The third round of the season for the Championship and the first with a full paddock at Valencia. After the first two overseas races the two ‘Stock’ classes started and the paddock was back to its full vitality.
The good weather at Valencia allowed the riders to exploit their Pirelli tyres to the full, even on Friday, and records were broken.
In the SBK class Max Neukirchner, in the SSP Andrew Pitt and even in the two Stock classes: there were new track record in all the classes and several more riders were under the previous records.
The German SBK rider set an incredible 1’33.805 with his Suzuki, taking his first ever Superpole ahead of Kagayama, Bayliss and Xaus. In the SSP World Championship Honda scored its 50th pole position with Pirelli (the first was in 2000 with Karl Muggeridge) thanks to Pitt, who led Lascorz, Jones and Parkes.
The first two winners in the Superstock classes, Baz and Roberts, were exciting for all to watch.
Race1:
Air Humidity: 27%
Air Temperature: 24°c
Track Condition: Dry
Track Temperature: 29°
Once more the racetrack of Valencia proved to be quite difficult to handle in changeable temperatures.
Tarmc readings lower than in the practice sessions (9° below) definitely changed the grip situation driving some riders into some trouble. In this situation, and in front of the Spanish public, Carlos Checa made a move through the pack with a race pace impossible for the others to keep. Checa really exploited the Pirelli DIABLO SBK tyres to their best, lapping constantly under 1’36. This allowed him to reach and then to pass Corser, Bayliss, Lanzi and then to reach the race leader Neukirchner, who took the lead at the green light and never let it go.
The German rider was really close to his first race win, after a great weekend and the Superpole win, but unfortunately on the last corner of the last lap Checa made his attack - and crashed, with his bike sliding into Max’s, and he too crashed. Even more bitter for Neukirchner was a fractured left collarbone.
At the end the winner was Lanzi, followed by Bayliss and Corser. Checa rejoined for 5th.
Race Standings:
1. Lanzi - Ducati 1098 RS 08 - R. G. Team 37’01.894
2. Bayliss - Ducati 1098 F 08 - Ducati Xerox +2.987
3. Corser - Yamaha YZF R1 - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB +7.287
4. Nieto - Suzuki GSX-R1000 - Team Alstare Suzuki +11.992
5. Checa - Honda CBR1000 RR - Hannspree Ten Kate Honda +12.824
Race 2:
Air Humidity: 21%
Air Temperature: 30°c
Track Condition: Dry
Track Temperature: 37°
Race 2 at Valencia started without the pole-man Neukirchner and with a higher temperature compared to Race 1.
At the green light the fastest man was Troy Bayliss, who led the race until the 6th lap. Again in great shape Carlos Checa took the first position from him, but then suffered an electronic problem and slowed down for a couple of laps, getting into 3rd before the bike went back to full power.
Haga and his Yamaha exploited the situation, and with his DIABLO SBK “C” (hard) front and “A” (soft) rear he took a great win, ahead of Toy Bayliss and his Ducati. Behind Haga’s Yamaha was this Ducati and a Honda (Checa) - making three different bike manufacturers on the podium.
It was a good result that made Checa happy, so happy that he stayed on with his supporters at the paddock show, running the Pirelli giveaway contest and presenting one of his Spanish fans with a set of the new Diablo Rosso tyres that Pirelli launched in mid-February, here in Spain, in Barcelona.
Race Standings:
1. Haga - Yamaha YZF R1 - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB 37’03.759
2. Bayliss - Ducati 1098 F 08 - Ducati Xerox +1.551
3. Checa - Honda CBR1000RR - Hannspree Ten Kate Honda +2.903
4. Kiyonari - Honda CBR1000RR - Hannspree Ten Kate Honda +7.277
5. Corser - Yamaha YZF R1 - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB +8.051
Championship Standings:
1. Bayliss - Ducati 1098 F 08 - Ducati Xerox 128
2. Nieto - Suzuki GSX-R1000 - Alstare Suzuki 80
3. Corser - Yamaha YZF R1 - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB 72
4. Checa - Honda CBR1000RR - Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 72
5. Xaus - Ducati 1098 RS 08 - Sterilgarda Go Eleven 68
6. Haga - Yamaha YZF R1 - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB 47
7. Biaggi - Ducati 1098 RS 08 - Sterilgarda Go Eleven 44
8. Lanzi - Ducati 1098 RS 08 - R. G. Team 42
9. Neukirchner - Suzuki GSX-R1000 - Team Alstare Suzuki 39
10. Fabrizio - Ducati 1098 F 08 - Ducati Xerox 37
World Supersport Championship
Air Humidity: 26%
Air Temperature: 25°c
Track Condition: Dry
Track Temperature: 30°
Round three of the season in the Supersport World Championship again provided a great show, proving it’s definitely a competitive and thrilling championship.
Pirelli DIABLO SUPERCORSAs once more offered us a great show, allowing the riders to break the records and adapt to the new bikes and different riders riding styles.
