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04/05/09

Supersport World Championship
Round 3
Valencia (Spain)
April 5, 2009
Team YZF Yamaha

Doni Tata Pradita scored his first point
Indonesian Yamaha rider Doni Pradita scored today his first point in the Supersport World Championship in Valencia (Spain).
At the third round of the Supersport championship, Doni Tata Pradita improved again. He couldn’t finish the first race in Australia (technical problem), was 20^th in Qatar in the second round, and finally in Valencia he progressed again with the 15^th position and his very first Supersport point.
The race was very difficult because there was some light rain before the start. When the flag dropped, the track was still a little bit wet and the riders had to use extreme caution in the first lap. Doni was careful, and he was in 20^th position at the end of the first lap. Then he progressed to 18^th place on lap 3, to position 17 on lap 4, and went back for a while to make sure not to crash. He was 19^th on lap 9 (out of 23 laps) and jumped to 15^th position on lap 12 and stayed there until the chequered flag. This is a great success for the 18 year old rider, who used very well his head and his experience to achieve a great result.
Doni Tata Pradita: “I am happy today. In the first 3 races I get 1 point and it’s not so bad. It is a good experience. Now I want more points. This race was done in difficult conditions. The beginning was hard. After 5 laps, I pushed more and more. In the beginning, I was 19^th or 20^th, and I tried hard so I went to the 16^th place, and then 15^th. I am really happy. It was difficult in the beginning of the race because the surface was wet and (as it did not rain during the practice) we did not have any rain setting. But the rain stops and the sun came. I am happy.”
Team-manager Martial Garcia: “It’s great to be in the World Championship points. Doni confirms his progression with the point of the 15^th place. He was helped by a well performing Yamaha. He does better and better, and everybody can see that his career is progressing. He is adapting very well to the Supersport category.”
Race result:
1. Cal CRUTCHLOW (Yam YZF-R6), 23 laps, 38:15.613
2. Anthony WEST (Hon CBR600RR), -0.171 second
3. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Hon CBR600RR), -8.408 seconds
4. Mark AITCHISON (Hon CBR600RR), -12.421
5. Katsuaki FUJIWARA (Kaw ZX-6R), -16.529
6. Matthieu LAGRIVE (Hon CBR600RR), -19.242
7. Michele PIRRO (Yam YZF-R6), -26.124
8. Barry VENEMAN (Suz GSX-R600), -34.525
9. Eugene LAVERTY (Hon CBR600RR), -35.436
10. Fabien FORET (Yam YZF-R6), -38.337
11. Gianluca VIZZIELLO (Hon CBR600RR), -39.759
12. Robbin HARMS (Hon CBR600RR), -39.970
13. Andrew PITT (Hon CBR600RR), -50.532
14. Massimo ROCCOLI (Hon CBR600RR), -51.506
15. Doni Tata PRADITA (Yam YZF-R6), -62.755
16. Patrick VOSTÁREK (Hon CBR600RR), -72.275
17. Arie VOS (Hon CBR600RR), -84.237
18. Miguel PRAIA (Hon CBR600RR), -91.250
19. Joan LASCORZ (Kaw ZX-6R), -1 lap, pitted
20. Yannick GUERRA (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap
Supersport World Championship standings:
1.TIE, Crutchlow/Sofuoglu, 54 points
3. TIE, Laverty/Pitt/West, 43
6. Lagrive, 25
7. Aitchison, 24
8. Pirro, 18
9. TIE, Roccoli/Veneman, 17

04/05/09

Supersport World Championship
Round 3
Valencia (Spain)
April 5, 2009
Saturday qualifying
Team YZF Yamaha

