From a press release issued by Pirelli: ROUND 2 PHILLIP ISLAND, 29th Feb-2nd Mar 2008 RACE PREVIEW Phillip Island, Australia The Phillip Island racetrack is perhaps the most famous in the world of motorcycle racing, thanks to its wonderful location, with riders appearing to ride straight into the stunning seascape as they charge over the start-finish line. Phillip Island is also a racetrack with fabulously challenging elevation changes, long left hand corners which – more than in any other track – put stress the rear tyres’ shoulders. Once again ‘PI’ is the second overseas race in succession, with the paddock circus relocating to Australia directly after the Qatar season opener. While Pirelli technicians start explaining to the teams the different solutions and planning the overall weekend job, service personnel will start unloading the tyre containers and creating different areas for storage of the different tyre specs. And not forgetting, clearing some space for the used tyres after each track session. The total amount of tyres now here in Australia is more than 4500, with two front and three rear solutions for the Supersport class and three front and four rear solutions for the Superbikes. As always, intermediates and rain tyres are added into the mix, and also – for the 16 Superpole riders – one spec of qualifiers. In SBK an interesting solution for the team to consider is the 200 rear tyre, wider than the usual 190 section and particularly suitable for the fast, long corners of PI, where great cornering stability is needed – and therefore a wider contact patch is desirable. This bigger cross-sectional area provides the best traction during acceleration, when the bike is still at a high lean angle. For the same reason Pirelli has brought some 125 section fronts (compared to the usual 120s) which also assure more stability at full lean. As always the pre-race favourites are the home riders, the “Aussies”, and above all the two Troys who delivered a great show to us last season. After Qatar, in the top contenders also feature the two privateer Ducatis of the Sterilgarda Go Eleven team, with Biaggi and Xaus, and obviously Yamaha man Haga, who suffered bad luck in Losail and is seeking revenge. Also Nieto and his Suzuki, after winning race two in Doha, and his team mate Neukirchner – who has proved in the past that he is comfortable on this racetrack. There may be more work to do for the three Honda Ten Kate riders, still working on their new bikes. In Supersport, the situation is even more exciting, with the Honda Ten Kate riders looking for their first points, as is 2007 PI WSS race winner Foret, who ran out of fuel in the last lap in Losail, after leading almost the whole race. Parkes is looking for a victorious home race after his win in Doha, but also Fujiwara, Nannelli and Roccoli are aiming for a good Aussie result. The big question here is the weather – with forecasts offering an unpredictable picture and probably another race with changeable conditions and the unavoidable difficulties in choosing the best set up and tyre combination for the races.