ITS 2011 CHAMPIONS CHECA AND GIUGLIANO AIM TO CLOSE THE SEASON IN STYLE THIS WEEKEND AT PORTIMAO Portimao (Portugal), Tuesday 11th October 2011: The Althea Racing Team have already secured four championship titles, scooping the Superbike rider’s and manufacturer’s titles and the Superstock 1000 rider’s and manufacturer’s titles in spectacular style, and all in the space of a few hours, at the recent Magny-Cours round. The squad, still on an emotional high after such a successful 2011, hope to close the season in similar style and all three of Althea Racing’s riders, Carlos Checa, Davide Giugliano and Lorenzo Baroni, will be aiming for the top at the closing round of the respective championships, taking place at Autodromo Internacional do Algarve this coming weekend. Checa, in his last appearance at the Portimao track late last year, just missed out on the podium, finishing both races in fourth position. He will certainly be looking to improve on that this time around. He will be joined in the garage this weekend by Davide Giugliano who, having taken the STK 1000 title for Althea at the previous round, will wildcard in the SBK category for the same team. Ernesto Marinelli, SBK Project Director for Ducati will return to his role of race engineer to support Davide in the Althea garage over the weekend. Lorenzo Baroni will hold down the fort in the STK 1000 category, looking to improve on his overall points total. Currently lying in sixth position in the standings, mathematics shows that he cannot reach fifth but he will nevertheless be doing his best to finish the year in the best possible way. The Althea Racing Team will formally receive the championship trophies at Sunday’s championship prize-giving ceremony. Carlos Checa “I won’t be changing anything this weekend, even if the situation has changed slightly in that I’ve won the title. The challenge for me is to treat this like any other race. I will be a little more relaxed of course but not too relaxed! I really like the track and think that we arrive there with the right ingredients to be able to make two great races. I will give it my all in order to take the greatest possible satisfaction at the end of the day. If we can win one of the races that that would of course be the perfect end to what has been, for me, a perfect season.” Checa’s Superbike form at Portimao: 2010: Race 1- 4th, Race 2 4th 2009: Race 1 7th, Race 2 DNF 2008: Race 1 2nd, Race 2 7th Davide Giugliano “We go to Portimao prepared for this new experience. It won’t be easy but I know I have a team behind me that is 100% supportive and this gives me confidence. The team is very motivated, having won the SBK title and to be in the garage with Carlos will give me even more motivation. I’m also very happy to have Marinelli as my engineer this weekend to have the chance to work with him, and other technicians who have in the past worked with greats such as Bayliss, is a real opportunity for me and I want to make the most of it. With regard to possible results, I prefer to keep quiet but I think we can make two good races.” Ernesto Marinelli “I am very happy to make a one-off return to a role that I love, to help Davide in what will surely be a high-pressure event for him and in recognition of the title that he has brought to Ducati. I hope that my experience will help him in the next step along a career path that I trust will be long and as full of success as this year has been.” More, from a press release issued by Infront Motor Sports: Algarve circuit hosts season finale Portimao (Portugal), Tuesday 11 October 2011 The 2011 FIM Superbike World Championship makes the long trek down to the southern tip of Portugal for the final round of the season this coming weekend at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. The Portuguese circuit, which joined the WSB calendar in 2008, is back as season closer once again this year after a break in 2010 when it hosted round 2. Although the title is already in the hands of Carlos Checa, who sealed the deal at Magny-Cours, the last round still offers numerous points of interest. The first is represented by the return of Max Biaggi. The Aprilia Alitalia rider, who suffered a broken bone in his left foot at the Nürburgring, an incident that put paid to his hopes of winning the title again, comes back at the track where he scored a double win in his successful 2010 season. In the battle for third place in the championship, the ‘Pirate’ will have to deal with Eugene Laverty who is two points ahead of him in the standings. The Irishman, together with his team-mate Marco Melandri, who clinched