World Superbike 2008 - Round Three

World Superbike 2008 - Round Three - Valencia - Suzuki Preview

After the flyaway trip to Qatar and Australia, the Superbike World Championship returns to European soil with his weekend's third round in Valencia.

The race will be a special one for Team Suzuki Alstare rider Fonsi Nieto, as it will be his home race, and will also be an important one for one of the team's Spanish sponsors - Pepephone.

For Yukio Kagayama and Max Neukirchner it will be a chance to improve on last year's results.

Fonsi Nieto:
"Racing at home is always a bit special and I want to put on a good show for all my fans this weekend - especially after my pair of DNF's last year! I am second in the championship at the moment and will be chasing a couple of podiums for sure. Valencia is a track where it is important to have a really good bike set-up if you want to go fast, so that's what we'll be trying to do from the very start of practice. There are quite a few Spanish riders in the championship this year and I am hoping that we get a good crowd for the race and can give them something to shout about."

Yukio Kagayama:
"The recent tests showed that my collarbone was OK and now that I've had a bit more time off, I feel even better. I don't think that I will have any trouble with the injury, but Valencia is quite a physical track so I'm sure it will get a good work out! Last year in Valencia I was recovering from my crash in Donington, so my results were not good at all. This year, I feel that I can challenge for podiums in both races and that's what I will be trying to do."

Max Neukirchner:
"I am sure that I can improve on my 12th and 10th places from last year and realistically I shall be chasing top-six finishes this weekend. I am getting more and more comfortable with my bike every time I go out and as long as we can find a good set-up in practice, I think I can make a good show. Valencia is a tough track and you need a very good set-up if you want to be at the front, but I am hoping that Sunday will be a good day for me and the team."

Previews - Bayliss cautious about chances at Valencia - Team Previews - HRC - Suzuki - Yamaha