FPR struggle in the heat of Italian battle
 Steve
Martin was unable to capitalise on his front row grid position
in challenging conditions at today’s sixth round races
of the Superbike World Championship in Misano, Italy.
The Australian was forced to pull into the pits while lying
ninth in the first race after suffering an engine problem
and, in the sweltering afternoon temperatures, Steve finished
out of the points in 17th.
Foggy PETRONAS Racing team-mate Craig Jones also battled
with high water temperatures in the second race, repeating
his 21st position from the first race.
Troy Bayliss won the first race but crashed out in race two,
when Andrew Pitt secured his first Superbike World Championship
win.
Steve, whose qualifying performance was described by series
organisers FG Sport as ‘superhuman’, was lapping
consistently on a pace with Regis Laconi, Lorenzo Lanzi and
Fonsi Nieto, when oil pressure warning lights ended his race
after 16 laps.
He was able to run with the leading pack in the early stages
of race two before the high water temperatures reduced the
power of the engine.
Steve said: “I was pretty happy that
we were getting the most out of the bike and heading for a
result in the first race that everyone would have been happy
with. My start was okay and when someone like Barros needs
a few attempts to pass you on the brakes, you know you are
going okay. I felt like I was racing and was doing the same
times as three or four riders in front of me. But then the
oil pressure warning light came on so I had no option but
to pull in. When the temperature lights started flashing in
the second race I lost a lot of acceleration, although 30
seconds off the lead was not too bad.”
Craig said: “I got a good start and
was in front of some decent guys in the first race. I was
not going too badly but as soon as the tyres lost a bit of
grip my lap times dropped. Then there was a problem with the
gear position sensor and the bike was running on into the
corners. In race two the bike was over-heating and that killed
the power a little bit. But I closed the gap on the leaders
in that second race and I can take encouragement from a weekend
that started dismally. The aim this weekend was to finish
both races and then make headway at the next few circuits,
where I am a bit stronger.”
Race two results, Superbike World Championship round
6, Misano, Italy: 1 Pitt; 2 Barros +2.717; 3 Haga
+6.559; 4 Walker +7.100; 5 Kagayama +7.276; 6 Fabrizio +13.916;
7 Lanzi +14.148; 8 Toseland +15.065; 9 Xaus +15.434; 10 Foret
+20.579; 11 Nieto +21.440; 12 Bayliss +23.417; 13 Abe +25.602;
14 Muggeridge +26.088; 15 Rolfo +26.712; 16 Iannuzzo +33.556;
17 Martin (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) +34.766; 21 Jones (Foggy
PETRONAS Racing) +59.560
Race one results: 1 Bayliss (Ducati Xerox);
2 Toseland (Winston Ten Kate Honda) +6.943; 3 Kagayama (Alstare
Suzuki Corona Extra) +10.141; 4 Barros (Klaffi Honda) +15.017;
5 Haga (Yamaha Italia)) +15.376; 6 Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki)
+16.763; 7 Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) +23.857; 8 Nieto (PSG1 Kawasaki)
+34.167; 9 Xaus (Sterilgarda Berik) +35.254; 10 Abe (Yamaha
France) +35.335; 11 Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda) +39.423;
12 Gimbert (Yamaha France) +39.609; 13 Foret (Alstare Eng
Corona Extra) +39.755; 14 Ianuzzo (Celani Suzuki) +44.065;
15 Rolfo (Ducati SC Carrachi) +48.495; 21 Jones (Foggy PETRONAS
Racing) +1;15.929
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