Doni Tata Pradita only 2 seconds from pole position
Young Indonesian rider Doni Tata Pradita did a good qualifying session in Valencia (Spain) for the third round of the Supersport World Championship. He is in 18^th position, only 2 seconds from the poleman Cal Crutchlow on a Yamaha.
Doni tried very hard during the session and he was for a long time in 15^th place. Then he had a little crash, but could restart and finished 18^th.
If Yamaha is the leader with Crutchlow, there was also a good result for Kawasaki with Joan Lascorz 2^nd and Katsuaki Fujiwara 4^th. The situation was more complicated for the Hondas of Andrew Pitt (9^th with 3 crashes), Kenan Sofuoglu (11^th) and Eugene Laverty, the winner in Qatar (13^th).
Doni Tata Pradita: “During this qualifying session, I pushed it to the limit. In the last minutes, I pushed even harder and I crashed. Then I restarted and kept on going to have a good time. The last lap was 1’37.9, which was not so good. Overall I am happy. I was 15^th before I crashed. The back of my Yamaha is not perfect yet. Without that crash, I would be in the top 15. I have a good feeling. The setting of the bike is good.”
Martial Garcia (team-manager): “There is obviously a good progress. Despite a little crash, Doni did very well in this only qualifying practice session (because of the new rules). He is 18^th, only 2 seconds from the pole position, which is much faster than in Qatar. This progress has been made because of the motorcycle and the big improvement comes from the rider who has a very strong motivation here in Spain.”
Qualifying results:
1 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1'35.865
2 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'36.033
3 13 West A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'36.664
4 21 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'36.754
5 51 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'36.812
6 8 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'36.910
7 14 Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1'36.918
8 99 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'37.013
9 1 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.063
10 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.188
11 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.220
12 77 Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 1'37.290
13 50 Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.403
14 55 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.457
15 69 Nannelli G. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 1'37.667
16 105 Vizziello G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.702
17 24 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 1'37.744
18 5 Pradita T. (INA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'37.866
19 117 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.984
20 83 Holland R. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.244
21 30 Günther J. (GER) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.245
22 9 Dell'Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.334
23 7 Vostárek P. (CZE) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.512
24 28 Vos A. (NED) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.581
25 96 Smrz M. (CZE) Triumph Daytona 675 1'38.768
26 32 Lai F. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.935
27 88 Guerra Y. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 1'39.826
28 78 Geronimi S. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R600 1'42.025
Supersport World Championship:
1. Pitt 40; 2. Sofuoglu 38; 3. Laverty 36; 4. Crutchlow 29; 5. West 23; 6. Lagrive 15; 7. Roccoli 15; 8. Harms 12.

04/05/09

Supersport World Championship
Round 3
Valencia (Spain)
April 5, 2009
Team YZF Yamaha
20^th time for Doni Tata Pradita
The young rider Doni Tata Pradita for Yamaha Indonesia was 20^th of the first free practice session on Friday in the Supersport class on his R6. The quickest man was Spaniard Joan Lascorz on a Kawasaki.
Doni Tata Pradita did 27 laps, including 24 with the same rear tyre. This gives good information for the race next Sunday that will last 23 laps.
Here in Valencia, the local champion Joan Lascorz was the leader on Friday afternoon. Now the riders do not practice anymore on Friday morning. He was the winner already last year in Valencia on a private Honda. The second time went to Cal Crutchlow from the United Kingdom on a Yamaha, in front of the second Kawasaki of Katsuaki Fujiwara.
Doni Tata Pradita: “I was fast already in the beginning of the session when I fought with Fabien Foret. I know where I am losing time and I can improve. I was 15^th in the middle of the session, but I couldn’t go any faster after that because I did 24 laps with my rear tyre. We have to work on the setting of the suspension and the engine. I have a problem with my new gloves that are too tight.”
Martial Garcia (team manager): “We did more or less the same time than during the tests. The track condition is identical to what it was in 2008, as you can see with the time of Joan Lascorz. The bike is validated for the practice. We are now getting ready for the only qualifying session.”
The Valencia circuit
The first Valencia World Superbike race was held in 2000. The circuit is next to the town of Cheste, 25 km from Valencia, 320 km from Madrid and 370 km from Barcelona. The "Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana - Ricardo Tormo" is 4,005 km long and between 12 and 13 meters wide. It has 9 left-hand turns and 5 right-handers, with radii ranging from 30 to 250 meters. The start-finish straight is 876 meters long. Maximum downhill camber is 5.33% with 3.58% uphill. Paddock area is 49,066 m2. Maximum seating capacity for spectators is 60,000, with room for a further 50,000 on the hills surrounding the circuit.
Valencia is a fascinating but tricky circuit. It’s easy to get caught out by the many slow turns. It’s certainly not the kind of track where a Superbike rider can really use his machine’s power and speed. First gear has to be used several times and that always means extra care has to be taken. The track heats up the left hand side of the rear tyre. Especially in the double left-hander that leads down onto the start-finish straight and really puts the edge of the tyre under pressure. Valencia is a real stop-and-go circuit where the front tyre has to be good for hard braking and fast cornering.
Supersport World Championship:
1. Pitt 40; 2. Sofuoglu 38; 3. Laverty 36; 4. Crutchlow 29; 5. West 23; 6. Lagrive 15; 7. Roccoli 15; 8. Harms 12.
Friday free practice session results:
1 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'36.672
2 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1'37.343
3 21 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'37.701
4 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.834
5 99 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'37.864
6 14 Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.893
7 51 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'37.971
8 13 West A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.055
9 77 Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 1'38.197
10 1 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.421
11 105 Vizziello G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.475
12 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.542
13 8 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.576
14 50 Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.577
15 24 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 1'38.620
16 55 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'38.831
17 117 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 1'39.100
18 96 Smrz M. (CZE) Triumph Daytona 675 1'39.560
19 69 Nannelli G. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 1'39.561
20 5 Pradita T. (INA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'39.597
21 83 Holland R. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'39.708
22 7 Vostárek P. (CZE) Honda CBR600RR 1'39.801
23 30 Günther J. (GER) Honda CBR600RR 1'39.815
24 9 Dell'Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'40.038
25 32 Lai F. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'40.356
26 28 Vos A. (NED) Honda CBR600RR 1'40.919
27 88 Guerra Y. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 1'41.228
28 78 Geronimi S. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R600 1'42.932
Valencia stats
Practice record (2008):
1'36.649 Joan Lascorz (Honda) 149.180 kph / 2^nd free practice session
Lap record (best race time 2007):
1’37.570 Katsuaki Fujiwara (Honda) 147.770 kph
Race result 2008:
1- Joan Lascorz (Honda), 2- Fabien Foret (Yamaha), 3- Craig Jones (Honda), 4- Broc Parkes (Yamaha), 5- Gianluca Nannelli (Honda)

