World SuperSport
2001 - Round 5 - Donington - Preview
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RACE LAP RECORD: 1m 37.565 secs, Jamie Whitham (GB) Yamaha Australian motorcycle racer Andrew Pitt is hopeful a two-day test session in Germany during the past week will boost his prospects of grabbing the lead in the World Supersport Championship series this Sunday. The 25-year-old works Kawasaki rider goes into the fifth round at Donington Park in Great Britain holding second position in the championship, and is just eight points behind series leader Paolo Casoli, the Italian Belgarda Yamaha racer. Pitt said he made progress with the development of his Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-6R machine in a test with Scottish team-mate Iain MacPherson the Lausitzring circuit in Germany on May 19-20. "We tested some new suspension parts from Japan, and it was good to spend some extra time on the bike and keep working on improvements," said Pitt. "There's a chance I can take the lead in the championship this weekend, which would be good, but we're still in the first half of the season. My game-plan this weekend is to go for the win, and if I can't then stay consistent and score points." Pitt, who has finished on the podium twice in the four previous rounds this year, said his confidence for Donington Park had been enhanced by his fourth place on the 4km circuit in the 2000 championship round, which was his best result in his debut season in the series. "Donington is a flowing track and once you get into a rhythm you can keep moving forward," he said. "This season I feel I can put the bike more where I want it to be, especially through the turns, and that's one of the reasons why I'm going better." Pitt, who is based in Germany during the championship season, said his main problem in 2001 had been poor qualifying performances. He had planned to evaluate qualifying tyres on the second day of the Lausitzring test, but had been unable to do so after oil was dumped on the circuit. "I've only qualified on the second row once this year, and every other race I've started further back which isn't good enough to win this championship when the bikes are so competitive," said Pitt. Pitt blamed qualifying 14th for not finishing on the podium in the previous round at Monza in Italy on May 13. He finished fourth, but was only 0.644-secs behind race winner Jamie Whitham of Great Britain on a Belgarda Yamaha. "I spent the whole race playing catch-up, and when I got on the back of the front group there was only a lap to go," he said. "I needed to be with them from the start, or to have caught them earlier than I did, but it's tough when you're starting on the fourth row." Castrol Honda's Chris Vermeulen, the youngest rider in the World SuperSport field is hoping for some good results at a circuit he is very familiar with. Vermeulen has won three of his last six races at the 2.5-mile circuit and is looking to get his season under way proper with success this weekend. "I'd like to get on the podium at least," says Vermeulen. "But Donington probably offers one of my best chances of a victory this year. We're constantly improving the new 600cc Honda Sport machine and we have new motors for this weekend so I'm looking for a solid finish to the race. "It's not been the best of starts to the season for one reason and another but the team deserve a little bit of success and I'll be trying my hardest this weekend to give them that." Karl Muggeridge scored a well deserved third place in the last round at Monza. Third place was a great boost to his confidence and a sign that the talented Australian is returning to form following a slow start to the season. Muggas - "The Suzuki GSXR600 is a good bike and now that I've managed a podium, I think there'll be more to come. I think that Donington should suit the bike and since both Katsuaki and I enjoy the track, I'm sure the team will do well there." The World Supersport action gets under way with practice at 9.30am on Friday followed by the opening qualifying session at 1.30pm. Saturday afternoon's qualifying session at 1.30pm will decide the grid for
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