In Qatar, at the Losail circuit near Doha, the World Superbike and Supersport championships properly got underway. Much pre-race attention had been focused on new rider Max Biaggi and his Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki. The first session was enough to show that it would be a battle for the wins. James Toseland made a wonderful qualifying time of 1’58.6, some 1.4 seconds faster than the previous best at this stage last year. The Superpole competition also delivered even better results: Troy Corser took the Superpole win, using race tyres and not qualifiers, with a new best of 1’58.402
After the riders ‘long runs’ it was also obvious that the DIABLO SUPERBIKE would offer up superb performance. The conditions for raceday proved to be warm and dry, with track temperatures quite high, into the region of 40°C.
Race 1:Air Humidity: 56%
Air Temperature: 25°c
Track Condition:Dry
Track Temperature: 43°
The green lights kicked things off, and the first laps of race one saw the first two podium places determined almost from then on. There was clear space between the Yamahas, the Suzuki of Biaggi and the Honda of Toseland and the rest, and they stretched it out as the race developed. As each rider jostled for position and tried to make a break, the pace became incredibile.
On lap 7 Max set the best time (1’59.275) eight tenths faster than in 2006, thansk to the performance and speed available from the DIABLO SUPERBIKE. On the 18th lap, Biaggi even managed to set a 2’00.980, in a race that was 21 seconds faster than in 2006. Moving up from the beginning was Lorenzo Lanzi, back to his best form as he took his Ducati Xerox 999 to a fine third, behind Biaggi and the chasing Toseland. Also a great result came for the other Max, Max Neukirchner, 6th on a Suzuki Germany privateer machine.
Race Standings:1, Biaggi - Suzuki GSX-R 1000K7 - Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra 36’10.115
2, Toseland - Honda CBR1000RR - Hannspree Ten Kate Honda+1.483
3, Lanzi - Ducati 999 F07 - Ducati Xerox Team+13.906
4, Kagayama - Suzuki GSXR - Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra+14.819
5, Bayliss - Ducati 999 F07 - Ducati Xerox Team+17.305
Race 2: Air Humidity: 44%
Air Temperature: 26°c
Track Condition: Dry
Track Temperature: 47°
The second race started like the first; Toseland, the two Yamahas of Corser, Haga, and then Biaggi. These four riders made an early nreak, almost a photocopy of race one. Some riders had chosen to learn some lessons from race one, for example Haga (who went from C to B on the rear) and even the champion Troy Bayliss, who was in difficulty all weekend (who went from an A to a C on the front).
Toseland had an almost perfect race two, and was in command for the entire race. 18 laps later he underlined his form and finished ahead of Biaggi and Corser. The lap record was once more beaten by Max Biaggi, with a 1’59.194.
There were three different bikes on the podium, (Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha) and Kawasaki also had a result worth celebrating when fifth position went to Fonsi Nieto. A sweet result after a collision between the two green factory machines in race one.
The championship was truly kickstarted into life at Losail,with fast times and close competition between not just the riders but the competing manufacturers as well.. This was also due to the materials supplied by Pirelli; tyres which can work on any machine and available in the same choices for all. This aspect, in particular, guarantees close competition for all.
Race Standings:1, Toseland - Honda CBR1000RR - Hannspree Ten Kate Honda36’09.433
2, Biaggi - Suzuki GSX-R 1000K7 - Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra+0.738
3, Corser - Yamaha YZF R1 - Yamaha Motor Italia+7.386
4, Haga - Yamaha YZF R1 - Yamaha Motor Italia+14.984
5, Nieto - Kawasaki ZX-10R - Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse +15.033
Championship Standings:1, Toseland - Honda CBR1000RR - Hannspree Ten Kate Honda - 45
2, Biaggi -Suzuki GSX-R 1000K7 - Alstare Suzuki - 45
3, Lanzi - Ducati 999F 07 - Ducati Xerox - 25
4, Corser - Yamaha YZF R1 - Yamaha Motor Italia - 23
5, Kagayama - Suzuki GSXR - Alstare Suzuki - 23
6, Haga - Yamaha YZF R1 - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB - 21
7, Bayliss - Ducati 999 F07 - Ducati Xerox - 19
8, Neukirchner - Suzuki GSX-R 1000K7 - Suzuki Germany - 16
9, Xaus - Ducati 999F06 - Team Sterilgarda - 13
10, Nieto - Kawasaki ZX10 R - PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse - 11
Air Humidity: 42%
Air Temperature: 26°c
Track Condition:Dry
Track Temperature: 47°
The race that opened the championship was certainly eventful. Once more this year the usual competing powers, Honda and Yamaha, were strong in testing, and Charpentier was joined once more in his team by talented young Turkish rider Sofuoglu. Sofuoglu won the race after Charpentier fell, and Curtain (Team Yamaha SSP) and Fujiwara (Team Althea Honda) joined Kenan on the podium, A fantastic result also came for Foret, on the Kawasaki of Gil Motor Sport), who took fourth place even when running a regular street tyre, the SC2. This tyre is the same one available from any Pirelli outlet for the public, and it also allowed the top two Kawasaki rider to go fourth and fifth, after 18 hard laps.
The first stage of the year gave us some real indications. The times set in the race and practice showed that the DIABLO SUPERCORS had the capacity to not just reduce lap times but also the total race time as well.
Race Standings:1, Sofuoglu - Honda CBR 600 RR - Winston Ten Kate38’23.594
2, Curtain - Yamaha YZF R6 - Yamaha Motor Germany+1.535
3, Fujiwara - Honda CBR 600 RR - Althea Honda Team+3.940
4, Foret - Kawasaki ZX-6R - Team Gil Motor Sport+19.396
5, Riba - Kawasaki ZX-6R - Team Gil Motor Sport+21.495
Championship Standings:1, Sofuoglu - Honda CBR 600 RR - Winston Ten Kate25
2, Curtain - Yamaha YZF R6 - Yamaha Motor Germany20
3, Fujiwara - Honda CBR 600 RR - Althea Honda Team16
4, Foret - Kawasaki ZX-6R - Team Gil Motor Sport13
5, Riba - Kawasaki ZX-6R - Team Gil Motor Sport11
6, Harms - Honda CBR600 RR - Stiggy Motorsport Honda19
7, Roccoli - Yamaha YZF R6 - Yamaha Team Italia9
8, Nannelli - Ducati 749R - Team Caracchi Ducati SC8
9, Veneman - Suzuki GSX-R600 - Team Hoegee Suzuki7
10, Kallio - Suzuki GSX-R600 - Team Hoegee Suzuki6
Related Linkswww.pirelli.com
Related News
