Team Suzuki Alstare news 2011 Superbike World Championship Preview: Round 3, Assen, NL – 17th April FABRIZIO LOOKING FOR LUCK IN ASSEN The third round of this year’s Superbike World Championship takes place at one of the circuits most favoured by riders – Assen. The circuit has been a fixture on the calendar since 1992 and this year sees the 20th anniversary of World Superbikes there. Although the circuit was modified in 2006, Assen remains essentially a flowing track partly thanks to the fact that many of the corners are banked. Team Suzuki Alstare rider Michel Fabrizio has not had much luck in Assen since his third place in race one in 2006. Since then, his best finish has been a fourth in 2009, so the young Italian will be hoping for a big improvement at the Dutch circuit this year. Michel Other riders say how good Assen circuit is, but it has never been much of a happy hunting ground for me – well not since 2006 that is. I’m not exactly sure why I have never got on with the circuit as well as some of the other riders, but the track and I have just not gelled – for whatever reason. Mind you things will be a bit different this year because, after years on a twin, this time I will be on a four cylinder bike. The characteristics are very different to a twin and I am hoping that the bike will suit the circuit and I will enjoy the ride. Because the track has a ‘flowing’ nature, once again it will be important to get a good, stable set-up before pushing too hard. If you push too hard at this track, you will end up going slower, so I need to keep calm and just get into a good rhythm. If I can do that and qualify well, then I am sure I can challenge the top guys. I was happy with my performance in the second race in the last round and felt I was working well with the bike, or maybe the bike was working well with me! I need to get a good set-up for the bike early on in practice and qualifying and then I will be able to run with leaders. The competition is very, very hard this year and often just fractions of a second can make the difference between the front row of the grid and the third. I think this is probably the toughest season in World Superbike history, but I am enjoying the challenge. I like a good fight and certainly intend on improving on my last year’s results. 2010 Results Race 1: 1 Jonathan Rea (GBR-Honda), 2 James Toseland (GBR-Yamaha), 3 Leon Camier (GBR-Aprilia), 13 Michel Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati), Race 2: 1 Rea, 2 Leon Haslam (GBR-Suzuki Alstare), 3 Toseland, 12 Michel Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati), More, from a press release issued by Infront Motor Sports: World Superbike arrives at ‘The Cathedral’ of motorcycling Assen (Netherlands) The TT Circuit Assen, the home of motorcycle racing for the last 78 years and for the FIM Superbike World Championship since 1992, gets ready to host the third round of the 2011 production-based series this weekend. The circuit, which strange to say is the northernmost leg on the WSBK trail, acts as a magnet for fans across northern Europe; once again it will attract large numbers of British, German, Scandinavian, Belgian, French and Dutch fans, as well as numerous Italians, all eager to see a continuation of the battle that at the moment sees the domination of Carlos Checa (Ducati Althea Racing), winner of three of the first four rounds of the season. The Catalan rider has established a perfect feeling with his Italian twin-cylinder machine, and this allows him to lead the table on 91 points, 19 clear of his closest rival, Marco Melandri (Yamaha World Superbike Team). The Italian won race 1 at Donington and all signs could point to him repeating the feat at the Dutch circuit, where he stepped onto the podium in 2004 and 2005 when he raced in MotoGP, and where he won in 2002 in 250 GP. The Yamaha YZF-R1 machine also has a good recent record at Assen, having won the first 2009 race here with Ben Spies on board, but in terms of overall manufacturer wins Ducati clearly leads the way on 23 victories, with Honda next up on 12. Biaggi Resurgence? Assen should represent the start of the resurgence of Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) who, at the moment is lying fourth overall, 42 points behind Checa. Last year, in his title-winning season, the Italian’s results at Assen were slightly below-par as he could only finish sixth and fourth. On this track Biaggi has only won once in 500 GP in 2001, while his other two wins came in 250 GP. Double Dutch Rea Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) scored a fantastic double win last year at what is the Ten Kate Racing team’s home track. The third round of the championship could be an ideal opportunity for the Northern Ireland youngster to improve on his current standing of sixth overall. One notable absentee at Assen will be James Toseland (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team), the British former double world champion who twice finished on the podium last year but who is still recovering from a testing injury. But another Brit, BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s Leon Haslam, who twice finished fourth at Donington, and who was on the Assen podium in 2010, will be aiming for more of the same this weekend. Rider Merit But the true merit of the Assen TT Circuit is that it does allow rider talent to emerge and that is the case of Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team), a podium finisher last year and also at the last round. Other surprises could come from outsiders Jakub Smrz, the Czech Republic rider getting closer and closer to that all-elusive first win, and the still convalescing Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli, both on Effenbert-Liberty Racing Ducatis. All eyes will also be on Noriyuki Haga (Pata Racing Team Aprilia), Assen winner in 2009, as well as the factory Kawasaki team, back at full strength with Britain’s Tom Sykes, Spain’s Joan Lascorz and Australian Chris Vermeulen. Golden Opportunity Michel Fabrizio is still struggling to hit the big time on his Suzuki Alstare machine, while the remaining Assen slots go to Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team), flanked for this occasion by Dutchman Barry Veneman, the experienced Supersport man coming in for Toseland, Roberto Rolfo (Kawasaki