Superbike riders are going to take back to the track after the summer break for the 11th round of the WSBK that will take place at Donington Park. On the British track Ruben Xaus and Max Biaggi will be determined to bring home good results in both the race. The Roman rider will attempt to carry on his good moment since he finished on the podium for three race in a row, as like he did twice during the past season when he took a third place in race-1 and a second final position in race-2. As well Ruben Xaus is burning to get back on his bike after the bad fever which forced him to skip Brands Hatch race. Donington will be crucial for the Superstock 1000 championship too, that’s why Alex Polita will be forced to play his cards right. A big result would increase his chance to win the trophy after his first win in 2006. His gap from the leader is 15 points and the Pirate’s goal is the highest step of the podium. RUBEN XAUS: “I’m back with enthusiasm. I would like to give my team a good result after the stop at Brands Hatch. Last year I came close to the podium, getting the forth final position”. MAX BIAGGI: “I really like Donington Park and I enjoy riding on it especially in the first part where there is a double corner to be faced with a lot of self-confidence and a stable motorbike. Well, I really like the track although the rain is always around the corner. Last year I finished both the race on the podium: I was second and third, hence this week-end I expect to make a good performance too”. ALEX POLITA: “This race will be vital for me. The pack fighting for the final victory is made by four riders, me included. Mistakes are forbidden from now on. All the next race will be very enjoyable and I will try to give my 110% in order to defeat my rivals. I don’t have good memories of this track: last year I got injured”. More, from a press release issued by Honda: British World Superbike at Donington Wednesday September 3, 2008 World Superbike and World Supersport preview CHAMPIONSHIP RESTART FOR HONDA RIDERS AT DONINGTON Ryuichi Kiyonari (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) became the second Honda Superbike rider to secure victory in 2008 when he scored a double win at the most recent round at Brands Hatch, but it is his team-mate Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) who has most to play for at the forthcoming Donington Park race, round 11 of the 14 round series.. Checa is currently fourth in the championship chase, 101 points from leader Troy Bayliss, but only 19 points from second place. With eight individual points scoring races left to run, and thus 200 points for any rider who can win all eight, there is still everything to play for at the top of the table. The back-to-back British races are an unusual characteristic of the 2008 WSB season, but last time out double British Superbike Champion Kiyonari was the major beneficiary of intimate track knowledge, as he secured Honda’s third and fourth wins of an intense season. Kiyonari is eighth in the championship, involved in an immediate battle for a top six finish, but with enough races left to take him into the top five should he replicate his Brands Hatch form on any kind of consistent basis. Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR Jr) is finding his full pace on a Superbike now the season has extended past its midpoint, and he is 16th in the ranking. He sits just behind experienced riders Gregorio Lavilla (Vent-Axia VK Honda CBR1000RR) and Karl Muggeridge (DFX Corse Honda CBR1000RR) who are the top Honda privateers at present. Lavilla is 14th, on 83 points, Muggeridge one place behind on 64, and Sofuoglu has 47. A tough 2008 for Roberto Rolfo (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR1000RR) sees him 19th at this point, as his one-man squad marches towards ever-greater competitiveness with every passing weekend. Chris Walker (Vent-Axia VK Honda CBR1000RR) will be back in action for the same team he joined at the Brands Hatch round, and he has posted two points scoring finishes in two attempts. He is only one point behind Japanese star Shuhei Aoyama (Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR) while Aoyama’s team-mate Jason Pridmore (Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR) continues his quest for points once more. Checa said: “I like Donington a lot; it’s a circuit that I have a good feeling for, even though I have never been on the podium there. The weather is always a little unpredictable, but I’m comfortable on the Honda CBR1000RR in the wet, so I’m not too worried. We have some work to do and the team and I will try to find a good setting as early as possible, rather than learning the track, which I had to do at Brands Hatch. But I’ve had a good rest since then, so I’m feeling relaxed, refreshed and ready to go back to work.” Kiyonari said: “Brands Hatch was fantastic for me, especially after winning the Suzuka 8-Hour race the week before, but I felt very tired after! I went home to Japan for a rest and felt very relaxed. I like Donington, although it is quite a difficult circuit, with a very fast part followed by the very tight area around the hairpin. Before the season, I thought that Donington would be my strongest circuit but, after winning at Brands Hatch, I will be trying extra hard for another victory here.” Sofuoglu said: “It has been a very difficult year for me emotionally, and the events of Brands Hatch brought back memories of my brother. But I have spent a month with my family in Turkey and my batteries are recharged and I feel full of energy now. I like Donington and will be trying very hard for some positive results in the last part of the season.” Rolfo said: “I’m really happy to return to racing after such a long time off. Donington is one of my favourite circuits as it’s very fast, with its hills and technical curves. In the past I’ve always obtained good results here, in both MotoGP and also in 250 GPs. After Brno and Brands Hatch races I’m more confident with my bike set-up and