CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE BUILDS AS BRNO COMES ON LINE – POPULAR TRACK WAITS FOR TOP SBK RIDERS Considering it was built in a period where slow-paced geometric circuits were the norm, the layout at Brno still relies on natural topography for much of its character, and that fact makes it one of the most eagerly awaited venues for all SBK riders. This will be the 5.394km circuit’s fifth year hosting SBK races, with two events in the nineties now added to by the 2005 and 2006 meetings. Each modern era race has been won by riders still fully active in the 2007 championship chase, making the 2007 races even more of a tantalising prospect for all. Brno is the perfect place to get competitive action back on the agenda, after two recent test sessions – one here at Brno for the top tyre development teams only, and then a more recent outing to new track of Vallelunga for all the SBK and WSS teams who wished to attend. CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT SET TO RUN AND RUN James Toseland (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) may have looked like a clear championship bet after four or five rounds, but as we approach round nine, his rivals are massing on the borders of his reduced 21-point championship lead. Twenty-one may be an ominous number all round, as it is the race number of his new number one threat, Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) who currently leads Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) by five points. Between the top three there have been 13 victories in 15 attempts (after one cancelled race at Silverstone robbed us all of the scheduled 16th). BIAGGI GOES BACK TO ONE OF HIS FAVOURITE HAUNTS In fourth place, some 43 points behind Toseland, Max Biaggi (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) has frequently found himself in a new situation this season, but at Brno at least he not only has previous knowledge from many years of GP racing and winning in the Czech Republic, but he also relies on recent experience on his 2007 GSX-R1000. A recent top team’s tyre development test gave Biaggi valuable track time, and the previous GSX-R has won three of the last four SBK races outright. Two of those victories came for Biaggi’s team-mate, Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) who was unstoppable in race trim in 2006, winning both races easily. CORSER GOING FOR FIRST 2007 GOLD Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) is currently fifth overall in the championship chase, some 78 points from leader Toseland, and looking for his first 2007 win. The third most successful SBK race winner ever, Corser has scored 33 race wins and 111 podiums in his glittering career, and has previous experience of being a Brno race winner, during his second championship winning season in 2005. LANZI READY TO FEND OFF XAUS Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) is an SBK race winner of yore but his more immediate task this year is to hold off the attentions of the only rider outside the top four to have won a race in 2007, Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Ducati). Lanzi is sixth and with Xaus only three points behind, he will have to make good friends with Brno again early in the race weekend to keep his nose in front of the potent privateer rider. ROLFO OUT TO SHOW HIS TRUE METTLE Roby Rolfo (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) has had some difficult periods since his move to the official Honda team but the flashes of excellence he undoubtedly has may well find Brno a great conductor this weekend. It is a circuit ex-GP rider Rolfo knows very well, as he fights to hold onto his top ten status. For the privateer wünderkid Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Germany) Rolfo is an immediate target, and only nine points ahead. LACONI AND NIETO LOOKING TO TURN PACE INTO PRIZES A good recent test for Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) and Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) needs to be translated into strong results in each Brno race, to allow the talented Kawasaki twins to scale the heights of the top ten before the season concludes. Laconi is currently 11th, 13 points behind Kagayama’s Suzuki, with Nieto 14th, 26 points from his team-mate. Splitting the Kawasakis in the championship table right now are two very different riders, on very different machines. In 12th place, Michel Fabrizio was a double Brno podium force in 2006, aboard last year’s DFX Corse Honda, with Jakub Smrz only six points behind him currently, riding to his relatively venerable Caracchi Ducati SC 999. Josh Brookes is out of the SBK limelight now and very firmly in the forefront of the Supersport stars, with his old Alto Evolution team-mate Karl Muggeridge staying put to see out the season in the Superbike class. Shinichi Nakatomi (Yamaha YZF Team), Luca Morelli (DFX Honda Corse), Alessandro Polita (Celani Suzuki) and Dean Ellison are also privateer riders to watch, while a bit of local flavour comes from wild card rider, Milos Cihak (Prorace Suzuki GSX-R1000). WORLD SUPERSPORT – SOFUOGLU THE PERENNIAL TARGET Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) has been a fixture at the top of the championship table this year, and his recently extended gap of 61 points over Fabien Foret (GIL Kawasaki) is a formidable step to make up with only five rounds left. The endlessly dramatic season in WSS continues apace, with Katsuaki Fujiwara (Althea Honda) in third, and with big name riders both leaving and joining the series since the last competitive round at Misano in June. Robbin Harms (Stiggy Motorsports Honda) is now joined by proven WSS race winner Joshua Brookes, while double WSS race winner Anthony West has now chosen to race in another class entirely. After the previous Misano round Barry Veneman (Pioneer Hoegee Suzuki) is sixth, with the top placed regular Yamaha rider proving to be Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport Team) seventh. Radomil Rous (KRTZ IV Yamaha) and his team-mate Michal Filla join the regular WSS ranks as wildcard riders this weekend. SUPERSTOCK 1000 FIM CUP – BAIOCCO ATTACKS TO DEFEND Matteo Baiocco (Umbria Bike Yamaha) will be going to Brno to win and keep his eight point advantage over Mark Aitchison (Celani Team Suzuki Italia) intact, or extended. Baiocco is the only rider to have won two races so far, but Aitchison, Niccolo Canepa (Ducati Xerox 1098), Michele Pirro (Team Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha) and Brendan Roberts (Ducati Xerox Junior Team) have all taken victories in what is a spectacularly good year for overall competitiveness. Xavier Simeon (Alstare Corona Suzuki) is still looking for his first win, as he lies in overall fourth place right now. Milos Urbanec (Heron Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000) is the lone wildcard in the big Superstock class. SUPERSTOCK 600 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – THREE IN IT Michele Magnoni (Bevilacqua Yamaha) had to give ground to Maxime Berger (Trasimeno Yamaha) at Misano, as Berger scored his second race win of the 2007 season. Andrea Antonelli (Team Italia Megabike Honda AX) is only 18 points from the lead, and is looking for his second win of the year. BRANDS BIGGIE NEXT STOP FOR THE SBK CIRCUS The biggest race in the SBK voyage, Brands Hatch, takes place on August 5, before the traditional August break in the calendar. Round 11 of 13, at EuroSpeedway Lausitz on September 9, brings the series back to life again.