Team Alstare Suzuki rider Xavier Simeon won the third round of the 2008 Superstock 1000 FIM Cup at Monza today after leading the race from start to finish. Xavi started from the third row of the grid, but made a superb start and was third going into the first corner. It was just as well that he was so far up the field, for behind him a rider had crashed braking for the turn and then skittled ten riders and their bikes!
Despite there being bikes and riders all over the first chicane, by the time Xavi and the rest of the depleted field came round again the track was clear. Xavi then controlled the race from the front and ran out the winner by over two seconds, with Matej Smrz (Honda) second and Alessandro Polita (Ducati) third. Xavi’s win also moves him into first place in the championship, with a fifteen point lead over Polita.
Xavi - 1stI made a very good start and was either second or third going into the first chicane. While I was on the brakes, I heard a strange noise, so I made the bike a bit more upright. I was lucky that I wasn’t taken out by any of the falling bikes. I did the first two laps cautiously, to make sure there wasn’t any oil on the track, before forcing the pace. After that it was a pretty easy race really. I was lucky that I didn’t get tangled up in the crash, but sometimes you are lucky and sometimes not. Today was my day! It was great to win and great to be leading the championship.
Circuit: 5.793 kms
Crowd: 112,000 (3-day)
Conditions: Dry, mostly sunny 21C
Results
1. Xavi Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki)2. Smrz (CZ-Honda), 3 Polita (I-Ducati)
4. Roberts (Aus-Ducati)
5. Magnoni (I-Yamaha)
6. Perotti (I-Suzuki)
Points:
1. Xavi Simeon 572. Polita 42
3. Roberts 38
4. Berger 34
5. Pirro 30
6. Smrz 29
