FIM Superbike World Championship Assen, Holland September 2, 2006 Superpole Results: 1. Troy CORSER (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:38.965 2. Noriyuki HAGA (Yam YZF-R1), 1:39.009 3. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:39.176 4. Troy BAYLISS (Duc 999F06), 1:39.304 5. Alex BARROS (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:39.419 6. Karl MUGGERIDGE (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:39.543 7. James TOSELAND (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:39.565 8. Andrew PITT (Yam YZF-R1), 1:39.756 9. Fonsi NIETO (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:39.958 10. Lorenzo LANZI (Duc 999F06), 1:40.149 11. Steve MARTIN (Foggy Petronas FP1), 1:40.251 12. Ruben XAUS (Duc 999F05), 1:40.264 13. Chris WALKER (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:40.388 14. Michel FABRIZIO (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:40.503 15. Sebastien GIMBERT (Yam YZF-R1), 1:40.585 16. Shinichi NAKATOMI (Yam YZF-R1), 1:40.742 More, from a press release issued by Team Alstare Suzuki Corona: THE RETURN OF MR SUPERPOLE Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Troy Corser shrugged off the problems in qualifying to take Superpole at Assen today. It was his first Superpole since Monza in early May,and his third of the season. It is also the 37th Superpole of his career and pushes him further ahead of his nearest rival Carl Fogarty, who has recorded 21 pole positions. It was a particularly good Superpole for Team Alstare because Troy’s team mate Yukio Kagayama set the third quickest time of the day and will line up on the front row of the grid. Between him and Troy is his good friend Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha), with series leader Troy Bayliss (Ducati) in fourth place. TROY 1st, 1:38.965 After the small problems in qualifying, it’s fantastic to take Superpole today. It’s been a bit of a while, but once we’d improved the clutch feeling and got some more grip, I knew that I was in for a chance of a front row place on the grid. And, to be honest, that’s what I expected, so to get Superpole is a bonus. Front row is so important here, as any race, because the first section of the track consists of four or five slow turns and you have to be up the front or else you’ll get left behind. Tyre life is going to be a real factor tomorrow because nobody will have good grip in the second half of the race. I really hope that it doesn’t rain tomorrow, because that’ll ruin the races and not make it so much for the fans. YUKIO 3rd, 1:39.176 I like the new section of the track and maybe that’s because we are all seeing it for the first time, so nobody has a big advantage or experience over me. For sure tomorrow’s races are going to be very hard, because of the tyres. I don’t think there will be much grip in the latter part of the race and there will be many slides. I am happy that Troy-san took pole today and also happy Nori is next to me on the grid – in one way. But also, there is a lot of pressure on me to beat him off the line and get to the first turn ahead. He is a very hard rider, but I am ready for the big battle. More, from a press release issued by Team Alstare Engineering: BATTERED AND BRUISED MAX Team Alstare Engineering Corona Extra rider Max Neukirchner was a sore from yesterday’s crash and, in qualifying this morning, he was unable to force his way into the 16-rider Superpole shoot-out. But despite qualifying only 23rd, he is continuing his learning process at a pace and looking forward to improvement in tomorrow’s two 22-lap races. Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Troy Corser took Superpole in superb fashion, with team mate Yukio Kagayama also on the front row after setting the third quickest time. Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) was second fastest, with Troy Bayliss (Ducati) fourth. MAX – 23rd, 1:41.617 I was a second faster today then yesterday, which makes me happy, but I felt tired and sore today and just couldn’t push as hard as I wanted to. My neck feels very stiff, so riding the bike is hard after a number of laps. The first few turns are particularly hard for me and it’s only when I get on to the old section that I begin to feel a bit more comfortable. But this is my first race weekend and I am learning as fast as I can. I’m learning the Alstare Engineering bike and I’m learning how to work with a brand new team. I really would like a couple of good finishes tomorrow and hope to be able to get into the points. More, from a press release issued by FG Sport: CORSER TAKES SUPERPOLE WIN AT ASSEN – 2005 CHAMPION ON TOP FORM IN SUPERPOLE Troy Corser (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) won the dry Superpole contest at Assen, and in doing so scored his 37th career pole in SBK, extending his own record over Carl Fogarty (next best on a total of 21). Corser’s time of 1’36.965 was the only one inside the 1’38 barrier in Superpole, but on the new 4.555km circuit at Assen the best lap in any qualifying session (1’38.629) was set by Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) in the free practice session which preceded Superpole. FRONT ROW REPLENDENT WITH POSSIBLE RACE WINNERS Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) was second fastest in Superpole, up from fifth fastest after regulation qualifying, but he is joined in the top rank by riders who have all won at least one race this year – Corser, Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) in third and fourth place rider Bayliss. HONDA RIDERS DOMINATE SECOND ROW Assen features many new challenges for even the most experienced previous visitors this season, and in his rookie SBK campaign, Alex Barros (Klaffi Honda) adapted well to go fifth fastest, heading up the second row. Team-mates Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda) and James Toseland (Winston Ten Kate Honda) went sixth and seventh respectively, with the last place on row two secured by Haga’s team-mate, Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia). Toseland and Pitt are also race winners this season, making the prospects for closely contested races on Sunday a sure bet. NIETO NINTH AFTER QUALIFYING SIXTH IN REGULATION Ever improving SBK rider Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) slotted his big ZX-10R into the first grid place on the third row, disappointed after qualifying sixth for Superpole itself. He heads up Bayliss’ team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) heroic Steve Martin on the underpowered Foggy Petronas FP-1 and former Assen race winner, Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Berik Ducati). ROW FOUR FOR WALKER AND THE LAST OF THE FOURS Chris Walker (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) rode with his usual high level of commitment but took 13th out of 16 in Superpole, experiencing some set-up issues in qualifying per se. Joining him on the fourth row are three other four-cylinder riders – top four pre-Superpole qualifier Michel Fabrizio (DFX Treme Honda), plus Yamaha Motor France riders, Sebastien Gimbert and Shinichi Nakatomi. With so much talent in SBK this season, the usual clutch of unlikely subjects who missed the top 16 Superpole cut included Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse – one place away), Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France Ipone) 18th, Pierfrancesco Chili (DFX Treme Honda) 19th and a sterling effort from Josh Brookes (Kawasaki Bertocchi) 20th. Roberto Rolfo had a tough Assen weekend, 26th on his Ducati SC Caracchi twin, with Kurtis Roberts 27th on his Pedercini Ducati. SHORTER RACETRACK BUT MORE LAPS The new-look 4.555km Assen circuit means that the lap count for Sunday’s races has gone up from the usual Assen mark, to 22 in Superbike, 21 in Supersport. SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Thanks to the blistering time of 1’41.906 put in on Friday by Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) he scored the pole position at Assen in the Supersport category – giving him his sixth pole of the season and extending his all-time class record to 17. Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) scored second best grid position, despite suffering a big crash in the final session – a similar fate to his team-mate Broc Parkes (Yamaha Motor Germany), who was third overall in qualifying, despite a massive high side fall. Monza race winner Yoann Tiberio (Megabike Honda) went fourth fastest, completing row one of the grid for Sunday’s race. The second row will be headed up by Robbin Harms (Stiggy Motorsports Honda) from Hoegee Suzuki riders Kai Borre Andersen and Barry Veneman. Fastest Ducati was the LBR machine of Christian Zaiser. SUPERSTOCK 1000 FIM CUP Ayrton Badovini (Biassono Unionbike MV Agusta) scored pole in the big Superstock category, with Claudio Corti (Yamaha Team Italia) second, less than 0.4 behind. Brendan Roberts (HP Racing) was right on Corti’s times, with Ilario Dionisi (Unionbike GI Motorsport MV Agusta) fourth. Championship leader Alessandro Polita (Celani Suzuki) was only seventh. SUPERSTOCK 600 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP Niccolo Canepa (Ducati Xerox) held off championship leader Xavier Simeon (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) to card pole position in the Junior Superstock formula, with Davide Giugliano (Lightspeed Kawasaki) third. More, from a press release issued by Scuderia SC Caracchi: WORLD SBK: DISAPPOINTMENT IN PRACTICE AT ASSEN In the second and final practice day at Assen the weather has been dry with temperatures, air and track, a small higher as yesterday. Any exiting result for the riders of Scuderia SC Caracchi, despite the bikes have been recorded as very fast by the speed trap in both the classes. In Superbike Roberto Rolfo recorded once more a very good top speed, the highest in Superbike, but as well he increased his performance has not been able to grab a better starting position. “The bike is very fast.” related Roby Rolfo at the end of the day. “But I don’t feel confident on it and we have not been able to get a better sensation, so my performance don’t grows up. Tomorrow for the race it will be quite difficult, starting front the back in a track that doesn’t help to overtook, especially in the first sector, and let just e few hopeness to get a good result, as well during the final free practice session I got a better result.” Gianluca Nannelli practiced today with “Vanna” written on the front plate number to honour Franco Farnè’s wife, who passed last August 16, renewing the custom by the riders of Italian public road long distance races in the early Fifthies, when they put the name of their girl friend or wife on the plate number. The rider from Florence has been today the fastest of the team trio, but is not however satisfied. “This morning the bike had some electrical problem that did not allow