Parkes Joins Fujiwara in Germany As Lascorz Is Ruled Out Katsuaki Fujiwara will have the experienced Broc Parkes as his team-mate in Germany after Joan Lascorz was ruled out of the running due to injuries suffered in a crash at the previous round. Katsuaki is now involved in a fight to take a strong top ten final championship position, and is looking to add to his career podium total of 21, including six wins. Broc, like Katsuaki, is a serial podium finisher and winner in WSS, and in the 2009 season raced for the Kawasaki Racing Team in World Superbike. Broc has tested the Provec Motocard.com Ninja ZX-6R already and is all set to go this coming weekend. He has a career total of five WSS wins to his credit so far. The luckless Lascorz is continuing his recovery after his big crash at Silverstone on August 1, while competing to try and regain the lead in the World Supersport Championship standings. His injuries came about when another rider’s machine unavoidably hit the fallen Joan in the back as he slid along the Silverstone track surface. Currently Joan is still in hospital in Spain, having been under close observation until 11 August, with a drainage tube in his lung to relieve bleeding. Some degree of liver, spleen and stomach trauma was also suffered in the crash, although Joan did not need to undergo any operations on those vital organs. Lascorz also lost skin from his thumb in his fall but skin graft surgery to repair this particular problem went to plan and the thumb is healing well. Joan, who won the Spanish WSS round in April and led the World Supersport Championship at the mid-season point, also suffered five broken ribs and two injured scapula bones in his Silverstone crash, which cannot be operated on and are being left to recover naturally. The 25-year-old rider from Spain is hoping to be released from hospital soon, but still faces a period of convalescence to allow complete healing to take place. He is currently third in the championship, with a 42-point lead over the fourth placed rider. Kawasaki Lorenzini by Leoni Ninja ZX-6R rider Fabien Foret is currently 12th in the standings, and will be looking to get back into the kind of form that saw him score strong top fives in the early season races. Katsuaki Fujiwara: “I’m really looking forward to the next round to get more chances to score good points and move forward. We are all keen to get going again and Silverstone seems a long time ago now. I like the German race even if last year I crashed when I hit a bump on the track surface. We need to find a good set-up on Friday and Saturday, because it can be very bumpy in places. But we tested in Spain last week and we will go to this race in good shape.” Broc Parkes: “I rode the bike recently at Almeria and despite the really hot track temperatures we got a lot of good work done and I had a chance to get used to riding the Ninja ZX-6R. I’m really excited about this opportunity to have a team of that calibre give me a chance to ride at the front again. I had a pole and a podium in Germany in 2008, but it is hard to predict how things will be until I get back on the track with the rest of the Supersport guys. I have ridden for most of my career in Europe in Supersport and because of that I have competed against most of the guys who are still racing at the front.” More, from another press release issued by Kawasaki: German Round Pairs Sykes With New Boy Lowry Tom Sykes will be teamed up with WSBK rookie Ian Lowry at the Nürburgring this weekend, as team regular Chris Vermeulen continues his recuperation period. After competing in a BSB round in early August and then making progress during a test at Almeria in Spain recently, the whole KRT team is ready to get back into regular WSBK race mode. Nürburgring is the 11th round of the season, and with only two rounds left to run after this weekend every single point counts from now on. Sykes is 16th in the current overall rankings, but is only three points from the rider ahead. Tom has six points scoring races left to move up the overall standings. For Lowry his forthcoming experience will be an all-new one in many ways, but he has ridden for the team in BSB at Brands Hatch in early August and has also tested the Ninja ZX-10R in Almeria. Situated in the Eifel Mountains in the far west of Germany, the Nürburgring is a fabulously appointed track, but prone to sudden changes of weather. It is something of a classic of modern circuit design and a challenge to all-comers. The surface is bumpy in places along its 5.137km length and has one of the most dramatic high-speed braking sections in modern day racing, entering the first hairpin. Tom Sykes: “I am looking forward to racing the Nürburgring again as there are some really exciting parts around the track, especially the right kink out the back of the circuit and the Schumacher S. That gives you a rewarding feeling when you get it right. If we can get solidly into the top ten in each race that would be really good given where we are at now. With