in Donington I want to enter the Superpole and fight for the podium. I would like to take good results for my team and for all my sponsors.” Muggeridge said: “Maybe we have a better chance of scoring good results this weekend than most weekends so far because of the work the team has been able to put into the bike and the set-up over the summer break. They have worked through a lot of the issues we have had, and we are all well rested now and ready to go. There is a very high chance that the weather is going to be wet most of the weekend, so we have to allow for that in our planning.” After the Donington weekend the 12th round of the championship gets underway at Vallelunga between 19 and 21 September 2008. World Supersport Championship Pitt And Rea Enter Donington 1-2 In the Championship Rankings Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) leads his team-mate Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) in the contest for ultimate WSS championship honours this season, with four time race winner Pitt on 149 points and recent two-time race winner Rea on 117. Pitt and Rea even competed in a British Supersport Championship round at Donington earlier this year, to help in their preparations for this pivotal event in the 13-round WSS season. The Honda CBR600RR has once more proved to be the most consistently quick machine in the WSS field this year, and thus only five points behind Rea is another Honda runner, Josh Brookes (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsports Honda CBR600RR), fourth with 112 points. His fellow Australian rider Broc Parkes is just ahead on 113 points, on the first non-Honda. The return to Britain and Donington Park will be a poignant moment for all in the WSS paddock after the loss of their fellow rider Craig Jones (Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR) after a fatal crash at the Brands Hatch World Supersport race last month. His name is fifth in the championship standings at the start of the Donington round, and a tribute to Jones is planned for race weekend. Craig’s team-mate Miguel Praia (Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR) will continue his championship campaign at Donington. Robbin Harms (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsports Honda CBR600RR) was in contention for the outright race win at Brands until he slid out of contention, and at Donington he has high hopes of securing his second podium finish of the season. After some dismal early fortunes and occasional injury, three strong finishes for Gianluca Nannelli (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR600RR) have pushed him up to 11th place overall, and he has his sights set on a top eight place. His latest team-mate, replacing the injured regular Tommy Hill, is Russell Holland (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR600RR) who has already posted a seventh place finish. Last time out at Donington, during a miserably cold early-season weekend in 2007, the race winner was eventual champion for Honda, Kenan Sofuoglu, who took an aggregate race from four following Honda riders. Pitt said: “Of course, since Brands Hatch Craig Jones has been on everyone’s mind but I’ve spoken to his family a couple of times and I’ve received a lot of encouragement from his father. I haven’t had too much of a holiday but it feels like it’s been a long break and it’s time to get back on the bike again. I like Donington, but before we did the wildcard in the British Supersport championship this year, I hadn’t been there for about five years. But that test went pretty well and we were fast in practice, although the bike developed a slight electrical problem in the race. I’m looking forward this weekend and will be trying to focus on the championship again.” Rea said: “After the events of Brands Hatch, I’ve had a good month off, just relaxing with friends and family, but I really cannot wait to get back on the bike. We had a good test at Donington earlier in the year and the team’s Honda CBR600RRs were on the pace straight away. My spirits and confidence are high right now and making up the points difference is still achievable. I need to throw caution to the wind slightly and do everything I can to win again.” Brookes said: “It has been great to have a break in the season and it happened in the right time. I have been back home in Australia, which is the most relaxing thing for me. Now its time to get back on the bike again and get my head down for the last few rounds. I’m 37 points behind Pitt so I need to step it up and perform in every round, and taking as many championship points as possible. I have the championship title within reasonable reach and I will do my best to challenge for it.” Harms said: “This break gave me a chance to recharge my batteries. I’m ready and well prepared for the rounds to come. Donington is a place I like, I have ridden there many times before and most of the times ridden successfully. Last year I finished second in the race and hopefully this year I can match that result. I’m in eighth place at the moment with four rounds to go. I need to pass the finish line in every remaining round in order to catch up in the championship rankings and I’m definitely ready for it.” Nannelli said: “Donington is a nice circuit, when it doesn’t rain. I hope the weather will be good enough for a dry race. In any case, I’ll try my best during the races but also during practice on Friday and Saturday. It’s very important to reach a good starting position on the grid in Donington. I’ll try my best to finish in the first five positions in Sunday’s races.” Holland said: “This is another new circuit for me. Our main goal is to be very fast from the first practice day and I must do my best. I know we have the opportunity to obtain very good results here in Donington. I’m determined to do the best I can to fight for victory, for my team and my sponsors.” On September 21st the WSS competitors gather at Vallelunga in Italy for round 11 of the 13 round championship.