2007 Superbike World Championship
Round 12, Vallelunga, Italy, 28th September
Circuit: 4.110 kms. Conditions: Mostly dry 19-21C.
TOP FOUR FOR MAX.
Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Max Biaggi ended the
first day of qualifying at Vallelunga with the fourth fastest
time, even though he was not really pushing hard. As usual,
Max spent most of the day working on a good bike set-up so
that he can get comfortable on the bike. His team mate Yukio
Kagayama is still feeling the effects of his crash in the
last round at the Eurospeedway Lausitz where he broke a bone
in his right hand. Despite the pain and discomfort, he managed
to post the fourteenth quickest time of the day. Aussie Troy
Corser (Yamaha) set the fastest time in today’s qualifying,
with a lap of 1:37.537, just ahead of his fellow countryman
Troy Bayliss (Ducat), with Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) third.
Max - 4th, 1:37.962
Today I spent most of the time working on finding a good set-up.
When I get that and am comfortable, I can begin to push really
hard. I had a little problem with vibration in the turns,
but it only affected one bike, not the other. We’ll
have to work on that and solve the problem. This afternoon,
when I was on a ‘hot lap’ towards the end of the
session, the rear was spinning a bit. But it was too late
to come in and put another tyre in, so I just carried on.
Like all tracks, a good grid place is important, so I’ll
be making sure of that tomorrow in final qualifying and Superpole.
Yukio - 14th, 1:39.190
Last Sunday, I didn’t think I’d be able to ride
the bike this weekend, because my wrist was badly swollen
and it felt very sore. But now the swelling has gone down
and today it felt better than I thought it would. My arm is
not as strong as before the crash, so it may be a problem
towards the end of the races. My other problem here are the
small corners. I do not like small corners and especially
the hairpin here! This track is quite physical and I shall
have to see how my hand holds up tomorrow.
Friday qualifying
1 Corser (Aus-Yamaha) 1:37.537, 2 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:37.578,
3 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:37.951, 4 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki
Corona Extra) 1:37.962, 5 Toseland (GB-Honda) 1:38.111, 6
Rolfo (i-Honda) 1:38.279, 7 Fabrizio (I-Honda) 1:38.310, 8
Laconi (F-Kawasaki) 1:38.486, 9 Nakatomi (J-Yamaha) 1:38.573,
10 Xaus (E-Ducati) 1:38.659, 14 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare
Suzuki Corona Extra) 1;39.190,
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