2006 Superbike World Championship
Preview: Round 9, Assen Netherlands
TEAM ALSTARE - REFRESHED AND READY
After a couple of weeks break, Team Alstare Suzuki Corona
Extra are refreshed and ready for the ninth round of this
year’s championship at Assen. The Assen round marks
the first of four rounds taking place in just six weekends
and so all at Alstare are eager to get things rolling with
a good performance at the Dutch circuit. Assen has been a
long-standing favourite of riders and fans alike, but this
year the track has been dramatically changed and will be a
new experience for all concerned. The major changes have taken
place in the Northern Loop section and now riders will have
to negotiate a series of slow turns before beginning the back
straight. Both Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra riders Troy Corser
and Yukio Kagayama are determined to finish the last four
rounds strongly and are looking for podium places at Assen.
TROY
I was at a presentation at Assen recently and had an opportunity
to look at the new layout - from a course car. For me, Assen
always was a fantastic track - flowing and a blast to ride.
From my two laps in the course car last week, I think that
it is now a completely different track to ride and the first
five or six turns are going to ruin the flowing nature of
the track somewhat. I don’t think the new layout is
going to suit our bike so well and getting the gearing right
for the first part is going to have an effect on the second
part. The set-up is going to have to be a compromise for sure
and it’ll be vital to get a good set-up as quickly as
you can and then make really good starts in both races or
you’ll be left behind and struggling. I will need to
qualify well and be at the front of the pack to have any chance
of podiums, but that’s the plan.
YUKIO
The new Assen layout is very different and I don’t think
it is going to be as good as before - too many slow corners!
I like big, fast turns. But, this new design will be different
for everybody, so it is up to me to learn it quickly and get
a good bike set-up. I have had a good break and now I cannot
wait to get on to my racebike again. After my success in Brno,
I want to get podiums in all the last four rounds and end
the season well. I am sure that Assen will not be easy, but
I will try my hardest - as usual - and go 110% for the podium.
2005 results
Race 1: 1 Vermeulen (Aus-Honda), 2 Toseland (GB-Ducati), 3
Haga (J-Yamaha), 4 TROY CORSER (Aus-Alstare Suzuki Corona
Extra), 6 YUKIO KAGAYAMA (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra),
Race 2: 1 Vermeulen, 2 Haga, 3 Toseland, 4 TROY CORSER (Aus-Alstare
Suzuki Corona Extra), 11 YUKIO KAGAYAMA (J-Alstare Suzuki
Corona Extra),
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