Superbike World Championship Round 3 Donington Park (United Kingdom) 4/1/07 Team YZF Yamaha One more step forward After finishing in the points at Losail (Qatar) and Phillip Island (Australia), Shinichi Nakatomi discovers this weekend the very beautiful but difficult Donington Part circuit. This is a great opportunity for the Japanese rider to use the progress made during the Valencia tests. Even if the racing season started late without winter testing, the Team YZF Yamaha finally had the possibility to do some development at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. The first time he was at Valencia this year on February 7 and 8, Nakatomi did a 1:37.2. This month, on March 18 and 19, improvements on the R1 helped him go faster in 1:36.6 still without using qualifying tyres. A lot of work was done, including engine mapping and also tuning of the KYB suspensions. Martial Garcia (team manager): “Our goal is to have our performances go one more step forward. Being back in Europe could allow us to obtain better results. The Valencia tests have been positive and the set up of our Yamaha YZF R1 is now improved.” Shinichi has to adapt to the Donington Park circuit, one of the three tracks he is discovering this year with Misano clockwise and Vallelunga. The team has been here before for the latest World Superbike race at Donington in 2001. Its name was then Panavto Yamaha, with Spaniard Juan Borja riding the famous Yamaha 750cc R7. Interestingly, in 2001 the 8 fastest riders in Superpole all used 2 cylinder bikes (Ducati 996, Honda VTR 1000 SP, Aprilia RSV 1000). During both races, Pierfrancesco Chili did an incredible show and achieved a great result being the only 4 cylinder bike (750cc Suzuki) in the top 7 finishers, finishing first and second. Only one rider in 2007 Martial Garcia: “We were hoping to enter a second rider in the WSBK Championship, but it will not be possible. Our negotiations with several possible partners are now over without positive result. So the Team YZF Yamaha will have only one rider this year.” The circuit The 4.203 kms track can be divided in two parts: The first one from Redgate to Coppice is fast, while the second one from the Fogarty Esses to Goddards in slower. The first is the 1977 layout and the second is from1985 when it was decided to make the track longer so he would comply with the homologation rules for Grand Prix racing. The first motorcycle Grand Prix was organized in 1987 and the Superbike World Championship came to Donington as soon as it was created in 1988. The winner of the first race was Davide Tardozzi on a Bimota and the winner of the second one Marco Lucchinelli on a Ducati. For a while, the surface here was quite slippery, but the quality of the grip is now good since the track has been resurfaced in 2004. New owners since February Donington Park was sold on February 5 by Live Nation, formerly the Clear Channel Group, to a newly created holding company. Donington Park founder Tom Wheatcroft is the president and Simon Gillett the CEO of the new company, Donington Ventures Leisure Limited. World Championship standings: 1-Toseland (Honda) 90 points, 2-Biaggi (Suzuki) 74, 3-Bayliss (Ducati) 64, 4-Haga (Yamaha) 50, 5-Corser (Yamaha) 45 …15-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 10 More, from a press release issued by Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra: 2007 Superbike World Championship Preview: Round 3, Donington Park, UK, 1st April TEAM ALSTARE SUZUKI LOOKING FOR A DONINGTON REPEAT! That last time the Superbike World Championship was at Donington was a tremendous occasion for Team Alstare Suzuki. That was in 2001, when Italian Pierfrancesco Chili took runner-up spot in the first race and then followed it up with a sensational win in the second. Since then the midlands circuit has been off the calendar, but this year it is back in favour. The event will be particular noteworthy because it will be a celebration of the twentieth year of the Superbike World Championship – and especially important bearing in mind that the first ever WSBK race took place in Donington. Although Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra riders Max Biaggi and Yukio Kagayama are no strangers to Donington, neither of them have ridden there in a World SBK race. Max has ridden at Donington in GPs – the last one being in 2005 – and Yukio last raced there in the 2004 British Superbike Championship. MAX I like Donington because it is quite a fast track, but now that I am on Superbike I will have to learn it all over again. It’s going to feel very different on my Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 compared to the last bike I rode there, so we will have to start the first practice trying to find a good set-up for the bike. We