Motourage

Motourage World Superbike man-crush, Team Alstare Suzuki’s Michel Fabrizio, finished the opening day of WSBK practice and qualifying at Silverstone with the sixth-fastest lap of the day, as the top-12 riders were separated by less than a second.

Like many times this year, Silverstone is a new track for Fabrizio and his Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000; and he and the team spent most of the time working on finding a good set-up for the bike. By the end of the day, he and the team were happy enough with what it had achieved, but will spend tomorrow looking for further improvements ahead of Sunday’s pair of 18-lap races.

Series leader Carlos Checa (Ducati) led the charge today, posting a lap of 2:05.477. Second quickest was Maxime Berger (Ducati) with Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) third and Leon Camier (Aprilia) fourth.

Michel Fabrizio – 6th, 2:06.023:
“I am not happy, but I am not unhappy about how things worked out today. As usual we spent most of the time trying to find a good set-up for the bike, so we tried many things and made many adjustments. We also tried to find a good grip-level and, at the end, we felt that we had gone in the right direction and hopefully we will continue to improve tomorrow.

“This is my first time here on a four-cylinder bike, so I took things pretty steadily in the morning and just tried to get comfortable with the bike. My right foot is a bit of a problem. I think that the discomfort I am feeling, between the smallest toe and the one next to it is a relic of my crash in America. I am really not sure if there is a small fracture there or maybe a cyst has formed, but it does get a bit uncomfortable on the bike sometimes. To make things easier for me, the team made the right footrest shorter and that has taken some of the pressure off the outside of my foot. I certainly felt more comfortable with the shorter footrest and once I am racing, it is not a problem anyway.

“Hopefully the conditions will stay dry and I will improve tomorrow, both in practice and Superpole qualifying. It would be good to be on the front-row of the grid, but my first aim is to be in final Superpole. After that, we shall have to see.”

Friday qualifying: 1. Carlos Checa (ESP-Ducati) 2:05.477, 2. Maxime Berger (FRA-Ducati) 2:05.870, 3. Tom Sykes (GBR-Kawasaki) 2:05.899, 4. Leon Camier (GBR-Aprilia) 2:05.937, 5. John Hopkins (USA-Suzuki) 2:05.974, 6. Michel Fabrizio (ITA-Alstare Suzuki) 2:06.023.

Althea Racing riders Davide Giugliano and Lorenzo Baroni achieved some very positive results in this afternoon’s first STK 1000 qualifying session at the Silverstone Circuit. Giugliano finished second and Baroni sixth, reserving provisional spots on the first and second rows, respectively, of Sunday’s grid.

Davide Giugliano

In this morning’s first free practice session, both riders were among the fastest on track, making constant progress throughout the session. In the final phase, Giugliano recorded a very fast time (2’11.1″), which left him in third position at the session’s end while Baroni went .04” quicker (2’10.7″), to close the practice in second position overall.

During the afternoon’s qualifying session, both riders continued to make progress. Conditions remained dry, despite some threatening clouds, and towards mid-session Giugliano recorded a 2’09.0″, lowering his best time of the morning by more than two seconds and projecting himself to the second position on the timesheets. Unfortunately, the young Italian crashed in the final minutes, but his previously recorded time was enough to position him second at the conclusion of the session. Baroni improved slightly in terms of time, recording a best of 2m105 to finish the qualifying session in sixth place.

Davide Giugliano:
“This morning we worked well to set up the bike and made good progress I think. In the afternoon it was going better but it was just a pity that I made a small mistake, which caused me to crash. Fortunately I am more or less ok; I took a blow to my lower back but nothing too serious thankfully. We’re working well for the race and will continue to prepare tomorrow. For now I can say that I am satisfied with our performance.”

Lorenzo Baroni:
“In morning practice we were going really well but then in qualifying, once we had the soft tire on, we had a small technical problem that prevented me from lapping as I’d hoped to or as I had in the morning. The important thing is that we made good improvement this morning and I hope we can continue to do so tomorrow. We’re confident.”

TIMES (Qualifying): 1. Petrucci (Ducati) 2’08.7; 2. Giugliano (Ducati) 2’09.0; 3. Zanetti (BMW)
2’09.4; 4. Barrier 2’09.5 (BMW); 5. Canepa (Ducati) 2’10.1; 6. Baroni (Ducati) 2’10.5; 7. Antonelli
(Honda) 2’10.7; 8. Mercado 2’11.0 (Kawasaki)

After a three week break, World Superbikes are back in action this coming at Silverstone in the UK. Althea Racing and rider Carlos Checa will face the ninth round with the same determination that has seen them dominate the 2011 championship thus far. Last time out, at the Czech track of Brno, Checa was on the podium in both races and arrives in the UK with a 30-point advantage in the rider’s standings.