Pitt, after taking the Superpole, crashed at the beginning of the race, letting his main contenders go.
The race winner was Lascorz, a home rider racing with a Honda, up on Foret, Jones and Parkes. There was a 5th place for Nannelli, despite his injured shoulder.
Lascorz is now leading the championship, by 16 points, ahead of Parkes and 21 up on Foret.
Race Standings:
1. Lascorz - Honda CBR600 RR - Glaner Motocard.com 37’58.607
2. Foret - Yamaha YZF-R6 - Yamaha World SSP Racing +1.125
3. Jones - Honda CBR600 RR - Parkalgar Racing Team +1.530
4. Parkes - Yamaha YZF-R6 - Yamaha World SSP Racing +10.514
5. Nannelli - Honda CBR600 RR - Hannspree Honda Althea +17.492
Championship Standings:
1. Lascorz - Honda CBR600 RR - Glaner Motocard.com 54
2. Parkes - Yamaha YZF-R6 - Yamaha World SSP Racing 38
3. Foret - Yamaha YZF-R6 - Yamaha World SSP Racing 33
4. Brookes - Honda CBR600 RR - Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport 33
5. Jones - Honda CBR600 RR - Parkalgar Racing Team 32
6. Pitt - Honda CBR600 RR - Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 25
7. Harms - Honda CBR600 RR - Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport 25
8. Rea - Honda CBR600 RR - Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 21
9. Vizziello - Honda CBR600 RR - Berry Racing 18
10. Nannelli - Honda CBR600 RR - Hannspree Honda Althea 17
Superstock FIM Cup 1000
Air Humidity: 41%
Air Temperature: 21°c
Track Condition: Dry
Track Temperature: 22°
The first race of the season for the STK1000 class and it was a race with an incredible pace.
In the first part of the race the leading guys were constantly under the old Roccoli record time.
The fastest race lap was set by Brendan Roberts, the race winner, who made an amazing 1’36.681 a time that would have allowed him to race in the SBK class.
Roberts really dominated the race on his Ducati and the battle was only behind him, between Giugliano, Simeon, Polita and Corti.
Pirelli DIABLO SUPERCORSA SC2 tyres offered the riders high levels of performance, not only because of the fast laps, but most of all allowing to them to express their real potential on the Pirelli tyres on all kinds of bikes. They do not need a special race setup to perform well.
Race Standings:
1. Roberts - Ducati 1098R - Ducati Xerox Junior Team 21’17.585
2. Giugliano - Suzuki GSX-R 1000 -Cruciani Moto Suzuki Italia +3.795
3. Simeon - Suzuki GSX-R 1000 - Alstare Suzuki Corona Exta +6.865
4. Polita - Ducati 1098R - Sterilgarda Go Eleven +7.272
5. Corti - Yamaha YZF R1 - Yamaha Team Italia +7.680
Championship Standings:
1. Roberts - Ducati 1098R - Ducati Xerox Junior Team 25
2. Giugliano - Suzuki GSX-R 1000 - Cruciani Moto Suzuki Italia 20
3. Simeon - Suzuki GSX-R 1000 - Alstare Suzuki Corona Exta 16
4. Polita - Ducati 1098R - Sterilgarda Go Eleven 13
5. Corti - Yamaha YZF R1 - Yamaha Team Italia 11
Superstock 600 European Championship
Air Humidity: 38%
Air Temperature: 24°c
Track Condition: Dry
Track Temperature: 38°
The first race of the season for the Superstock 600 riders was competitive and exciting. The young riders in this increasingly competitive class have helped us to a great show and sometimes made small mistakes due to inexperience.
Petrucci made a fantastic lap and new track record with the time of 1’39.549.
The race itself was taken by the remarkable Loris Baz, the youngest ever race winner in this class, who turned 15 on the first of February this year.
A new record was set by the Pirelli DIABLO SUPERCORSA SC2 and most of all another great race in which riders could really express their potential, thanks to being able to find set up easily on Pirelli tyres, and get good feedback.
Race Standings:
1. Baz - Yamaha YZF R6 - Yamaha Junior Team 15’22.756
2. Petrucci - Yamaha YZF R6 - Team Trasimeno +1.166
3. Linfoot - Yamaha YZF R6 - Beowulf Racing +1.435
4. Beretta - Suzuki GSX-R600 - Cruciani Moto Suzuki Italia +2.310
5. Gregorini - Honda CBR600RR - Team Lorini +3.631
Championship Standings:
1. Baz - Yamaha YZF R6 - Yamaha Junior Team 25
2. Petrucci - Yamaha YZF R6 - Team Trasimeno 20
3. Linfoot - Yamaha YZF R6 - Beowulf Racing 16
4. Beretta - Suzuki GSX-R600 - Cruciani Moto Suzuki Italia 13
5. Gregorini - Honda CBR600RR - Team Lorini 11
