2007 Superbike World Championship
Round 3, Europe, Donington, GB
Circuit: 4.023 kms. Crowd: 51,000. Conditions: Dry, sunny/cloudy
9-13C.
SUPERMAX TAKES A SECOND AND A THIRD!
Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Max Biaggi took a superb
pair of podiums at Donington Park today. In mostly sunny,
but very cold, conditions, Max took a hard-fought for third
in the opening race after being ninth at the end of the first
lap. But better was to come in the second race; Max made a
better start this time and fought Yamaha team mates Corser
and Haga throughout the 23-lapper after early leader James
Toseland (Honda) went out with a mechanical problem after
two laps. Max charged into the lead after fourteen laps and
looked on course for victory until he made a small error exiting
the final corner on the last lap, allowing Haga to take the
chequered flag instead. Max’s points tally today moves
him to just five points behind series leader James Toseland,
with third-placed Haga twelve points behind. Team Alstare
Suzuki Corona Extra rider Yukio Kagayama was forced to sit
out today’s races because of doctor’s orders and
so could not increase his standing in the overall points total.
MAX
Well, I’m pretty happy in one way - I got two podiums
- and a little bit disappointed because I should’ve
won the second race. I led going into the final turn, but
then ran a little wide and that was just enough for Haga to
slip through and into the lead. The finish line is very close
to the exit of the corner, so there was no chance of me being
able to out-drag him to the line. We all make mistakes and
although it cost me the victory, I still got second place
and that, together with my third in race one, means that overall
it was a good day.
We didn’t make any changes to the bike from the first
race to the second - apart from fresh tyres of course. In
the first race I didn’t make a good start, so I had
a lot of work to do to catch up the front three. It was about
half race distance by the time I did that and then I had to
try and catch James and Troy. James was too far away, but
I did get pretty close to Troy by the end, but not close enough
to get past.
Race two was a great race. Luckily the weather was much better
today and the fans who were here, saw some great racing. I
had a big battle with Nori and Troy and nobody knew who was
going to win. I took the lead and I’m not saying that
it was an easy lead, but I felt pretty comfortable. I knew
that Nori was very close and that Troy was not far behind
either, but I was happy to be in front going into the last
lap. Then, a bit of a mistake by me in the final corner and
victory became a second! But that’s racing! I’m
really enjoying my life here. I like the racing and I like
the atmosphere off the track because it is much more human
and also more relaxed. On the track we riders fight as hard
as we can, but afterwards it’s good that we can smile
together.
YUKIO
It was very frustrating for me being at the track, feeling
OK and not racing. I don’t like it! Maybe the doctors
made the right decision, but I still wanted to be out there
fighting, fighting, fighting. But now, I will get ready for
the next race in Valencia, where I hope to get two good results,
because I want them and I need them.
Results
Race 1: Toseland (GB-Honda), 2 Corser (Aus-Yamaha Motor Italia),
3 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), 4 Haga (J-Yamaha),
5 Lanzi (I-Ducati), 6 Nieto (E-Kawasaki), 7 Laconi (F-Kawasaki),
8 Neukirchner (D-Suzuki), 9 Rolfo (I-Honda), 10 Smrz (CZ-Ducati),
Race 2: 1 Haga, 2 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra),
3 Troy Corser (Aus-Yamaha Motor Italia), 4 Xaus (E-Ducati),
5 Lanzi, 6 Laconi, 7 Rolfo, 8 Smrz, 9 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda),
10 Neukirchner,
Points: 1 Toseland 115, 2 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare
Suzuki Corona Extra) 110, 3 Haga 88, 4 Troy Corser 81, 5 Lanzi
66, 6 Bayliss 64, 7 Neukirchner 46, 8 Xaus 45, 9 Rolfo 36,
10 Nieto 30, 12 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra)
23,
|