Pedercini), galvanized by victory in Sunday’s opening CIV Superbike round at Misano, and by Maxime Berger on the Supersonic Ducati 1098R. Points (after 2 rounds of 13): 1. Checa 91; 2. Melandri 72; 3. Haslam 53; 4. Biaggi 49; 5. Smrz 42; 6. Rea 38; 7. Camier 37; 8. Fabrizio 27; 9. Haga 26; 10. Sykes 19; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Ducati 95; 2. Yamaha 74; 3. Aprilia 66; 4. BMW 53; 5. Honda 38; 6. Kawasaki 32; 7. Suzuki 27. About the Circuit The TT Assen Circuit, which is situated in the north of the Netherlands, a couple of hours drive from Amsterdam, underwent major renovation work in 1998, with brand-new grandstands being built, and again in 2005, when 1.5 km was knocked off the lap distance. A further adaptation was made to Ruskenhoek in 2010, shortening the circuit’s current distance down to 4.542 km. New grandstands were also built at Haarbocht, Strubben and TT World. Axo launches new collection The third round of the Superbike World Championship, which takes place at Assen this weekend, will coincide with the presentation of a new 2011 collection from Axo, one of the leading bike gear firms, and traditional partner of the production-based bike racing series. The new 2011 SBK collection of the Treviso-based company, with leathers, helmets and gloves, is a technical line of products developed in collaboration with the riders and the world of the Superbike World Championship. For further information: www.axosport.com. More, from a press release issued by Team Pedercini: The third official round of the World Superbike championship and the first round of the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup will be held at the Dutch TT-Assen circuit, in The Netherlands, on April 15-16-17 2011. The legendary Circuit van Drenthe is a motorsport race track built in 1955 and considered “the Cathedral” of motorcycling by the fans. The track, whose foundations were laid during the first Dutch TT in 1925, forms an integral part of the surrounding natural area. Following a major renovation project, which started in September 1998 and was completed in the spring of 2008, it has capacity for 100,000 spectators, including 60,000 seats. The current track has a length of 4,542 meters and the longest straight is 560 meters. Circuit main characteristics : Length : m.4.542 Pole Position : left Longest straight : m.560 Left turns : 6 Right turns : 11 Superbike lap record : Jonathan Rea – 2010 1’36″312 Superbike best lap : Jonathan Rea – 2010 1’34″944 Superstock 1000 lap record : Maxime Berger 2010 1’39″227 Superstock 1000 best lap : Maxime Berger 2010 1’39″105 Just one week after the fantastic victory of Roberto Rolfo in Misano in the Italian Superbike Championship, Team Pedercini’s riders will race in Assen for the third round of the Superbike World Championship. The team is continuing to improve performances with the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R while Rolfo and Aitchison are looking to find the right feeling with their bikes. In the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup Leandro Mercado, Marco Bussolotti and Bryan Staring appear to be all set for the 2011 season. All three riders have shown their speed on the new ZX-10R, front runners in the first race of the Superstock 1000 Italian Championship in Misano. Roberto Rolfo : “My win in the Italian Superbikes in Misano boosted both my morale and that of the team because we were finally able to see the fruit of the work we had put in at Phillip Island and Donington. At Misano we found a good set-up for my Ninja and so we’ll go from there this weekend at Assen. I really like the track as it is very technical and hard work. I’m confident and hope to do well in Sunday’s races, for my team and for all my fans.” Mark Aitchison : In Donington we collected a lot of valuable data that will enable us to refine our bike setting and hopefully make me more comfortable on the bike throughout the upcoming weekend. So really the goal for Assen in the first two days of practice and qualifying is to regain the feeling that I had with the bike in Phillip Island. Once I get this sensation back, I can really start to push for better lap times and look for some race consistency. I am enjoying my time with the Pedercini Team in World Superbike and I am learning every time I ride the bike and look forward to repaying the team for their hard work during our two races at the famous Assen circuit”. More, from a press release issued by Rea Racing: Gino looks ahead to Assen, Round 3 of the World Supersport Championship after Donington Podium After finishing third on the podium at his home race in Donington Park, Gino looks ahead to the Assen World Supersport round 3, this weekend in the Netherlands. 1. Gino, how are you preparing for the Assen round? “I have been training as much as I possibly can without aggravating my thumb injury. My physical fitness is very good at the moment, apart from my thumb of course. I have been riding motocross to see how the thumb would cope but I got some very bad blisters on my hands where I could not grip properly with the thumb and inside of the hand. The thumb is slowly healing but I will still have to ride with it in a splint, the same as I did at Donington. Gripping the bars wasn’t the easiest at Donington as I can’t bend the thumb and Assen is quite a physical circuit, so we will just see how it goes.” 2. Did you fit in a test after Donington? If he so-when, where, what is the result? “Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to test since Donington, we know where we can improve the bike so we will try hard to progress it during the Assen race weekend. We have things to try with the chassis, electronics and engine.” 