World SuperBike 2001 - Round 1 - Quotes - Valencia

Troy Corser - "What a perfect weekend! Fastest in Superpole, fastest in both races today and a pair of wins. It just couldn't be better, could it? The Aprilia ran sweet in both races and it was almost easy. Aprilia did a great job here and I have to thank all the mechanics, Peter (The Ohlins technician), Dunlop and my personal trainer Ko Ramirez. He's been working at getting me in good shape and looking after my diet and I feel great. I didn't lose any concentration or strength in either race at all. I'd like to dedicate today's wins to Ko's father who died last year. Before this race, I said I'd be going for a double and it feels so good to get I, especially in the first race of the year. We're definitely going to win more races then last year - you can bank on it! Now let's get to Kyalami and some more wins! Have a drink for me tonight."

Troy Bayliss - "I gave everything I had but Troy couldn’t be caught today. On lap 15 I managed to pass Laconi and tried to reach Corser but he was too far away. The bike was excellent and my Michelins were working really well. I am quite happy with the result because after qualifying I wasn’t at all sure I could finish on the podium". Race 2 -"I was convinced I could get a good result when I started the race and in fact I was third after four laps. On lap 6 I passed Edwards but Troy was too far ahead of me. It was a positive weekend however and I feel much stronger than last year. The championship is long and it will be important to score vital points like today to be able to fight for the title".

Edwards - "We chose the wrong set-up for race 1. The heat really got up today and the machine was just too soft and it was at its worst for the second half of the race. As we reached the halfway stage I knew it was going to be a tough ride to the chequered flag. It was a bit scary, I was braking hard, the rear started to come around and I had to use the rear brake." After the second race - "I've just had to take what points I can today. I had a fourth and a fifth here last year so fourth and sixth isn't that bad. We've just been struggling all weekend to find a good set-up and we didn't achieve it. After this weekend we'll get down to some serious work with the machine, the chassis and suspension and come out firing for Kyalami. It's been a bad day at the office, one to forget but also one to learn from."

Chili - "After riding with the new bike, we were quite impressed and feel this is going to be a good year. I am pleased that we managed to get a reasonable number of points from this round and with the information we have gained from this weekend, we will be able to do much better in South Africa."

Ben Bostrom - "I got a bad start and lost a few places. By the time Troy and I were left to go after Corser it was too late to catch him. I thought I could have at least finished second but I was unable to pass Bayliss, who as he is a bit lighter than me, was a little bit faster coming out of the curves". Race 2 - "I wanted to get a good start at all costs and maybe I exaggerated a bit. I realised immediately and slowed right down, so in the end I didn’t get any advantage. They gave me a ‘stop-and-go’ anyway and on lap 4 I came into the pit-lane. I was really angry and came in at 129 kph instead of 85. I returned to the track in 18th position but I was sure I could have finished in the top 10, seeing as I could lap at 1m37s without any problems. On the second ‘stop-and-go’, I didn’t understand what I had to do and stopped completely. I’m really angry and can’t wait to get to Kyalami".

Regis Laconi - "I consider myself to be a tough and determined rider and I was working hard for a good result", said Regis Laconi, "but I was feeling really bad after being hit by the bike this morning and they virtually had to carry me onto my bike for the first race. I gritted my teeth and went for a result. This fourth place in the first race has great value for me, because the pain on the bike meant that I had to ride in a different position and this made things really difficult. Nothing doing in race 2, I was hit by another competitor and that was the end of the race. But I'm really happy with today's result"

Neil Hodgson - "There is no easy way of riding the second race after crashing in the first, it was a question of scoring as many points as possible but the main thing was to finish. The team has worked extremely hard to get the right set-up for the GSE Ducati and their professionalism has been second to none. "My focus now is on the next round at Kyalami (South Africa)," explained the current British Superbike Champion. "I really like the circuit and I’m confident that I will be able to improve my position in the championship standings."

James Toseland - "It has been eight months since I last raced a motorcycle. Even though I’ve worked very hard to improve my physical fitness, nothing could have prepared me for a 23-lap race in these hot conditions. I’m over the moon for GSE Racing that I’ve been able to repay their confidence in me with a ninth place finish after the disappointment of being knocked off in race one."

Okada - "I felt comfortable and confident of a strong finish, catching Troy Corser would have been difficult but I felt I could have challenged for a second or third place. I'm very unhappy not to finish my first race for Castrol Honda but we have a long season ahead." Race 2 - "It was my mistake," Okada admitted. "Once I got ahead of Hodgson, Laconi was turning in front of me, I couldn't miss him. I've hurt my right shoulder a little bit but other than that I'm fine. I've had a very bad start to the season so I'll be happy to leave Valencia and get on with the rest of the season."

Ruben Xaus - "In the first two curves I lost a lot of positions and at the end of lap 1 I was only 13th. Then I started to lap at a good pace and began to work my way back through the field and lap at the same times as the leading group. On lap 13 I was right behind Edwards when he overshot the curve. I was distracted by his mistake, braked too suddenly and unfortunately fell". Race 2 - "At the end of lap 1 I was seventh and I kept up a good pace until lap 14. Everything was going really well and I was preparing to attack Hodgson for fifth place. But the bike then began to give me a few problems as I probably ‘trashed’ the clutch at the start. So I preferred not to take any unnecessary risks and finish the race. In any case I’m really pleased with the result, because I succeeded in lapping at the same pace as the leaders and I consider this to be a positive debut in Superbike".

Chambon - "I am happy to finish both races in the top ten and get some points under my belt. For my first race on the Suzuki GSX-R750, I think two 10th places are OK, considering I had to start in 21st place. I am still learning about riding a Superbike and I was careful today to try and get a couple of reasonable finishes. I hope that in the next round Frankie and I will begin to challenge the leaders." 

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