World SuperSport 2001 - Round 7 - Misano - Preview
|
BKM Honda's Kevin Curtain increased the pressure on World Supersport championship leader Paolo Casoli with victory in the last round in Germany. Curtain - riding the CBR600F4i machine - is just three points behind the Italian Yamaha rider Casoli. Both riders have won two races, Casoli's team-mate James Whitham and G. Ten Kate Honda's Pere Riba scored victories in the other two. "Casoli is going to be tough to beat on home soil and he'll want the Misano win more than anything," says Curtain. "But I believe we have a good package this year which can win at any circuit and Iım confident of taking my third win of the year this weekend." With 29 points separating the top six in the series even sixth-placed Riba can be confident of lifting the title at the end of the 11-round series. Riba comments: "We've suffered a little bit of bad luck this year but hopefully that's finished with and I can get on and try and win the championship. With five rounds left I know I really need to win two races, maybe starting on Sunday at Misano?" Alstare Corona Suzuki's Karl Muggeridge finished 4th here last year - "Last year I was on a different bike, in a different team, so this year will be like starting over again. We've been going good recently, so I'm looking forward to Misano to get back to podium ways. I'm hoping Misano is going to be dry, as it's not an easy track in the wet. When they lengthened the track a few years ago the newer section has a different type of Tarmac and the change can catch you out in the wet quite easily. So, we're all hoping for dry conditions and good hard racing. I'll be after another podium for sure, but it would be nice to open my 2001 win account there." Karl's team-mate for this year, Katsuaki Fujiwara, raced SuperBike last year and had his best result of the season at the Misano round - "Somebody told me there is a blues song with the line - 'if I didn't have bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all.' That's what I'm feeling at the moment. I cannot believe I've had so much bad luck all in just one season. I'm very frustrated because I really like riding the GSX-R600 Suzuki and I know I should be on the podium. Last year, when I was riding the GSX-R750 Suzuki in the Superbike class I had my best results of the year - third in race one and fourth in race two at Misano. So, this year I would like to be on the podium again. First, I must qualify well. Then I must make a good start. Then, if I have no bad luck, I know I can make a good result. It's about time." Castrol Honda's Chris Vermeulen makes his debut at the Misano circuit in Sunday's San Marino seventh round of the World Supersport championship and the Australian youngster is relishing the opportunity. "Until four weeks ago I'd never been anywhere near Misano but we've tested here a couple of times and I'm really looking forward to the race," says the 18-year-old from Yandina, Queensland. He continues: "I like the layout of the circuit and weıve been able to get the CBR600 dialed in thanks to the test time. After a disappointing opening half of the year it was good to get in the top 10 at the last round and I'd like to improve on that eighth place. First things first and to get a good result I need to start qualifying higher up the grid. I've struggled to put in the one, fast lap that's needed but it's something I'm working on." Shannon Johnson's situation in Europe is now well settled after his split from the Dutch 'Ten-Kate' squad and the young Victorian is keen to have a good showing at Misano. Andrew Pitt and the Kawasaki are stronger than ever this year and Pitt has performed better this year than anyone could have reasonably expected. Adam Fergusson is coming to terms with life in Europe and things are definitely on the improve in that corner also. 2000 pole position: Paolo Casoli (Ducati) 1m 38.289s |