3. How do you feel about the upcoming round in Assen? Whats your goals? “Of course I’d like to be on the podium again at Assen and I need to start fighting for race wins. We need to continue to improve our bike as a package and see where it takes us.” “I’m looking forward to getting back on my bike, this gap between races has been a bit too much for me! I leave home on Wednesday to drive to Assen and will be at the paddock show on Thursday. See you all there!” More, from another press release issued by Infront Motor Sports: World Supersport and Superstocks on the program at Assen Assen (Netherlands), Tuesday 12 April 2011 For the first time this season, the third round of the FIM Superbike and Supersport World Championships will be accompanied by the scheduled opening events of the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup and the European Superstock 600 Championship. Scassa goes for the hat-trick After winning the opening two World Supersport rounds, Italian Luca Scassa (Yamaha ParkinGO) will be aiming for a hat-trick of victories that will help him to increase his substantial 19-point advantage over Broc Parkes (Kawasaki Motocard.com). As well as the Australian however, Scassa will also have to keep one eye on his team-mate Chaz Davies, who finished the Donington race just a fraction behind in second. Another Brit, Sam Lowes (Parkalgar Honda), who had to retire from the European Round while challenging up at the front, wants to show some even more impressive form in his first full rookie season, while Gino Rea (Honda Step Racing Team) will be out to repeat his fantastic podium finish at Donington. And still in the Honda camp, third place overall is in the hands of Denmark’s Robbin Harms (Harms Benjan Racing Team), while the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda twin French attack of Florian Marino and Fabien Foret are looking for good results in front of their team’s home crowd. Mechanical gremlins, a spate of punctures and health issues have so far conditioned a number of riders competing in World Supersport. Assen should be a good opportunity therefore for Britain’s James Ellison (Bogdanka PTR Honda), Italians Vittorio Iannuzzo and Massimo Roccoli (both on Kawasaki Lorenzini by Leoni machines), Danilo Dell’Omo (Triumph Suriano Racing Team) and the promising Roberto Tamburini (Yamaha Bike Service R.T.) to produce their form. Points (after 2 rounds of 13): 1. Scassa 50; 2. Parkes 31; 3. Harms 24; 4. Salom 23; 5. Davies 20; 6. Marino 17; 7. Rea 16; 8. Lowes 16; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Yamaha 50; 2. Honda 32; 3. Kawasaki 31; 4. Triumph 7. Superstock 1000 The entry list for the Superstock 1000 class shows that it is as popular as ever with a wide range of riders (29) and teams (22), on a variety of machinery (Ducati, Honda, BMW, Kawasaki and Yamaha) and from no fewer than 12 countries. Following Badovini’s almost total domination in 2010, this year the title battle looks to be a lot more wide-open. Riders of the international calibre of Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki Lorenzini by Leoni), reigning European Superstock 600 champion Jeremy Guarnoni (Yamaha MRS) and WSBK wild-card at Phillip Island, Aussie Bryan Staring (Kawasaki Pedercini) now have a true fighting chance for the win. This year’s bumper crop of Italians will also be hard to beat; they include Lorenzo Zanetti (in the winning BMW Motorrad Italia team together with Sylvain Barrier), Davide Giugliano and Lorenzo Baroni (Althea Ducati) and Danilo Petrucci (Barni). Lorini Honda field an impressive trio of Andrea Antonelli, Eddi La Marra plus Daniele Beretta, with Luca Verdini on the Ten Kate Junior version. Kawasaki have the largest representation, with other Ninjas for Marco Bussolotti (Pedercini), Lorenzo Savadori (Lorenzini by Leoni) and the GoEleven versions for Nico Vivarelli and Niccolò Canepa, who returns to the category he won in 2007. Superstock 600 A new season of European Superstock 600 Championship racing is about to get underway and this year there are 24 riders waiting to meet the challenge in this always-exciting class. Representatives from 12 nations including some outside Europe will all be trying to emulate the feat of former champions Claudio Corti, Xavier Simeon, Maxime Berger, Loris Baz, Gino Rea and most recently Jeremy Guarnoni. Some, like Berardino Lombardi and Romain Lanusse, can even be considered to be seasoned veterans in comparison to their competitors, who include two former AMA Supersport champions, Joshua Day (Racedays Kawasaki) and Austin DeHaven (Yamaha Trasimeno), as well as several other highly-rated youngsters such as Ten Kate Junior Team’s Michael Van Der Mark, Nelson Major (Falcone Competition), Joshua Elliott (WMT Yamaha) and Jed Metcher (MTM-RT Sport Team) from Australia, who won last year’s final round at Magny-Cours. European Junior Cup & Moriwaki Cup The Assen weekend schedule will also include two interesting support races, which are focussing on attracting talented youngsters to the sport. The European Junior Cup will be for 14 to 17 year-olds on Kawasaki Ninja 250R machines and riders from eight different countries will be taking part in the six rounds on the calendar. Instead, the Moriwaki 250 4T Trophy is an Italo-Dutch match-up which will be held on Honda-engined Japanese bikes of the same name. The return event will be at the Misano World Circuit Italian WSBK round. More, from a press release issued by Honda: REPEAT PERFORMANCES THE AIM FOR REA Assen in 2010 marked a coming of age for Honda Superbike rider Jonathan Rea as he took superpole and then his first double win in this category of racing. This year Rea rides in the iconic Castrol Honda colours, but being in the same team set-up and on largely the same CBR1000RR machine as he used last year, he will approach the classic Circuit van Drenthe in the north of the Netherlands with similar aspirations as he goes for his first wins of the new season. Both Rea and another proven WSBK race winner Ruben Xaus (Castrol Honda) have spent some time in the Netherlands in the past week, at the traditional Ten Kate Honda Pit Stop open day, and they will soon be heading to Assen to compete in the third round of a 13-round championship. Currently Jonathan is sixth in the championship standings, Xaus 14th and each is chasing a first podium in what has been a challenging season at some points already. Rea was a heroic fourth in race two at the opening round in Phillip Island, despite carrying injuries from crashes in testing and practice. He enters the Assen round having scored two top six places at his home event at Donington last time out. Ruben’s tenth place in race two at Donington was a better result than it looked on paper as he was only ten seconds from a podium finish after 23 laps or racing and had been up to sixth place until his tyre performance dropped off. Assen is one of the most evocative and unique circuits in the whole roadracing