FIM Superbike World Championship Losail International Circuit, Qatar February 22, 2007 Provisional Qualifying Results: 1. Noriyuki HAGA (Yam YZF-R1), 1:59.019 2. James TOSELAND (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:59.056 3. Max BIAGGI (Suz GSX-R1000K7), 1:59.369 4. Troy CORSER (Yam YZF-R1), 1:59.440 5. Lorenzo LANZI (Duc 999F07), 1:59.459 6. Troy BAYLISS (Duc 999F07), 1:59.507 7. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suz GSX-R1000K7), 1:59.805 8. Ruben XAUS (Duc 999F06), 2:00.244 9. Roberto ROLFO (Hon CBR1000RR), 2:00.258 10. Fonsi NIETO (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:00.309 11. Michel FABRIZIO (Hon CBR1000RR), 2:00.467 12. Max NEUKIRCHNER (Suz GSX-R1000K6), 2:00.626 13. Regis LACONI (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:00.733 14. Josh BROOKES (Hon CBR1000RR), 2:00.936 15. Shinichi NAKATOMI (Yam YZF-R1), 2:01.948 16. Steve MARTIN (Hon CBR1000RR), 2:01.964 17. Jakub SMRZ (Duc 999F05), 2:03.186 18. Dean ELLISON (Duc 999RS), 2:03.704 19. Alessandro POLITA (Suz GSX-R1000K6), 2:03.777 20. Mashel AL NAIMI (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:06.487 More, from a press release issued by Scuderia SC Caracchi: 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DEBUT IN QATAR: FANTASTIC NANNELLI, POSITIVE SMRZ (Doha 2007, February 22) Full of satisfaction day today in Qatar for Scuderia SC Caracchi Ducati. After the first qualifying session Gianluca Nannelli recorded the second fastest in Supersport on his 749R, while Jakub Smrz, at his debut on a four stroke bike, is close to the Superpole admission, which is is primary goal. In Supersport the 749R Ducati of Scuderia Caracchi confirmed itself as one of the challengers of the championship, as showed during the winter tests, and Gianluca Nannelli scored the second fastest; moreover the twin made in Bologna recorded the fastest top speed in both the practice sessions scheduled today. “Of course I’m rather satisfied.” commented Nannelli rejoining the pit “We repeat easily the lap time of December test. The engine pushes very fast, actually Franco Farnè made a fantastic work. Franco Gubellini set very well the front fork and now I get a good feeling with the front tyre. The guys have actually a good working method, so I’m quite happy after this first practice day. At the last lap I could try to do better as Fujiwara, but a couple parked riders slowed my action; but is not important the result we got today. The most important thing is that, with a good setting after the first practice day we could be able to work from tomorrow morning on for the race. I was quite fast from the morning’s session, I’ve been third for long time, very close to the leader, but then all the long stops with red flag did contort the working schedule and at the end I lost some position, but then I had my chance during the afternoon.” Jakub Smrz on the Ducati 999F05 recorde the 17th fastest in this first, provisional, starting grid. The young Czech rider has still a small experience with the twin to aim at more ambitious goals. “My present goal is to contest the Superpole session.” said at the end of practices Jakub Smrz. “As well to finish the race in the points. At the moment my limited experience on the Ducati doesn’t allow me to look farer. However lap by lap my feeling with the bike grows up and I feel more comfortable. To earn the possibility to contest Superpole I have to record a quite better fastest lap tomorrow morning, but I’m confident to be able for it, it would be important for me as for the team.” More, from a press release issued by Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra: 2007 Superbike World Championship Round 1, Losail, Qatar Thursday qualifying, 22nd February Circuit: 5.380 kms. Conditions: Dry, sunny 21-25C PROVISIONAL FRONT ROW FOR MAX! Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Max Biaggi continued his superb progress with the new GSX-R1000 K7 at Qatar today, ending up with the third fastest time. His team mate Yukio Kagayama was not far behind, finishing seventh fastest in the overall standings. Max and Yukio were satisfied with the continuing development of the new bike and both are working on improving the bike’s acceleration in preparation for Saturday’s two races. It was Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) who posted the day’s fastest time, with a lap of 1:59.019 – almost a second under the official lap record. Second fastest is James Toseland (Honda), with Max third and former Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Troy Corser (now Yamaha) fourth. MAX – 3rd, 1:59.369 I don’t feel that there’s been a big change to the track, since we tested here recently, but for sure the hotter conditions this afternoon had an effect on the grip level. It’s normal, that when the track gets hot, the performance (or grip) goes down. That’s when you have to understand your tyres and try and conserve them towards the end of a race. The rear is not a problem for me, but the front tyre is worked much harder and that’s why you have to work to get the best chassis set-up and balance to be able to run hard at the end of a race. At the moment, the area where we are working the most is on the acceleration of the bike. Of course, like all riders I want better acceleration, but I feel that it is in this area where we are a bit lacking. If we can improve that, without losing