A dramatic weekend for the first ever SBK event at the Vallelunga Circuit. The Roman fans came along in their droves even on Friday, despite early changeable weather and occasional showers. In World Superbike the attention was on James Toseland, here to earn the world title one weekend early, and Max Biaggi, a local hero still fighting for the championship itself. Saturday’s Superpole competition offered a theatrical show, with Toseland crashing during his flying lap and starting the race from eighth position. Pole man was Troy Bayliss, from Corser, Xaus and Biaggi.
SBK Race 1:
Air Humidity: 47%
Air Temperature: 21°c
Track Condition: Dry
Track Temperature: 31°
A thrilling opening race, in all possible ways, and from the very start. First out of the first game was Corser, crashing without injury to anything except his championship placing. Leading the group were Bayliss and Biaggi, followed by Haga and Toseland.
Max, in his home race and in front of an adoring public, made a great job, taking the lead and running away with impunity. A lovely but lonely race that drove him to the highest step of the podium and 25 big time points. Behind the Italian rider, a dramatic play was being acted out.
The four leading guys made different tyre choices, as Bayliss went for a rear tyre in a 200 section and a hard front, Haga used the hard front but preferred the ‘regular’ 190 section rear, while Biaggi and Toseland decided to use a soft front tyre, despite the warmer temperature.
The range of tyres brought here by Pirelli was well engineered; so all the riders could have a fantastic race with many passing manoeuvres that made the crowd breathless until the very last lap. Biaggi won from Bayliss, Toseland and Haga, with Haga keeping overall second, behind Toseland.
Race Standings:1. Biaggi - Suzuki GSXR1000K7 - Alstare Suzuki 39’24.967
2. Bayliss - Ducati 999 F07 - Ducati Xerox +5.638
3. Toseland - Honda CBR1000RR - Hannspree Ten Kate Honda +7.452
4. Haga - Yamaha YZF R1 - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB +10.079
5. Fabrizio - Honda CBR1000RR - D.F.X. Corse +22.257
SBK Race 2:
Air Humidity: 32%
Air Temperature: 26°c
Track Condition: Dry
Track Temperature: 40°
Nothing basically changed in terms of tyre choices after race one. Neither was the show, which once again proved to be a fantastic one. Like the previous race, Bayliss started with the 200 rear tyre not the 190, Biaggi and Toseland with a soft front, Haga with a medium-hard pairing. Temperature grew up and not only in tarmac surface but also in riders’ performance.
At the green light they started off at furious speed, hitting each other in order to pass and drawing different lines almost every lap for overtaking.
Bayliss took the lead and no one could touch him until later in the press conference, while Haga and Biaggi put together a great show after Toseland’s crash. Toseland started out at Vallelunga to bring things to a head, but these races are always unpredictable, and if you want to run with the big guys at the front you simply cannot avoid taking risks. Toseland crashed - if almost gently - and rejoined the race in 12th position, taking some important points with an eventual 11th.
Bayliss finished first, ahead of Biaggi – now 2nd in World standings – and Haga.
No fewer than 23 races so far (cancelled Silverstone race two stops it being 24), but Magny Cours, and the last two races of the season, will decide the winner of the championship. For the neutrals, a dream.
Race Standings:1. Bayliss - Ducati 999 F07 - Ducati Xerox 39’30.861
2. Biaggi - Suzuki GSXR1000K7 - Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra +1.431
3. Haga - Yamaha YZF R1 - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB +4.466
4. Corser - Yamaha YZF R1 - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB +13.766
5. Rolfo - Honda CBR1000RR - Hannspree Ten Kate Honda +20.848
Championship Standings:1. Toseland - Honda CBR1000RR - Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 396
2. Haga - Yamaha YZF R1 - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB 367
3. Biaggi - Suzuki GSXR1000K7 - Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra 363
4. Bayliss - Ducati 999 F07 - Ducati Xerox 341
5. Corser - Yamaha YZF R1 - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB 267
6. Lanzi - Ducati 999F 07 - Ducati Xerox 192
7. Xaus - Ducati 999 F06 - Ducati Sterilgarda 187
8. Rolfo - Honda CBR1000RR - Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 177
9. Neukirchner - Suzuki GSXR1000K6 - Suzuki Germany 136
10. Fabrizio - Honda CBR1000RR - D.F.X. Corse 123
World Supersport
Air Humidity: 46%
Air Temperature: 22°c
Track Condition: Dry
Track Temperature: 32°
Already champion, but Sofuoglu never gives up. He has already won the title but still he doesn’t leave anything for his opponents. Pole man Jones made a great race, keeping the champion behind for many laps, with the other riders simply unable to follow their rhythm. The race was interrupted at the 17th lap due to a crash, just one lap after Sofuoglu’s overtake on Jones.
