2007 Superbike World Championship Round 9, Brno, CZ
Sunday 22nd July
Crowd: 55,000 (3-day) Circuit: 5.403 kms
Weather: Mostly dry and sunny, some light rain, 25-27C
MAX TAKES A WIN AND A SECOND PLACE AT BRNO.
Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Max Biaggi continued
his love affair with Brno circuit today, by taking runner-up
spot in the first race and then following that with a superb
win in the second. The win means Max has won a race in a every
category he has raced at Brno and also moved him into second
place in the championship behind James Toseland. Max’s
team mate Yukio Kagayama started the day well by taking third
place in race one, but he crashed out of the second trying
to get up into the top three. Fortunately he was not injured,
but he was disappointed not to be in contention for a podium
in the latter stages of the race.
Series leader James Toseland (Honda) won the first race,
after a terrific battle with Max, Yukio Kagayama and Noriyuki
Haga (Yamaha). Towards the end of the race, Toseland ran wide
and into the dirt, kicking up stones and dirt. Max was right
in his wheeltracks and was showered with stones - some of
them smashing holes in his windscreen and another hitting
his left glove and ripping a hole in it. When Max took off
his gloves, blood oozed from one of his fingers and he had
to go to the medical centre to have it seen to after the podium
ceremony. It was also an eventful race for Yukio. At one stage
he and his good friend, Haga, hit each other, but luckily
they both were able to carry on - though Haga’s gesticulation
afterwards showed his displeasure.
The second race saw a determined charge up the field by Max
Biaggi. The race had been delayed because of light rain and
then shortened by one lap to nineteen. Max was seventh at
the end of the opening lap but moved up the field and passed
Toseland to take the lead on lap fourteen. From then on in,
Max kept a cool head and ran out the winner by over one and
a half seconds at the flag. Second was Toseland, with Michel
Fabrizio (Honda) third.
Max - Race 1: 2nd, Race 2: 1st
Brno loves me and I love Brno. It’s incredible to think
of how many good memories I have of this place and today continued
that pattern. It’s a fantastic track because there is
such a good variety of turns - some fast, some not so fast.
Tyres were always going to be a bit of a problem today, but
the second race was better for them because it was a bit cooler.
I didn’t change anything to the bike from the first
race to the second, except put fresh tyres in of course. I
want to thank the whole Alstare Suzuki squad for these great
results today. it’s been a while since I won a race,
but to win one today and finish second in the other makes
me very happy
Yukio - Race 1: 3rd, Race 2: DNF
I am happy with my first race and unhappy with my second!
After my success last year at this track and after the recent
improvements, I really thought I could win a race or maybe
take two podiums. After race one, we didn’t change anything
on the bike but, while I was trying to chase the leaders,
I lost the front end and crashed. It happened very quickly
and I could do nothing about it. Up until then, I felt that
I could catch the top three and take a podium, but my plan
didn’t work out, so I am not so happy.
Results
Race 1: 1 Toseland (GB-Honda), 2 Max Biaggi
(I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), 3 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare
Suzuki Corona Extra), 4 Haga (J-Yamaha), 5 Rolfo (I-Honda),
6 Fabrizio (I-Honda), 7 Corser (Aus-Yamaha), 8 Lanzi (I-Ducati),
9 Neukirchner (D-Suzuki), 10 Nakatomi (J-Yamaha),
Race 2: 1 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona
Extra), 2 Toseland, 3 Fabrizio, 4 Haga, 5 Rolfo, 6 Bayliss
(Aus-Ducati), 7 Lanzi, 8 Nieto (E-Kawasaki), 9 Nakatomi, 10
Xaus (E-Ducati)
Points: 1 Toseland 305, 2 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare
Suzuki Corona Extra) 262, 3 Haga 260, 4 Bayliss 249, 5 Corser
191, 6 Lanzi 150, 7 Xaus 140, 8 Rolfo 131, 9 Neukirchner 111,
10 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 105,
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