World Superbike 2008 - Round Nine - Brno (Czech Republic)

World Superbike 2008 - Round Nine - Brno (Czech Republic)

Corser goes third after dramatic Brno races

Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) moved from fourth to third in the championship standings after securing a second and a fourth place finish at Brno, as his team-mate Noriyuki Haga rode with all his spirit and skill to take sixth in race one and salvage a seventh from a pitlane start in race two.

Corser was on top form once more on raceday and in the 500th World Superbike race, the 13 points he took for his race two fourth place put him into overall third place in the championship, 12 points behind Max Neukirchner and 91 behind today's double race winner, Troy Bayliss. Each race saw Corser lead and fight for the podiums, for Haga Brno was a hard fought battle with two brilliant displays of riding to overcome firstly a third row grid position, and then a start from the pitlane.

In the first 20-lap race Corser contested the win until the final few laps, when eventual winner Troy Bayliss had taken a lead Corser could not make up, and he had to settle for second. Haga kept his championship points score on the move with a sixth place finish, moving through the field from 12th grid position.

In race two Corser's rear tyre spun on the wheel rim, and that caused an out-of-balance vibration that stopped him from taking his second podium of the day and a chance of his first race victory for Yamaha. Haga had a problem with his machine on the sighting lap and had to start the second race from pitlane, slicing through the pack to secure a top seven finish.

Haga remains fifth in the championship standings, with a total of 210 points to Bayliss' 309. The battle for second place right now features four riders all separated by only 20 points.

Shinichi Nakatomi (Team YZF Yamaha) was a superb 12th in race one at what is his favourite track, but neither David Checa (Yamaha GMT94) nor Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha GMT94) finished the race, with Gimbert taken to the medical centre for checks. In race two Nakatomi was 15th, Checa was 16th and Gimbert, who was declared fit to ride again, was a retiree in pitlane.

Troy Corser (2nd and 4th - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) "In race one I was reasonably happy and the bike was working well for the first half of the race. The rear tyre just dropped off a little bit and we lost a few tenths after that. When Troy came past I tried to go with him but he had a bit more grip coming off the corners. But other than that we were pretty even. I pushed as hard as I could to stay with him but was careful not to throw away second. In race two we had a problem from about lap four or five. As has happened in the past we have spun the tyre on the rim and there was a vibration through the bike in every part of the track. From then on it was a case of just holding on to see where we ended up. I kept looking back to see who was behind and just kept pushing as much as I could. If the tyre had not have spun on the rim then we would have been up the front. It's just disappointing because I was feeling good and the bike was good. We moved up to third today, which is a positive thing, but it could have been much better."

Noriyuki Haga (6th and 7th - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) "In race one my qualifying position did not help me, but I caught up to pass Neukirchner at the end and got some points. I'm not sure what was the problem with the bike in race two but the engine was not working right and I had to swap my bike. We swapped some settings from race one to race two on that spare bike and it worked quite well. I enjoyed the race because I had to make many passes, which was very exciting. I hope from this point on we can work in a good direction until the end of the year and improve our championship position."

Massimo Meregalli (Team Manager, Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) "Troy rode very well today and took a podium finish that puts him third in the championship. So it is good news that he has moved up the rankings even if he had a problems in race two. There is nothing obviously wrong with Nori's bike in race two, we will find out in the workshop, and he rode really well from a start in pitlane, passing many riders because his race pace was very good. With a normal start he would be in front."

Shinichi Nakatomi (12th and 15th - Team YZF Yamaha) "For me today race one was best. I like Brno very much to ride on and enjoyed the race very much. I found the second race to be harder but still enjoyed it and was happy with my result."

Parkes fourth in tight Brno race

Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport Team) fought hard for a podium finish at Brno but had to settle for a fourth place, and third in the championship standings overall.

Parkes did not get his customary strong start from pole position, dropping back to 7th in the pack at the start of the race. He then had to expend energy in the early laps making up places to make sure he was in contention near the end. Parkes was unable to jump out of corners with the same sharpness that had helped him to his fifth pole position in a row after qualifying on Saturday, and was unable to attack in the final few laps.