03/16/09

Supersport World Championship
Round 2
Doha (Qatar)
March 14, 2009
Team YZF Yamaha
Doni Tata Pradita progresses of 10 positions
In the second race of the Supersport World Championship in Losail, Qatar, Indonesian rider Doni Tata Pradita finished in 20^th position on his Yamaha R6, after a race incident relegated him to the 30^th place in the first lap. His experience is growing and this race was very useful for him to learn his new category.
Doni Tata Pradita started quite well, but in the first lap some riders bumped into each other in four separate incidents. Four riders crashed, but fortunately Doni could stay on his wheels. Of course, he lost a lot of time in the process and he was 30^th, but steadily he increased his speed and went faster and faster. He could pass a few riders and finished in 20^th position, which is not very far from the top 15 riders who earn points.
This weekend was not easy for the young Indonesian rider who doesn’t like the track of Losail. But he progressed every day and got more experience and more confidence. His progress is impressive and he can for sure look forward to better results in the future.
The race was won by Eugene Laverty on his Parkalgar Honda, in front of reigning World Champion Andrew Pitt, on a Ten Kate Honda.
Doni Tata Pradita: “I had a good start and I was in a good position. Then in the second corner of the first lap, we touched with other riders and I had to go wide. Then it was difficult because I had to pass slower riders. After that, it was OK. I pushed hard and it was coming better and better. The result is not good enough, I want more at the next races, and I want points. I am sorry for my Indonesian friends. I am progressing step by step. This is good for learning. I will be stronger for the next race, with more confidence.”
Team-manager Martial Garcia: “Doni keeps on learning. He had a good top speed and he could catch the guys in front of him. He finished 58 seconds behind the winner, which gives and idea of the progress to be made. No doubt that Doni will succeed in the future. The set-up of the engine and the chassis were perfect. Doni will progress step by step, race after race, and he will be in the top 10 by the end of the season. Thank you very much to the team who worked very had this week. Our program now is to do some testing on tracks that Doni doesn’t know, so he can discover them before the races. We shall test in Monza during the week after the Valencia event.”
Race result:
1. Eugene Laverty IRL Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR 18 laps
2. Andrew Pitt AUS HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR +0.063s
3. Cal Crutchlow GBR Yamaha SSP YZF R6 +0.625s
4. Kenan Sofuoglu TUR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR +0.711s
5. Robbin Harms DEN Veidec Racing RES Honda CBR600RR +5.200s
6. Matthieu Lagrive FRA HANNspree Althea Honda CBR600RR +5.233s
7. Garry McCoy AUS Triumph BE1 Racing 675 +9.538s
8. Massimo Roccoli ITA Intermoto Czech Honda CBR600RR +9.551s
9. Anthony West AUS Stiggy Motorsport Honda CBR600RR +9.616s
10. Barry Veneman NED Hoegee Suzuki GSX-R 600 +12.159s
11. Michele Pirro ITA Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni YZF R6 +15.044ss
12. Miguel Praia POR Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR +17.611s
13. Joan Lascorz ESP Kawasaki Provec Motocard.com ZX-6R +17.701s
14. Gianluca Vizziello ITA Stiggy Motorsport Honda CBR600RR +19.897s
15. Mark Aitchison AUS HANNspree Althea Honda CBR600RR +35.382s
16. Daniel Dell'Omo ITA Kuja Racing +35.701s
17. Arie Vos NED Veidec Racing RES Honda CBR600RR +36.239s
18. Russell Holland AUS ECHO CRS Grand Prix Honda CBR600RR +36.406s
19. Gianluca Nannelli ITA Triumph BE1 Racing 675 +40.548s
20. Doni Tata Pradita INA YZF Yamaha R6 +58.948s
21. Yannick Guerra ESP Holiday Gym Racing Yamaha YZF R6 +1min 01.386s
22. Fabrizio Lai ITA ECHO CRS Grand Prix Honda CBR600RR +1min 18.036s
23. Shaun Geronimi AUS Hoegee Suzuki GSX-R 600 +1min 22.281s
3^rd round of the Supersport World Championship: April 5 at Valencia (Spain)

