QATAR ROUND KICKS OFF THE TWENTIETH YEAR OF WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP Losail (Qatar), Wednesday 21st February: The Losail International Circuit in Qatar is the venue for the opening round of the 2007 racing season this weekend as the World Superbike Championship moves into its twentieth year. Very little has changed for last year’s championship-winning Ducati Xerox Team, which goes into the new season with renewed hopes of success, judging by the pace set during winter testing by double world champion Troy Bayliss and his Italian team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi, who line up together again. On the technical front the successful Ducati 999 machine, which enters its final year of world championship racing, also remains the same, apart from an updated version of the idle control in the electronics package. With title sponsor Xerox also on board for a third successive year, the Ducati Xerox Team is gearing up for what promises to be another splendid year of World Superbike racing. And the opposition will not be lacking, coming once again from the four Japanese manufacturers, who will be present in 2007 with brand-new or updated machinery, but it is the rider front that gains the most with the arrival of four times 250cc world champion Max Biaggi in the Suzuki line-up, partnered by Yukio Kagayama. 2006 runner-up (and former world champion with Ducati) James Toseland is back on his Honda, this year partnered by Italian Roberto Rolfo. In the Yamaha Italia team, the ever-strong Noriyuki Haga is joined by double champion Troy Corser, while Kawasaki have Régis Laconi and Fonsi Nieto competing in a two-rider team. A strong outsider could also be Ruben Xaus in the Sterilgarda Ducati team, while two more Ducati 999s will be in the hands of Jakub Smrz (Caracchi) and Dean Ellison (Pedercini). Bayliss and Lanzi have been setting the pace during the winter testing, the Australian resulting quickest in Qatar and smashing the unofficial lap record at his home circuit of Phillip Island, the venues for the opening two rounds. Despite these exceptional performances the 37 year-old from Taree remains circumspect about this weekend’s race. “Honestly one of the hardest races of the year is going to be the first race in Qatar” declared Troy. “I’m not going to keep my hopes up too much because I know how difficult it’s going to be for us. If we happen to win both races, we will certainly be in a great position because it’s going to be nearly impossible to do that. Testing there in December looked great on paper but if I come onto the straight first and there’s somebody within half-a-second, they’re going to pass me. I have to make a break and that’s very hard to do. You can try as hard as you can to get away, but you chew your tyres, it’s going to be a difficult situation.” “We’ve basically got the same package as we had last year with a few minor changes but I would say that the team has worked really hard on the settings over the winter. We’ve had really good tests since we stopped at the end of last year and Pirelli have worked well and come up with some new tyres. Now we’re just waiting for the first race but we’re confident we can do a good job with what we’ve got.” A reconfirmed Lorenzo Lanzi has been in terrific form over the winter, recapturing the sort of performance that initially earned him his place in the factory Ducati squad for 2006. Now it just remains for the 25 year-old Italian to confirm those testing results in this year’s races. “I feel quite calm about the season ahead because the winter tests went very well so I am relaxed and in the right frame of mind. We worked really well in the tests, trying a lot of new solutions so let’s see if we can have a good championship. I set great times everywhere and this really gives me a lot of motivation. I will need that because there are a lot of fast riders out there. The guys to beat will be those on the Suzuki, Yamaha and Honda, we’re all going to be up there fighting for the win. I’ve always gone pretty good at Qatar, even though I had that bad crash last year, so we’ll be looking to start off well in tomorrow’s first practice session.” THE CIRCUIT Name: Losail International Circuit Length: 5.380 km Pole Position: right Finish line length: 1068 metres Race distance: 2 x 18 laps/96.840 km STATISTICS: Best lap: Bayliss (Ducati), 1m59.696s (2006). Lap record: Haga (Yamaha), 2m00.061s (2006). Superpole: Bayliss (Ducati), 1m59.696s (2006). 2006 RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Toseland (Honda); 2. Bayliss (Ducati); 3. Pitt (Yamaha). Race 2 – 1. Corser (Suzuki); 2. Bayliss; 3. Haga (Yamaha). TV COVERAGE: British Eurosport (UK): Friday 23 February, 1745 Superpole (as live); Saturday 24 February 0815 race 1 + race 2 (live). Eurosport (Pan European): Saturday 24 February, 1400 race 2 (as live); Eurosport 2 (Pan-European): Sunday 25 February, 1100 race 1 + race 2 (delayed); La7 (Italy): Saturday 24 February, 0930 race 1 (live), 1320 race 2 (live). More, from a press release issued by Suzuki Racing: Team Alstare Suzuki’s Yukio Kagayama and Max Biaggi line up for this Saturday’s opening round of the 2007 World Superbike Championship at Qatar on brand new GSX-R1000 Suzukis and positive after winter testing. Kagayama knows Qatar well – in testing and race action – but new team member Biaggi will be experiencing it for the first time in race mode: The Roman has been out of race action for over a year but has steadily improved with every test so far and his class cannot be denied. All the eyes of the world will be on him during this first race and expectations will be high. Last year, Kagayama was on course for a terrific victory in the first race, but was taken out by his friend Noriyuki Haga when the flag was almost in sight. Team mate at the time, Troy Corser, salvaged Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra’s pride in race two with a superb win, so Qatar is regarded very positively by the team. Max Biaggi: “I am very happy to be back in racing and want to say thank you to Francis and the team for all the support they are giving me. Although Superbike is a new adventure for me, I am looking forward to it. There are many good riders here – and many have a lot of Superbike experience – so I know that my job is not going to be easy. But I’m ready for this new challenge and will give it everything I’ve got.” Yukio Kagayama: “A new season and a new bike and I am happy to be back on the race track to race instead of just testing. Of course, testing is very important – especially with a new bike – and we will see how we will go in these first races. There are many good riders in this series and I know I have to be more consistent this year if I am to have a chance of the title. My plan is to be fast, win races or take as many podiums as possible and try not to crash on a race day!” Francis Batta – Team Manager: “We have worked hard over the winter months and we hope that the hard work will pay off. There are always some problems to be solved with a new bike and that’s normal. We are very happy to have Max in our team this year and think he may surprise a few people. Yukio has the ability to do well, especially if starts the season like he finished it last year. He and Max are both determined and committed and we are all looking forward to another exciting year.”