By Glenn LeSanto

Championship leader Troy Bayliss survived a huge last corner slide to take victory in the second World Superbike race at Lausitzring in Germany. Neil Hodgson had been putting pressure on the Australian for several laps and closed relentlessly on the Australian. As Bayliss got on the power coming out of the final turn his back wheel slid sideways across the track, momentarily unseating the Infostrada Ducati rider. But Bayliss hung on and Hodgson, also riding a Ducati, wasn’t quite close enough to capitalize on the mistake. He also spun up the rear wheel when he tried to put on the power to pass the sliding Bayliss. Championship points leader Bayliss crossed the line just two tenths of a second ahead of GSE Ducati rider Hodgson.

Behind them – and by a fair distance – Colin Edwards recovered from a poor start to take an important third position finish. Troy Corser had slipped back down the order, losing valuable Championship points as several riders passed him, demoting him from an early third place to a seventh-place finish. The result means that Bayliss increased his lead again, having slipped back slightly in race one – which Edwards won. Bayliss is now on 205 points with Edwards in second spot on 182.

Hodgson’s result is his third podium in four races.

Hitoyasu Izutsu, riding again this weekend for the Fuchs Kawasaki team, scorched through from the back of the pack to take fourth. His progress was momentarily stalled when he tried to lap Kawasaki Bertocchi rider Michele Malatesta. The factory rider wasn’t pleased and made it known with a shake of the head as he finally rode by Malatesta. Izutsu might have caught Edwards with a few more laps, as he was eating into the American’s lead by seconds each lap, but time ran out for the All Japan Superbike Champion.

Pierfrancesco Chili was another rider who made progress up through the field to finish fifth on his Suzuki.

The luckless Ben Bostrom was going the other way, and despite his dirt track origins the American has always looked uncomfortable in full wet conditions and slid down the order. He was actually lapped by fellow Ducati riders Bayliss and Hodgson. Bostrom finished a lowly 10th.

Another Ducati pilot out of luck was Australian Broc Parkes. He was up with the leaders and looking strong until his gearshift lever retaining bolt fell out – ending his race. To say the Australian was disappointed at losing a possible podium finish through such a stupid problem would be a major understatement.

Bayliss leaves Lausitzring happy having consolidated his Championship points lead.

Troy Corser is less pleased – he’s slipped from second to third in the rankings. And Colin Edwards? He summed up his weekend like this: “I’m a bad loser and I’d rather have got the double win, but this is better than a poke in the eye.”


1. Bayliss, AUS, Ducati, 45:57.655s
2. Hodgson, GBR, Ducati, 45:57.884
3. Edwards, USA, Honda, 46:20.577
4. Izutsu, JPN, Kawasaki, 46:21.981
5. Chili, ITA, Suzuki, 46:30.239
6. Ruben Xaus, ESP, Ducati, 46:32.453
7. Corser, AUS, Aprilia, 46:35.278
8. Chambon, FRA, Suzuki, 46:36.256
9. Okada, JPN, Honda, 46:37.950
10. Akira Yanagawa, JPN, Kawasaki, 46:43.833

Superbike World Superbike Championship points after seven of 13 rounds:
1. Bayliss, 205
2. Edwards, 182
3. Corser, 163
4. Chili, 143
5. Hodgson, 131
6. Ben Bostrom, USA Ducati, 102
7. Yanagawa, 99
8. Gregorio Lavilla (Kawasaki) 87
9. Okada, 82
10. Regis Laconi, Spain, Aprilia, 75.


Manufacturers points:
1. Ducati, 263
2. Honda, 228
3. Aprilia, 182
4. Kawasaki, 165
5. Suzuki, 155
6. Yamaha, 20.

Next round: Misano, San Marino – June 24

Final 600cc Qualifying Times From Road America:

1. Tommy Hayden, 2:15.769, Yamaha
2. Aaron Yates, 2:16.041, Suzuki
3. Eric Bostrom, 2:16.356, Kawasaki
4. Kurtis Roberts, 2:16.509, Honda
5. Josh Hayes, 2:16.832, Honda
6. John Hopkins, 2:16.918, Suzuki
7. Miguel Duhamel, 2:17.445, Honda
8. Anthony Gobert, 2:17.643, Yamaha
9. Aaron Gobert, 2:17.783, Yamaha
10. Jimmy Moore, 2:17.818, Suzuki
11. Roger Lee Hayden, 2:17.872, Honda
12. Tom Kipp, 2:17.968, Suzuki
13. Jamie Hacking, 2:18.790, Suzuki
14. Jake Zemke, 2:19.164, Honda
15. Vincent Haskovec, 2:19.759, Suzuki
16. Grant Lopez, 2:19.940, Suzuki
17. Daigoro Suzuki, 2:20.236, Suzuki
18. Shawn Conrad, 2:21.044, Suzuki
19. Tyler Wadsworth, 2:21.420, Yamaha
20. J.J. Roetlin, 2:22.768, Suzuki

Yamaha rider Tommy Hayden’s 2:15.769 betters Kurtis Roberts’ 600cc Supersport lap record of 2:17.564 by almost two full seconds. Hayden’s Yamaha teammate Anthony Gobert crashed in Canada Corner early in the qualifying session but was able to continue after the delay.