to work at the best.” said Nannelli at the end of practices. “During afternoon session it was very better, but when I wear soft tyres I found Veneman that disturb me just in the final split, where I’m used to be quite fast. Today I devote myself for a good result to remember, as she would like, Vanna Farnè that has been very close to us during all the race week ends. Tomorrow I’ll do my best in the race, for Vanna and for Franco too.” Stuart Easton too is quite satisfied; the young Scot focused his work looking at the race and is confident in a good result tomorrow. “I wasn’t looking just for a fast lap today.” has been the final comment by Stuart Easton sulla giornata. “The bike performs well, with a good top speed, and I feel well, despite it’s a bit heavy to ride, but that’s a bike’s characteristic. Tomorrow I’ll look for a good start, I’m just behind Nannelli in the grid, and then for the race to do my best, I’m quite confident on it.” Luka Nedog is a bit disappointed with himself, because he changed the gear ratios for the final session, but the selection has not been correct and he had just a smaller improvement as he hoped. “For the qualifying session we decide to use a shorter gear ratio.” commented Nedog at the end of the day. “But probably the wind changed and we have not done a correct selection. So I did improve my lap time, but not enough to get grid positions. However I’m quite satisfied, the bike is fast, I have no more heavy handling problems and I got a better feeling with the bike.” More, from a press release issued by Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra: 2006 European Superstock 600 Championship READY FOR THE BIG BATTLE Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Xavier Simeon qualified second fastest in the European Superstock Championship qualifying today and will start on the front row of the grid . His nearest rival in the championship, Nicola Canepa (Ducati) took pole position with a time of 1:47 197. Davide Giugliano (Kawasaki) was third quickest, with Roy Ten Napel (Yamaha) completing the front row. XAVI – 2nd, 1:47.538 Today was much better then yesterday because I had more grip and the bike’s set-up felt better. Today I could enter the turns faster and so I felt more confident. My team did a really good job for me and now I’m looking forward to the race tomorrow and a big battle. Maybe it will be a fight with Canepa and Giugliano or maybe it will be a fight with just Canepa. If that happens then I am confident that I can beat him because I’ve done that many times this season already. If I have a chance of taking the win, I will do it, but I will not take any chances with the championship at stake. Final qualifying 1 Canepa (I-Ducati) 1:47.197, 2 XAVIER SIMEON (B-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:47.539, 3 Giugliano (I-Kawasaki) 1:47.762, 4 Ten Napel (NL-Yamaha) 1:47.919, 5 Antonelli (I-Honda) 1:48.046, 6 Lundh (S-Honda) 1:48.517, More, from a press release issued by Winston Ten Kate Honda: MUGGERIDGE AND TOSELAND SCORE SECOND ROW STARTS AT ASSEN Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda) put in a blitzing personal weekend best lap in Superpole at Assen, securing sixth place on the grid, one place ahead of his team-mate James Toseland (Winston Ten Kate Honda). Muggeridge had a more incident free Superpole lap than his fellow squad member, after qualifying tenth in regulation qualifying, and thus edged him out by only 0.022 seconds. Toseland, who was second fastest on race tyres after the two pre-Superpole qualifying sessions, had to survive a few moments in his single flying lap of the new-look Assen, finishing seventh fastest. The threatening Assen weather held off and Superpole was declared dry, and was taken by Troy Corser, from Noriyuki Haga, Toseland’s most immediate championship rival. The shortened 2006 season Assen track distance of 4.555km means that the Assen races on Sunday will now consist of 22 laps. Ronald Ten Kate Team Manager “To be honest I was hoping for front row starts from both the riders, because for sure, in the last free practice on race tyres it looked like we would be in for something really good. But there were some mistakes in the laps of both of the riders, so we have to be happy with the second row. The race set-up is almost there, but we still have to resolve some small problems. We can run constant laps, and if it is dry tomorrow I’m sure they can both ride right at the front.” Karl Muggeridge Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (6th Position Superpole Lap 1’39.543 42 Laps) “The bike is working a lot better now and we have found a reasonable setting. We just need to work out which tyre to use. We know that the bigger 200 tyre will work better for durability, but the smaller one is good, yet doesn’t last so well. I would like to run the skinny one but we’ll have to make a decision. Maybe it will be wet anyway, as there are high odds of rain for tomorrow.” James Toseland Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (7th Position Superpole Lap 1’39.565 44 Laps) “I had a bit of a slide and wheelie out of the first section and I had to apply the rear brake, which lost me maybe a couple of tenths down the back straight, but the rest of the track was pretty good until the last chicane. I changed direction too aggressively and on the camber the whole bike lifted up, so I lost another tenth or two there, which cost me a front row start. We have been pretty