Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra riders Troy Corser and Yukio Kagayama head to the San Marino sixth round of the World Superbike Championship holding the top two positions and a 77-point lead in the Manufacturers Championship on their GSX-R1000s. Former World Champion Corser – who has finished on the rostrum at every round so far with six race wins, two seconds and two thirds – holds the series lead on 222 points from Kagayama on 144 points. This weekend’s race at Autodromo di Misano has been home to the San Marino round ever since 1991 and is a popular fixture with riders and fans alike – no doubt partly due to circuit’s proximity to the beautiful beaches of the Adriatic. The 4.06 kilometre circuit runs in an anti-clockwise direction and features a mixture of fast straights and flowing turns and is notoriously tricky in the wet. Corser has been particularly successful at Misano, racking up 11 podiums including a memorable double victory in 2000. Kagayama has no history at the circuit but he is a quick track learner and will be all-out for a pair of podiums to challenge the series leader. Troy Corser: “I have good memories of Misano and taking the double there in 2000 was one of the highlights of my career, especially as it was done on Ducati’s doorstep! It is quite a technical track and it can also be a handful in the wet partly because there is a change of surface about two-thirds the way round. Now that we are approaching the halfway mark, I am happy to have a healthy lead in the championship. That is due to all the hard work we all put in over the winter months and at the start of the season. That doesn’t mean that our work is over – far from it – because we are striving all the time to make the best overall package this year even better. “We knew our competitors would get stronger as the season progressed, but we are up to the task. I know what it’s going to take to win the title and I am focussed on doing my best to make sure that happens.” Yukio Kagayama: “Misano is unknown to me but it’s not a big problem because I learn tracks pretty quickly. I was disappointed with my results at Silverstone and especially unhappy because I have many fans in England. But Silverstone is over for this year and I am ready for my next challenge – Misano. Troy-san tells me that it is quite technical so I hope I can learn something from him during practice. My Alstare Suzuki should be well-suited to the track and if I can learn the circuit quickly, there is no reason why I cannot take a podium or maybe two!” 2004 results: Race 1: Troy Corser (Petronas) – 2nd, Yukio Kagayama – DNS. Race 2: Troy Corser (Petronas) – 7th, Yukio Kagayama – DNS.