Behind the duo came Spain’s Joan Lascorz, and thanks to his maiden podium, he made a big jump forward in the standings, reaching 18th position with 38 points.
Also a good result today for Gianluca Vizziello in fifth, while Sebastian Charpentier finished only in ninth position.
WSS Race Standings *17 laps:1. Sofuoglu - Honda CBR600 RR - Hannspree Ten Kate 28’42.956
2. Jones - Honda CBR600 RR - Revè Ekerold Honda Racing +0.181
3. Lascorz - Honda CBR600 RR - Glaner Motorcard.com +5.822
4. Parkes - Yamaha YZF-R6 - Yamaha World SSP Racing +7.063
5. Vizziello - Yamaha YZF-R6 - RG Racing Team +15.412
WSS Championship Standings:
1. Sofuoglu - Honda CBR600 RR - Hannspree Ten Kate 251
2. Foret - Kawasaki ZX 6R - GilMotorsport 128
3. Parkes - Yamaha YZF-R6 - Yamaha World SSP Racing 113
4. Fujiwara - Honda CBR600 RR - Team Althea Megabike 93
5. Roccoli - Yamaha YZF-R6 - Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni 84
6. Harms - Honda CBR600 RR - Stiggy Motorsport 83
7. Jones - Honda CBR600 RR - Revè Ekerold Honda Racing 78
8. Veneman - Suzuki GSX-R600 - Pioneer Hoegee Suzuki 70
9. West - Yamaha YZF-R6 - Yamaha World SSP Racing 66
10. Charpentier - Honda CBR600 RR - Hannspree Ten Kate 51
Superstock 1000 FIM Cup
Air Humidity: 74%
Air Temperature: 16°c
Track Condition: Dry
Track Temperature: 24°
A beautiful race from the green light. At the beginning the battle was an amazing duel with Corti and Pirro, followed by Aitchison and the two Ducati 1098 S twins from the Ducati Xerox Jr Team. After a few laps at an incredible pace there was four riders leading: Corti, Canepa, Roberts and Badovini.
Corti and Canepa offered a great show, battling every braking point and really stressing their bikes and their Pirelli DIABLO SUPERCORSA SC2 tyres to the limit.
At the end Corti was the winner, with his 25 points proving really significant.
In general standings, with only one race to go, there’s a fabulous situation - four riders within nine points and only a single point separating leader Baiocco and Canepa.
Race Standings:1. Corti - Yamaha YZF R1 - Yamaha Team Italia 22’08.540
2. Canepa - Ducati 1098 S - Ducati Xerox Jr Team +0.817
3. Badovini - MV Agusta F4 - Biassono Racing Team +2.884
4. Roberts - Ducati 1098 S - Ducati Xerox Jr Team +4.678
5. Simeon - Suzuki GSXR 1000 - Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra +7.058
Championship Standings:1. Baiocco - Yamaha YZF R1 - Umbria Bike 146
2. Canepa - Ducati 1098 - Ducati Xerox Jr Team 145
3. Simeon - Suzuki GSXR 1000 - Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra 138
4. Corti - Yamaha YZF R1 - Yamaha Team Italia 137
5. Aitchison - Suzuki GSXR 1000 - Celani Suzuki Italia 121
Superstock 600 European Chamionship
Air Humidity: 49%
Air Temperature: 20°c
Track Condition: Dry
Track Temperature: 25°
Superstock 600 has found its new champion. With one race still to go Maxime Berger conquered the rest after a great race, which he finished third.
Once again riders found, in the Pirelli DIABLO SUPERCORSA SC2, the ideal tyre for their race needs, confirming the outstanding level of performance of this product and its adaptability on all the different racetracks and conditions found during the championship. Andrea Antonelli set the fastest lap, with a great 1’43.123. The Team Italia Megabike rider joins Magnoni in second place in the championship standings; therefore they will battle in the last race, Magny-Cours next week, for the final podium result.
Race Standings:1. Ten Napel - Yamaha YZF-R6 - MQP Racing Team 17’20.455
2. Antonelli - Honda CBR600RR - Team Italia Megabike AX +0.879
3. Berger - Yamaha YZF R6 - Team Trasimeno +1.627
4. Beretta - Suzuki GSX-600R - Cruciani Moto Suzuki Italia +4.889
5. Magnoni - Yamaha YZF R6 - Bevilacqua Corse +4.995
Championship Standings:1. Berger - Yamaha YZF R6 - Team Trasimeno 179
2. Magnoni - Yamaha YZF R6 - Bevilacqua Corse 142
3. Antonelli - Honda CBR600RR- Team Italia Megabike AX 142
4. Black - Yamaha YZF R6 - Capaul Black Racing 102
5. Ten Napel - Yamaha YZF-R6 - MQP Racing Team 97
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