03/16/09

Supersport World Championship
Round 2
Doha (Qatar)
March 14, 2009
Friday qualifying

Team YZF Yamaha

Quicker time for Doni Tata Pradita

Young Doni Tata Pradita from Indonesia was faster today than he was yesterday. This is positive, even if it is still possible for him to improve his lap times.

Doni did the 28^th time in 2’05.234, which is 3.648 from the pole position. He is not very much at ease here on this track. He learned it before on a 250 cc when he was racing the Grand Prix but the Yamaha R6 he is using this year is a 4 cylinder 600 cc 4 stroke on Pirelli tyres, compared with the Grand Prix machine, a 2 cylinder 250 cc 2 stroke machine on Dunlop tyres. So it takes some time to get adjusted to this new equipment and this new championship, and it must be remembered that this is only the second race of the season.

Another Yamaha was on pole position with the British rider Cal Crutchlow, in front of the Hondas of Eugene Laverty, Kenan Sofuoglu and reigning World Champion Andrew Pitt.
Doni Tata Pradita: “It was not too easy. I don’t like this track. I don’t like the right hand curves and there are many on this circuit. I was quicker than yesterday, but not enough. I will try to improve during the warm up on Saturday. We will check the bike tomorrow morning. One of the problems I have with this circuit is the triple right hand curve, in which after the second curve I don’t have enough speed. For the moment, I am not so happy.”
Martial Garcia (team-manager): “Doni keeps on learning. It’s better and better all the time. Here our rider did not find the right set-up to express himself, especially in two places of the track where it is difficult for him to make the bike accelerate appropriately. His time today was faster than on Thursday and there is still some room for improvement. We think that during the warm up session he will have the opportunity to solve some of the problems he still has in some curves.”
Qualifying results:
1. Cal Crutchlow GBR Yamaha SSP YZF R6 2mins 01.586s
2. Eugene Laverty IRL Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR 2mins 01.629s
3. Kenan Sofuoglu TUR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR 2mins 01.810s
4. Andrew Pitt AUS HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR 2mins 02.266s
5. Fabien Foret FRA Yamaha SSP YZF R6 2mins 02.282s
6. Matthieu Lagrive FRA HANNspree Althea Honda CBR600RR 2mins 02.450s
7. Gianluca Nannelli ITA Triumph BE1 Racing 675 2mins 02.450s
8. Robbin Harms DEN Veidec Racing RES Honda CBR600RR 2mins 02.592s
9. Garry McCoy AUS Triumph BE1 Racing 675 2mins 02.634s
10. Mark Aitchison AUS HANNspree Althea Honda CBR600RR 2mins 02.656s
11. Michele Pirro ITA Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni YZF R6 2mins 02.664s
12. Anthony West AUS Stiggy Motorsport Honda CBR600RR 2mins 02.808s
13. Katsuaki Fujiwara JPN Kawasaki Provec Motocard.com ZX-6R 2mins 02.844s
14. Miguel Praia POR Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR 2mins 03.098s
15. Joan Lascorz ESP Kawasaki Provec Motocard.com ZX-6R 2mins 03.111s
16. Pawel Szkopek POL Factory Racing Triumph 675 2mins 03.163s
17. Massimo Roccoli ITA Intermoto Czech Honda CBR600RR 2mins 03.178s
18. Barry Veneman NED Hoegee Suzuki GSX-R 600 2mins 03.215s
19. Gianluca Vizziello ITA Stiggy Motorsport Honda CBR600RR 2mins 03.507s
20. Jesco Gunther GER RES Software Veidec Racing 2mins 03.703s
21. Daniel Dell'Omo ITA Kuja Racing 2mins 03.829s
22. Patrick Vostarek CZE Intermoto Czech Honda CBR600RR 2mins 03.942s
23. Arie Vos NED Veidec Racing RES Honda CBR600RR 2mins 03.951s
24. Russell Holland AUS ECHO CRS Grand Prix Honda CBR600RR 2mins 04.333s
25. Matej Smrz CZE Factory Racing Triumph 675 2mins 04.504s
26. Jose Carlos Morillas Cuenca ESP Holiday Gym Yamaha YZF R6 2mins 04.710s
27. Fabrizio Lai ITA ECHO CRS Grand Prix Honda CBR600RR 2mins 04.988s
28. Doni Tata Pradita INA YZF Yamaha R6 2mins 05.234s
29. Yannick Guerra ESP Holiday Gym Racing Yamaha YZF R6 2mins 05.565s
30. Shaun Geronimi AUS Hoegee Suzuki GSX-R 600 2mins 06.803s