scene, starting off as a pure roads circuit before morphing through several layout changes over the decades to become a thoroughly modern circuit that hosts both MotoGP and WSBK races. At 4.542Km long in its present guise Assen still features some of the changes of camber and flowing high-speed curves that have characterised it over the years. It always attracts a strong crowd of both Dutch and international fans, who are always treated to close battles and audacious overtaking manoeuvres. WSBK Rider Comments Jonathan Rea, Castrol Honda says: “Assen is my team’s home race and I always look forward to racing there. Last year may be nothing to go by this time, but we proved that the CBR1000RR works well at Assen last time we were there. I am a lot more upbeat than I was going into Donington and I have had a couple more weeks to heal up a bit. My wrist feels a lot better. It actually affects me more in every day life than it does when riding the bike, but it is getting better all the time in any case. I have not tested the bike since Donington, but I have been doing a good bit of preparation because we have been camped out at the back of the team’s workshops, training a bit with Fabien Foret and Florian Marino from the Supersport team. The long-range weather forecast says that it should be good for race weekend, but we’ll see.” Ruben Xaus, Castrol Honda says: “Race two was good for me in Donington because I was only ten seconds from the podium, which was great after only two meetings with this team and on this bike. Not a bad start. Of course we need more and I always want more. I am just trying to enjoy the racing and I so far I have done that. It is a home race for the team, they know a lot about this track and of course last year Jonathan won both races. It is a big important day for the team and a big motivation for me at the same time.” World Supersport Harms and the Honda Boys set for third encounter of the season Honda CBR600RR riders dominate the entry list in the Supersport World Championship standings in 2011 and after the opening two rounds seasoned competitor Robbin Harms (Harms Benjan Racing Honda) is the best placed of them all, now third in the overall rankings. Harms has been impressive on a machine which relies on a lot of in-house development between the Danish rider and his Dutch-based Benjan partners. But for some bad luck in the latter stages of the previous round at Donington, Robbin would already have one podium finish to his credit this year. Gino Rea (Step Racing Team Honda) and Sam Lowes (Parkalgar Honda) have already stepped onto the podium for Honda in 2011, Lowes in Australia and Rea at home last time out at Donington. One no-score apiece means that they are seventh and eighth respectively, just behind Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rookie Florian Marino. The French rider, only 17-years-old, has secured seventh and eight place finishes so far as his consistency has found an early reward in the championship standings. The current top ten is rounded out by another fast and impressive Honda privateer, Alexander Lundh (Cresto Guide Racing Team Honda) with the Swede having been ninth in Australia and tenth at Donington. Assen is a significant round for some other top Honda riders as they attempt to recover from early bouts of misfortune in what will be a 12-round series. Former champion for Honda, Fabien Foret (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), has had to fight off the effects of finger and back injuries over the first two rounds, but feels much more ready to take on the latest challenge in the Netherlands after some decent time off since the previous round at Donington on March 27. James Ellison (Bogdanka PTR Honda) was unlucky to be forced out with a technical issue at his home round, making him particularly motivated to take on Assen, another track he enjoys racing at. James is currently 11th overall after finishing sixth in Australia, despite suffering from a painful knee injury picked up in testing. Ondrej Jezek (SMS Racing Honda) sits 13th in the championship standings after two solid midfield finishes, while Miguel Praia (Parkalgar Honda) scored an 11th place at Donington and he now finds himself 15th in the rankings. Balazs Nemeth (Team Hungary Toth Honda), Bastien Chesaux (MACH – Moto Academy Swiss Honda) and Imre Toth (Team Hungary Toth Honda) have all got off the mark in terms of points scores, but other potentially strong Honda riders Pawel Szkopek (Bogdanka PTR Honda), Vladimir Ivanov (Step Racing Team Honda and Mitchell Pirotta (KUJA Racing Honda) are yet to score. After the Assen round is completed another truly classic venue, Monza, hosts the fourth round of the year, on Sunday May 8th. WSS Rider Comments Robbin Harms says: “Assen is a really great circuit and it reminds me of old style tracks. I have been there several years in a row so I have good experience of it. The feeling for Assen is not much different than for PI or Donington and I like all the tracks we race at. For me I will be treating it like it is a new track on the calendar. We are analysing the data to take the good things from the bike set-up at Donington with us to Assen.” Gino Rea says: “Having finished on the podium at Donington I am looking forward to Assen, but as far is my injured thumb goes, it is still nowhere near where it should be. I am going to have to ride with a splint on it again. We got through Donington OK riding that way so I think we can get through this round as well. After that I think we can start physio again. I am more concerned about getting the bike right, and hopefully we can pick up where we left off at Donington, because it took us a long time to get the bike setup where we wanted it. We have a lot of development to do with it still, so hopefully we can make progress and get back up to the sharp end again.” Sam Lowes says: “I have ridden Assen before, in 2008 and it suits my style because it has fast corners out the back end of the circuit and I am definitely looking forward to going back there. Overall, I am aiming to have a strong meeting to move forward from the disappointment of Donington. We just need a normal race meeting at Assen. Looking back at the last race we were basically on the pace so we just need to keep doing what we are doing. There have only been two races