consistent on race tyres, we need to be a little bit quicker, maybe three or four tenths, but if we can find that tomorrow, which I think we can, then I will be quietly confident. I’m just not on that front row that I have been used to now.” More, from a press release issued by Ducati Xerox: DUCATI XEROX AT ASSEN: BAYLISS ON FRONT ROW, TENTH PLACE FOR LANZI Assen (Netherlands), Saturday 2 September: Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) will start from the front-row of the grid for the ninth round of the World Superbike Championship at Assen tomorrow after setting fourth quickest time in Superpole. Despite being quickest in both qualifying sessions, Troy’s one-lap dash for pole wasn’t one of his best and he will start the two races behind polesitter Troy Corser (Suzuki), Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) and Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki). Team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi was also quick in qualifying but made a mistake in Superpole and will start from row 3. “The whole weekend has been looking really good so far, we’ve been quickest in most of the sessions and not much has really gone wrong” declared Troy. “We made a good long-run this afternoon and even though my Superpole lap wasn’t great, I’m happy to be on the front row because this place has never been a great place for overtaking, even when there was the old circuit. In racing every day is a new day and you never know what’s going to happen, especially at Assen where tomorrow we could get any sort of weather. We’ve had no wet practice so we’ll just see how things are for the race tomorrow morning”. “We’ve been up at the front all weekend, it was a real pity that I made an error in Superpole” commented Lorenzo. “I touched the gearshift pedal, which caused the bike to cut out and I had a nasty moment when it went out of control. Luckily I managed to stay upright and finish the lap but I’m obviously not satisfied because there’s a big difference between the first and the third row. With the long-run things were fine and as for tyre choice, everything’s OK, we have some clear ideas and I feel sure we can do a couple of good races. The only thing is that tomorrow the forecast is for rain. Hopefully it’ll be dry because we’ve got a couple more things to do in the warm-up to prepare for the race”. More, from a press release issued by Klaffi Honda: BARROS FIFTH ON THE GRID Tomorrow Alex Barros will start from position five in the second row of the grid. In the second qualifying he finished 7th with a 1’39.858 lap time. Only some hours later he improved this time again. With a 1’39.419 he was the fifth fastest rider. Alex was pleased of his Klaffi Honda Fireblade. The new engine was better than before and powerful as he expected it to be. The suspension was also okay so best conditions for Alex to ride though he prefers the old style of the TT Circuit. His opinion is that the track lost a lot of its unique character. Alex Barros: “With the new engine we made a good step in the right direction. It is the way I prefer and we hope to continue like this. The view for tomorrow is very confidential. The position in the grid is good and starts go very good. I think I have a good possibility to make a good job tomorrow in the case it is dry. In the rain it will be a surprise. But it will be a surprise for everybody.” More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: ‘MR SUPERPOLE’ IS BACK! There were problems in practice and qualifying, but when the time came for the going to get tough, Troy charged his way to yet another superb Superpole win – his third of the season and the 37th of his career. Despite having to start midway through the 16-rider Superpole group, Troy went out and immediately set the fastest time. Then, he had to sit around and watch all his faster rivals (from regular qualifying) try and outdo him – but none did! Troy’s lap of 1:38.965 was the fastest lap he had done all weekend and was enough to take Superpole. Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) was second quickest, with Troy’s team mate Yukio Kagayama third. Completing the front row of the grid is series leader Troy Bayliss (Ducati) TROY 1st, 1:38.965 We had some problems in qualifying, particularly with the clutch and it took soem time for us to improve it. Also there were some grip problems and that together with the clutch meant that our practice and qualifying sessions did not go the way we would’ve liked. We changed a rear link in the afternoon untimed practice and that gave us a bit more feel. On race rubber, I was pretty happy throughout, it was just when we switched to the soft stuff that I had problems. When I started Superpole, I was thinking I’d be happy with a front row grid place, but as I watched the others after me, I realised that maybe, just maybe, it was going to turn out better then I had expected! It’s important to be on the front row here because the first four or five turns are so slow. The last thing you want is to be at the back of a five or six rider group exiting the hairpin. If that happens it’s going to be more then hard to get on the podium. I think all of us are going to have tyre problems tomorrow. The second part of the race is going to be very interesting and if you are able to conserve your tyres you have a good chance of a podium. It’s going to be a very long, hard day tomorrow and I hope it doesn’t rain because that’ll spoil it for everybody.