Team Suzuki Alstare news
2008 Superbike World Championship
Round 3, Valencia, Spain
Final qualifying, Saturday 5th April
Circuit: 4.005 kms. Conditions: Dry, sunny 18-21C
MAX’S DEBUT SUPERPOLE VICTORY!
Alstare Suzuki rider Max Neukirchner stunned his rivals by storming to his first ever Superpole win this afternoon at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, Valencia, smashing the lap record by well over a second in the process. Max’s Superpole was something special, but to make it an even better day for the Belgian based team, Suzuki Alstare rider Yukio Kagayama took second place. Third quickest is Troy Bayliss (Ducati), with local hero Ruben Xaus (Ducati) fourth. Team Suzuki Alstare rider Fonsi Nieto suffered grip problems again and finished thirteenth in the 16-rider Superpole shoot-out and so will face an uphill task starting from the fourth row of the grid in tomorrow’s races.
Max - 1st, 1:33.805
I am really happy because my Superpole lap was a great lap, but I feel I have been fast all weekend and I was hoping for a front row grid position. This afternoon’s free practice was hotter then the morning and the grip level went down, but fortunately it cooled off a little for Superpole and I was able to really go for it. We didn’t make any big changes to the bike from yesterday, because the bike was working so well. For that I’d like to give a big thank you to my whole team.
Yukio - 2nd, 1:33.928
I knew I had to do something good to beat Troy (Bayliss) in Superpole and I was able to put in a good, fast lap and beat his time. We’ve done a lot of good work these two days and the hard work has paid off this afternoon. My body is not 100% but, as I said before, that is a good thing because I am riding smoothly and not taking any risks by pushing too hard.
Fonsi - 13th, 1:34.959
Just like yesterday, I had problems with grip - both front and rear - and so I couldn’t use the throttle as I wanted to. The rear was spinning quite a bit and I had no confidence about what the bike was going to do today. We did a long run and my laps were consistent, so that is a positive sign. We’ll change the bike back to how it was this morning and hopefully it will feel better and more comfortable to ride.
Final qualifying
1 Max Neukirchner (D-Alstare Suzuki) 1:33.805, 2 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare) 1:33.928, 3 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:33.976, 4 Xaus (E-Ducati) 1:34.322, 5 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 1:34.370, 6 Kiyonari (J-Honda) 1:34.370,
13 Fonsi Nieto (E-Suzuki Alstare) 1:34.959,
2008 Superstock 1000 FIM Cup
Round 1, Valencia, Spain
Final qualifying, Saturday 5th April
Circuit: 4.005 kms. Conditions: Dry, sunny 16-21C
XAVI NINTH!
Team Alstare Suzuki rider Xavi Simeon struggled with grip problems in Valencia today and was only able to post the ninth fastest time in final qualifying. Xavi was frustrated because he couldn’t get anywhere close to the lap times he did at the tests in March. Brendan Roberts (Ducati) took pole position, with a lap of 1:37.114, with Davide Giugliano (Suzuki) second and Michelle Pirro (Yamaha) third.
Xavi - 9th, 1:38.176
It’s a bit frustrating at the moment because I just cannot do the lap times I did here in March. Grip was not a problem then, but it is now and we’re scratching our heads trying to find a solution. It seems strange, but I’m actually doing better on an old tyre, then fresh rubber.
Just like yesterday, I didn’t have a good feeling with the bike. I looked at the lap times of the top guys and I noticed that their fastest laps were one-offs and the rest were so-so. But my lap times are consistent, so maybe the race will be a very different affair. As usual, I will be trying my hardest and we will see what happens.
Final qualifying
1 Roberts (Aus-Ducati) 1:37.114, 2 Giugliano (I-Suzuki) 1:37.425, 3 Pirro (I-Yamaha) 1:37.502, 4 Corti (I-Yamaha) 1:37.513, 5 Berger (F-Honda) 1:37.678, 6 Polita (I-Ducati) 1:37.897,
9 Xavi Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki) 1:38.176,