A brand new pit and paddock area awaits the Superbike circus in 2011, while the track layout itself remains as was in 2010. At a track where stiff competition will inevitably come in the shape of the British contingent that took all six podium spots at this track last season, Checa will be looking to do all he can to extend his current championship lead.

Davide Giugliano continues to lead the way in the STK 1000 standings, and he too will race this weekend, with teammate Lorenzo Baroni, in the sixth round of the championship.

This weekend’s event is the last prior to the traditional August summer break. Racing will resume at the Nurburgring in early September.

Carlos Checa:
“I really like the Silverstone track, despite the straights where we’ll suffer a little. I’m however optimistic and excited to see the brand new paddock area and the changes that have been made in the last year. I have many British friends, and if, as forecast, the weather stays good, it will no doubt be a great weekend. We will work as always to find the best possible set-up and I can say that I am revved up and feeling confident.”

Checa’s Superbike form at Silverstone:
2010: Race 1- 7th, Race 2 – 10th

Country: UK
Name: Silverstone
Length of circuit: 5.780 km
Pole Position: right
Race distance: 18 laps = 106.236 km
LAP RECORDS: Best lap – Crutchlow (Yamaha) 2’05.259 (2010). Superpole – Crutchlow (Yamaha) 2’04.091 (2010).

2010 RESULTS:
Race 1 – 1. Crutchlow (Yamaha), 2. Rea (Honda), 3. Haslam (Suzuki)
Race 2 – 1. Crutchlow (Yamaha), 2. Rea (Honda), 3. Camier (Aprilia)

Marco Melandri is 53 points behind Carlos Checa for first place and only 23 behind Max Biaggi for second

Yamaha World Superbike riders Marco Melandri and Eugene Laverty are geared up for Silverstone this coming weekend. The second British round of the 2011 World Superbike calendar can be considered the second home race for Eugene Laverty. The rider from Northern Ireland is determined to impress on his home turf and make up for the less-than-perfect results obtained in the first of the two British stop offs earlier this season in Donington Park. Laverty has fond memories of the British track due to his spectacular victory in the 2010 World Supersport category and sets out determined to repeat this performance in his debut year in World Superbikes. Teammate Marco Melandri, fresh from two victories in the last two rounds of the championship, Aragon and Brno, heads to the U.K stronger and more optimistic than ever. The Italian has his sights on success and a place on what was a British dominated podium last year.

Silverstone is possibly the most historical and internationally famous circuit on the calendar and is host to some of the world’s most prestigious sporting events. The track underwent major reconstruction prior to last year’s WSB event. Renovations consisted in remodeling a new layout complex which rendered the fast flowing track even more challenging and rewarding. Many high speed and fast corners such as Copse, Abbey and Stowe are characteristic of the British track.

Marco Melandri, Yamaha World Superbike Team:
“I think Silverstone is one of the best tracks of the season. I really enjoyed riding there last year with the GP and I’m looking forward to riding it with my R1. It’s a nice flowing track with some fast corners and these characteristics should be suitable for my bike. Crutchlow came away with two race wins last year and I’m confident the Yamaha will be strong there this year also. I’m looking forward to the weekend and I’m optimistic we can get some good results.”

Eugene Laverty, Yamaha World Superbike Team:
“Silverstone is one of my favorite tracks on the calendar following the best victory of my career in the World Supersport category, last season. The fast nature of the track really suits my style and there’s many passing opportunities if it comes down to a last lap fight. The start/finish line has been moved for 2011 and so I’m going to have to rethink my race strategy. Last year I made my race-winning overtake into Abbey on the last lap but it’s now the first corner which changes things quite a bit. I’m looking forward to the new challenge though and I’d love nothing more than to walk away with a victory, or two, at my home round.”

Silvano Galbusera, Marco Melandri’s Crew Chief:
“Silverstone is usually a good track for the R1. We intend starting with the set-up we used in Brno but we need to pay particular attention to tire life. Silverstone is a track with very poor grip so we need to use a soft compound tire. We have studied the data from Cal’s set up last year and know what to do to improve on tire performance. In the last two races we made improvements with the engine brake of the machine. Marco likes to have a consistent bike, with the same behavior from the beginning of the race to the end but the soft tire deteriorates quickly and it’s difficult to keep the pace for the last five or six laps. We need to work on improving this.”

Frankie Carchedi, Eugene Laverty’s Crew Chief:
“At Brno we attained more solid top five finishes. The team has worked hard since then to find those final tenths we were missing mainly on the straights. Silverstone is one of the fastest race tracks on the calendar, also very flowing, which will suit the Yamaha and also Eugene’s riding style. We will start with our base set-up on bike one, and work from there. The weather forecast looks like it could be a hot weekend, and Silverstone can be notoriously slippy the hotter the track temperature gets, so we will work on the chassis to maximize grip.”

