Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Xavi Simeon spent the whole 14-lap Superstock 1000 FIM Cup race in agony, but somehow defied the pain to take a tremendous fifth place. The problem with his left ankle once again flared up, and after a couple of laps he was struggling to maintain his place and concentration. Somehow he kept going and in the end finished fifth, but less then two and a half seconds behind the race winner Didier Van Keymeulen (Yamaha). Second was Niccolo Canepa (Ducati), with Claudio Corti (Yamaha) third. But with series leader Matteo Baiocco (Yamaha) finishing eighth, it means that the gap between him and Xavi at the top of the table is now reduced to nine points.
Xavi - 5thThat was a very hard and difficult race. After a short time, my ankle really started hurting and it was hard to keep concentration. On the straights I had to take my left leg right off the footpeg, just so that I could change gear. Yesterday the conditions were wet and we weren’t going so fast and we all had to ride much more smoothly, so it was not such a big problem. But today was dry and we were riding much harder and faster and that meant that I had to work my leg a lot more. It hurt a lot, but I was determined to keep going as best I could. In the end, I don’t think that fifth place is so bad, especially considering that I was not so far off from the leaders.
Circuit: 4.265 kms
Crowd: 49,500 (weekend)
Weather: Dry, sunny/cloudy
Results:1 Van Keymeulen (B-Yamaha),
2 Canepa (I-Ducati),
3 Corti (I-Yamaha),
4 Aitchison (Aus-Suzuki),
5 Xavi Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra),
6 Tode (D-Honda).
Points: 1 Baiocco 136,
2 Xavi Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 127,
3 Canepa 125,
4 Aitchison 121,
5 Corti 112,
6 Dionisi 93,
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