THE DUCATI XEROX TEAM TRAVELS TO SPAIN FOR THE FIRST EUROPEAN
ROUND OF THE SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Troy Bayliss and Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) are both
fit and ready for Round 3 and the first European appointment
on the 2008 Superbike calendar, taking place this weekend
at the Ricardo Tormo circuit of Valencia in Spain. Having
had nearly a month to recuperate from the injuries they sustained
in Phillip Island, both riders are now keen to build upon
the results achieved already in the opening rounds of the
championship. Bayliss has won three of the four races held
so far, and heads to Spain as championship leader, and team-mate
Fabrizio has also made an impressive start, having already
scored his first podium finish with the Ducati Xerox Team.
During the latest Phillip Island race weekend Bayliss was
left with stitches in his left elbow after high-siding while
Fabrizio suffered contusions to his right calf in an incident
on the starting line. Bayliss and Fabrizio have spent the
last few weeks at home, training and undergoing medical treatments
so as to be in peak physical condition for the upcoming European
rounds in Valencia, Assen and Monza.
Troy Bayliss (1st in championship, 88 points)
Troy has had a string of wins and podium finishes at the
Ricardo Tormo track, including double Superbike wins in 2001
and 2006 and the spectacular MotoGP win at the close of the
2006 season, and hopes for further success here in 2008.
"We've had such a long break since Phillip Island, added
to by the fact we didn't test here in Valencia a couple of
weeks ago, so I'm definitely ready to get back on the bike
now. I've put in some serious training during the last few
weeks and feel like I'm now in really good shape - the collarbone
feels stronger than ever and the elbow is pretty much back
to normal too. I expectnearly everyone to go better at this
track and I'm sure that those teams that were perhaps a little
behind with getting ready for the championship will now start
to show results. I'm really looking forward to the weekend.
It's quite a physical track and you don't get much rest but
this means that it's great for the spectator and makes for
real racing - there's normally a good battle there!"
Michel Fabrizio (8th in championship, 34 points)
Michel knows the Valencia track very well and will be looking
for some strong results to consolidate his recent performances
in Qatar and Phillip Island.
"Physically I am now feeling much better and it only
helps matters that my family are finally able to be at the
track with me. Unfortunately my training has been limited
in these last few weeks to swimming, according to the doctors'
recommendations, so I agree with Troy that a month away from
the racing has felt like a very long time! We'll say how we
get going tomorrow but I can say that I like the Valencia
circuit and that I have some good memories of racing here,
in both the Superbike and Supersport championships. The only
thing I can add is that if you don't get a good start here
it's very hard to catch up."
Country: Spain
Name: Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo
Circuit length: 4.005 km
Pole position: Right
Corners left: 9
Corners right: 5
Length of race: 23 laps / 92.115 km
Lap records: Fastest lap: Hodgson (Ducati), 1'35.007 (2003).
Superpole: Bayliss (Ducati), 1'34.559 (2007).
2007 results: Race 1: 1. Xaus (Ducati); 2. Haga (Yamaha);
3. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox), Race 2: 1. Toseland (Honda); 2.
Biaggi (Suzuki); 3. Haga (Yamaha)
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