Andrea Dosoli, Yamaha World Superbike Team Manager:
“I’m very much looking forward to the next round. Last year went really well for us when Cal won both races, showing how the R1 performs well on the flowing British track. Following the strong race and positive results in Brno, we are heading to Silverstone optimistic. I expect good results from both riders as this kind of track is ideal for Marco’s style of riding and Eugene came away victorious last year in Supersport. We’ve a special link with England as Marco got his first ever win in WSB in Donington and it’s also Eugene’s home race. We are confident and are looking forward to enjoying the races together with the crowd of British fans.”

Samsung Crescent Suzuki’s John Hopkins and Jon Kirkham will race at this weekend’s British round of the World Superbike Championship at Silverstone. The GSX-R1000-mounted teammates – currently second and seventh in the British Superbike Championship – have been confirmed as wild card entries for the race, which is round nine of the series.

Jack Valentine, Team Manager:
“This is a kind of busman’s holiday; taking a break from racing by going racing. But seriously, taking a one-off ride in the WSB series is a great way for our riders to further develop their bikes and practice some race craft without the pressures of the Championship they’re in – and at the same time giving the fans and sponsors an extra run-out.

“We’ve had good success in the past with wild card rides too – like Tom Sykes’ podium in 2008 – we’re not there just to make up the numbers. And we can bet Hopper will be out to make a statement or two. We’re certainly looking to run competitively. Our only disadvantage is that we normally run under British Superbike rules, which allows only one bike per rider, not two. That said, we’ve got one of the most professional teams in the sport; they’re able to turn any job around very quickly and very accurately. We should be okay.

“This will be valuable track time at Silverstone for Hopper and will be excellent preparation for when we come back for the BSB Showdown round later this year; there’s nothing like racing to get a real grip on how a bike’s performing at a circuit. JK is needing some extra bike time too. We’ve been working hard to find an optimum set-up for him and the WSB weekend will offer him plenty of good track time to improve his set-up. We’re really looking forward to it, and hopefully we can spring a surprise or two on the regulars.”

Two official Kawasaki riders will be going for glory this weekend at Silverstone as Joan Lascorz and Tom Sykes set out to get into the leading mix in each race at the revamped British venue.

Silverstone is a home event for not only the Paul Bird Motorsports-operated team (based in Cumbria) but also Sykes, who is in his second year in the official outfit. Sykes, originally from Yorkshire but now living relatively close to Silverstone, is particularly keen to get back to top form at is home race. He has recently completed a short test at the hilly and narrow Cadwell Park circuit in England to try out some chassis settings in an effort to save some set-up time once he gets to Silverstone.

Joan Lascorz moved into the position of top-ranked Kawasaki runner at the previous round at Brno, stepping one place above Sykes to 13th overall in the process. The immediate aim for Lascorz is climbing his first ever World Superbike podium, but two strong finishes would help him eradicate memories of the crash at this track last year, which cost him the chance of going for the World Supersport  championship. His injuries held back many of his preparations for his assault on the WSBK class this year, but Joan is now settling into the Superbike role well, having already posted two top-five race finishes in what is a particularly tough season.

Team regular Chris Vermeulen will not be racing at Silverstone as a fall at Brno cut short his raceday in the Czech Republic, and he has been advised to sit this meeting out to be fully race fit for the next WSBK round at the Nürburgring on September 4.

The Pedercini Team is mounted on Kawasaki machines again in 2011 and they will field Roby Rolfo and Mark Aitchison at Silverstone, with Rolfo two places above his teammate, in 17th place overall.

At 5.9km in length the Silverstone circuit is not only one of the longest used in modern day racing, it is also one of the fastest, with best average lap speeds of 168kmph. The pits and paddock complex are now situated in the new Silverstone “Wing,” a fact that even British riders like Sykes may take some time to get used to after so many seasons using the former paddock buildings.

Joan Lascorz:
“I like this track and last year I expected to make a very good race in Supersport, if I hadn’t had my mishap. Let’s see this year how it goes with the Ninja ZX-10R. We are forming a greater understanding, race by race, of the reactions of the bike. From the Kawasaki side they always try to give me the bike I need and they are working hard after every race. From my side I am trying to adjust my riding style to make the best of the tyres and the bike and I am also working hard to keep my body fit. In particular, what we need to improve is how to open the gas correctly and also how to explain to my crew chief the important reactions of the bike. I am trying to understand what the really important aspects are to let me go faster and which are the ones I have to remove from my riding style. Our goal now is try to stay between tenth and fifth in the races as often as we can and, maybe even more importantly, to qualify well and make a good starts to learn from the most experienced riders.”