The race was won by Jonathan Rea, from Andrew Pitt and Josh Brookes.

In the championship standings Broc is now third, on 100 points with Pitt on 133, Brookes 101 and Broc's injured team-mate, Fabien Foret, on 97.

Parkes' team-mate Fabien Foret remains in Hospital under observation following a crash on Friday which left him with cracks in his C6 and C7 vertebrae. He is due to be released shortly but will be out of action for up to three months.The Yamaha World Supersport Team are currently considering alternative riders whilst Foret is recovering.

Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) got into the top ten after a disappointing qualifying session yesterday and now sits inside the top ten in the championship standings, ninth on 40 points. David Salom (Yamaha Spain World Supersport Team) held on for the race to score the final point on offer for 15th position.

Broc Parkes (4th - Yamaha World Supersport Team)
"I'm not too happy really. I felt I couldn't battle with other riders today, in the exits of the corners the other riders pulled a bit on me. My start wasn't too good either but I was with the front guys anyway after a few laps. When I got back right to the front group I couldn't fight for the win. I was hoping for a podium on the last lap but I was on the limit, so I was done."

Wilco Zeelenberg (Team Manager, Yamaha World Supersport Team)
"We had some problems with the rear tyre during the warm-up, but we solved those and we decided to stay with the gearing we had because it helped the tyre wear. But after the race it is always easy to say we should have done something different. The pace was OK but on braking Broc could not pass. It was our plan to follow the top group anyway but then you have to be able to pass at the end of the race."

Massimo Roccoli (10th - Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni)
"Today it was a very good race because the bike was very fast, the settings were OK the grip was good. For me qualifying was terrible and I am sorry for the team because they had to work really hard over these three days. Next Sunday in Misano there will be some Italian championship races, and that will let me prepare my mind for Brands Hatch."

Pirro sixth after Brno Superstock battle

Michele Pirro (Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni) was the top scoring Yamaha rider in the 12-lap Superstock 1000 Cup event, as he took sixth in a lonely race after a bright start.

Pirro is now fifth in the championship table on 73 points, 23 points from new leader Brendan Roberts. Brno race winner Maxime Berger was away and clear after Xavier Simeon enjoyed an early lead, with Roberts an eventual second, from Alessandro Polita.

Claudio Corti (Yamaha Motor Italia Junior Team) ran off track at high speed and skillfully remained on his machine to bring it to a safe halt , but found damage to his bike that stopped him continuing. He scored no points, and is now 12th overall, on 25 points.

Michelle Pirro (6th - Yamaha Motor Italia Lorenzini by Leoni)
"3rd 4th laps were ok but eventually the tyres began to go and it was impossible to turn properly in the corners and get on the power at the same time"

Claudio Corti (12th - Yamaha Motor Italia Junior Team)
"we were ok for the set up and ready to battle for the victory. The podium was possible today. Unfortunately the engine lost a screw and leaked oil causing me to go off. "
Baz still leads after Brno podium finish
Loris Baz was close to another win in the European Superstock 600 race at Brno, but a loss of front tyre grip in the last lap stopped him from being able to mount a successful last corner challenge on winner Patrick Vostarek.

Baz is still in the overall championship lead, on 117 points to Vostarek's 110. More good news came in a race where Five Yamaha machines filled the top six places, as Gino Rea held of his team-mate Dan Linfoot to secure a podium finish in third.

Such was the pace of the front two that Rea was 16 seconds down on Baz at the end of only nine laps, and the lap record was beaten by two and a half seconds.

Loris Baz (12th - Yamaha Motor Italia Junior Team)
"I tried my best to win but in the last couple of laps the front end was tucking under and I had a few slides, so I could not push any more to pass Vostarek. Our bike was good up the hill and it was a close race. We still have the lead in the series, which is the most important thing."