did a lot of work at the recent Valencia tests and accumulated a lot of information. Hopefully, we can put it all to good use at Donington and take some podiums. YUKIO For me, the last time I raced at Donington seems a long time ago. That was in BSB, but this time it is the World Championship and it will be much harder for sure. At our recent test, my shoulder was still very sore, but now that I have had some time to rest it, I think it will be in much better condition for the race. I will not know how strong it is until first practice, but I am hoping that it will be OK and not give me too much trouble. I have many fans in England, so I want to push hard and get a couple of podiums. More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: High hopes for HANNspree Ten Kate Honda at Donington Park World Superbike Championship Round one: Donington Park, UK Tuesday 27 March 2007 Event preview Following exhilarating back-to-back opening races in Qatar and Australia, the 2007 World Superbike Championship heads to the UK for the first European round of the season at Donington Park this weekend. Following a three-week break, HANNspree Ten Kate Honda riders James Toseland and Roberto Rolfo are fired up and ready to go. Youngest-ever World Superbike Champion Toseland returns home after a triumphant start to the season that saw him storm to the top of the standings. The Yorkshireman arrives at Donington Park having secured four podium finishes including two race wins and two second places at the previous two events. This means he enters the 23-lap races at the 4.02km circuit with a 16-point advantage over his nearest rival. The Donington Park round marks the 20th anniversary of the first ever World Superbike race. It is also the first time that the series has visited the Derbyshire circuit since 2001. Toseland is determined to add to the celebrations by securing the Superpole and a double win for his home fans. Toseland’s team-mate Rolfo continued to improve aboard the Honda CBR1000RR throughout the first four races of the season. The Italian rider set a good race pace and put in some impressive riding to finish inside the top ten of the championship standings. Rolfo is determined to prove his championship potential by securing a top six placing at Donington Park. Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager: “We are very happy with the way things have gone so far. James is on top form and is racing brilliantly. Donington is obviously an important race for him as he wants to impress the UK fans and he is really determined to show them what he can do. I am confident that he can bring home more podium finishes for HANNspree Ten Kate Honda. Roby is also riding well and has made significant progress over the first two rounds. He is still getting better all the time and I think he will really prove his potential over the next few rounds. The whole team is looking forward to what this weekend might bring.” James Toseland: “So far, the racing has been spot-on for me. It’s an honour to be riding with such great competition and to hear the like of Troy Bayliss complimenting me at Phillip Island is very flattering. It’s a great feeling to be heading to Donington as the championship leader I couldn’t ask for a better way to be going into the first home race. I feel fitter than ever and I cannot wait to race in the UK I’ll give it everything I have to get a win for the fans.” Roberto Rolfo: “Although the first two rounds did not go as smoothly as I might have hoped, my aim was to be inside the top ten and that’s where I am. I feel more confident on the bike and I know that I can do well at Donington if I get my head down and concentrate on the task. I have ridden at the track before from my days in the 250cc World Championship so I’ll use that to my advantage and hopefully get the top six place we are aiming for.” The third round of the 2007 World Superbike Championship will take place at Donington Park from 30 March1 April 2007. For information on tickets and pricing visit www.donington-park.co.uk More, from another press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: HANNspree Ten Kate Honda prepares for third Supersport battle World Supersport Championship Round three: Donington Park, UK Tuesday 27 March 2007 Event preview The first two rounds of the World Supersport Championship in Qatar and Australia proved the 2007 series to be one of the most competitive yet. The third round will take place at Donington Park this weekend and once again it could be anyone’s race. However, HANNspree Ten Kate Honda riders Kenan Sofuoglu and Sébastien Charpentier are ready for the challenge. Series leader Kenan Sofuoglu wowed the crowds during the first two races of the season by securing two podium finishes – including