the runner-up slot, is making his final appearance for the Yamaha World Superbike team, as the Japanese manufacturer will officially withdraw at the end of the season, but unlike the Italian Laverty has not yet confirmed his 2012 plans. Leon Haslam, the rider who will share the BMW Motorrad Motorsport garage with Melandri next year, is moving on from an encouraging Magny-Cours round, that saw him finish third and fourth in the two races. Haslam has also had some measure of success at Portimao, having twice finished second last year. Jonathan Rea on the other hand is preparing to wipe out the memories of a disastrous French Round, where he crashed in race 1 and then had an electronics problem in race 2. The use of the new ride-by-wire system on his Castrol Honda CBR1000RR from Imola onwards has in any case given a competitive boost to the young northern Irishman, allowing him to challenge once again for the leading positions. For Michel Fabrizio the situation is more complicated following a negative end to the season. The Italian, who has only scored 11 points in the last four rounds, will clearly be looking for some good results at a track that saw him winner two years ago. The Alstare man will not be the only Suzuki rider on the track this weekend as Yoshimura Suzuki reappears on the scene for the third time this year following two outings at Phillip Island and Miller Motorsports Park. Once again Australian Joshua Waters hopes to continue the Japanese team’s good progress. Following a few problems at Magny-Cours, Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia) wants to get back on track to finish what, for the young Italian, has been an extremely positive season. His fellow Italian Roberto Rolfo (Kawasaki Pedercini) will however have to miss the final round after an incident on his bicycle at home that led to him picking up a broken kneecap. Making his debut in the Superbike World Championship at Portimao will be Davide Giugliano, who won this year’s FIM Superstock 1000 Cup with the Althea Racing Team: the young Italian will be in the same garage as world champion Carlos Checa, and with Ducati Corse’s Ernesto Marinelli on hand as his race chief. Points (after 12 of 13 rounds): 1. Checa 467 (2011 Champion); 2. Melandri 360; 3. Laverty 283; 4. Biaggi 281; 5. Haslam 216; 6. Camier 194; 7: Guintoli 179; 8. Haga 170; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Ducati 491 (2011 Champions); 2. Yamaha 415; 3. Aprilia 399; 4. BMW 261; 5. Kawasaki 209; 6. Honda 162; 7. Suzuki 162. World Supersport After Chaz Davies’ title win for the Yamaha ParkinGO team the race is now on for second place in the championship. With Davies’ exhibiting unrivalled speed and consistency all year, his main rivals have had more tortuous seasons, the net result of which is that no less than five of them could end up second in the championship, after the final round in Portugal on October 16. Second place is currently held by Fabien Foret (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), a rider with a win to his credit at Imola. His 144 points are eight more than Kawasaki ‘twins’ Broc Parkes and David Salom (Provec Motocard.com Kawasaki). Each of these two riders has 136 points, with Parkes ranked higher currently as he has taken a win in 2011, at Misano, while Salom is looking for his first ever victory. That winless situation is the same one faced by Sam Lowes (Parkalgar Honda) who has come close more than once but is still looking for a top score in his full rookie season. Currently on 129 points, he needs a lot of cards to fall his way on the final day of high speed poker to take second place overall, but the young British riders is determined to go for it in any case. The last rider who is looking at an admittedly remote chance of second is Luca Scassa, Davies team-mate. Being 23-points behind Foret, Scassa would have to win, then see his other rivals have disastrous racedays for the only Italian rider in the top six to make it a Yamaha ParkinGO 1-2 at the top of the table. Having won three races already, Scassa is certainly capable of doing it again in the final day of school. Points (after 11 of 12 rounds): 1. Davies 181 (2011 Champion); 2. Foret 144; 3. Parkes 136; 4. Salom 136; 5. Lowes 129; 6. Scassa 121; 7. Ellison 83; 8. Marino 78; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Yamaha 226; 2. Honda 214; 3. Kawasaki 177; 4. Triumph 36. Superstock 1000 In the absence of newly-crowned champion Davide Giugliano, who has been rewarded by Althea Racing with a promotion into Superbike for the final round of the season, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Racing Ducati) is called upon to defend the runner-up slot from Lorenzo Zanetti (BMW Motorrad Italia). Just seven points separate the two Italians, while Sylvain Barrier, Zanetti’s team-mate, and Niccolò Canepa (Ducati Lazio MotorSport) are right behind. Canepa, who won this title in 2007, is the only top 5 rider not to win a race this year, but he will not be the only one hoping for success at the final round. These include Lorenzo Baroni (Ducati Althea), Andrea Antonelli (Honda Lorini), Australian Bryan Staring (Kawasaki Pedercini), German Markus Reiterberger (BMW Garnier alpha Racing) and South African Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki Lorenzini by Leoni). Points (after 9 of 10 rounds): 1. Giugliano 171 (2011 Champion); 2. Petrucci 144; 3. Zanetti 137; 4. Barrier 112; 5. Canepa 109; 6. Baroni 70; 7. Antonelli 67; 8. Reiterberger 64; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Ducati 215 (2011 Champions); 2. BMW 173; 3. Kawasaki 83; 4. Honda 75; 5. Yamaha 16. Superstock 600 The UEM Superstock 600 European championship class is looking like it will be set to stun this coming weekend, as three riders go for championship glory – all with greater or lesser chances of outright success. Leading the championship currently is Australia’s Jed Metcher (Yamaha MTM-RT Motorsports Team), from American Joshua Day (Revolution Racedays Kawasaki) and the only other rider capable of taking the championship title, Dutchman Michael van der Mark (Honda Ten Kate Junior Team). For Jed he just has to finish anywhere ahead of his two rivals and he has won for sure, and many other potential scenarios would also see him crowned. Day, 19 points back, is a slightly tricky situation. He has to finish second or first in Portugal in any case, and see Metcher no score or low score, if Joshua stands any chance of taking the title home to the USA. For Michael the sums are easy, the task difficult. He has to win the race to go level on points with Metcher, and see Day finish third or worse. The most bizarre outcome possible is that if van der Mark wins, Metcher no scores and Day misses the top two steps, then Metcher and van der Mark end up on the same total of 137 points, but van der Mark would be champion as he has more race wins than Metcher already – three to Metcher’s one. Points (after 9 of 10 rounds): 1. Metcher 137; 2. Day 118; 3. Vd Mark 112; 4. Lanusse 101; 5. Lombardi 86; 6. Russo 83; 7. Duwelz 67; 8. Covena 50; etc. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha: Yamaha WSB team get geared up for the grand finale in Portimao The Yamaha World Superbike Team sets out for the 13th and final round of the 2011 World Superbike Championship, this weekend at the Autodrome Algarve, Portimao. As the riders set up for the final two races of the season Marco Melandri is in second place in the overall standings, a significant 77 points ahead of team-mate and fellow WSB Rookie, Laverty in third place on 283 points. Just 2 points separating Laverty from 2010 WSB champion Max Biaggi, the Yamaha rider is heading to Portimao eager to keep a firm hold on his third place finish. Both Yamaha riders will be looking to complete their rookie season for Yamaha in style and add to their numerous achievements this year. Melandri has pocketed a spectacular 14 Podiums and 3 race wins thus far while Laverty has reached a remarkable 5 podiums and 2 race wins, following the impressive double at the factory teams home track in Monza. The Northern Irish rider aims to get his hands on the Tissot Superpole, the last of the season up for grabs to add to his list of achievements. This will be the second outing at Portimao this year for Yamaha World Superbike team, having tested at the Portuguese track at the beginning of the 2011 season. The new 4.658 km circuit, built is 2008, is often compared to classical layouts such as Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps due to its constantly undulating nature. Despite the lack of track time due to bad weather during the tests back in January, Melandri and Laverty got a chance to experience their powerful R1 on the downhill slopes, right hand turns, swooping corners and wide straights that the Portuguese circuit has to offer. Marco Melandri Yamaha World Superbike Team “We tested in Portimao at the beginning of the year, shortly after having shoulder surgery. The weather was bad on the second day so in the end I didn’t have very much track time to get comfortable with the layout. It seems like a technical and a difficult circuit, but I really like it. I hope it doesn’t rain this weekend