LEON AND SYLVAIN READY FOR PORTIMAO After their successes in Australia, Team Suzuki Alstare riders Leon Haslam and Sylvain Guintoli are looking forward to getting back on track in Portimao and chasing more podiums. This is the third time that the Autodromo do Algarve is hosting a round of the championship, though this year the race takes place in spring instead of its usual end of season date in autumn. After the opening round in Phillip Island, Leon is leading the standings by nine points, with Sylvain fifth, and both are determined to do well next weekend at the 4.592 kilometre circuit. Leon was in superb form in the preseason tests at the track in January and Sylvain too showed that he had become very comfortable with the 2010 GSX-R1000 Suzuki Alstare bike. Both riders are eager to continue their attack on the championship and also keep Suzuki at the top of the manufacturer’s standings. Leon Portimao is a fantastic circuit and probably the most demanding one on the calendar. I think all riders like it because it is such a challenge and when you do a good lap there, the feeling is fantastic. From the very first time I jumped onto the Suzuki I knew that the bike could be a contender and so far, I think we have proved that. The whole team has given me tremendous support and we are all now looking forward to another good weekend in Portimao. I went well there in the preseason tests and I will be chasing two more podiums next weekend for sure. Sylvain I am very pleased with my start to the season and I cannot tell you how happy and comfortable I am with my bike. Of course, every time I go out on it I learn a bit more, but already I am thinking of podiums and that is a good feeling to have. It has been a long break since the first race and I am itching to get back in the saddle and racing again. Portimao is a great track, but very, very challenging. I think it is one of the best ractreacks in the series and I will be doing my very best to get on the podium there. More, from a press release issued by Infront Motor Sport: Second Round Shaping Up To Be Another Classic After the first round of the championship delivered thrills and excitement all the way at Phillip Island last month the eyes of the world will be focused on Portimao this coming weekend, as WSBK reconvenes at another highly rated and very popular venue. The Autodromo Internacional do Algarve is a remarkably feat of modern engineering and design, with the undulating track layout and circuit facilities both coming in for high praise. The track was completed in time for the WSBK weekend in 2008, making this the third competitive visit to the 4.592 km circuit for some of the riders and teams. An official test in January of this year saw virtually all Superbike and Supersport World Championship teams set laps in changeable conditions, meaning the one universal wish from a strong 2010 entry is for sunshine on the Algarve coast for the next few days. All TO PLAY FOR AND ALL IN PLAY: A total of 17 regular SBK riders have already scored points of some kind in 2010, and all of the seven competing manufacturers – Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha – have also scored points in the Manufacturers’ Championship at the first attempt. Leading the Riders’ Championship now is Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare) who won the first race in Australia, and in doing so took his first WSB win, in his first full factory ride. He is followed in the early rankings by Michael Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) and PI second race winner, privateer Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati). As events in Australia showed very clearly, there will be any number of official or supported private teams who should be capable of podium finishes at some stage in 2010. The combination of experience and relative youth, and the closely regulated technical rules mean that opportunities will be available for all. This coming weekend should be no exception. PACK OF ACES: The line-up of riders at Portimao features no fewer than 15 who have won at least one SBK race in their careers, plus two former champions in this category, and four other riders with a major world title to their name. Joining the fray for the first time in 2010 will be Makoto Tamada, riding as a stand-in for the injured Roland Resch in the Reitwagen BMW Team, teaming-up with Andrew Pitt for this weekend only. If we look to last year as a guide to form in 2010, Fabrizio won the second race in Portugal, while still active SBK riders Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox), Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) all scored podium finishes on the weekend. An even better gauge of how this weekend should turn out is possibly the