anything elsewhere, I think we can have a good raceday. YUKIO – 7th, 1:59.805 No big problems at all today and because of our recent tests our bike is pretty much OK for this track. There was a little problem with chattering, but we are working on improving the bike’s acceleration, mainly because that’s what I feel I need at the moment. For me, the track was a little slippery probably because the strong winds in the past couple of days have deposited some sand on the surface. My two bikes here have slightly different engine characteristics and maybe I need a compromise between the two. We will try a couple of things tomorrow and see if we can make an improvement. More, from a press release issued by Xerox Ducati: LANZI AND BAYLISS (DUCATI XEROX) GET 2007 SEASON UNDERWAY WITH FIFTH AND SIXTH QUICKEST TIMES IN QATAR FIRST QUALIFYING Losail (Qatar), Thursday 22nd February: The 2007 World Superbike season got underway today for the Ducati Xerox Team with fifth and sixth quickest times respectively for Lorenzo Lanzi and Troy Bayliss in first qualifying in Qatar. Times were almost one second off the pace of last December’s test session, but today’s qualifying session was a hard-fought affair as the top six riders were all within half a second of each other. Double world champion Bayliss took a bit of time to settle into the rhythm and was not entirely happy with his first day’s performance. “Everything is not going so bad, but we’re having just a few little problems like getting the bike to do exactly what we want from when we tested here last time” he declared. “The times are not really so bad, and we’re not so far off the front. It’s just that everyone’s riding really well at the moment and I’m missing a little something and in these conditions it doesn’t take much to be down a couple of places because everyone’s going very fast. We’ve got a few things to think about, especially at the front where we’re struggling a bit but we’ll try them tomorrow and hopefully I’ll be a bit further up at the front. Lorenzo Lanzi on the other hand was enthusiastic about his fifth place on the grid and was confident there was more to come. “That wasn’t bad for first qualifying but I can see that our rivals have got a good race pace, especially Max, Nori and James. We had a few problems like last year when it started to get warmer in the afternoon and for our twin-cylinder Ducati these are the worst possible conditions because you start to slide around at the rear. I’m happy that we’ve still got a few more things to try and I’m sure we can set a good race pace seeing as we can make a few more changes to the set-up. As for me, I feel much better after the winter, calm and relaxed, we’ve done a lot of testing and that has helped me to get back into form.” More, from a press release issued by FGSport Group: HAGA SETS THE EARLY PACE IN FIRST 2007 QUALIFYING SESSION – THREE MANUFACTURERS IN THE TOP THREE AT LOSAIL Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) proved to be the fastest rider in the first session of the weekend at Losail, after carving 0.6 seconds from the previous best SBK lap of the 5.4km circuit. A close session saw James Toseland (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) ride to within 0.037 seconds of Haga, and edge out SBK ‘rookie’ Max Biaggi (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) to third. Biaggi was the early pacesetter, proving an instant hit when the first competitive laps were played out under the hot sun in the Qatari desert. The overnight front row four was completed by 1996 and 2005 World Champion Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia), in his first competitive SBK ride for his new employers. LANZI AHEAD OF BAYLISS AFTER OPENING SHOTS ARE FIRED Given his speed during testing, the biggest surprise of the day was reserved for the news that Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) was not only not the fastest rider, but also that he was also outperformed on the day by his team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi. The top two Ducati riders were fifth and sixth respectively. Former Qatar race winner Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) earned seventh fastest time, and the big seven were the only ones within a second of provisional pole. The second row was completed by multiple SBK race winner of years gone by, Ruben Xaus (Team Sterilgarda Ducati), a welcome sight in the top eight. British rider Dean Ellison (Team Pedercini 999RS) was 18th from 23 entrants. ROLFO TOP TEN WITH NIETO FASTEST KAWASAKI RIDER Roby Rolfo (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) is far enough along his Honda learning curve to be ninth fastest after the first day of qualifying, and also did well enough to ace the top Kawasaki rider on show, Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) who was tenth. Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) was only 13th but is almost sure to make improvements on day two. The private riders placed well behind the best of the officially supported machines, as Michel Fabrizio (DFX Corse Honda) and Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Germany) completed the overnight third row. BROOKES ON THE PACE WITH MUGGERIDGE UNLUCKY Alto Evolution Honda rider Josh Brookes scored 14th best time on his CBR1000RR, but a double bike failure for his fellow Aussie and Alto Evolution rider Karl Muggeridge prevented him from setting even a single qualifying lap. The last two riders into the top 16 today were lone Yamaha YZF Team rider Shinichi Nakatomi and DFX Corse Honda rider Steve Martin. New SBK inductee Jakub Smrz (Team Caracchi Ducati SC) was a battling 17th, one place up on Ellison. WORLD SUPERSPORT Katsuaki Fujiwara (Althea Honda) proved he was back on top form at one of his favourite circuits by taking the fastest time in the opening qualifying session. His time of 2’03.258 was less than 0.2 seconds from the previous fastest lap. The early formbook was also written by the irrepressible Gianluca Nannelli (Team Caracchi Ducati SC 749R) who was second; only 0.219 seconds from Fujiwara and his new Honda CBR600RR. The Hannspree Ten Kate Honda pairing of Kenan Sofuoglu and Sebastien Charpentier filled the overnight front row, while the still-developing GIL Kawasaki of Fabien Foret, the 2002 Champion, scored a more than creditable fifth place in a line-up of 34 riders. Kevin Curtain (Yamaha SSP Racing) was the R6 filling in a Kawasaki sandwich, as he edged out Pere Riba (GIL Kawasaki) for seventh, just 0.691 seconds from Fujiwara after only one day of action. Curtain’s team-mate Broc Parkes was eighth, the last rider less than a second from Fujiwara. Despite the first unofficial practice session for Supersport being twice stopped and delayed to clean up the track surface, the afternoon timed session went ahead as planned, with only one rider from the 34 possibles outside the qualifying limit. More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: HANNspree Ten Kate Honda riders beat personal bests The first round of the 2007 World Superbike Championship got off to a promising start for HANNspree Ten Kate Honda as both James Toseland and Roberto Rolfo secured personal best times in the first qualifying practice. The opening round is taking place at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar, where the teams are enjoying warm and sunny conditions. Despite experiencing technical difficulties with his number one bike, James Toseland secured the best lap time in the morning free practice. He followed this up by recording the second best time in the official qualifying session this afternoon – beating his personal record at the Qatar track with a time of 1:59.056. The former World Superbike Champion was just 0.037 seconds behind fastest rider Noriyuki Haga, with the top six separated by less than half a second. Toseland’s team-mate Roberto Rolfo proved that he means business this year by further improving his time at the 5.4km circuit. The Italian rider finished the session with a best lap of 2:00.258 to secure ninth place. Rolfo’s performance today was over a second faster than his lap time during the testing at Qatar at the end of 2006. He is hoping to improve further still before Saturday’s race. Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager “During the morning everything was looking good for James. He was fast around the track and there were no problems with the bike – it was just getting better and better. However, this afternoon his number one bike developed a technical problem that we couldn’t solve during the session. We had to use his second bike, which he didn’t use at all this morning. It was not ideal as it is set up quite differently. Tomorrow we will hopefully have his number one bike sorted out and we will be back in business. I am really pleased with Roby. Over the winter he just kept getting better and better and now today he has shaved off 1.5 seconds from his testing time to finish in ninth place. He is just chipping away at his time, getting constantly better” James Toseland “It’s been a good day. I was quickest in this morning’s practice, but this afternoon we had a problem with the number one bike. So, I had to use my second bike for the whole of the qualifying session. It would have been a lot better to be on the number one bike, but to come out with a time of 1.59 flat – which is my personal best at Qatar – is not bad at all. I’m really pleased.” Roberto Rolfo “The first day has been really good for me. This morning we worked on the bike to make sure it was set up right for the track. I like this circuit and I did well here in testing, but not well enough. This morning I was immediately quicker and I understand what I need to do to improve. I managed to get a good line and secured a time of 2:00, which I have never done here before so I am feeling good. I think that if can concentrate even harder tomorrow I can keep improving.” More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: New R1 leads the way in Qatar Yamaha’s new-for-2007 YZF-R1 demonstrated that it is a weapon to be reckoned with in world superbike competition, with Noriyuki Haga scoring provisional pole on the bike’s world championship debut in Qatar today. The Yamaha Motor Italy WSB Team rider topped the timesheets for much of the session onboard the MotoGP-inspired R1, with the Japanese rider particularly happy with his performance because he was concentrating on finding a good set-up to last Saturday’s 18-lap race rather than going for an ultimate pole position time. Haga’s 1:59.019 provisional pole time was set on race rubber and is the fastest ever superbike lap of the Losail circuit, being over half-a-second faster than Troy Bayliss’ qualifying lap last year, and a full second quicker than his own race