World SuperBike 2001 - Round 8 - Preview - Misano
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It was here on the Santa Monica circuit that Troy Corser took the RSV Mille to double victory in 2000. In a single weekend, Corser set three track records: fastest qualifying lap, Superpole and fastest race lap. The Mille from Noale is now more powerful than ever and its leading rider is avid for the victory he needs to regain his place at the top of the ratings. Three Aprilia RSV Mille bikes are lined up for the great challenge: besides the two official riders, Corser and Regis Laconi, the official test rider, Alessandro Antonello, registered as an Italian wild-card, will also be on the starting line for the Virgilio Aprilia Axo Racing Team. Troy Corser - "Recently, things haven't quite worked out for one reason or another but we should be OK at Misano. Last year I managed to get a double and I remember that it felt quite easy to do it. Since then, we've all improved of course and Misano is going to be hard. But, the Aprilia seems to go well round there and as long as it's dry I think we have a very good chance of winning. We've had a few niggly tyre problems recently and the changeable weather hasn't helped us at all. Misano is a difficult track if it's wet, so I'm hoping for a couple of dry races on race day. I know I need two really good results there, before heading off to Laguna Seca. Now's the time to put the recent poor results behind me and get back to winning ways." Castrol Honda's Colin Edwards is especially confident for the Misano races, dubbed the San Marino round of the championship, after setting the fastest time in tests at the 2.52-mile track last week. "We've had two good tests at Misano this year and last week's was about as perfect as things can get," said reigning world champion Edwards. "But a race weekend is totally different so I'm approaching Friday's opening practice like I do any other round. I want to build up during Friday and Saturday to a perfect race set-up, then I'll be confident." Okada moved into the top 10 of the championship for the first time after a podium finish in the German round two weeks ago. The Japanese rider believes Misano could be his chance of a first win in the series, he said: "Misano is a tricky circuit to get to grips with but the tests have been good. We've got the VTR and the Michelins working well and I feel confident for the races." Castrol Honda last won at the 2.52-mile circuit when Aaron Slight took victory in both races in 1998. This weekend is particularly significant for Ducati Corse and title sponsor Infostrada as they have just agreed to continue their partnership for the next three years. Since the three-year deal started in 1999, Ducati and Infostrada have finished on the podium 56 times in 65 races, with team riders picking up a total of 20 wins. Meanwhile Ducati Infostrada's championship leader Troy Bayliss heads to this weekend's San Marino World Superbike round at Misano Adriatico firmly set on increasing his points lead in the 13-round championship. The 32-year-old from Taree showed real determination in difficult conditions at the Lausitzring, Germany two weeks ago when he picked up his third win of the year on his 996R. This result, together with second place in the opening race, helped boost Bayliss' championship lead to 23 points over Edwards (Honda). "It was a really good win in Germany and I managed to increase my championship lead, but there's still a long way to go - six more rounds including this one at Misano - and anything can happen", said Bayliss, who scored a brace of seconds on his first visit to the Santa Monica circuit last year. "But we're looking good and feeling confident for the remaining races. Misano is a circuit I really like and the Ducatis have gone well there in the past, but it's going to be a really tough weekend for everyone especially if it's as hot as it was last week." Ducati L&M rider Ben Bostrom received a major boost from last week's scorching test session as he powered his Ducati 996R Factory bike to an impressive third place in the timesheets on a circuit he enjoys like no other. The 27-year-old from Redding, California, who also grabbed a podium place in last year's race, is adamant he wants to put his recent disappointing form behind him. "I expect to win this weekend at Misano", declared Bostrom. "Although I like to think I'll go well at every circuit, you never know until the weekend comes, but after last week's test the bike is working well and so are the tyres. This race has to be the start of a series of good results for me. There was nothing more disappointing than Monza and then not being in a position to win at Donington made things even more painful". Despite preferring other circuits to Misano, Ducati Infostrada's WSBK rookie Ruben Xaus is confident that another good result is on the cards at a track where he has won twice in the past - in the Italian and World Supersport championships. The 23-year-old Catalan added ten more points to his season total with a steady ride to sixth in the damp second race in Germany. "I don't like the Misano track very much because the asphalt is not so good and the other riders all know it better than me", commented Xaus. "For sure I will do my best, and even though I think that my chances of getting on the podium were better at places like Monza and Phillip Island, I've won a couple of races here, so it can't be that bad a circuit for me". Britain’s Neil Hodgson will be hoping to secure another good result at this weekend’s eighth round of the World Championship at Misano, in San Marino. Hodgson, who is fifth in the championship, achieved his best result outside of the UK after a smooth and controlled ride at the last round in Germany. He started by securing his first pole position this year, but suffered from poor tyre choice and finished eighth in race one. In race two, he finished a close second after a race-long battle with former GSE Racing team-mate, Troy Bayliss. “Although I didn’t win in Germany, it was my best result of the year,” said the reigning British Superbike Champion. “GSE Racing has proved that the team is not only competitive in Britain, but is capable of winning races outside of the UK. Success in Misano is important for Ducati. The factory teams test there regularly, so we have all the data to make the bikes work around the circuit, I’m looking forward to racing there, because I really like the circuit. It is similar layout to Lausitzring, so we won’t need to make too many changes to our set-up. Unlike the last round, tyre choice shouldn’t be as much of a gamble. Dunlop proved last year that it has the right tyre to win at Misano (Troy Corser won both races). I just hope it’s me on top of the podium this time.” The Suzuki pilots are hopeful of some good results - Pierfrancesco Chili, "Misano has not been a good place for me apart from winning in 1998. And last season must have been about the worst. I crashed hard in final qualifying and was very lucky not to break anything. Then my luck got worse in race two, when I crashed and broke my collarbone. Before, Misano I had been second in the championship behind Colin (Edwards) and my no-score was particularly bad because he only managed to get six points on the day. I don't think I can get the same bad luck two years running, so I'm hoping Misano this year is going to be much, much better. Also, it's Italy and I'll have a lot of my fans cheering me on. I have to do better for them and myself and the team this year for sure." Stephane Chambon - "Last year I was riding a Supersport bike, so this year it will be very different for me. I have to learn everything all over again. Also, last year I crashed and broke my collarbone so I certainly want a better result this year. I'm learning about the GSX-R750 Suzuki as fast as I can. I have a lot to learn and it's hard to do that in qualifying, get a good Superpole result and then be on the right place on the grid for the races. Any result in Misano this year will be better then last year, but I'll be aiming for two good top 10 finishes on race day." Peter Goddard and the Benelli make their debut at Misano this weekend. Click here to learn more. World Superbike action at Misano gets under way at 10.45am on Friday with a one-hour free practice, followed by the opening qualifying session, also for one hour, on Friday afternoon. Saturday's action concludes with the Superpole final qualifying competition at 4pm and Sunday¹s two races start at 12noon and 3.30pm. The records. Misano Adriatico's Santa Monica Circuit was designed in 1969 and opened in 1972. The Santa Monica circuit has hosted the San Marino WSBK round since 1991. World Superbike championship points after seven of 13 rounds: Wildcards - |