World Superbike 2008 - Round Four

World Superbike 2008 - Round Four - Assen

Haga Takes Second At Assen

Noriyuki Haga secured a second place for his Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team after another unsettled race day for the Japanese star, with a crash in race one preventing him from a potential double points score at one his favourite tracks.

In the first race Haga fell on lap two, after colliding with Ruben Xaus at the slow De Strubben left hand corner, while Corser went on to fight in the leading group for most of the race, only dropping back to fifth in the later stages and finishing 11 seconds from the win after 22 laps.

The second race of the day was run in warmer conditions than the first, with a track temperature of 31 degrees, and it offered Haga a real chance to make up for his first race disappointments. He ran eventual race winner Troy Bayliss close, taking second place by a margin of 0.082 seconds. Corser experienced a drop in front tyre performance and slipped back from a possible podium finish to tenth. Bayliss won both races to extend his championship lead.

Corser remains third in the championship standings, thanks to his Assen scores, on a total of 89 points. Haga holds on to sixth position, with 67 points, as thoughts now turn to the team's home race in Monza.

Team YZF Yamaha rider Shinichi Nakatomi was 15th in each Assen race, scoring points both times as he battled hard in the midfield, finding a better race two set-up than he had in the opener.

David Checa (Yamaha GMT94) dislocated his hip after a heavy fall in race one. It is very likely he will need to sit out Monza race weekend and perhaps even the American round. His team-mate Sebastien Gimbert was close to two points scores, but missed out by placing 17th in each event.

Noriyuki Haga (DNF and 2nd - Yamaha Italy WSB Team) "When I overtook Ruben I touched with him and then we fell. In race two I pushed hard all through the race and when I was following Bayliss he tried to get away near the end. But I could stay with him and even caught back up with him. I was following, waiting to see where I could pass but in the last few laps he rode the corners on a tight line and had good acceleration. I am disappointed with the first race and satisfied with the second, but not satisfied enough."

Troy Corser (5th and 10th - Yamaha Italy WSB Team) "Towards the end of race one the rear tyre, maybe after two-thirds distance, lost grip on the right hand side. On the long rights, onto the back straight, it was spinning but not pushing. In race two I struggled with the front tyre a bit and used it up. I had no front left at the end. It was a bit rough with a couple of riders at one point, but that's normal, just racing."

Massimo Meregalli (Team Manager, Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) "After yesterday we were expecting really good results, but we did not have good fortune on raceday. Nori did a fantastic second race and he showed his true desire and ability to go for the win - and he was only 0.082 seconds away. Troy worked hard to find good settings all weekend, and he had issues with grip on race two. Now we go home and race at Monza next time. We would like to do what we did last year, take a double win…"

Shinichi Nakatomi (15th and 15th - Team YZF Yamaha) "I had a front tyre problem after ten laps and it became impossible to push. For race two we fitted a different front tyre, and it was better, but some riders were difficult to overtake. Overall, not so good, but we took points in both races. Next event we will change the settings and go for a better position."

Christophe Guyot (Team Manager Yamaha GMT94 Team) " A difficult weekend for us on balance after some high points. Davide Checa has dislocated his hip after his crash and we will have to see how he is before the next race at Monza. Sebastien rode as hard as he could but he just missed out on points."

Foret and Parkes Almost There At Assen

Fabien Foret and Broc Parkes, both from the Yamaha World Supersport Team, were tantalisingly close to a podium finish apiece at Assen, after a classic high-speed multi-rider battle for the win, which finally went to Andrew Pitt. Foret was only 0.201 seconds from victory itself, in fourth place after 21-laps. He had fought through from a bad start, completing the first lap down in 13th place.

Parkes finished only 0.283 seconds from the win and his fifth place means that both riders scored good points in the championship chase, after starting from the front row of the race. Parkes had to ride with a fractured left hand, after a Friday practice crash, and battled manfully in the first few places for almost the entire race, even after losing power from his left hand as the race progressed.

In the championship Parkes is third on 49 points, Foret is fourth on 46 points, with leader Joan Lascorz on 70, after taking third place today.

Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) fell from his machine on lap two, while sitting inside the top ten places.

Yamaha Spain riders Angel Rodriguez and David Salom left Assen without any points, as Rodriguez crashed on lap 9, while ranked 11th, and Salom just missed a point by finishing 16th.

Fabien Foret (4th - +0'0.201 - Yamaha World Supersport Team) "I had another bad start and my fault, I don't know why. I had to push very hard and that made the tyres wear more. I don't think I found the perfect machine settings, and I am not sure if I made the right choice of front tyre. It may have been better with the other one I considered today, but it is always easy to speak about what could have been after the race. The fourth place is not so bad, and the championship is long. It will be better in the next tracks. No big drama today but I expected something better."

Broc Parkes (5th - +0'0.203 - Yamaha World Supersport Team) "It was chaos out there today and everyone just wanted to go at each other. At one stage, lap ten maybe, I felt not too bad then after that my hand just started to get more and painful and once the tyres started to go I couldn't move around like I wanted to, I just had to sit on and ride it. Even with a painkiller you just can't use your hand properly when it's injured. The worst parts were during braking. I just couldn't do what I wanted to. A good race, but we always want to be on the podium. I actually thought there were a couple of more laps to go because everyone had their pit boards out at the same time, so I could hardly see my own one!"

