FIM 2007 Superbike World Championship Santamonica Circuit Misano, Italy June 16, 2007 Superpole Results: 1. Troy CORSER (Yam YZF-R1), 1:34.948 2. Troy BAYLISS (Duc 999F07), 1:35.104 3. Noriyuki HAGA (Yam YZF-R1), 1:35.458 4. James TOSELAND (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:35.572 5. Max BIAGGI (Suz GSX-R1000K7), 1:35.578 6. Lorenzo LANZI (Duc 999F07), 1:36.026 7. Ruben XAUS (Duc 999F06), 1:36.131 8. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suz GSX-R1000K7), 1:36.206 9. Roberto ROLFO (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:36.489 10. Max NEUKIRCHNER (Suz GSX-R1000K6), 1:36.548 11. Regis LACONI (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:36.661 12. Michel FABRIZIO (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:37.141 13. Marco BORCIANI (Duc 999F06), 1:37.535 14. Shinichi NAKATOMI (Yam YZF-R1), 1:37.646 15. Fonsi NIETO (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:37.914 16. Jakub SMRZ (Duc 999F05), 1:38.010 More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: Front row start for Toseland at Misano Following a tough second day of World Superbike qualifying at the Misano World Circuit today, HANNspree Ten Kate Honda’s James Toseland will start tomorrow’s 24-lap race from the front row of the grid. Team-mate Roberto Rolfo qualified in ninth position for a third row start. The difficulties that the team experienced yesterday continued in this morning’s second official qualifying, which saw Toseland and Rolfo finish in ninth and eleventh positions respectively. However, this afternoon’s Superpole session proved to be the turning point as both riders pushed hard aboard their CBR1000RRs to secure their grid positions. Rolfo was the first HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider to enter the one-lap dash and despite a slight mistake on the second to last corner, he achieved an impressive lap time of 1’36.489. Toseland followed and put in a bold performance to finish his lap in 1’35.572, securing fourth position on the grid. He completes the line-up alongside Troy Corser, Troy Bayliss and Noriyuki Haga. Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager: “It’s been a difficult couple of days for the whole team. James has worked really hard today to improve his time and in the end it worked out. To get the front row after the problems we have had is a real surprise and we have to be pleased with that. Roby just missed out on the second row, but he has also improved a lot today. He put in a really good lap in the Superpole and I know that he wants to do well in front of his home crowd. All in all, I think we are ready to race.” James Toseland: “To be honest, we have really struggled for not having tested here. I went out on Friday and with the problems with the bike I knew it was going to be a long weekend. We had quite a lot of problems and problems that were not easy to fix, but the team has worked really hard and I’ve really tried to concentrate on what the problems are so we didn’t waste time making any wrong decisions. In the end we got it together, which was nice, and to get on the front row is a bonus. I just have to focus on tomorrow and I hope I can bring in the result.” Roberto Rolfo: “Today has been a lot better than yesterday because we worked very hard this morning to improve the feeling in the front of the bike. This is very important for this track. I am running almost a second faster than I was yesterday and I feel more confident now. Free practice was very important because we were working towards a good race set-up and I think we are almost there now. Unfortunately, the last part of the Superpole was difficult because I was pushing very hard and just made a mistake on the last section. Anyway, the lap time was not too bad. It’s a pity not to be on the second row, but I will try hard for a good start to the race and hopefully I can get a good result.” More, from a press release issued by Scuderia SC Caracchi: POSITIVE DAY AT MISANO FOR SCUDERIA SC Once more a splendid sunny day characterized the World Superbike meeting at Misano Adriatico. In Superbike Jakub Smrz scored the main goal to be allowed to contest the Superpole session and tomorrow will start from the fourth row for two races which promise to be very hard for the riders if the temperature will go on so high. “During Superpole I’ve been not able to improve my qualification lap time, but with the afternoon’s high temperature the bike was not performing as for morning’s practice.” has been the final comment by Jakub Smrz “Tomorrow morning during the warm up session we’ll try to find some solution to high temperature problem; the bike anyway looks to have a good set up and I’m confident in a positive performance tomorrow. If tomorrow’s temperature will go on to be so high to run the two races it will be rather hard, but it will happened for everybody and I’m physically ready for that.” Alessio Brugnoni got a very high improvement his performance from the debut laps on Friday morning and he’s quite satisfied for this first experience in a world championship event. “If I would judge my performance just looking the final grid position I couldn’t say to be very satisfied.” said Alessio Brugnoni after the practices. “On the contrary I’m rather happy because, during the practice sessions I improved my lap time about 