the level of the championship this year those would be two good achievements. Last year was a bit wet and dry so there is obviously some English-style weather going on over there!” Ian Lowry: “Nürburgring will be completely new for me but I have been playing the Superbike game on the PS3 a lot so I am a wizard at it now! Between that and doing some research of previous races I at least know what to expect in the early stages. I will do as many laps as I can on the scooter to get it into my head before first practice and the team has a lot of data from last year. We should not be too far away to start, and I can’t wait to get going.” More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: After the long summer break, Team Suzuki Alstare is looking forward to the 11th round of this year’s Superbike World Championship at the Nurburgring in Germany this coming weekend. The track is situated relatively close to the team’s headquarters, so it will be almost a ‘home event’ and the fifth time that the Superbike World Championship has visited the 5.137 kilometre circuit, set in the Eifel mountains and, as usual, weather conditions are likely to play a great part in the proceedings. Team Suzuki Alstare rider Leon Haslam lies 60 points behind series leader Max Biaggi but is determined to push the Italian as hard as he can and reduce the deficit in Sunday’s races. Leon Haslam: “Last year I managed a sixth and a fifth on a privateer bike, so I am looking forward to this year’s round and challenging for the podium in both races. For sure I would like to win both races and put pressure on Max, but there are a lot of good riders and good bikes out there and it’s not going to be an easy weekend. But, I wouldn’t be out there if I didn’t like the battle and I get a real buzz mixing it with the rest of the top riders. “We’ve had a good, long break and although I have been training hard and doing a lot of riding – mainly off-road – there is nothing like being on the track and racing flat out. All I can do is the best I can, beat Max in both races and hope he gets a couple of poor results.” Sylvain Guintoli: “I didn’t race at the Nurburgring last year, so this will be my first time there on a Superbike. I have definitely been happier these past few races and feel I now know a lot more about World Superbikes than at the start of the season. I know I say it a lot, but this series is so competitive and the smallest of margins can make such big differences. “I have been keeping fit during the long break and cannot wait to be at the racetrack again and get back on my Suzuki Alstare GSX-R1000. As usual, my aim is to qualify well, be in a good place on the grid; and then fight for the podium.” 2009 results: Race 1: Ben Spies (USA-Yamaha), 2 Noriyuki Haga (JPN-Ducati), 3 Carlos Checa (ESP-Honda). 6 Leon Haslam (GBR-Honda). Sylvain Guintoli DNS. Race 2: Jonathan Rea (GBR-Honda), 2 Spies, 3 Checa. 5 Leon Haslam (GBR-Honda). Sylvain Guintoli DNS. More, from a press release issued by Hannspree Ten Kate Honda: After a month away from the World Superbike championship, Hannspree Ten Kate Honda riders Jonathan Rea and Max Neukirchner have been preparing themselves for this weekend’s (3-5 September) 11th round of the series at Nurburgring in Germany. The Dutch-based squad completed a day’s testing of suspension and electronics components at their local circuit of Assen yesterday, allowing both riders to get back to speed following a period of more than four weeks away from the team’s Honda CBR1000RR Fireblades. Jonathan Rea, 23, currently lies in third place in the world championship standings but returns to the historic 5.137km Nurburgring as a previous race winner, having emerged on the top step of the podium in race two last year, after placing fourth in race one. The Northern Irishman beat 2009 champion Ben Spies to the race victory, breaking the Nurburgring lap record on the final lap. Rea enjoyed his return to track act ion during the Assen test and, despite rain interruptions, was quickly back up to speed and close to the race pace that netted him a double victory at the Dutch circuit back in April. Max Neukirchner hasn’t had quite as much time away from the track as his Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate, having competed in the IDM German Superbike championship round at Assen two weeks ago. Neukirchner won the opening race and finished third in the second outing on a Honda CBR1000RR prepared by Ten Kate Racing Products. The 27-year-old German left the last WSBK round at Silverstone in the UK in a positive frame of mind, despite a difficult return to the 2010 championship after missing most of last season through injury. For Silverstone raceday, Neukirchner returned to a setting that had served him well earlier in the season, allowing him a greater degree of comfort and control on the bike and giving him an ability to challenge more positively during the races, which he firmly intends on carrying through to Nurburgring this weekend. Jonathan Rea It’s