Supersport World Championship points (after 1 round of 14):
1. Sofuoglu (Honda) 25; 2. Pitt (Honda) 20; 3. West (Honda) 16; 4. Crutchlow (Yamaha) 13; 5. Laverty (Honda) 11; 6. Aitchison (Honda) 10; 7. Foret (Yamaha) 9; 8. Lascorz (Kawasaki) 8.

03/04/09

Supersport World Championship
Round 1
Phillip Island (Australia)
March 1, 2009

Team YZF Yamaha

Doni Tata Pradita: Good warm up, unlucky race

On Sunday morning, excellent result for Doni with the 6^th time of the warm up session, out of a total of 30 riders. On a wet track he did a very beautiful performance.

During the race, he had the bad luck to have an engine problem and he had to retire. The performances of the young Indonesian rider over the weekend were good, but unfortunately the end was not so successful. Doubtless to say that with all the progress he made in Phillip Island (Australia) he will be in a good position for a better weekend for the next race in Qatar.

Team-manager Martial Garcia: “Despite the broken engine during the race, the overall weekend has been positive. The rider did very well; the bike had a good level of performance. We will do everything we can and we look for a good result at the next event in Doha.”
Race result:
1 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 33'42.156 (166,18 kph)
2 1 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 0.060
3 13 West A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 0.153
4 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1.097
5 50 Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 1.098
6 8 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 3.631
7 99 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 5.023
8 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 9.540
9 55 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 14.099
10 69 Nannelli G. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 14.202
11 14 Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 15.110
12 51 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 15.204
13 77 Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 15.263
14 24 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 26.607
15 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 29.707
16 96 Smrz M. (CZE) Triumph Daytona 675 29.876
17 21 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 30.157
18 7 Vostárek P. (CZE) Honda CBR600RR 36.918
19 83 Holland R. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 42.324
20 30 Günther J. (GER) Honda CBR600RR 45.388
21 9 Dell'Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'01.742
22 28 Vos A. (NED) Honda CBR600RR 1'02.450
23 78 Geronimi S. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R600 1'09.795
24 32 Lai F. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'09.839
25 88 Guerra Y. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 1'19.097
RET 71 Morillas J. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6
RET 105 Vizziello G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR
RET 117 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR
RET 5 Pradita T. (INA) Yamaha YZF R6
RET 19 Szkopek P. (POL) Triumph Daytona 675

2^nd round of the Supersport World Championship: March 14^th at Losail (Qatar)

03/04/09

Supersport World Championship
Round 1
Phillip Island (Australia)
March 1, 2009

Saturday qualifying

Good qualifying for Indonesian Doni Tata Pradita

After being 20^th in the first practice session, only 2 seconds behind the provisional poleman Andrew Pitt, young Indonesian rider Doni Tata Pradita improved his position to 19^th, with a very good time improvement compared to the first day. Considering the very high level of the championship, this is a great start for the season.