results of the official test at Portimao, between 22 and 24 January this year. Rea topped the rankings then, followed by Haslam, Shane Byrne (Althea Ducati), Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda Team), Fabrizio and James Toseland (Yamaha Sterilgarda team). ON THE UP: BMW Motorrad Motorsport riders Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus will be out for an overall improvement on their PI results, with Xaus in particular keen to turn around his recent fortunes, having not started either race in Australia. Joining Biaggi in Portugal is Leon Camier, the least experienced of the seven British riders in WSB, but a British-based French rider has already made a real mark in his rookie season. Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki Alstare) finished a close fourth in one race last time out, sixth in the other, and is therefore an impressive fifth overall. FIGHT FOR FITNESS AND FORM: Chris Vermeulen (Kawasaki Racing Team) suffered some knee tissue injuries in a crash at Phillip Island but the tough Aussie is determined to ride in Portugal, alongside his team-mate Tom Sykes. Max Neukirchner (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) is expecting better results for his new team this weekend, while Pedercini Kawasaki duo Matteo Baiocco and Roger Lee Hayden are determined to move into points scoring places this time out, as is Vittorio Iannuzzo (SCI Honda Garvie Image). Promising opening weekends for Jakub Smrz (PATA B&G Ducati) and Lorenzo Lanzi (DFX Ducati) in Australia didn’t bear too much fruit so each will be ready for bigger helpings now. Joining the championship at this round is Luca Scassa, on his Supersonic Racing Team Ducati. Points (after 1 of 13 rounds): 1. Haslam 45; 2. Fabrizio 36; 3. Checa 34; 4. Haga 27; 5. Guintoli 23; 6. Rea 23; 7. Biaggi 19; 8. Corser 16; 9. Camier 10; 10. Lanzi 9. Manufacturers: 1. Ducati 45; 2. Suzuki 45; 3. Honda 23; 4. Aprilia 19; 5. BMW 16; 6. Yamaha 7; 7. Kawasaki 3 SUPERSPORT: Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) dominated the first race of 2010 at Phillip Island and the last race of 2009 Honda at Portimao, and he is out to repeat the trick at his team’s home circuit this weekend. His toughest opponents will surely be Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Provec Motocard.com) but in a field with real quality in its upper echelons, riders like Fabien Foret (Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki), Davide Salom (ParkingGO BE-1 Triumph), Katsuaki Fujiwara (Kawasaki Motocard.com) and many others will have a real chance of top five places. Arguably the rider most keen to shine is local competitor Miguel Praia (Parkalgar Honda) who wants to put in a career best finish in front of his local fans. Matthieu Lagrive (ParkinGO Triumph BE1) joins the championship for this round, alongside regular rider Chaz Davies. Points (after 1 of 13 rounds): 1. Laverty 25; 2. Lascorz 20; 3. Sofuoglu 16: 4. Salom 13; 5. Foret 11; 6. Roccoli 10; 7. Harms 9; 8. DiSalvo 8; 9. Praia 7; 10. Rea 6. Manufacturers: 1. Honda 25; 2. Kawasaki 20; 3. Triumph 13. SUPERSTOCK 1000: The Superstock classes kick off at this the first European race of the 2010 season, with the Superstock 1000 category featuring a number of possible champions and a vast number of competing manufacturers. Maxime Berger (Ten Kate Race Junior), Davide Giugliano (Team 06 Suzuki), Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia) and others are well established riders in this competitive class, but with some top riders moving up from 600 Superstock racing, and a field of over 30 riders in total, Superstock at Portimao is set to be fight all the way. SUPERSTOCK 600: A mass exodus of the top riders in 2009 means that the European Superstock 600 class is completely wide open in 2010, for riders of Honda, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha machinery. Nine countries will be represented by at least one rider in this class where the machines on show most resemble the streetbikes they are based on. A new era of Superstock 600 is beginning and new stars are about to be born. More, from a press release issued by Gino Rea’s publicist: Gino raring to go at Portimao After Rea’s 10th place finish in his debut World Supersport race at Phillip Island, Gino is ready for the second round at Portimao, in Portugal. Not feeling confident with his chassis set up in Phillip Island, Gino and his chief tech Andrew Stone went to a track day at Brands Hatch on Monday to try a find a better base setting to help for Portimao. The test went well and they got through lots of different settings with Gino coming away feeling like his “old-self”. Gino said: ‘Yesterday we went to Brands Hatch to test some new suspension out, it went very well. I