been good to have some time off, but I couldn’t wait to get back on the bike. The test at Assen couldn’t have come at a better time because it gave us a chance to shake off some cobwebs before Nurburgring and to try a whole load of new stuff for the bike. The development has carried on during the break and the team is continuing to make a big effort right through to the end of the season. It’s good to get my head back up to 180-190mph in preparation for Nurburgring, which I’m really looking forward to. I like riding there and managed to get a win last year. However, I’m under no illusions that everyone else will also be coming back strong after the break, so it’s definitely not going to be an easy weekend. We’ll have to work hard to optimise the bike’s setting to give me something to challe nge up front with, but I’m sure the guys can give me that. Max Neukirchner All is good, and it was very interesting going back to Assen so soon after the IDM race on a completely different bike! Everything went pretty well yesterday and we were concentrating mostly on engine and electronics to get a good level of smooth power which is what we’ll need for this weekend in Nurburgring. I’m really looking forward to the races and the IDM results have given me a big boost and a motivation to do well. It’s a home race, of course, but there won’t be quite so many of my own fans as there were at Brno because it’s a bit further away for them. However, we’ll start with something close to where we left Silverstone and I’ll try to give the German race fans something to cheer about! Ronald ten Kate Despite a couple of showers of rain, we got a lo t of track time at our Assen test and we were able to test some new electronics and suspension settings. It was also a good opportunity for Jonathan and Max to get up to speed again and boost their confidence for Nurburgring this weekend. Jonathan managed to match his race pace from earlier in the season, despite track conditions being much worse than they were in April. We had a good couple of races before the break, too, at Brno and Silverstone, and we hope that Max can benefit from a home race advantage in Germany. His IDM championship race at Assen gave him a taste for podium champagne again and certainly lifted his spirits, so we’re ready to go! More, from a press release issued by Hannspree Ten Kate Honda: After a month-long break from the action, the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda World Supersport championship riders get back on their Honda CBR600RRs this weekend (3-5 September) for round 11 of the 2010 series. Kenan Sofuoglu and Michele Pirro took the opportunity to loosen up during a one-day test at the team’s local circuit at Assen in the Netherlands yesterday. For Pirro, it was his first time back on track since his high-speed crash at Brno in the Czech Republic on 11 July. Sofuoglu, who celebrated his 26th birthday a week ago, currently leads the World Supersport championship by 17 points over fellow Honda rider, Eugene Laverty. The Turkish ace, knows that he will need to maintain his remarkable consistency over the final three races of the season starting in Germany this weekend to realise his dream of regaining the title he won in 2007. Pirro, too, is targeting a top result at Nurburgring to match his only World Supersport podium to date, which he secured back in March at Portimao in Portugal. The 24-year-old Italian sustained facial injuries and a dislocated wrist in his Brno crash and, despite some pain from the wrist during yesterday’s Assen test, he is confident of playing a significant role in this weekend’s proceedings. Kenan Sofuoglu It has been a long break, but I am feeling rested and fit; now we are ready for the last three important races of this season. My team has been working hard during the holiday period and we will work together for another win this weekend. Although it has been a consistent season, we have to keep pushing for more wins because the pressure will be there right until the final race. Nurburgring is not my favourite circuit and it was not good for me last year. I qualified OK but I crashed out of second place when the rain fell and I had to retire a few laps later. Obviously I want a better result that that this weekend, and the target is to win again. Michele Pirro My body feels much better now after the crash and it was good that we had this test at Assen because it gave me a chance to ride the bike for the first time since Brno. There was no pressure just me and the bike. I’ve been working hard on my physiotherapy in the last few weeks, but there was still a little pain which I hope will be less at the weekend. Nurburgring, is a circuit that I like very much. I like the fast corners there, but the first one is a little bit difficult in the first laps of the race because it is so slow. I qualified OK there last year but in the race I crashed after five or six laps. I’m looking forward to the weekend very much but this time it’s very important to have a good