record. There was double delight for the Yamaha Motor Italia squad as team-mate Troy Corser also ended the day on the provisional front row. The Australian was also under Bayliss’ previous best, posting a 1:59.440 to end the day fourth on the timesheets in his debut with the Italian squad. Having tested at the circuit just a few weeks earlier, the team arrived in Qatar with a good base setting for their R1s. Despite this, the squad still had a great deal of work to get through in order to get the best out of their machines for Saturday’s races. With track temperatures approaching 45 °C on the tarmac, tyre selection could prove critical this weekend. Corser and Haga have access to newer-specification Pirelli tyres this weekend than they had during testing, giving them a heavy programme of tyre testing in the practice sessions. Shinichi Nakatomi ended the day 15th on the Team YZF Yamaha entry. The new squad, born out of the Yamaha Motor France-entered team of 2005 and 2006, is chiefly responsible for development of Yamaha’s YEC range of customer race parts and using the world series to test and improve the range. The Japanese rider, entering his second year in the series, posted a time of 2:01.964 to gain a provisional place in tomorrow afternoon’s grid deciding superpole session. In today’s tight qualifying session it was British rider James Toseland (Honda) who pushed Haga closest, recording a time of 1:59.056 to take second in the overnight standings. Joining them and Corser on the provisional front row is former 250cc world champion and Yamaha MotoGP rider Max Biaggi (Suzuki), who was third fastest on his superbike debut. Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italy WSB Team) “I am surprised to be fastest because when we tested here I did not have a really good feeling with the bike. This morning I tried the set-up we left the test with but the feeling was still the same. For the afternoon we changed a few things and made a big step and I am now happy with the way the bike turns. We worked hard to find a good setting for the race and I still want to get better tyre life. For six or seven laps the tyre is very good but then we find that the rear falls away a lot on the right side. The new bike is working well. We only had our shakedown tests a few weeks ago but luckily we are able to carry forward many of the parts and knowledge from the previous R1 so we already have a very good base to work from.” Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italy WSB Team) “I’m fairly happy with that. The track feels different from when we tested here and that’s had an effect on how the bike is performing. We need to improve the front end tyre feel and there are quite a few little things for us to try out tomorrow. For sure it would have been nice to have had a few more tests before the first race but we’ve got a good base to work from and fourth is a pretty decent start.” Shinichi Nakatomi (Team YZF Yamaha) “No so bad! We made an improvement of two-and-a-half seconds between the morning and afternoon and I hope we can make some more improvement as we learn more about the set-up of the new machine.” Massimo Meregalli (Team Coordinator – Yamaha Motor Italy WSB Team) “We tested here a few weeks ago because we understood the importance of being competitive from the very first race. We found a good base setting at the test and, but for a few small changes, only the tyre options are different. We’re happy with how it’s gone today but it is hard to really judge how competitive we can be on race day at this moment. Both riders have been able to complete around 11 to 12 laps on the tyres but we still have to do some more endurance testing tomorrow.” More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: PROVISIONAL FRONT ROW! Troy finished with the fourth fastest time on the opening day of the first round of the Superbike World Championship in Qatar, but was disappointed to have suffered a small crash in the morning, untimed session. The first Superbike qualifying session had been delayed because of two red flag incidents that had spilt oil over a large section of the track and, although the mess had been cleared up, there was still a lot of cement dust on the circuit. It was on some of this dust that Troy lost the front and went down, but fortunately without injury. His team mate Noriyuki Haga topped the day’s standings, with a lap of 1:59.019, almost a second inside the lap record. James Toseland (Honda) was second quickest, with Max Biaggi (Suzuki) third and Troy fourth. TROY – 4th, 1:59.440 I am disappointed with the crash in the morning, but that’s the way it goes. Maybe I was going in a little too fast, but by the time I saw the dust I was off! It was right on my line and I couldn’t do anything about it. Fortunately no problems for me or the bike, but it’s not the way I wanted to start the season. We did a lot of work on engine-braking in the morning and afternoon sessions and I feel we improved it quite a bit. The track felt a bit different to when we tested here recently and then this afternoon, when the temperature rose, the grip level dropped. Tomorrow we’ll work on the front forks in order to try and improve the feeling of the front tyre, otherwise all is going pretty well. Tyre conservation is going to be pretty crucial in the races, but in that aspect, I seem to be doing better then most at the moment. Se ya, Troy