so far and it’s a long season.” James Ellison says: “It is going to be awesome at Assen and I had my first international win there, in 2000. I have been working hard in rehab with the knee I injured in Australia. It is still quite tender sometimes so I have to stop it flaring up again between sessions. Once on the bike it should be no problem again. They keep changing the layout at Assen, tweaking it, but I have ridden it during the 2006 MotoGP season and I think it was the same then as it is now. It’s a great place to go racing and the team are confident they have sorted out the problem we had at Donington.” Miguel Praia says: “I think that I have not made any fantastic races at Assen, but after the race at Donington we took another step forward. I want to make Assen another place where I have done well, to put it into my personal ‘maps’. I need a little bit more confidence in the front of the bike to make my settings in the best possible way and at Assen it is so important to go fast around the corners. We are working well on this plan. For sure the WSS class is harder than anyone expected this year, especially now that another manufacturer is back in. Some good riders left the series last year but the new riders are strong as well, and they have been improving the lap times.” Fabien Foret says: “My hand is better, just the finger I broke in Donington is a little problem because cannot bend it, but it is OK. It will be better when I arrive at Assen. In Donington my back was sore, a little bit more than I expected it to be, but again I have had the chance to let it heal up since then. I am not 100%, but I have been training I am looking forward to this weekend. I think it will be a good circuit for us, and it is one of the tracks I like. If I feel good on the bike and the weather is fine then maybe we can have an OK weekend. It is too early to say something more right now. I just need to jump on the bike to see how I will be for real on the weekend.” More, from a press release issued by Alitalia Aprilia: THE APRILIA ALITALIA RACING TEAM IS READY TO TAKE ON THE HISTORIC ASSEN CIRCUIT. MAX BIAGGI AND LEON CAMIER ARE EAGER TO CONFIRM THEIR COMPETITIVENESS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MOTORCYCLING. Noale, 13 April 2011 – For World Superbike Assen is not just any race. You can tell straight away as soon as you ride out onto the Dutch track which has thousands of fans lined up alongside, often arriving astride the street version of the same bike they have come to watch flying around the historic TT Circuit. The great passion which breathes life into the Grand Prix cannot help but provide a little extra push for reigning champion Max Biaggi, ready for redemption after the unfortunate performance in Donington to confirm his competitiveness and that of his Aprilia Alitalia RSV4. For Leon Camier this is also a “special” race: last year, right here at Assen, the young English rider earned his first podium in his World Superbike adventure. As in the previous race at Donington, the weather will play an important role. In fact, based on the forecasts it could turn out to be a wet weekend, although the instability of spring weather prohibits any accurate prediction. In any case the two races on Sunday, as always, will be exciting. “Last year we had a few problems here – says Max Biaggi – mostly during Superpole, although I must say that I like this track. Compared to last season I expect to be more competitive right from the start. It will be important to work well during practice in order to be as prepared as possible for the two races on Sunday. Especially if it rains, it is vital that we start out front. We lost a few points in the first two races, so here at Assen we need to aim for the best possible results. I’m starting off motivated, with a great desire to get back on the bike and experience the weekend at Assen to its fullest”. Leon Camier looks forward to the Dutch race with confidence: “I had my first World Superbike podium there last year so it holds some good memories. It’s a really physical circuit so I don’t know how I’ll hold up, but I’m doing everything I can to try and score another couple of strong results. Keith Code from the California Superbike School is coming to help me again. His input at Donington Park was invaluable so it’s a boost to know he’ll be there. Throughout the last race weekend I struggled towards the end of every session with fatigue so I’ve also got my trainer coming”. More, from a press release issued by Parkalgar Honda: PARKALGAR HONDA’S Miguel Praia is looking to turn Assen into one of his favourite tracks when he visits it for the third round of the World Supersport Championship this weekend. The Portuguese Parkalgar Honda racer is coming from a confidence inspiring 11th place at the previous round and is looking to improve at Assen with a season best result. Parkalgar Honda’s Sam Lowes is upbeat and buoyant about his chances at Assen, a firm favourite circuit. There is practice and qualifying sessions at the circuit on Friday and Saturday before the race takes place at 1330 CET on Sunday, April 17th. Miguel: “I have been discussing with my Parkalgar Honda team why I am missing a bit of speed going through fast corners compared to last year – and we think we have an answer we can test at Assen. I want a good Assen – in the past it has not been the kindest track to me but I like it and I want to put it on the map as good place for me.” Sam: “I literally can’t wait; I’ve been to Assen in 2008 and I really liked it. The fast flowing corners really suit my riding style. I can’t wait to get there and we’ve been fast everywhere we have been so my speed is good. Only one corner has changed since I was there and it is not as tight so that is better for me.” Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “We have got one of the fastest riders in the Championship with Sam Lowes and we are looking for an over-due victory in 2011. It is a case of when we win, not if we win. “Miguel has had a difficult start to the season but 11th at Donington Park from a 20th place start has lifted his confidence and we want to build on that. He is capable of getting inside the top 10 and that is what we are aiming for at Assen.” More, from a press release issued by PTR Romania Honda: PTR ROMANIA HONDA’S Roby Muresan is targeting a top 10 result in what will be his first race of the 2011 season at Assen in Holland this weekend. Roby impressed on his debut on the PTR, Romanian Tourist Board, Asirom and Ursus backed race bike at Donington Park but a high-speed crash in the morning warm-up meant he failed to start the race due to his bike being un-repairable in time for the start. There are practice and qualifying sessions at the circuit on Friday and Saturday before the race takes place at 1330 CET on Sunday, April 17th. Roby: “I hope to finish the race in the top 10. I think this is possible judging by the last event at Donington Park where I was able to run close to the top 10 despite a lack of track time and still learning about the bike in practice and qualification. “I am going to work myself up to the race this weekend, I was too aggressive at Donington during warm up and it cost me dearly as the race would have been a great learning experience. I will push everything steadily but with big steps. My season starts this weekend.” Simon Buckmaster, PTR Romania Honda Team Manager: “Roby showed great potential at Donington and it is a shame he crashed in warm up and destroyed his bike. He is a good young prospect and we are proud to be working with him and flying the flag for Romania in World Championship bike racing.” More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki: Three Points Of Attack At Assen All three official Kawasaki riders will be challenging at Assen, as Chris Vermeulen joins his fellow regulars Joan Lascorz and Tom Sykes for what should be his first full race weekend of the season. Despite being so early in its overall development programme, the Ninja ZX-10R has already proved its worth as a serious contender in the hands of Sykes and Lascorz, after only two rounds of a 13-round season have been completed. The push for top finishing positions continues apace with everyone involved in the Kawasaki effort energised by the front row qualifying performance of Sykes at the previous Donington round, followed by a strong top five race result from WSBK rookie rider Lascorz in the second contest of the day. Assen is a firm favourite with the vast majority of riders but for Lascorz it will be another new challenge, as he has not ridden a Superbike before at the classic venue in the north of the Netherlands. He has lots of happy memories of racing there on Supersport machinery, however, which fills him with hopes of two strong results as he continues to recover full strength around his injured right shoulder and arm. For Vermeulen Assen is almost a second home track when you consider his family connections to the Netherlands while Sykes is not only a fan of the track layout itself, he should be able to count on support from a good number of fans from Britain as many UK bikers make an annual pilgrimage to Assen for the WSBK race weekend. In readiness for the Assen round both Chris and Tom undertook shakedown tests at the Brands Hatch circuit on Tuesday 12 April, all of which went according to plan. Now the entire team heads to round three in confident mood that all possible preparations have been made to take on their latest challenge. The supported Pedercini Team Kawasaki squad will also arrive at Assen with their usual pair of Superbike riders, Roberto Rolfo and Mark Aitchison, but they have even more combined confidence after Rolfo beat the opposition at the opening Misano round of the Italian Superbike Championship (CIV) last weekend, while riding the all-new Ninja ZX-10R. Tom Sykes: “I am looking forward to Assen partly because Donington was a bit unfortunate for me, but there were a lot of positives to take away about the ability of the new Ninja ZX-10R. I really enjoy racing at the Assen circuit and we were not too shabby on the older model last year. I never got to sample the real old Assen layout, but judging by the sections that remain the full old circuit would have been interesting to ride. But to be honest most circuits on the WSBK calendar are fun to ride, especially with this new bike that is able to work at each circuit. It is pleasing to ride. As long as the bike works at every track I am happy to ride at every track, but Assen is still one of my favourites.” Joan Lascorz: “The result of Donington was good for my motivation and for Kawasaki to see that we are heading in a good way. Is nice to ride with people like Biaggi, Rea, Haslam, Xaus and others, so I learned a lot. I’m not at 100% yet physically but even with this we were able to make a good race in England. I’m better than I was in Australia and in Assen I will be better than I was in Donington. I like Assen, and used to made good races there in the past in WSS. We will see in WSBK how we can manage. Since Donington I have ridden some Supermotard with my chief engineer Pere Riba, which was very funny. We also tested with a 600 in a small circuit just to keep up my race fitness a little. Kawasaki is working so hard all the time so I hope to have a good weekend in the Netherlands.” Chris Vermeulen: “My impressions of the new bike are all positive. Kawasaki has done an amazing job with it and I am just excited to look at the development of this bike, even thought it is in the early stages. I think the biggest difference on the new model comes from the chassis, the balance and the character the bike has in turning. Also the electronics are a big step forward. The engine feels smoother even thought it is more powerful, and the whole bike is what we need to compete.” Roberto Rolfo: “My win in the Italian Superbike series at Misano boosted both my morale, and that of the team, because we were finally able to see the fruit of the work we had put in at Phillip Island and Donington. At Misano we found a good set-up for my Ninja and so we’ll go from there this weekend at Assen. I really like the track, as it is very technical and hard work. I’m confident and hope to do well in Sunday’s races, for my team and for all my fans.” Mark Aitchison: “At Donington we collected a lot of valuable data that will enable us to refine our bike setting and hopefully make me more comfortable on the bike throughout the upcoming weekend. So really the goal for Assen in the first two days of practice and qualifying is to regain the feeling that I had with the bike in Phillip Island. Once I get this sensation back, I