4 seconds, from the 1’47.513 of first free practice session to 1’43.600 final qualifying time. This bike is quite different from the machine I’m used to, but I’m going to know it better and tomorrowfor the race I’ll try to get a good result.” But the best result for the team today has been the new that Gianluca Nannelli will be able to ride at Brno’s round next July 22; after a final control doctor Costa has given the permission and Nannelli will be fit to race in Brno where, in the past season, he finished onto the podium. More, from a press release issued by Xerox Ducati: BAYLISS (DUCATI XEROX) JUST MISSES OUT IN SUPERPOLE BATTLE OF TWO TROYS AT MISANO Misano Adriatico (Italy), Saturday 16 June: Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) just missed out on the top slot in an exciting Superpole session at a scorching hot Misano. Fastest in overall qualifying and with a green light after the first two splits in the one-lap dash, Troy then made a small mistake in the final section and had to settle for second behind Troy Corser (Yamaha), who notched up a record 40 pole positions. Lorenzo Lanzi also produced a good performance today, recording third-quickest time in qualifying and then finishing a positive sixth in Superpole. “I’m pretty happy with how everything went, I did a good lap but made a bit of a mistake in the last part. I didn’t have a good line through the fast part and then coming onto the straight I didn’t put the gear in properly and missed it twice and that cost me pole but never mind, I’m on the front row and that’s important” declared Troy. Troy also spoke about a curious incident in the final few minutes of the morning’s second qualifying session during a head-to-head battle with Corser. “I did my lap and saw I was fastest so came in with a couple of minutes left but my chief mechanic Moro gave me the sign like I was second and I thought ‘Oh no! Now I’ve got to go out again!’ so I rolled straight though for a fly-by and put in a good lap to end up quickest in the session”. “It’s a pity not to start from the front row, but today in Superpole I just couldn’t go any better than sixth place so I’ll be starting from row 2. Here it’s vitally important to start up at the front at this circuit because the first corner is very close and the first part of the circuit is really tough” commented Lorenzo. “We worked well all day to improve, we didn’t alter the set-up very much but found a few things that I like. I’m particularly pleased because I lapped more or less at the same times as in the tests. The feeling with the bike is good and all the team did a great job today”. TIMES: 1. 1. Corser (Yamaha) 1m34948s; 2. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1m35.104s; 3. Haga (Yamaha) 1m35.458s; 4. Toseland (Honda) 1m35.572s; 5. Biaggi (Suzuki) 1m35.578s; 6. Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) 1m36.026s; 7. Xaus (Ducati) 1m36.131s; 8. Kagayama (Suzuki) 1m36.206s; etc. More, from a press release issued by Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra: 2007 Superbike World Championship Round 8, Misano, Italy Final qualifying, Saturday 16th June 2007 Circuit: 4.180 kms Conditions: Dry, mostly sunny SECOND ROW FOR MAX AND YUKIO. Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra riders Max Biaggi and Yukio Kagayama finished Superpole qualifying with the fifth and eighth fastest times and will start tomorrow’s pair of 24-lappers from the second row of the grid. For Max, it was a considerable improvement from yesterday, while Yukio’s placing was down to a bike setting that didn’t work out. Troy Corser (Yamaha) rode a faultless lap to take his 40th Superpole, with fellow countryman Troy Bayliss (Ducati) second, Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) third and series leader James Toseland (Honda) fourth. MAX – 5th, 1:35.578 I think we’ve made a little improvement from yesterday and I feel that the track condition is getting better because there’s more rubber down. But, I’m not entirely happy because of the general track condition is not good and that should not be the case with a new track. The layout is not too bad but there are not many overtaking places, so it’s important to get a good start in tomorrow’s races. Of course, I don’t know what the conditions will be like tomorrow, but it’s going to be a day of two, long and hard races for sure. We’ve got good pace – as good as the others – so I’m sure it’s going to be tough out there. Tyre wear is not going to be such a big problem for us, but once again that will depend on the conditions. I don’t think we’ll make too many changes in the warm-up tomorrow, just see how the conditions are and only change something if we think there’s a real need. We found out that yesterday’s cutting-out problem was something to do with a bit of the wiring, so that has been sorted out and it shouldn’t happen again. YUKIO – 8th, 1:36.206 This afternoon we made an adjustment to the engine and the feeling wasn’t so good. Because of that I couldn’t push as hard as I wanted to and couldn’t do a faster Superpole lap. For tomorrow we will change the setting back and I should be able to go quicker. We have already chosen our tyres for tomorrow and I think they should be able to last the distance without too many problems. The first corner is not far from the start line, so it’s important I make a good start – especially as this track does not have many overtaking places. I have got to be right up with the leaders right from the start or else it will be very hard to make a good result. