NIETO EXCITED ABOUT HOME RACE
After the flyaway trip to Qatar and Australia, the Superbike
World Championship returns to European soil with his weekend's
third round in Valencia.
The race will be a special one for Team Suzuki Alstare rider
Fonsi Nieto, as it will be his home race, and will also be
an important one for one of the team's Spanish sponsors -
Pepephone.
For Yukio Kagayama and Max Neukirchner it will be a chance
to improve on last year's results.
Fonsi Nieto:
"Racing at home is always a bit special and I want to
put on a good show for all my fans this weekend - especially
after my pair of DNF's last year! I am second in the championship
at the moment and will be chasing a couple of podiums for
sure. Valencia is a track where it is important to have a
really good bike set-up if you want to go fast, so that's
what we'll be trying to do from the very start of practice.
There are quite a few Spanish riders in the championship this
year and I am hoping that we get a good crowd for the race
and can give them something to shout about."
Yukio Kagayama:
"The recent tests showed that my collarbone was OK and
now that I've had a bit more time off, I feel even better.
I don't think that I will have any trouble with the injury,
but Valencia is quite a physical track so I'm sure it will
get a good work out! Last year in Valencia I was recovering
from my crash in Donington, so my results were not good at
all. This year, I feel that I can challenge for podiums in
both races and that's what I will be trying to do."
Max Neukirchner:
"I am sure that I can improve on my 12th and 10th places
from last year and realistically I shall be chasing top-six
finishes this weekend. I am getting more and more comfortable
with my bike every time I go out and as long as we can find
a good set-up in practice, I think I can make a good show.
Valencia is a tough track and you need a very good set-up
if you want to be at the front, but I am hoping that Sunday
will be a good day for me and the team."
2007 Results:
Race 1: 1 Xaus (E-Ducati), 2 Haga (J-Yamaha), 3 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati).
12 Max Neukirchner (D-Suzuki). 15 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki),
Fonsi Nieto DNF.
Race 2: 1 Toseland (GB-Honda), 2 Biaggi (I-Suzuki), 3 Haga.
10 Max Neukirchner (D-Suzuki). 13 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki).
Fonsi Nieto DNF.
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