can really start to push for better lap times and look for some race consistency.” More, from another press release issued by Kawasaki: WSS Duo Join The Congregation At The Cathedral Assen is often called ‘The Cathedral’ and this classic racing venue is certainly a circuit held in awe. It is, however, an event that both Broc Parkes and David Salom look forward to every year. Parkes is second in the championship standings after the first two rounds in Australia and Great Britain, while Salom is also well placed, in fourth spot, and only eight points behind his team-mate. Broc enters the Assen weekend with the lingering effects of a heavy fall at Donington still having a painful effect on him, but luckily he has not suffered any fractures. Kawasaki’s Ninja ZX-6R is a well-proven and highly successful machine in this class of racing, and former Kawasaki WSS rider Joan Lascorz posted podiums in the previous two years of competition at Assen. The supported Lorenzini by Leoni Team has had a generally bright start to the season in what is a very tough class this year, with Vittorio Iannuzzo sitting in ninth place overall currently. His team-mate Massimo Roccoli is 12th after making only one race finish, posting seventh place at Donington in the most recent round of the series. Broc Parkes: “I have been a little bit laid up in the past couple of weeks because I broke the cartilage between my ribs, in the middle of the right hand side, after my fall at Donington. I was sore after that so I got some checks done but they found no broken bones, just the damaged cartilage. The doctors asked me to relax until it mends itself, so I have not been able to do that much. I rode in the race at Donington after the crash so I will be OK for Assen. I have been having some magnetic treatment on the affected area and it feels a lot better than it did last week. I feel good for Assen and I like it a lot; had pole position there in 2008.” David Salom: “The circuit at Assen is very good for me. There are a lot of fast corners and I like that very much. This is the best circuit on the championship for me! I did not test since Donington but I have been riding a lot of Supermotard and been in the gym to make sure I am really fit for Assen. I am lucky to be able to do many kinds of training outdoor each day at home in Mallorca.” More, from a press release issued by Hannspree Ten Kate Honda: Hannspree Ten Kate Honda’s Fabien Foret heads to Assen this weekend (15-17 April) for round three of the 2011 World Supersport championship hoping for an injury-free weekend and finally to get his season started. The French rider crashed out of morning warm-up in the opening round at Phillip Island in Australia, badly damaging his right hand before tyre woes eventually ruled him out of contention in the race. In round two at Donington Park in the UK just over two weeks ago, the 38-year-old Frenchman crashed during practice sustaining further damage to his right hand which forced him to miss the race. Foret’s compatriot and Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate, Florian Marino, has enjoyed a sold start to his debut World Supersport season. The 18-year-old has enjoyed two top-ten finishes in the opening two rounds and is looking forward to the team’s home race at the 4.542km Assen circuit. Both riders enjoyed their first Ten Kate Pit Stop Day last weekend, when the Ten Kate Motoren dealership and race workshop throws open their doors to the general public, traditionally a week before the team’s home race just 50km up the road at Assen. Some 7500 fans visited Ten Kate’s Nieuwleusen HQ on Saturday to meet Foret and Marino, who were joined by Castrol Honda World Superbike riders Jonathan Rea and Ruben Xaus. Fabien Foret It’s been a very tough start to the season with the injuries at Phillip Island and then Donington. The lower part of my back is still quite painful and I still have the pins in the end of my finger, so we will see how everything feels when I get on the bike on Friday. Of course, it’s the home race for the team, so we all want to do well, but also I like Assen very much, so I want to feel as fit as possible to ride the circuit well. I also need to get some points to finally get the season st arted. I may not be 100% yet probably not until Monza but at least I will be better than even before the crash at Donington, so I look forward to seeing what we can do this weekend. Florian Marino The Pit Stop Day last Saturday was amazing and it was good to meet so many people! I have been training hard during the time since Donington, especially in these last days with Fabien and Jonathan Rea. I really want to do well at Assen, which is one of my favourite tracks and, of course, it is the home race for my team. I have really enjoyed racing at Assen before so I cannot wait for Friday to get out again on the Supersport CBR. I don’t want to make any predictions for the weekend but a top five finish, or even a podium would be fantastic. I will try my hardest for sure. Ronald ten Kate team manager The race at Assen is always quite special for us and only half an hour’s drive from the workshop, so a lot of friends and family have the opportunity to see what we do when we are at work it’s always a great atmosphere. I’m quite happy that Fabien is feeling much better and is on his way to recovery, so let’s hope he can find his Phillip Island form again this weekend. For young Florian, Assen is one of his favourite circuits so we hope to see both riders battling at the front. We have some new chassis parts and electronics to test over the weekend which should give us a step forward. More, from a press release issued by Go Eleven Team: Go Eleven team kicking off the Superstock 600 and 1000 World Championship Go Eleven team is ready: from friday on, the team will face the next round in Assen (Holland) for the first on ten rounds scheduled by the Superstock 600 and 1000 World Championship 2011. Gianni Ramello and Piero Cabutti show themselves with the four cylindrical kawasaki, ZX10R that will be left to the former MotoGp and Moto2 champion rider Niccolo’ Canepa and Nico Vivarelli, while the ZX6R goes to the young rider Cristian Gamarino under GP Project engineering. The team’s management, where Denis Sacchetti is the technical manager, is expecting great results during this season: the goal