Press release:Injured Team Suzuki Alstare Brux rider Yukio Kagayama endured difficult conditions in the rain-affected first race in today's World Superbike eighth round at Misano in Italy, and ended the 24-lapper in sixth place.
He opted for a harder rear spring in race two, but it didn't work as well as he had expected and he finished in 11th position.
Fonsi Nieto ended with a 18th in race one, but improved to 12th in race two.
Ben Spies (Yamaha) won the rain-affected first 24-lapper with Shane Byrne (Ducati) second and Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) third.
Race two started in the dry and, apart from a few spots of rain, continued to remain a dry race: Jonathan Rea (Honda) had a race-long battle with Michel Fabrizio and Noriyuki Haga (Ducati), but held them both off to record his maiden World Superbike victory.
Yukio Kagayama:
"That was a difficult weekend and today was very tricky because of the changing conditions in the first race. I felt fairly comfortable for the first three-or-so laps, but the track dried so quickly so, after a few more laps, we decided to pull in and change bikes. But my second bike had a half dry/ half-wet setting and my feeling with it was not so good. I pushed as hard as I could, especially when I was fighting with Nori, but I had to settle for sixth place.
"I made a mistake by choosing a harder rear spring in race two and wasn't able to pick up the pace. Sorry to my team. Overall though, I found a good feeling with my bike this weekend, but I am disappointed not to get the results I expected."
Fonsi Nieto:
"I started with full wets but the track dried very quickly and I didn't have any confidence with the grip. We changed bikes and I think I progressed quite well, but I saw a blue flag and thought some really fast rider was going to pass, so I pulled over. But it was just the guys behind me and they all went past and I had lost three or so places! I wasn't happy about this and by the time I recovered, it was too late. I made a good start in the second race and found a good pace. The bike's balance felt good, but towards the end of the race I began to have problems with the front brake. I had a good battle with Max Biaggi and finished with a positive feeling."
2009 World Superbike championship, round eight – Misano, Italy (4.226km, 2 x 24 laps) results:
Race one:
1. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha 45’02.773ss
2. Shane Byrne (GBR) Ducati +7.931s
3. Michel Fabrizio (ITA) Ducati +11.836
4. Jakub Smrz (CZE) Ducati +11.886
5. Noriyuki Haga (JPN-Ducati)
6. Yukio Kagayama (JPN-Suzuki Alstare Brux)
18. Fonsi Nieto (ESP-Suzuki Alstare Brux)
Race two:
1. Jonathan Rea (GBR) Honda 39’11.204s
2. Michel Fabrizio (ITA) Ducati +0.063s
3. Noriyuki Haga (JPN) Ducati +0.457
4. Jakub Smrz (CZE) Ducati +3.635
5. Carlos Checa (ESP) Honda +4.460
11. Yukio Kagayama (JPN-Suzuki Alstare Brux)
12. Fonsi Nieto (ESP-Suzuki Alstare Brux)
Championship points after eight of 14 rounds:
1. Haga 292
2. Spies 244
3. Fabrizio 237
4. Rea 167
5. Biaggi 135
6. Leon Haslam 134
7. Tom Sykes 130
8. Checa 109
9. Smrz 108
10. Ryuichi Kiyonari 98
11. Yukio Kagayama (JPN-Suzuki Alstare Brux) 91
14. Max Neukirchner (GER-Suzuki Alstare Brux) 75
23. Fonsi Nieto (ESP-Suzuki Alstare Brux) 8
SUPERSTOCK 1000:
Team Suzuki Alstare Brux rider Claudio Corti took fourth place at Misano today to keep in touch with new championship leader Xavi Simeon (Ducati).
Corti qualified seventh on the grid and was fighting for a podium when he was hit by Davide Giugliano (MV). He managed to stay onboard, but lost time recovering and had to settle for fourth at the end of the race.
The race had been moved from the morning, due to torrential rain, and took place in the afternoon with a race distance of 9 laps.
Maxime Berger (Honda) comfortably won the race with Simeon second and Sylvain Barrier (Yamaha) third.
Claudio Corti:
"It was difficult today because I don't like this track and I had to start from seventh position, so maybe getting fourth is not so bad. I was chasing a podium place towards the end of the race, but Giugliano hit me and the time it took me to recover was enough to finish fourth. I felt a little vibration in the first four or five laps and lost a little concentration. It was caused by a plastic cover and once it fell off, I felt no more vibration, so I charged again. I am not happy with my result today and it was all down to me and not the bike or the team. I will improve at Donington and will be chasing the top spot on the podium."
Superstock 1000 Results
1. Maxime Berger (FRA-Honda)
2. Xavier Simeon (BEL-Ducati)
3. Sylvain Barrier (FRA-Yamaha)
4. Claudio Corti (ITA-Suzuki Alstare Brux)
5. Michele Magnoni (ITA-Yamaha)
6. Davide Giugliano (ITA-MV Agusta)
Championship points:
1. Simeon 80
2. Claudio Corti (ITA-Suzuki Alstare Brux) 74
3. Berger 66
4. Fores 51
5. Barrier 43
6. Beretta 36