weekend because there are only three races left. Ronald ten Kate team manager Ken an was quite fast at the test yesterday and it was good to get both riders back on their bikes after a long break. We had a few new bits and pieces to test and these certainly seem to have improved the overall package. Yesterday was also good for Michele to get back after his Brno crash. His wrist is still painful but after a couple more days rest and some treatment in the Clinica Mobile at Nurburgring, he should be good to go, too. More, from a press release issued by Team Pedercini: The eleventh round of the HANNspree Superbike World Championship and the eight round of the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup will take place in Nurburgring circuit in Germany over the weekend of September 3/4/5. The Nurburgring, known as simply “the Ring” by enthusiasts, is the name of the famous motorsport race track. The construction of the original Nurburgring track began in September 1925 and the track was completed in spring of 1927 around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel region. Primarily due to its extraordinary length of over 22 km. and the lack of space due to its situation on the sides of the mountains, the Ring was unable to meet the ever-increasing safety requirements and in 1981 works began on a 4.5 km long new circuit which was built on and around the old pits area. The new Nürburgring was completed in 1984 and it was built to meet the highest safety standards. Pedercini Team’s riders are looking forward to continuing the development of their ZX10RR Kawasaki at this weekend’s eleventh round of the World Superbike championship event at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany. Matteo Baiocco is hoping to put the last races at Silverstone behind him and to obtain better results at the Nurburgring. Roger Lee Hayden raced in Indianapolis only a few days ago, reaching the seventeenth position in the Moto2 World Championship race. Both riders are eager to race in Germany. Matteo Baiocco :”I’ve had a good holiday, but now I’m really looking forward to racing again. Nurburgring is an historical circuit and I like it also it was not an easy track for me to learn. In Silverstone I felt a definite improvement in the bike and I know that my technicians will work hard to give me the same feeling also at the Nurburgring. I want to reach some good results in the last three races this year and I will try as hard as I can to achieve them”. Roger Lee Hayden : “I have never been to the Nurburgring before but I’m looking forward to racing there. We’ll have to do as many laps as we can in practice to understand the new track and find the right setup for the bike. The Moto2 race in Indianapolis was not so easy but my team helped me a lot and made the whole experience a lot of fun. Now it’s back to business at Nurburgring, another new circuit but also a new challenge and fresh motivation for me. I’m really looking forward to riding there. With the improvements we’ve done during the last races I am confident we can make a head start and get some good results this weekend.” More, from a press release issued by Althea Racing: Nurburgring, 2nd September 2010 After the month long summer break, the World Superbike Championship returns this weekend, to Germany’s historic Nurburgring, where Team Althea Racing’s Carlos Checa and Shane Byrne will be aiming to run at the front of the pack. In the eleventh event of the season, Spanish rider Checa sets his sights on third position in the standings, less than 40 points from his grasp. The 37-year old from San Fruitos will aim for two top five finishes after two difficult rounds at Brno and Silverstone. Last year’s German result bodes well, as Carlos reached the podium, in third position, in both races. Shane Byrne is also prepared for two great races. The 33-year old Englishman only needs a few points to reach tenth in the overall classification. For this reason, “Shakey” will strive to take his first top five finish of the season at the Nurburgring, in an attempt to catch those riders immediately ahead of him in the standings. Byrne hopes to improve on both his recent fluctuating results (conditioned by a painful hand injury) and the tenth place finish he scored at the German track in Race 1 last year. “After the summer break we are full prepared for the Nurburgring”, says Genesio Bevilacqua, General Manager of Althea Racing. “the German track is tricky from a riding point of view, with a rich sporting history, and we, with both Carlos and Shane, will do our best to score two impressive results. It’s important that we run at the front, also in order to improve the overall positions in the standings; we’ll do all we can to fulfill our objectives.” The weekend’s action gets underway on Friday with the first free practice at 12:45 followed by first qualifying at 15:45. Second qualifying takes place on Saturday at 10:45 while Superpole kicks off at 15:00. On Sunday the two races begin at 12:00 and 15:30.