so I can make the most of Friday and Saturday to learn my lines so I can be strong enough to fight for a win on Sunday.” Eugene Laverty Yamaha World Superbike Team “It was nice to be back on the podium again in Magny Cours and I aim to continue that momentum in Portimao. It would be nice to end the season with a race win, it’s been quite a while since my victory in Monza. Max will probably be back and fighting for third place in the championship, but I’ll be giving it my best shot to stay where I am now and end the year third in the overall standings. I’m looking forward to the final battle.” Portimao technically speaking according to Silvano Galbusera Marco Melandri’s Crew Chief “Portimao is a nice but tricky race track. We tested there at the beginning of 2011 but Marco was just back after having shoulder surgery and the weather was bad so we didn’t have sufficient time to find a suitable chassis setting. Marco needs to spend the first day learning the lines of the circuit; it’s a very technical track which usually suits Marco’s style of riding so I am confident he will do two very good races on Sunday. We need to spend some time working to improve the set-up of the bike with a full fuel tank. At the moment Marco is struggling at the beginning of the race but mid-way, as the machine gets lighter he can push harder. Our target is to finish this championship in second and third place in the standings. Marco is already a secure second so lets hope Eugene can manage to beat Biaggi”. Portimao technically speaking according to Frankie Carchedi Eugene Laverty’s Crew Chief “We will be looking to finish the season on a high and more importantly keep third position in the world championship. Portimao has a bit of everything, from a long straight and hard braking, to a very technical middle section with extreme elevation changes. We will be working hard on race pace and hopefully we can get Eugene his first pole position and a free Superpole watch!” Andrea Dosoli – Yamaha World Superbike Team Manager “This is the last race of the season and the last race for the Yamaha WSB team so we are more motivated than ever to ensure we leave an amazing memory of a winning team behind us. We intend keeping a firm hold on our second place in the Manufacturer’s standings and second (already confirmed) and third places in the rider’s standings, being the only two 4-cylinder machines in the top three. Marco became familiar with the track just one month after his shoulder surgery, he will make the most of Friday and Saturday to push hard and improve his set-up with the aim of two podium finishes on Sunday. I’m confident that Eugene will do a fantastic job on Sunday; he knows the circuit very well from his relationship with the venue in the past in World Supersport, was fast there in the tests in January and has a great team behind him.” 2011 World Superbike Portugal Portimão 11/10/2011 Circuit Length: 4692 Fastest Lap Ever: 1’42.092 (Cal Crutchlow, 3/28/2010) Last Years Winner: Max Biaggi WSS champion steps down from cloud nine and sets out for the last round of the season at Portimao Freshly crowned World Supersport Champion Chaz Davies is still on a high after recently clinching his welldeserved first Championship title, after 15 long years of hard work, just 2 weeks ago in Magny Cours. The Champion is now gearing up for the 12th and final round of the 2011 season, this coming Sunday at Portimao. Chaz Davies earned his spectacular championship title by delivering an impressive five race wins and seven podiums on the winning YZF-R6 on which Cal Cructhlow snatched his 2009 WSS title at the season showdown in Portimao. The 2011 Champ is setting out to complete the final race in style and hopes to deliver yet another race victory to add to his collection. Team-mate Luca Scassa intends completing the season on the winning streak in which it commenced. The Italian was back on flying form at the last round in Magny Cours, taking his R6 to the chequered flag and claiming the top step on the French podium. With just 23 points separating his from Foret in second and 15 points from Salom in third place, Scassa is determined to battle to the bitter end and climb up the championship standing to conclude the season in the top three. Following an impressive eight wins out of 11 races so far, Yamaha holds a 12 point advantage in the Manufacturers standings with 25 points up for the taking at the season showdown in Portimao. The Yamaha ParkinGo team is also leading the team standings by 30 points and intends fighting hard to complete the season with yet another title under their belt.