1. John Hopkins, 2:11.707, Suzuki GSX-R1000
2. Damon Buckmaster, 2:12.338, Yamaha YZF-R7/R1
3. Aaron Gobert, 2:12.683, Yamaha YZF-R7/R1
4. Jake Zemke, 2:13.064, Honda CBR929RR
5. Josh Hayes, 2:13.765, Honda CBR929RR
6. Grant Lopez, 2:15.195, Suzuki GSX-R1000
7. Mark Miller, 2:15.444, Honda CBR929RR
8. Tom Kipp, 2:16.065, Suzuki GSX-R1000
9. Richie Alexander, 2:16.107, Suzuki GSX-R1000
10. Chris Voelker, 2:20.908, Honda CBR900RR

Bruce Transportation Group’s Roger Lee Hayden crashed his Honda CBR929RR in its own fluids in turn one early in the session.

Damon Buckmaster shot out front, built a lead and sat on it to win the 10-lap Formula Xtreme race at Road America on a Graves Yamaha YZF-R1/R7. Buckmaster crossed the finish line 5.503 seconds ahead of Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s John Hopkins on a Suzuki GSX-R1000. Aaron Gobert was third on another Graves Yamaha YZF-R1/Ry hybrid, another nine seconds behind, followed another three seconds back by Roger Hayden on a Bruce Transportation Group Honda just ahead of Tom Kipp on an Attack Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Results follow:

1. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha
2. John Hopkins, Suzuki
3. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha
4. Roger Hayden, Honda
5. Tom Kipp, Suzuki
6. Mark Miller, Honda
7. Josh Hayes, Honda
8. Grant Lopez, Suzuki
9. Chris Voelker, Honda
10. O. Richey


Mechanical DNF:
Jake Zemke, Honda
Rich Alexander, Suzuki



Points
1. Damon Buckmaster, 97 points
2. Aaron Gobert, 81
3. Grant Lopez, 78
4. John Hopkins, 68

By Glenn LeSanto
Australian Steve Martin emerged from the lower ranks of the Superbike order to qualify third for the afternoon’s Superpole session. Martin, a former Australian Superbike championship racer, rides for the semi-factory DFX Racing team from Italy. He’s the type of rider who likes to push the front really hard and, until this weekend, Pirelli have struggled to find a tire to match this very aggressive style. But now they’ve come up with the goods and Martin looks set to impress in Sunday’s race.

Above Martin in the order it’s business as usual with Corser qualifying on provisional pole in front of Troy Bayliss in second. Neil Hodgson, fresh from a win at Donington, lifted himself up the timesheet late in the session to take fourth. The qualifying was interrupted when Johann Wolfsteiner crashed his Remus Kawasaki heavily on the final corner. His bike flew into several parts and spread itself across the track, forcing the organisers to wave red flag. When the action resumed, defending champion Colin Edwards had obviously lost his concentration as he also lost the front end of his Honda and crashed – only two minutes after the restart.

Fuchs Kawasaki rider and All Japan Superbike competitor Hitoyasu Izutsu had a good day at the office, beating the two regular Kawasaki riders – and Colin Edwards, to qualify in provisional fifth place. Izutsu is only riding in a
selection of the WSBK events, in between defending his All Japan Superbike title. His team mates, Gregorio Lavilla and Akira Yanagawa qualified in ninth and 13th respectively. With only just more than half a second between the top 10 qualifiers Sunday’s race looks set to be a close one.

World Superbike
Lausitzring, Germany
Final qualifying times

Rider, nationality, manufacturer, fastest time
1.Troy Corser, AUS, Aprilia, 1:40.212
2.Troy Bayliss, AUS, Ducati, 1:40.384
3.Steve Martin, AUS, Ducati, 1:40.466
4.Neil Hodgson, AUS, Ducati, 1:40.535
5.Hitoyasu Izutsu, JPN, Kawasaki, 1:40.653
6.Colin Edwards, USA, Honda, 1:40.667
7.Regis Laconi, FRA, Aprilia, 1:40.750
8.Ruben Xaus, ESP, Ducati, 1:40.855
9.Gregorio Lavilla, ESP, Kawasaki, 1:40.856
10.Tady Okada, JPN, Honda, 1:40.870
11.Pierfrancesco Chili, ITA, Suzuki, 1:40.977
12.Stephan Chambon, FRA, Suzuki, 1:41.032
13.Akira Yanagawa, JPN, Kawasaki, 1:41.242
14.Robert Ulm, AUT, Ducati, 1:41.528
15.Ben Bostrom, USA, Ducati, 1:41.537
16.Marty Craggill, AUS, Ducati, 1:41.587

All the above qualify for Superpole.

