This Just In, a press release from Benelli:

“Team Benelli Sport continue their World Superbike campaign with a visit to the awesome Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California this weekend. It’s a significant challenge for the Tornado Racing Team as it’s only their second World Superbike race and to make things harder, it’s also a ‘flyaway’ round. When a race team attends a European round they are able to take all their trucks, hospitality units and support staff. But when attending ‘flyaway’ rounds the trucks and hospitality buses have to stay at home and the team have to work out of temporary units and shipping cases. Even the established teams struggle with this set up so it’ll be a steep learning process for Team Benelli Sport.

“Despite the difficulties they face, the team is upbeat about their first competitive visit to the USA, especially rider Peter Goddard who is really fired up and raring to go.

“‘I am really looking forward to Laguna,’ declared Goddard from his hotel in Monterey. “The aim is to finish both races and get some points! I like Laguna as it is a very challenging rider’s track. It is very unforgiving with a well-used surface and many elevation and camber changes – but that’s exactly what makes it such a challenge!’ Goddard has spent the last week in
America visiting friends and family and adjusting his body clock to the time zone.

“The team is already making great progress in their mission to win the World Superbike Championship, and they’re attracting fantastic support from sponsors and suppliers. They’re also catching the eye of the press and of course racing fans worldwide. The fantastic Tornado Superbike drew the crowds at Misano and is sure to cause a stir in the USA.

“All the attention is great for the team, but the rider and technicians have a tough job to do and they’ve been working hard since Misano preparing the machine and working out settings for Laguna Seca.

“‘We will have access to the best Dunlop Tires from Friday here so that will make a big difference,’ explained Goddard. ‘We will be up against it here with no previous bike experience, only some data which we have used to try to match gearbox and speeds together. But I have raced here for the last three years so I know the place reasonably well. I believe the bike will work fine at Laguna chassis-wise but will need some suspension changes for this special circuit. I have been discussing this with Ohlins and the team and I think we have a good start plan. We have already made some changes to increase ground clearance. We just hope to have a good run with the engine, we have no major engine updates yet as everything has come directly from the Misano round. The weather is forecast to be fine so it could be another hot one like last year.'”