World Superbike 2008 - Round Five

World Superbike 2008 - Round Five - Monza

Day 3 Report - Pirelli

A classic Italian weekend started on Thursday 8th May with a press conference, held at the Castello della Bicocca degli Arcimboldi, inside Pirelli’s headquarters in Milan. Many riders from the different classes participated, along with Pirelli and FGSport top-level management.

On the racing stage, Pirelli fulfilled its promises by bringing a range of excellent tyres, both in SBK and WSS classes; thus Parkes and Bayliss made new track records at Monza.

In SBK, Neukirchner was fast from Friday and ended Superpole in 2nd position, behind Bayliss, and clearly aiming to take his first ever SBK victory at the legendary Monza.

Race1:
AIR HUMIDITY 43% AIR TEMPERATURE 22°C
TRACK CONDITION Dry TRACK TEMPERATURE 36°

At the green light, the riders passed the first chicane unscathed and the paddock could breathe again.

In front were Kagayama, Neukirchner, Bayliss and Haga.

A great show, from a great SBK class. All these riders had decided to opt for the same tactics: race with the softest rear tyre to have the best grip, confident it will last for the whole race, instead of using the alternative harder solutions brought by Pirelli.

The race pace was scorchingly fast and the last laps offered a great scrap between Haga and Neukirchner. Many passes we put in under hard braking, really challenging the riders and the tyres, and many riders missed the braking points at the numerous chicanes.

Like the last race at Assen, Haga put in a huge effort and came incredibly close to Neukirchner’s bike. Eventually Neukirchner and his Suzuki resisted for long enough and he took the win.

Despite a really aggressive tyre choice, and a frantic pace, Pirelli tyres offered the best performance until the last lap, a lap that Neukirchner secured in 1’46.821.

Race Standings

Rider Bike Team Race time
1 Neukirchner Suzuki GSX-R1000 Team Alstare Suzuki 32’02.851
2 Haga Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Motor Italia WSB +0.058
3 Bayliss Ducati 1098 F 08 Ducati Xerox +0.672
4 Kagayama Suzuki GSX-R1000 Team Alstare Suzuki +0.771
5 Biaggi Ducati 1098 RS 08 Sterilgarda Go Eleven +3.869

Race2:
AIR HUMIDITY 55% AIR TEMPERATURE 21°C
TRACK CONDITION Dry TRACK TEMPERATURE 40°

While the trackside announcer was declaring a weekend attendance of 112,000 spectators, race two was starting and everybody was waiting for the next awesome show.

As in race one, all the riders went for the softest solution – the “A” – which was able to last the whole 18 laps without a drop in performance. The only change was made by Bayliss who went for a “B” front instead of his previous “A” choice.

All the rest re-confirmed their race one choices.

Haga, Bayliss, Neukirchner and Kagayama put on another great display, passing many times while behind them Checa and Kiyonari were advancing.

Crashes for Kagayama and Checa, technical problems for Bayliss, and the battle was done - and it went to Haga, Neukirchner and Kiyonari, on three different bikes.

Repeated blue smoke coming out of Haga’s machine made people think it was an engine problem, but Haga didn’t stop or slow. It was his rear wheel fender moving around and touching the rear tyre - which still continued with its job regardless. Thanks to the 0° steel belt construction of Pirelli tyres they keep the same basic size, even at these fast, speeds so Haga’s race went on and ended in victory.

A dramatic finale, with riders battling closely (9 thousands of seconds took the win) and passing at almost every braking zone. The corner, the “Parabolica” belonged to Haga, heading up Neukirchner and Kiyonari followed by Nieto and Fabrizio.

Four different bikes in the first five positions, proving once again that Pirelli tyres can offer the best level of competitiveness to every rider, no matter the bike he rides, or his riding style.

Race Standings

Rider Bike Team Race time
1 Haga Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Motor Italia WSB 32’07.576
2 Neukirchner Suzuki GSX-R1000 Team Alstare Suzuki +0.009
3 Kiyonari Honda CBR1000RR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda +0.081
4 Nieto Suzuki GSX-R1000 Alstare Suzuki +4.489
5 Fabrizio Ducati 1098 F 08 Ducati Xerox +10.272

Championship Standings

Rider Bike Team Points
1 Bayliss Ducati 1098 F 08 Ducati Xerox 194
2 Checa Honda CBR1000RR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 116
3 Haga Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Motor Italia WSB 112
4 Neukirchner Suzuki GSX-R1000 Team Alstare Suzuki 111
5 Nieto Suzuki GSX-R1000 Alstare Suzuki 107
6 Corser Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Motor Italia WSB 101
7 Xaus Ducati 1098 RS 08 Sterilgarda Go Eleven 90
8 Biaggi Ducati 1098 RS 08 Sterilgarda Go Eleven 65
9 Kiyonari Honda CBR1000RR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 65
10 Lavilla Honda CBR1000RR Ventaxia VK Honda 59

AIR HUMIDITY 37% AIR TEMPERATURE 22°C
TRACK CONDITION Dry TRACK TEMPERATURE 41°

After he made a new track record and took pole position Parkes was the man to beat, but after taking the lead he couldn’t resist the charge of his opponents and was passed by Brookes and then Foret, his team-mate and today’s eventual winner.