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: Corser Takes His 40th WSB Pole for Yamaha Troy Corser put in an excellent performance in today’s Superpole to take the 40th pole of his WSB career, and Yamaha’s third of the season, while his team mate Noriyuki Haga will start third on the grid in tomorrow’s races. In this morning’s qualifying session Corser and Bayliss fought an entertaining battle with the duo swapping between first and second place throughout. Corser was the first rider to break into the 1’35 lap times this weekend, matching his best time from last months test here, but Bayliss quickly followed suit to retain first place. Haga spent qualifying searching for his best race setting and took a second off his best time from yesterday to finish in seventh. Haga was the first of the Yamaha Motor Italia team mates to go out in the Superpole session and he posted a 1’35.458 to go top of the leader board in front of Toseland. It was when Corser came out and achieved the first 1’34 lap time at the new Misano circuit that Haga was knocked down into second place. Bayliss, the last rider out, was unable to beat Corser’s time and slid into second between the two Yamaha riders. Corser goes into tomorrow’s race with 13 podiums to his name at Misano. If he climbs the podium twice more tomorrow he will match the all-time record of the highest number of podiums achieved at a single circuit. The current holder of this record is Carl Fogarty with 15 podiums at Assen. Shinichi Nakatomi made good progress in this morning’s qualifying session to improve his time by almost two seconds. He qualified in 15th position, giving him his second chance of the season at Superpole. He was second out and put in a solid ride to move up a place on the starting grid to 14th. Troy Corser (1st – 1’34.948 – Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) “It is good to finally get my fortieth pole; I haven’t been consciously chasing it but we’ve been so close over so many race weekends that it was starting to seem a bit elusive. I’m really happy with the bike; we’ve got it working well and we’ve also found a good race tyre for this circuit. Because I had concerns yesterday with tyre life in this heat I did a long run in this morning’s session to reassure myself and it seems fine. Tomorrow is going to be a tough race. It’s going to be tough on the tyres because of the heat. I like the track with the new direction though. It’s technically more challenging but that’s good. I’m just really pleased with how the day has gone, from practice to Superpole.” Noriyuki Haga (3rd – 1’35.458 – Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) “Today has been okay for me, not perfect though. Superpole went okay but I haven’t yet found the right set-up for tomorrow. This evening I need to think more about my suspension settings as I made some changes and it hasn’t fully worked. The hot weather conditions only leave me with one tyre option really but I am happy to be on the front row as I know I can make a good start.” Massimo Meregalli (Team Coordinator, Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) “We are on the front row with both troy and Nori, which is a really good result for us as well as the riders. We still have a bit of work to do, especially on Nori’s side but we are ready for a good battle tomorrow.” Shinichi Nakatomi (14th – 1’37.646 – Team Yamaha YZF) “I’m very happy with my qualifying result for today. It felt good to take part in Superpole and I am pleased I was able to make up one starting place. It is very hot here but I am getting to know the circuit quite well. I hope I can do well in the races tomorrow for my team.” More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: MR SUPERPOLE DOES IT AGAIN – FOR THE 40TH TIME! Troy rode a blisteringly superb Superpole lap at Misano this afternoon and his time of 1:34.948 was more then enough to take Superpole. What made it more special was that it was 40th pole position and it was at a circuit that he has had many successes before. Even though Misano is now a ‘new’ circuit because it runs clockwise instead of anticlockwise, Troy got on with right from the start – though the recent test helped as well. Second quickest today is Troy Bayliss (Ducati), with Troy’s team mate Noriyuki Haga third and series leader James Toseland (Honda) fourth. TROY – 1st, 1:34.948 I’ve been stuck of 39 poles for a little while now, so it’s great to finally hit the big forty! I’ve been close to getting it many weekends this year, but someone has always just pipped me at the last minute and I was beginning to wonder if was ever going to happen. I’m really happy with the bike; we’ve got it working well and we’ve also found good race tyre for this track. Because of my concerns about tyre life, we did a long run in this morning’s session to reassure myself and it all seems fine. Tomorrow is going to be two tough races for sure, because of the heat and because this track is very physical. I like the new direction of the track though. Technically it is more of a challenge, but that’s good. Now I am looking forward to the races tomorrow and a couple of good results.