was riding a borrowed CBR600 from a friend called Gene, it was just a completely stock bike with stock gearing, but the chassis is the same as my race bike, so we could try the suspension and get a similar feeling to what my race bike would give me. Andrew done a fantastic job and we had a good setting by lunch time, which we just played about with from then on dialling little problems out. I felt like I was back to my old self, I could make the bike do what I want to do instead of just managing the bike like I was in Phillip Island. ‘We only used a Pirelli SC2 tyre which is harder than what we use in World Supersport, but we definitely made the most of it. I got the tyre worn out so much, on the right hand side you could see the tyre mouldings and canvas coming through! It was good fun sliding and drifiting it though! ‘Im really looking forward to Portimao, it’s one of my favourite tracks so I hope we can get a good set up there as quick as possible, then bring back another good result for the team.’ The Portimao World Supersport race will be live on Eurosport/ Eurosport 2 on Sunday 28th March at aprox 1.30pm UK time. More, from a press release issued by Honda: Portuguese World Superbike at Autodromo Internacional Algarve Tuesday 23 March 2010 World Superbike and World Supersport preview REA AND LAVERTY GOING FOR GOLD ON THE ALGARVE The Algarve coast is the location for the Portimao circuit, the host venue for the second round of the 2010 Superbike and Supersport World Championships, making it the first round of the year in Europe. Already a popular venue for racing and testing, the relatively new Portimao circuit packs in a huge variety of rider challenges along its 4.592km length, with frequent changes of elevation and blind corner entries. An official winter test session has taken place at Portimao, in late January, meaning that for most riders the track will not be an unknown quantity on their 2010 machines. For Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) Portimao was a happy hunting ground in 2009, having secured a second and third place on his Honda. The recent January tests saw Rea top the Superbike times, while in the Supersport division Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR) set the fastest time in his chosen category. Laverty is the Supersport championship leader after his convincing victory at Phillip Island last month and he will be hoping for a repeat of his 2009 WSS victory in Portugal this weekend. Another Supersport championship hopeful for Honda, Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR), is another proven winner at Portimao back in 2008, although he could not test in January because of an ankle injury picked up in winter training. Currently Sofuoglu is third in the championship, on 16 points to Laverty’s 25 and Kawasaki rider Joan Lascorz’s 20. Max Neukirchner (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) was unable to compete the way he wanted to in Australia, but with more track time at a circuit he has tested at on his Fireblade he feels able to get back to his very best. Portuguese WSS rider Miguel Praia (Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR) is out to have the best race of his career at home this weekend, having scored a top ten last time out in Australia. Vittorio Iannuzzo (Squadra Corse Italia Garvie Image CBR1000RR) is chasing his first points of 2010 in Portugal, after finishing just outside the top 15 twice in Australia. South African rider Sheridan Morais (ECHO CRS Honda CBR1000RR) has been called on to replace regular rider Broc Parkes, as the Aussie continues his recovery from a pre-season training injury. Michele Pirro (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) was disappointed to have had bad luck in Australia but is now completely ready to make his mark in round two. The talented Italian rider was fast in pre-season testing at Portimao and should be well ahead with his machine set-up even before the first practice session starts. Massimo Roccoli (Czech Intermoto Honda CBR600RR) has his focus on a top six finish, while his new team-mate Gino Rea (Czech Intermoto Honda CBR600RR) is particularly keen to race at a circuit he knows well for this first time in his rookie season. After Portimao the next round takes the entire paddock to Valencia in Spain, with raceday falling on 11 April. WSB RIDER COMMENTS Jonathan Rea: “Australia was tough, but still satisfying. It was important to come away from there with some solid points, so a fourth and a sixth wasn’t too bad. I feel like we’ve blown the dust off the season now and it’s really got started, especially now we’re heading back to Europe. I’ve been working hard away from the track on my fitness and conditioning and I know that the guys have been working