the first race win of the season. He displayed inch-perfect riding that betrayed his years and relative inexperience and placed him at the top of the championship standings. Sofuoglu is currently seven-points clear of closest rival Fabien Foret and heads to Donington Park in a confident mood. Sofuoglu’s team-mate and defending World Supersport Champion Sébastien Charpentier is ninth in the standings following a mixed start to the season. However, the double-title winning Frenchman is now more determined than ever to prove that he is capable of securing a hat-trick of wins for HANNspree Ten Kate Honda. Although his team-mate holds the advantage, it is Charpentier who has the benefit of experience when racing the Honda CBR600RR and he is sure to use this to his advantage. Ronald ten Kate. Team Manager: “The Supersport season really started with a bang for HANNspree Ten Kate Honda – the first race win on the new CBR600RR at the first round was more than we could have hoped for. Kenan has been exceeding all our expectations so far. He is riding with maturity and style and he is bringing in the results for the team. Sébastien has not had the best start, but I am confident in his ability – it’s early days and he is determined to succeed. Donington Park promises to be an exciting race.” Sébastien Charpentier “It’s been a difficult start for me. However the team has worked really hard on the development of the new bike so there is no reason why I shouldn’t be back at the top for Donington. I’m more than ready for the next race.” Kenan Sofuoglu “I am so happy with the way things have gone so far and I’d like to thank the team for getting the bike to such a high standard. I was so happy to get two podium finishes, but I am trying to look forward to the race ahead because you can’t take anything for granted. I have never ridden at Donington Park before so I can’t wait to get to grips with the circuit.” The third round of the 2007 World Supersport Championship will take place at Donington Park from 30 March-1 April 2007. For information on tickets and pricing visit www.donington-park.co.uk More, from a press release issued by FGSport: 2007 SBK CORONA EXTRA SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP® DONINGTON PARK – 3rd ROUND – 30th, 31st MARCH and 1st APRIL PREVIEW Donington Park, Tuesday 27th March 2007 FIRST BRITISH ROUND OF 2007 A REMINDER OF YEAR ONE – SBK RETURNS TO WHERE IT ALL STARTED Round three of the 13-round World Superbike championship takes place at the birthplace of World Superbike racing itself – Donington Park in Great Britain. The 4km circuit, located in the heart of England, was the venue for the first ever World Superbike race weekend, in the corresponding month of April 1988. In what is now SBK’s 20th year, it is only fitting that Donington returns to the World Superbike calendar per se, having been a much-missed venue since the last SBK meeting there in 2001. On that day two legendary SBK names, Pierfrancesco Chili and Neil Hodgson each won races, and way back in 1988, current Ducati Xerox team manager Davide Tardozzi and former GP champion Marco Lucchinelli won a leg each. TOSELAND THE HOME FAVOURITE AND CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER James Toseland (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) returns to what will be the first of three home races this season in the position of championship leader, having scored two wins and two second places thus far. He and his team-mate Roberto Rolfo (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) missed the recent official SBK tests but Toseland will still be going for front row qualifying slots to allow him to lead the pack on the early run down the awesome Craner Curves section of the Donington circuit. The only other riders to have won races thus far are even more experienced in terms of recent race outings at Donington, with Qatar race winner Max Biaggi (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) second in the rankings and 16 points down on Toseland, while Phillip Island race winner Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) is overall third, some 26 points from the lead. Biaggi’s team-mate Yukio Kagayama is an experienced rider at Donington, having been a BSB regular for two seasons, but for Bayliss’ team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi this weekend is a new challenge on a World Superbike machine, although he has raced at Donington before in 2001, on a 250. HAGA AND CORSER BOTH FORMER WINNERS AT DONINGTON Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) has not got off to the best start he could have imagined in 2007, but at Donington he has proved to be a winner in the past, and a double winner for Yamaha to boot, in 1998. His