After a three week break the Airwaves Ducati team will return to racing this weekend for round 10 of the British Superbike Championship at Croft. The 2.170-mile North Yorkshire circuit is a mixture of fast straights and tight hairpin’s which will pose technical challenges for competitors and teams alike.
The Airwaves Ducati team will be using their prior knowledge of the track, having tested here last month, to achieve as many championship points as possible. The Airwaves Ducati riders Leon Haslam and Gregorio Lavilla are currently laying 2nd and 3rd respectively in the championship and with only 4 rounds left the title race is entering its final stages.
Having achieved a third and a first place finish at Croft last year, 2005 British Superbike Champion Gregorio Lavilla knows he needs to overcome recent disappointing and unlucky results and is looking to Croft to signal a turn in fortune.
“I did well at Croft last year and we had a good test here last month in which I lapped faster times than I did in those races, so I am confident for this weekend despite my recent results. I know I have a lot to do and I need to achieve some good points to regain my championship lead but we have had a few weeks break and it will be good to get back on a bike and racing again.”
Leon Haslam has been achieving consistently good results with 8 podiums from the last 8 races; he is still looking for the elusive win to advance his challenge for the championship title. When testing at Croft Haslam topped each of the sessions ending the test with a lap time of 1:19.9 on a qualifying tyre, beating the lap record set last year by almost a second.
“I was really pleased with how things went when we tested at Croft in July. I was quickest in each session and I feel confident that the Ducati 999F06 can go really quickly on this circuit. I am very confident for a good qualifying session this weekend and I would really like to achieve another pole position start. I am obviously also looking to convert my good qualifying results into more race podiums, championship points and hopefully wins. Being 2nd in the championship is great and I am really happy but I want to get even more points and challenge for the championship lead.”
Round 10 of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship commences on Sunday 13th August 2006 at Croft.
Related Linkswww.airwaves-ducati.co.uk
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