equally hard back at the workshop, getting a bike together that we know can work at European tracks. I like Portimao, and we had a good test there in January, so we’ll be looking for podium finishes as that’s what we need to be doing now. I’m not naïve enough to think anything’s going to be easy, but I’m optimistic for the weekend. Max Neukirchner: “I’m now really ready for another race weekend in Portimao it’s a track that I like very much and we have tested there twice. We found something in the very last hour of the last test that we think will work there, but there are some new electronics to try as well. Of course, I am looking for an improvement on the results in Australia, a very big improvement. But nevertheless I’m happy having being able to do two races. Physically I have never felt that fit after a race weekend like after that race.” Vittorio Iannuzzo: “The Australian race was difficult because we are arrived in Phillip Island without testing many of our parts. But the race was useful to understand the way to increase our competitiveness. After three weeks of work since Australia my team is ready to improve the settings of the electronics, which is our main area of focus now. I am sure that there will be the good chance for a positive race in Portimao because of the effort put in by the technicians.” Sheridan Morais: “I will be riding for the team at Portimao and Valencia because Broc is still recovering from his injury. Broc is getting better at a good pace but the team just wants him to heal properly before he comes back into action. I am looking forward to the weekend in Portugal and being back in SBK racing.” WSS Rider Comments Eugene Laverty: “We know from last year’s race and the January test, as well as our performance at Phillip Island, that we are in good shape. We will continue to work hard on set-up. You never get bored at Portimao; it is that sort of a circuit and there is always something to improve. I think Joan and Kenan will be strong. In Portugal if you can do one fast lap you can probably do them for the whole race. It is great to get the support of the local fans in Portugal; they really get behind the whole team. I have been training hard in the nice spring weather and I am refreshed and ready for the race.” Kenan Sofuoglu: “After Australia I was very disappointed with the result. But, after a few days, I was happy, because if we can achieve a solid podium finish with the problems we had there, then we can do even better at other circuits. So we will go to Portimao to at least get another podium but, of course, our plan is to win the race. Unfortunately, I couldn’t test there in January because of my broken ankle, but I have been working hard on my fitness and feel good now. We have some new electronics to use at Portimao, so I am looking forward to the weekend.” Michele Pirro: “In Australia we worked hard through the practice and qualifying sessions to get a front row starting position, but then the race was two different stories. I am really looking forward to a weekend in Portimao without these misadventures and, if everything is OK, I think we could be fighting for the leading positions again and get a good result. I have continued my training and now I feel really fit. I will face up to the race weekend with the maximum concentration, because in this category the first step to achieving victory is not to make mistakes.” Massimo Roccoli: “We had a few things to overcome in Australia and I had to ride my second bike in the re-started race, but we were still inside the top six. Back in Europe we have had time to prepare so I feel we can do well in Portimao.” Miguel Praia: “Racing at home for Parkalgar is a big responsibility as I am the only Portuguese rider in the World Championship. But this is my third time racing here and I am experienced with this. I am also more relaxed after showing in a normal race situation in Australia I can compete for a finish in the top 10, equalling my best result ever. I want to make a better race and fight for a similar performance as our test here, when I finished fourth. I need to make baby steps, as I have never finished in the top five before. It is a realistic target because I have a fantastic bike and team but I will need the race of my life to achieve it.” Gino Rea: “At the previous round in Australia I didn’t know the track, but I have ridden in Portimao a few times and always gone well there. We should go well and be a step ahead of where we were going into PI. The track was new to me and it was my first race in Supersport, but at least I have been round Portugal before and always done well. That has given my confidence a boost. Our aim is to find good chassis setting right away and run closer to the front than we did in Australia.”