Doni Tata Pradita: “This is good. I am really happy. The improvement was great today. I am happy with my Yamaha and with my team. This is a good start to make some good results.”
Martial Garcia (team-manager): “This is a good result for Indonesia and Doni Tata Pradita. I am satisfied of his first race. He is the fastest of the riders beginning in this championship. He learned well to use his bike. Thank you to Yamaha Indonesia, the team and Steve Martin as a coach. The Yamaha is performing well and I dream of a top 15 finish.”
Qualifying results:
1 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1'34.320
2 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'34.689
3 1 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'34.786
4 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1'34.875
5 50 Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 1'34.962
6 99 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'35.063
7 51 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'35.086
8 24 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 1'35.187
9 8 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'35.263
10 77 Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 1'35.401
11 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 1'35.466
12 13 West A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'35.585
13 69 Nannelli G. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 1'35.644
14 117 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 1'35.680
15 14 Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1'35.795
16 21 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'35.862
17 105 Vizziello G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'35.871
18 55 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'36.028
19 5 Pradita T. (INA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'36.341
20 96 Smrz M. (CZE) Triumph Daytona 675 1'36.350
21 83 Holland R. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'36.379
22 19 Szkopek P. (POL) Triumph Daytona 675 1'36.546
23 7 Vostárek P. (CZE) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.021
24 9 Dell'Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.075
25 30 Günther J. (GER) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.170
26 28 Vos A. (NED) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.344
27 32 Lai F. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'37.719
28 78 Geronimi S. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R600 1'38.590
29 71 Morillas J. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 1'38.638
30 88 Guerra Y. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 1'38.977

2^nd round of the Supersport World Championship: March 14^th at Losail (Qatar)

11/26/08

Thank you to everybody for a nice season. During the 3 years he has been with the Team YZF Yamaha, Shinichi Nakatomi finished 10 times in the top 10 (best result: 8^th) and he scored some points 34 times. Next year, the team will enter for Yamaha the Indonesian rider Doni Tata Pradita who raced in 2008 in the 250cc Grand Prix class, on a Yamaha of course. He will ride a R6 in the Supersport World Championship, a category in which the team was racing already in 2003.

11/26/08

11/02/08 Portimao (Portugal) Sunday

Races
Team YMF Yamaha
Thank you Bayliss, thank you Nakatomi

The last race of the 2008 Superbike World Championship was very emotional for everybody. Troy Bayliss, 3 times champion on a Ducati, ended his career with 2 fantastic wins and the pole position and the lap record. Shinichi Nakatomi, for his last event with our team, did his best ending up 13^th and 17^th with good lap times. It has been an honour and a pleasure to have with us during 3 years such a friendly gentleman.

On the new track of Portimao, Troy Bayliss dominated both races and he can go now back to Australia with plenty of good memories. Shinichi Nakatomi did the best he could and his results are good considering that the rain did not help to set up the bike during the practice sessions.

Shinichi Nakatomi: "I had a good start in the first race, but my average pace was not so good. I pushed more, but the rear tyre went down, especially in the last 4 laps. So we changed the tyre for race 2 and I had a better feeling. I made small mistakes trying to pass other riders and I finished 17^th. I was pushing 100%. Thank you to my team for these 3 years."

Team-manager Martial Garcia: "In the first race, we did not expect such a good result because the practice sessions were not easy. This 13^th position with good lap times made us strong mentally for race 2. We finished 17^th of the second heat but we were faster than in race 1. We were at the end only 30 seconds behind the winner so it's a good result. I am sad to leave Nakatomi and I wish him a lot of success in his future."
Race 1:
1-Bayliss (Ducati), 2-Checa (Honda), 3-Corser (Yamaha), 4-Rea (Honda), 5-Nieto (Suzuki)…13-Nakatomi (Yamaha)

Race 2:
1-Bayliss (Ducati), 2-Fabrizio (Ducati), 3-Haslam (Honda), 4-Neukirchner (Suzuki), 5-Nieto (Suzuki)…17- Nakatomi (Yamaha)

Superbike World Championship standings:
1-Bayliss (Ducati) 460 points, 2- Corser (Yamaha) 342, 3-Haga (Yamaha) 327, 4- Checa (Honda) 313, 5- Neukirchner (Suzuki) 311…19- Nakatomi (Yamaha) 51

Team YMF Yamaha Superstock

YZF Yamaha Junior Team

FIM Cup Superstock 1000
Superstock 600 European Championship

Baz 2^nd, Barrier 7^th

Brilliant 2^nd place for Loris Baz who fought until the end with Gino Rea. Sylvain Barrier, back from injury, proved his talent with the 7^th position.