Thanks to Pirelli DIABLO SUPERCORSA Foret set the new fastest race lap, on the fifth lap, with the amazing time of 1’50.430.

Behind the three podium riders came Pitt, Harms, Jones and Roccoli, who ended the race in this order after a great fight. Championship leader Lascorz arrived in only 9th position.

Foret therefore took his first win of the season and most importantly leaves Monza in 2nd position in the standings, six points behind Spaniard Lascorz.

Race Standings

Rider Bike Team Race time
1 Foret Yamaha YZF-R6 Yamaha World SSP Racing 29’38.261
2 Brookes Honda CBR600 RR Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport +1.199
3 Parkes Yamaha YZF-R6 Yamaha World SSP Racing +6.736
4 Pitt Honda CBR600 RR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda +11.398
5 Harms Honda CBR600 RR Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport +11.477

Championship Standings

Rider Bike Team Points
1 Lascorz Honda CBR600 RR Glaner Motocard.com 77
2 Foret Yamaha YZF-R6 Yamaha World SSP Racing 71
3 Parkes Yamaha YZF-R6 Yamaha World SSP Racing 65
4 Pitt Honda CBR600 RR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 63
5 Brookes Honda CBR600 RR Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport 63
6 Jones Honda CBR600 RR Parkalgar Racing Team 49
7 Rea Honda CBR600 RR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda 41
8 Harms Honda CBR600 RR Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport 39
9 Lagrive Honda CBR600 RR Intermoto Czech 28
10 Vizziello Honda CBR600 RR Berry Racing 26

AIR HUMIDITY 43% AIR TEMPERATURE 21°C
TRACK CONDITION Dry TRACK TEMPERATURE 33°

At the green light all eyes were looking for local rider Claudio Corti and his Yamaha, the pole position man, himself looking at the 25 points for first place to lift him in the standings.

But the race was short for the local hero, crashing at the first chicane, with many other riders - and his compatriot Pirro.

Simeon took the holeshot and was not involved in the big crash, maintaining the lead until the chequered flag, after 11 laps. Behind him, Matej Smrz and Polita had a great fight.

With his Pirelli DIABLO SUPERCORSA SC2s Smrz improved the lap record, setting a time of 1’49.418 in lap eight, while the absolute Superstock track record, with the same tyres fitted, went to Corti during the qualifying sessions: 1’48.545.

Simeon, with this win, now takes the lead in the standings, 15 points up on Polita.

Race Standings:

Rider Bike Team Race Time
1 Simeon Suzuki GSX-R 1000 Alstare Suzuki Corona Exta 20’14.707
2 Smrz Honda CBR 1000RR MS Racing +2.109
3 Polita Ducati 1098R Sterilgarda Go Eleven +2.147
4 Roberts Ducati 1098R Ducati Xerox Junior Team +6.656
5 Magnoni Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni +10.849

Championship Standings:

Rider Bike Team Points
1 Simeon Suzuki GSX-R 1000 Alstare Suzuki Corona Exta 57
2 Polita Ducati 1098R Sterilgarda Go Eleven 42
3 Roberts Ducati 1098R Ducati Xerox Junior Team 38
4 Berger Honda CBR 1000RR Hannspree IDS Ten Kate 34
5 Pirro Yamaha YZF R1 Yamaha Team Italia 30

AIR HUMIDITY 32% AIR TEMPERATURE 26°C
TRACK CONDITION Dry TRACK TEMPERATURE 43°

The Monza racetrack proved to be really amazing for the young guys of the Superstock 600 class as they battled from the first to the last lap.
Once again the red flag interrupted the race because of oil being spread on the circuit, and that caused a crash involving 12 riders. Linfoot, the championship leader could not start and is now 3rd behind Baz and Beretta.

The first aggregate heat was lead by Petrucci, fighting with Baz, Black and Beretta.

The second lasted five laps and finished with Bussolotti crossing the finish line first.

The final aggregate result saw Baz win, from Bussolotti and Beretta.

Not only a spectacular race, but also a fast one, with Baz able to set the new fastest race lap and Bussolotti the new track record.

Race Standings:

Rider Bike Team Race Time
1 Baz Yamaha YZF R6 YZF Yamaha Junior Team 15’28.647
2 Bussolotti Yamaha YZF R6 Yamaha Motor Italia J. T. +1.159
3 Beretta Suzuki GSX-R600 Cruciani Moto Suzuki Italia +1.364
4 Petrucci Yamaha YZF R6 Team Trasimeno +1.435
5 Biliotti Honda CBR600RR Team Lorini +2.008

Championship Standings:

Rider Bike Team Points
1 Baz Yamaha YZF R6 YZF Yamaha Junior Team 61
2 Beretta Suzuki GSX-R600 Cruciani Moto Suzuki Italia 42
3 Linfoot Yamaha YZF R6 Beowulf Racing 41
4 Vostarek Honda CBR600RR Intermoto Czech 35
5 Petrucci Yamaha YZF R6 Team Trasimeno 33