Australian Brendan Roberts got his season off to a fantastic start this weekend in Valencia securing the first win of the season. Riding once again for the Ducati Xerox Junior Team in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup on the Ducati 1098R the youngster dominated the weekend’s proceedings. Setting the fastest time in all but one session, he qualified in pole position, his first since 2006, setting the fastest lap during the race and confidently taking the race win.
Roberts who was fighting a serious wrist injury throughout 2007 showed his true form today and demonstrated why he was British Superstock Champion in 2006. He was unable to show his true colours last season but after training hard through the winter and also allowing more time for his wrist to heal he was eager to get back out racing again.
Having tested the Ducati 1098R only a few times prior to the first race it was the ideal start for Roberts and one he hopes to carry through the remainder of the season. In glorious sunshine at Valencia, Spain he gained a fantastic start and lead the race for the entire 13-laps. He was being put under pressure by Italian Davide Giugliano on the Suzuki who was keen to try and make a move on the Australian and go for the lead early in the race. Roberts, however, had other ideas and rode a smooth and very confident race bridging a gap of nearly four seconds by the time the chequered flag came out.
Commenting a delighted Roberts said
“It’s such a nice feeling to be back on the top step of the podium again. This is my first win in the dry in the European Superstocks since 2006, after my injury last year I found it difficult at the majority of the races to fully push to my limits as I was still in a lot of pain. I’m so pleased for the team that I have been able to do this and that they had the faith in me to keep me on the Ducati again this season. They have all worked incredibly hard, all last year and this weekend and this is my thanks to them and I hope that it will continue through the season. I’m on such a high and really pleased that it’s started this way, I hope that I’ll be able to do the same again at the other races but I’m just taking one step at a time. My wrist is still sore and I’ve been told I’ll never get full movement back but now its feeling better so fingers crossed!”
Race Results:
1. Brendan Roberts (Ducati 1098 R Xerox Junior Team) in 21m17.585s
2. D. Giugliano (Suzuki) + 3.795s
3. X. Simeon (Suzuki) + 6.865s
4. A. Polita (Ducati) + 7.272s
5. C. Corti (Yamaha) + 7.680s
Championship Classification:
1. Brendan Roberts 25 points
2. D. Giugliano 20
3. X. Simeon 16
4. A. Polita 13
5. C. Corti 11
Text by Carly Rathmell