Tom Sykes:
“I am in highs spirits at the moment and looking forward to the Silverstone weekend. It is a massive circuit and really enjoyable. It has a fast average speed and it is very flowing in nature. I hope we can pick up the pace and have a result like we had in Misano and Aragon. I like to stop the bike, turn it and when I open the throttle I want to open it hard. I see no reason why we cannot go to Silverstone and pick up our game. The test we had at Cadwell last week was an eye-opener! I had just come from Brno and I think it must be four times the width of Cadwell, so it felt so fast to be running on a track so narrow. We tried a couple of things and got a bit of a direction on where I would like to improve the bike. It was good to get a couple of hours of track time to help us make the most of our practice time this weekend. Silverstone is only 30 minutes from my house now, so it is even closer to home. I want to put on a good show in Britain and having friends and family there is just another nice little added ingredient to race weekend. I want to have two strong results this weekend.”

John Hopkins will race for the Rizla Suzuki team at the Czech Republic round of the MotoGP World Championship at Brno on Sunday August 14; his second appearance of the season for the Rizla Suzuki squad. However, this time he will competing alongside Alvaro Bautista rather than as his replacement.

Hopkins finished a very respectable 10th in Jerez

Hopkins filled in at Jerez while Bautista was recovering from a broken femur and scored a creditable 10th place at the Spanish Grand Prix.

The Anglo-American racer last rode at Brno for Rizla Suzuki in 2007 and recorded his best-ever finish in a MotoGP race by bringing his Suzuki GSV-R home in second place – a result that went some way to seeing Hopkins secure fourth place in the Championship that season.

Hopkins is currently in second place in the British Superbike Championship onboard a Suzuki GSX-R1000 with the Samsung Crescent Racing team. His next event is at Silverstone in England, when he gets a taste of world championship motorcycle racing as he competes in the World Superbike series, also as a wild card, on Sunday July 29.

John Hopkins:
“It’s a real thrill to get the opportunity to ride at Brno, and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m very pleased that we have been able to achieve it because it is something we have been working on for a long time. To be honest, it couldn’t be at a better track for me either. I had my best result in my MotoGP career at that track, and I’m really pumped that I am going there again. As far as the Suzuki goes, I think it’s a great bike, and the package is a lot better than when I last rode it in 2007. I think that in comparison to what I was able to do in Jerez, I believe I will be able to perform a lot better because back then I hadn’t been on a bike in a competitive environment for six or seven months.

“I got thrown in at the deep end in Spain, but this time I will have a lot more race-craft. It’s also a huge benefit for me to be riding alongside Alvaro instead of riding in place of him, so that will be really good; not just for me but for the whole team. With the two of us, we can help develop the bike and share the extra data to get the best out of the GSV-R. It will be better to be riding with him in the team instead of replacing him because nobody likes to see a rider injured, and having more bikes on the grid is always better for everyone.

“I really want to thank everyone at Suzuki for giving me this chance and my Samsung Crescent team back in England for letting me take the opportunity to go back to MotoGP – even if it is just for one ride at the moment.”

Paul Denning, Team Manager:
“Everyone at Rizla Suzuki is looking forward to welcoming John back into the fold for the Brno Grand Prix. It is a track that the GSV-R has gone well at in the past, a track that John really enjoys, and we’ll be doing everything we can to give him a decent platform to get a good result. We also hope that John’s MotoGP experience and data during the weekend will help us find a better solution for both riders and increase our performance overall.”

Cal Crutchlow has undergone successful surgery on the broken left collarbone he suffered during last weekend’s AirAsia British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Crutchlow earned his first two World Superbike wins at the Northhamptonshire track in 2010 before making his more to MotoGP this season.

The 25-year-old former British and World Supersport champion had a titanium plate and several screws inserted in the shoulder in an operation carried out by specialist surgeon Doctor David Clark at the Royal Derby Hospital. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider broke his left collarbone in five places in a high-speed accident during qualifying for his home race at the Silverstone Circuit.

Surgery on the damaged collarbone was delayed while Crutchlow was assessed for a neck injury suffered in the crash. Initial checks at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford showed a suspected non-displacement fracture of his C2 vertebrae. But CAT scans showed no damage to his neck, and he was immediately transferred to the Royal Derby Hospital for surgery on his left collarbone.

Crutchlow has already started the recovery process with intensive physiotherapy, but it is too early to know whether the 2009 World Supersport Champion will be fit to participate in the Dutch Grand Prix at the historic Assen circuit next weekend.
Further information on Crutchlow’s recovery will be made available in the next few days.

Cal Crutchlow:
“The operation on my collarbone was a success and the doctors seem really happy with the outcome. But I am still in a lot of pain. Unfortunately, the break is a lot worse than the one my team-mate Colin Edwards had in Catalunya and I’ve got different pain and movement levels. And I’ve spent two days lying on my back with a suspected neck injury, so my shoulder just got swollen. I am not very happy that this happened to me in my home race at Silverstone when things were going really well for the weekend. I don’t know if I will ride in Assen. We will have to wait and see, but I’ll be trying 100 per cent to be there if I can.”