team-mate Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) has also scored a double win at Donington, in 1996, when he rode for Ducati. Haga is fourth so far, with Corser fifth. Other Yamaha riders to look out for at Donington include Donington rookie Shinichi Nakatomi (Team YZF Yamaha). NIETO AND LACONI WELL VERSED IN DONINGTON’S INTRICACIES The sinuous and flowing nature of Donington’s layout is an eagerly anticipated venue for the top Kawasaki pairing, Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) and Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse). Each rider has great experience of the Donington track and feel that it could be a good venue for their fast but sometimes fickle machines. Serial WSB race winner when a factory rider Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Ducati) is currently the top-placed privateer, even if he is on a year-old factory 999 F06 machine. He is closely followed in the current points standings by Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Germany). Like Xaus, the German rider has yet to finish outside the top ten thus far, and yet Neukirchner is ‘only’ equipped with a 2006-spec privateer GSX-R. PRIVATEERS SET TO PUSH HARD Despite being told his ride was lost due to sponsorship issues, Steve Martin will now line up beside his regular team-mate Michel Fabrizio (DFX Corse Honda CBR1000RR) until at least the Monza race. The DFX team’s mixture of youth and experience will be a welcome pairing at Donington. The Alto Evolution Honda riders, Karl Muggeridge and Josh Brookes, could not have more different points of view of Donington going into this weekend. Former UK resident Muggeridge is going back to a venue he knows well from his British Supersport days, while Brookes will see the circuit for the first time shortly before he attacks the curves and heavy braking sections for real in first practice. Once more Giovanni Bussei will team-up with Xaus for this race weekend, on a second Sterilgarda Berik Ducati. SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP- SOFUOGLU LEADS Qatar WSS race winner Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) has been the consistent man at the vanguard of the championship so far, but he holds a slender seven point advantage over 2002 champion, GIL Kawasaki rider Fabien Foret, who scored the most recent WSS race win at Phillip Island. In third place overall Katsuaki Fujiwara (Althea Honda) has been right back to form after an injury-blighted 2006 season, and he is third in the table. A cosmopolitan WSS grid has Kevin Curtain (Yamaha SSP Racing) currently fourth, despite some bad luck in early races, but two strong and consistent rides on less than full-powered machinery have not stopped Pere Riba (GIL Kawasaki) from scoring fifth place so far. 2005 and 2006 champion Sebastien Charpentier (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) languishes ninth overall, after a fall and an off-podium finish at Phillip Island. Curtain’s team-mate Broc Parkes scored a strong podium in Phillip Island, but he still sits behind the fast Danish rider, Robbin Harms (Stiggy Motorsports Honda). Gianluca Nannelli (Team Caracchi Ducati SC 749R) may find the flowing nature of Donington the key to his potential success, despite a retirement from the most recent race. SUPERSTOCK 1000 FIM CUP – ALMOST 40 RIDERS VIE FOR TITLE With Donington being the first competitive return to races in the Superstock classes this year, a whole new dimension will be in evidence for the fans who make the pilgrimage to Donington this year. With 2006 champion Alessandro Polita promoting himself to the World Superbike championship grid the fight for the title is wide open this year, even with the return of another former champion, Didier Van Keymeulen (TTSL MGM Racing Yamaha). Three manufacturers have new machines in 2007, with latest Yamaha R1 and Suzuki GSX-Rs ready to take on the biggest Ducati twin ever, the 1098S. The potential champions in this field are almost without limit, in a class with a grid of almost 40 regulars. Claudio Corti (Team Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha) went fastest in recent Valencia tests with Ayrton Badovini (Biassono Unionbike MV Agusta) second and Niccolo Canepa (Ducati Xerox 1098) just behind. SUPERSTOCK 600 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – THE NEW BATCH 2006 Champion Xavier Simeon has moved up to the ranks to the 1000cc division and thus the 600cc class is a wide-open affair in 2007. New talent is always a feature of this category, as it is specifically designed for young riders. Choosing an eventual winner will be a difficult task, but in the recent official Valencia tests. Mathieu Gines (Moto 1 Yamaha) was the quickest rider, with the Ducati Xerox 749 of Domenico Colucci second fastest. Michele Magnoni was third fastest on his Bevilacqua Yamaha and the Honda of Andrea Antonelli went fourth. 