A new section of Air Fence deployed at Road America may have saved Superbike racer James Doerfler from serious injury Saturday, June 9 at Road America. Doerfler appeared to be attempting to overtake another rider on the outside through the turn 11 area on the first lap of Saturday’s Superbike race when he lost the front end and crashed. Doerfler followed his Suzuki into the inflatable safety devices positioned in front of a wall on the outside of “The Kink”, a turn that was previously typically shielded by haybales.

The crash sent one end of the piece of Air Fence rebounding out onto the track, where Chuck Allen hit it and crashed. It’s unknown at post time if the Air Fence was properly secured to the wall behind it.

The race was stopped to give AMA officials a chance to repair and redeploy the Air Fence.

Meanwhile, Doerfler was transported to the local hospital for precautionary X-rays. According to Road America Communications Director Cheryl Barnes, Doerfler was expected to be treated and released.

In 1999, Fast By Ferracci Ducati Superbike rider Matt Wait crashed in exactly the same spot and was helicoptered away with a broken neck.

1. Anthony Gobert, 2:09.471, Yamaha YZF-R7
2. Mat Mladin, 2:09.715, Suzuki GSX-R750
3. Jamie Hacking, 2:10.229, Suzuki GSX-R750
4. Nicky Hayden, 2:10.636, Honda RC51
5. Aaron Yates, 2:10.708, Suzuki GSX-R750
6. Kurtis Roberts, 2:10.832, Honda RC51
7. Tommy Hayden, 2:10.903, Yamaha YZF-R7
8. Doug Chandler, 2:11.121, Kawasaki ZX-7RR
9. Eric Bostrom, 2:11.228, Kawasaki ZX-7RR
10. Miguel Duhamel, 2:11.312, Honda RC51
11. Larry Pegram, 2:11.954, Ducati 996
12. Andy Meklau, 2:12.431, Ducati 996
13. Steve Rapp, 2:12.493, Ducati 996
14. Pascal Picotte, 2:13.019, H-D VR1000
15. Mike Smith, 2:14.506, H-D VR1000
16. Jordan Szoke, 2:15.459, H-D VR1000
17. Ben Spies, 2:16.786, Suzuki GSX-R750
18. Vincent Haskovec, 2:17.933, Suzuki GSX-R750
19. Randall Mennenga, 2:24.904, Suzuki GSX-R750
20. James Doerfler, 2:25.777, Suzuki GSX-R750

By Glenn LeSanto

Defending Sidecar World Champion Steve Webster made it four Superpole victories from five today at Lausitzring in Germany. Although he’s had a difficult year he’s proved again in qualifying that he still has that old Webbo magic – his time was over one second faster than second place in Superpole, and title leader, Klaus Klaffenbock. Without the engine troubles he suffered at Monza, and then the disappointment of having to withdraw from the race while leading at Donington, he might have been leading the title.

Webbo’s passenger Paul Woodhead has been suffering from cartilage problems in his right knee, which forced him out at Donington during the race when the knee locked – stopping Woodhead from climbing around the sidecar.

Webster’s teammate last year, Jorg Steinhausen, was third fastest while Steve Abbott, who lies second in the title race, qualified in fourth in Superpole.

World Superside Championship
Lausitzring
Superpole result

1.Webster – Woodhead, GBR, 1:46.083
2.Klaffenbock – Parzer, AUT, 1:47.252
3.Steinhausen – Hopkinson, GER, 1:48.122
4.Abbott – Biggs, GBR, 1:48.468
5.Hanks – Biggs, GBR, 1:50.006
6.Guy – Peach, GBR, 1:51.694
7.Hemmerling – Kolsch, GER, 1:51.694
8.Hauzenberger – Hanni, AUT, 1:51.939

1. Kurtis Roberts, 2:16.345, Honda CBR600F4i
2. John Hopkins, 2:17.118, Suzuki GSX-R600
3. Tommy Hayden, 2:17.316, Yamaha YZF-R6
4. Miguel Duhamel, 2:17.407, Honda CBR600F4i
5. Aaron Yates, 2:17.535, Suzuki GSX-R600
6. Jamie Hacking, 2:17.677, Suzuki GSX-R600
7. Josh Hayes, 2:17.704, Honda CBR600F4i
8. Anthony Gobert, 2:17.799, Yamaha YZF-R6
9. Roger Lee Hayden, 2:19.072, Honda CBR600F4i
10. Aaron Gobert, 2:19.314, Yamaha YZF-R6
11. Tom Kipp, 2:19.495, Suzuki GSX-R600
12. Vincent Haskovec, 2:20.084, Suzuki GSX-R600
13. Daigoro Suzuki, 2:20.906, Kawasaki ZX-6R
14. Grant Lopez, 2:21.371, Suzuki GSX-R600
15. Jake Zemke, 2:21.444, Honda CBR600F4i
16. Tyler Wadsworth, 2:22.172, Yamaha YZF-R6
17. Eric Bostrom, 2:22.178, Kawasaki ZX-6R
18. Shawn Conrad, 2:22.430, Suzuki GSX-R600
19. Steve Patterson, 2:22.607, Suzuki GSX-R600
20. David Ortega, 2:23.234, Suzuki GSX-R600