is to compete for a win of the World Superstock 1000 Championship and to become closer to the firsts positions of the European Superstock 600. From friday on, at 9.00 a.m things will become serious on a track considerated as the “university” of the motorbike racing. Assen is famous for the higher difficulty level of its turns. A track 4555 m. long with a straight only 560 m. long. and that has been named as Tourist Trophy Circuit after the firsts races run in this area, held on a mixed track. Good news for what concern the TV: this year Eurosport will broadcast all the season of the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup and of the European Superstock Championship live on Tv and Eurosport Player. Gianni Ramello e Piero Cabutti – team owners – “I’m sure we’ve been able to set up a great team. Canepa chose our team to give a new impulse to his career. The talent is there and he’ll show it since the first race. Vivarelli is at his third season with us and has all that takes to do another step forward as shown during the winter tests. Gamarino is one of the most promising talent, eventhough he only has few miles and less experience in 600. But we think he could aim to a good result since the beginning.” Niccolò Canepa – Kawasaki STK1000 # 59 – “”I couldn’t wait to be at the go of this season. I can’t wait to begin only thinking about being a rider and the Go Eleven team allow me to do that. We are a young team but willing to aim to great results. We are not at our 100% but there is vast room for improvement and I’m sure we will be able to aim high since this first round.” Nico Vivarelli – Kawasaki STK 1000 # 12 – “I immediately liked the bike. I will surely aim to great results higher than the last season’s ones. I’m glad that Piero Cabutti and Gianni Ramello were willing to confirm myself for the third season and I’ll do my best to repay them with the best results.” Cristian Gamarino – Kawasaki STK 600 # 18 – “For me is a really amazing time. Everything happened so fast that I still have to realize all this emotions. First the deal with the team for the CIV, then even before the race the step to the European Championship. I’m sure I’ll be able to score big results since this first round. On sunday at the CIV I was really fast but I paid the lack of experience. The goal is to play this season in crescendo” . More, from a press release issued by PATA Racing Team: The PATA Racing Team already left heading to Holland, where it will get itself ready for the third round of the Superbike World Championship on the historic track of Assen. A track where lots of north-european supporters will gather, mainly coming from Holland, Germany and UK. Enthusiasts that still remember the big performance of Nitro Nori Haga on this track, where he’s always been a protagonist with the amazing duel against Ben Spies during race 1 and the win in race 2 in 2009, the second places in 2008 and in 2007. A series of podiums and placings begun with the first win in “orange” land in 2000. Haga will show himself stronger thanks to the bigger feeling with the bike shown during the last round in Donington Park, where he’s been a protagonist both during practices and races. The aim is to gaining better results on the finish line and fight for the podium. A new revised version of the website is on-line at www.teampata.com where videos and photos are available to download and from where you can join the Facebook page and discuss about Nitro Nori Haga together with other fans. Marco Borciani – team manager – “We are almost at our top. Thanks to the experience gained during the last rounds we managed to set and refine the bike even more to adapt it at the Noriyuki way of riding. Even on this track there will be lots of competitors such as Melandri and Checa but I can bet that also Smrz, Biaggi, Rea and Sykes. Even if it’s easy that other riders will join the fight for the podium. We’ll work like the two previous rounds trying to prepare at our best the two manches.” More, from a press release issued by PTR Bogdanka Honda: THE Bogdanka PTR Honda Team heads to the “Cathedral” of motorcycle racing at Assen in the Netherlands looking for a strong result in the third round of the World Supersport Championship this weekend. James Ellison expects to be running at the front again after showing podium potential at the last race at Donington Park, while his Polish teammate, Pawel Szkopek, hopes to be fighting for a point scoring finish. The duo will be joined by a Polish youngster, 20-year-old Marcin Walkowiak, who will start his second season in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup at Assen, riding the Bogdanka PTR Honda CBR1000RR. James Ellison: “Assen is fantastic. It’s one of my favourite circuits on the calendar. It’s a fast and flowing circuit and even after the changes, it still stands out above everything else. After the injury at Phillip Island we’ve made a good step at Donington Park and shown podium potential so we need to do it again this weekend and be at the sharp end.” Pawel Szkopek: “I haven’t ridden at Assen since 2005 but it’s a fast and flowing circuit which I’ve always really enjoyed. After the crash at Donington Park my hand is a lot better and not really a problem anymore. We know where we can improve and I’m really looking forward to finishing the race, hopefully in the points.” Marcin Walkowiak: “I can’t wait to get my second season in the Cup started. Assen is not my favourite track but it’s fast and technical and I like that about it. I’m starting the season a lot better prepared than last year, knowing the tracks, having more experience and a great team behind me, so I’m really excited.” Simon Buckmaster: “James is getting faster and faster with every outing and we fully expect him to be competing at the front of the race at Assen – he is fully motivated and knows what needs to be done. “Pawel crashed out at the end of the previous round and he will want to make amends in Holland. He has shown points scoring potential and now we are looking for him to deliver. “A big welcome to Marcin to the team and we have high hopes for him in the Superstock 1000 class – he has talent and now a fantastic bike that we have prepared for him. We are looking forward to competing with him and start out with the aim to score points at Assen and build from there.”