20th YEAR CELEBRATIONS CONTINUE With World Superbike celebrating its 20th straight season this year, there will be parades from former SBK superstars on Saturday and Sunday at Donington, plus a press conference on Saturday after the Superpole press conferences.. All the former riders present will have a chance to re-live their glory days, many of which took place in front of appreciative Donington Park crowds. HECTIC SPRING SCHEDULE INCLUDES VALENCIA AND ASSEN The return to points-scoring duty at Donington is but the first of three races for all SBK categories in April. After Donington, Valencia beckons on 15 April, with Assen moving forward in the calendar from its usual September slot this year, to 29th April. More, from a press release issued by Steve Martin’s publicist: Steve Martin To Race At Donington Following a week of negotiations after being side-lined by DFX Honda due to the team’s financial difficulties, Steve Martin will be lining up on the World Superbike grid for the third round of the championship at Donington this coming weekend. Steve spent much of last week on the phone and in meetings trying to find a solution to DFX’s financial problems, after two sponsors withdrew their support of the team at short notice. Steve explained, “I have known Danielle Carli for the last six years so obviously it was with great regret that he had to inform me of the situation last week. But we’ve come to an agreement which will see me on track at Donington and from there, on a race by race basis for the next three races. If no sponsorship arrives during this time I will most likely be on the side lines again. “This last week has been very difficult, having been worried about whether I will be riding or not and trying to help find a solution to the team’s situation, when I really should have been thinking about what improvements we need to be making to the bike.” Although not ideal circumstances for Steve to be heading into the third round of the World Superbike Championship, the Aussie has been keeping to his training schedule and is optimistic for running well at Donington. Steve continued, “Donington is the first track we get to ride this year where the factory teams haven’t tested, so although my bike is unchanged from Phillip Island I feel it will be easier to be closer to the front as no one will have benefited from any testing there.” Steve and family will head to the UK on Wednesday to prepare for the race meeting ahead and would like to greatly thank everyone who has sent their best wishes and offers of assistance, so that Steve could work towards being on the grid this weekend. More, from a press release issued by Suzuki Racing: Max Biaggi and Yukio Kagayama will race their first ever World Superbike Championship event on the Donington Park circuit in England this weekend. Although the Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra riders have competed at the midlands venue before – Biaggi in MotoGP in 2005 and Kagayama in British Championships in 2004 – neither have gone head-to-head in the Superbike class. And, the last time the Superbike World Championship was at Donington was a tremendous occasion for Team Alstare Suzuki: In 2001, Italian Pierfrancesco Chili took runner-up spot in the first race and then followed it up with a sensational win in the second. Since then the circuit has been off the calendar. The event will be particular noteworthy because it will be a celebration of the 20th year of the Superbike World Championship and especially important bearing in mind that the first ever World Superbike Championship race took place there. Max Biaggi: “I like Donington because it is quite a fast track but now that I am on Superbike I will have to learn it all over again. It’s going to feel very different on my Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 compared to the last bike I rode there, so we will have to start the first practice trying to find a good set-up for the bike. We did a lot of work at the recent Valencia tests and accumulated a lot of information. Hopefully, we can put it all to good use at Donington and take some podiums.” Yukio Kagayama: “For me the last time I raced at Donington seems a long time ago. That was in BSB but this time it is the World Championship and it will be much harder for sure. At our recent test, my shoulder was still very sore, but now that I have had some time to rest it I think it will be in much better condition for the race. I will not know how strong it is until first practice, but I am hoping that it will be ok and not give me too much trouble. I have many fans in England so I want to push hard and get a couple of podiums.”