Wilco Zeelenberg (Team Manager, Yamaha World Supersport Team) "Some race for sure, and a there was a big line up of riders fighting for the win. We are little bit disappointed not to be on the podium, but our main rivals were fast all the time in the whole race so we have to accept that we were fourth and fifth. Fabien still struggled a bit settings wise, and Broc with a broken hand, so what can we say about finishing so close to the podium places? A lot of good riders finished behind us.

David Salom: (16th- +0'27.619 - Yamaha Spain World Supersport Team) "In the start I´ve been beaten by two riders. It was like starting all over again from the 19th position. I didn´t feel comfortable during the race, I couldn´t find my rhythm. It´s a pity because this is my third race just out of the points"

Massimo Roccoli (DNF - Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) "I was happy with the way the bike was set-up after the warm-up this morning. I was running well after the first lap and feeling calm and ready for a long race. Then I lost the front on one of the fast right-handers and that was me finished, because the bike went ever and over in the gravel."

Angel Rodriguez: (DNF - Yamaha Spain World Supersport Team) "My start was not so bad, I was fightingwith the riders ahead but in the final line I´ve braked too strong and I crashed. It´s a shame because I had a good rhythm and my bike, my tyres and team had worked very strong to achieved a better result"

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Pirro scores first podium of the season

Michele Pirro was second in today's race with an impressive ride on a Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni YZF-R1. It was his first podium for 2008 after strong performances and two podium finishes in the previous season. The young Italian was the top finishing Yamaha rider after Sylvain Barrier (YZF Yamaha Junior Team) crashed at post 15.

Yamaha Motor Italia Junior Team rider Claudio Corti looked set for this first race win of the season but finished the weekend on a low after crashing out on lap ten of the Assen circuit.

Michelle Pirro (2nd - Yamaha Motor Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) "I have to learn to start better and to take advantage of having a clear track in front of me because I can lap very fast and make it difficult for the guys to keep up. There is much risk in the field with lots of contact between riders. I'm very happy because I didn't make any mistakes and I've taken a very important podium for the championship."

Claudio Corti (DNF - Yamaha Motor Italia Junior Team) "I'm sorry for the team as the bike was working perfect. It was the worst moment for the crash. I'm sorry I made the mistake but we will be in front at Monza on track."

Race - 13 Laps
Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time
1, Maxime Berger, Honda, FRA, 22'24.450
2, Michele Pirro, Yamaha, ITA, 0'0.904
3, Xavier Simeon, Suzuki, BEL, 0'2.848
4, Alessandro Polita, Ducati, ITA, 0'4.811
5, Andrea Antonelli, Honda, ITA, 0'5.481
6, Raymond Schouten, Yamaha, NED, 0'9.544
7, Matej Smrz, Honda, CZE, 0'16.932
8, Davide Giugliano, Suzuki, ITA, 0'17.289
9, Kenny Foray, Yamaha, FRA, 0'17.672
10, Marko Rohtlaan, Honda, EST, 0'19.588
11, Domenico Colucci, Ducati, ITA, 0'19.898
12, Matteo Baiocco, Yamaha, ITA, 0'23.074
13, Danny De Boer, Suzuki, NED, 0'25.288
14, Gareth Jones, Suzuki, AUS, 0'25.595
15, Yoann Tiberio, Kawasaki, FRA, 0'29.279
16, Rene Mahr, Yamaha, GER, 0'30.097
17, Fabrizio Perotti, Suzuki, ITA, 0'31.915
18, Gregory Junod, Yamaha, CHE, 0'37.255
19, Denis Sacchetti, MV Agusta, ITA, 0'38.303
20, Ronald ter Braake, Honda, NED, 0'40.461

Rider Standings 27/04/2008
Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Points
1, Maxime Berger, Honda, FRA, 34
2, Xavier Simeon, Suzuki, BEL, 32
3, Michele Pirro, Yamaha, ITA, 30
4, Davide Giugliano, Suzuki, ITA, 28
5, Alessandro Polita, Ducati, ITA, 26
6, Brendan Roberts, Ducati, AUS, 25
7, Andrea Antonelli, Honda, ITA, 11
8, Claudio Corti, Yamaha, ITA, 11
9, Raymond Schouten, Yamaha, NED, 10
10, Kenny Foray, Yamaha, FRA, 10
11, Matej Smrz, Honda, CZE, 9
12, Chris Seaton, Suzuki, AUS, 8
13, Barry Burrell, Honda, GBR, 7
14, Marko Rohtlaan, Honda, EST, 6
15, Michele Magnoni, Yamaha, ITA, 6
22, Sylvain Barrier, Yamaha, FRA, 2

Manufacturer Standings 27/04/2008

Pos., Manufacturer, Points
1, Ducati, 38
2, Suzuki, 36
3, Honda, 34
4, Yamaha, 31
5, Kawasaki, 2