It was a very hard and very spectacular race for Loris Baz, against Gino Rea who had a lot of motivation. Both riders dominated the field and after many incredible actions Rea was finally the winner only 6 / 100^th in front of Loris.

Sylvain Barrier was careful not to crash in the beginning and he was faster and faster as the laps went by. He finished in 7^th position which is a good result.

Loris Baz: «I wanted to start well and I did it. I wanted to win and to prove that I can play with the big boys. I had some problem with the front fork because we did not have enough time to set it up properly for the dry conditions. Rea caught me but I was still leading entering the last lap. Then he passed me with a very hot action, I had to go wide and lost 200 meters. Then I caught him and passed him, and it was his turn to go wide. I am happy because I proved I have some character. It was very close. Thank you to my team for the superb work."

Sylvain Barrier: «My start was not so good because my bike did a wheelie. Then I had difficulties passing the other riders. I was careful, even if I ran wide a few times. Overall, it was a good race."

Martial Garcia (team-manager): "Sylvain Barrier was careful at the start because he did not want to crash. Then he was better and better and he finished brilliantly 7^th. This is the confirmation for all the trust I have had for him since the beginning of the season. Loris Baz did his most beautiful race this year. He displayed a lot of maturity fighting for the top position. He finishes only 6 / 100 behind Rea and deserves a lot of credit."

FIM Cup Superstock 1000 race results:
1-Roberts (Ducati), 2-Seaton (Suzuki), 3-Berger (Honda), 4-Pirro (Yamaha), 5-Smrz (Honda)…7-Barrier (Yamaha)

FIM Cup Superstock 1000 Championship standings:
Roberts (Ducati) 147 points, 2- Berger (Honda) 140, 3-Polita (Ducati) 137, 4-Simeon (Suzuki) 136…16- Barrier (Yamaha) 22

Superstock 600 European Championship race results:
1-Rea (Yamaha), 2- Baz (Yamaha), 3-Bussolotti (Yamaha), 4-Lonbois (Suzuki), 5-Day (Honda)

Superstock 600 European Championship standings:
1- Baz (Yamaha) 186 points, 2- Bussolotti (Yamaha) 134, 3- Rea (Yamaha) 132, 4-Vostarek (Honda) 121, 5-Linfoot (Yamaha) 117

11/02/08 Portimao (Portugal) Saturday

Saturday qualifying
Team YMF Yamaha
Bayliss in pole, Nakatomi 22^nd

For his last race in the Superbike World Championship, Troy Bayliss (Ducati) was the fastest during a very wet Superpole on the brand new circuit of Portimao. Shinichi Nakatomi qualified 22^nd after having difficulties to find the right set up because of the rain.

All the riders were very happy with the lay out of the track in the hills surrounding Portimao in the Algarve. With a lot of downhill and uphill sections, this new circuit is really beautiful and the riders love it. Unfortunately, it rained a lot sometimes during the first two days of practice, which made it hard to tune the machines adequately. Troy Bayliss used his great experience to be the fastest not only on the wet but also on the dry.

The organisers are expecting a huge turn out tomorrow, with many spectators from Portugal but also fro the South of Spain.

Shinichi Nakatomi: "I used both motorcycles during the sessions, but I did not have enough feeling. The feeling was better by the end of the practice, but I made a small mistake while following another rider and I lost some time. We are progressing step by step for the race set up. We still have a small trouble."
Martial Garcia (team-manager): « The practice sessions have been complicated because of the rain on Friday. It was difficult to find the right setting. But we are progressing and we have good hope for the race."
Qualifying results:
1- Bayliss (Ducati), 2-Crutchlow (Honda), 3-Rea (Honda), 4-Biaggi (Ducati), 5-Fabrizio (Ducati)…22- Nakatomi (Yamaha)

World Championship standings:
1- Bayliss (Ducati) 410 points, 2- Haga (Yamaha) 325, 3- Corser (Yamaha) 316, 4- Neukirchner (Suzuki) 298, 5- Checa (Honda) 284…19- Nakatomi (Yamaha) 48

Team YMF Yamaha Superstock

YZF Yamaha Junior Team

FIM Cup Superstock 1000
Superstock 600 European Championship

Baz on first row, Barrier 10^th

Loris Baz was 4^th in the 600 cc qualifying practice that was a triumph for the Yamaha R6 with the top 5 positions; with the quickest time for Gino Rea.

