BRUISED ALSTARE MEN READY FOR MONZA
 Team
Alstare Suzuki head to the fifth World Superbike Championship
round at Monza this weekend battered and bruised but eager
to attack the podium at the famous Italian circuit.
Fonsi Nieto injured his knee in the last round in Valencia
and was unable to train until yesterday but is keen to put
away his Assen disappointment and get back on the podium again.
Although Max Neukirchner did not fall in Assen, his superb
podium in race one masked his ongoing recovery from the broken
collarbone sustained in the previous round in Valencia.
Yukio Kagayama was the only one of the three not troubled
by injury as the team left the Netherlands and the Japanese
rider is really looking forward to Monza and its high-speed
turns.
Fonsi Nieto:
"Last year at Monza, I was on a different bike, so the
first thing I will have to do is learn the circuit on my GSX-R1000
Suzuki. It is a not a difficult circuit but it is a circuit
where you have to have a good bike set-up and also know when
to use slipstreaming. Our bike has got good top speed and
I hope to be able to use this advantage to good effect in
the races. But first I have to qualify well. This has been
a bit of a problem and meant that I've had to work extra hard
in the opening laps, so I'm hoping to do better in qualifying
and Superpole this weekend."
Yukio Kagayama:
"Last year my Monza results were so-so and this year
I want to do much, much better. I like high-speed corners
and I think we can have a good result at Monza. My plan is
to do a good qualifying and Superpole and be in a good position
on race day. Then, I just want to attack the podium!"
Max Neukirchner:
"My body was destroyed after the second race in Assen,
but now I have had time to recover and I am looking forward
to Monza. I think the track should suit our bike and I am
looking for at least one podium. Slipstreaming is crucial
at Monza and it's easy to get caught out at the end of the
race. It's possible to be fifth going into the Ascari chicane
and still win the race, so tactics are very important and
you have to have a good plan if you want the podium."
2007 Results:
Race 1: 1 Haga (J-Yamaha), 2 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati),
3 Biaggi (I-Suzuki). 6 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare).
10 Max Neukirchner (D-Suzuki). Fonsi Nieto (E-Kawasaki) DNF.
Race 2: 1 Haga, 2 Toseland (GB-Honda), 3
Bayliss. 7 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki). 12 Max Neukirchner
(D-Suzuki). Fonsi Nieto (E-Kawasaki) DNF.
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