Like in the bigger categories, the riders enjoyed the track a lot. They have great sensations and they like the technical parts. Loris Baz, the 2008 Superstock 600 champion, dominated on the first day. On Saturday, he was fourth and will start from the front row. He is very confident for the race.

In the Superstock 1000 cc class, Brendan Roberts was the fastest on his Ducati, while Sylvain Barrier was 10^th on his Yamaha R1. This is a good result for Sylvain who raced only once since he came back after hurting himself in Brno. The last qualifying session was wet and nobody could improve the times of the first session. Tomorrow, the 2008 title will be decided between four riders: Simeon (Suzuki), Polita (Ducati), Berger (Honda) and Roberts (Ducati).

Sylvain Barrier: «This track is easy to learn. In the first qualifying session, I did not use a new tyre and I qualified 10^th. Then I was 7^th in the next free practice session. I feel I am back in shape, like before my accident. On the rain I felt that I progressed."

Loris Baz: «It's a beautiful track, one of the best in Europe with Brands Hatch. I put a new tyre yesterday and I was in pole position with a 1 second lead. Today I did not use a new tyre. I was fast, but the setting of the front suspension was not perfect. For the race, it will be OK."

Martial Garcia (team-manager): "Loris Baz is on the front row with the 4^th position. He used a new tyre a little bit too early. I am not worrying; he will be ready for the battle. Sylvain Barrier could not go faster in the last session because of the rain. He is back in shape and I trust him."

FIM Cup Superstock 1000 qualifying results:
1- Roberts (Ducati), 2-Seaton (Suzuki), 3-Pirro (Yamaha), 4-Smrz (Honda), 5- Simeon (Suzuki)

FIM Cup Superstock 1000 standings:
1-Simeon (Suzuki) 131 points, 2-Polita (Ducati) 127, 3-Berger (Honda) 124, 4-Roberts (Ducati) 122, 5-Pirro (Yamaha) 89…22-Barrier (Yamaha) 13

Superstock 600 European Championship qualifying results:
1- Rea (Yamaha), 2-Gines (Yamaha), 3- Linfoot (Yamaha), 4- Baz (Yamaha), 5- Bussolotti (Yamaha)

Superstock 600 European Championship standings:
1- Baz (Yamaha) 166 points, 2-Vostarek (Honda) 121, 3- Bussolotti (Yamaha) 118, 4- Linfoot (Yamaha) 112, 5-Rea (Yamaha) 107

11/02/08 Portimao (Portugal) Preview

Team YZF Yamaha

The final race on a new track

The last race of the 2008 Superbike World Championship will take place this weekend on the "Autodromo Internacional do Algarve" near Portimão in Portugal. This will be the occasion for Shinichi Nakatomi (19^th with 48 points) to fight against Regis Laconi who is only 1 point ahead of him, and Makoto Tamada who is 7 points behind.

This will be the last occasion for the 2008 model of the Yamaha R1 to race officially in the Superbike World Championship, as the new 2009 model is now ready for next season. It will also be the last Superbike race for Troy Bayliss. His Ducati Team was the only one to carry out a two-day test session at the new Portuguese track last Thursday 23 and Friday 24.

Martial Garcia (team manager): "All the Team will do all he can to provide Nakatomi with the best possible motorcycle for his last international race and offer him the best conditions."

Autodromo Internacional do Algarve
The new track is 4.658 km long, 14 m wide and has 15 curves (6 on the left and 9 on the right). He is located near the city of Portimão, in Sítio do Escampadinho in the parish of Mexilhoeira Grande. The city of Portimão is a 10-minute drive from the Algarve Motor Park. The IEFP (employment and professional training institute) recruited around 3.000 people to help build the International Autodromo. The move came as part of an agreement between the IEFP and Parkalgar, the project's promoter. This project has been recognised as a PIN scheme (project in the public interest) and involves the construction of the Autodromo, a kartodrome, 160 tourist apartments, access to the nearby motorway (A22), a technological park for businesses connected to the automobile world, a sports complex, and a 5-star hotel with 200 rooms. The whole project, involving 200 to 250 million euros of investment, is being privately funded.
World Championship standings:
1- Bayliss (Ducati) 410 points, 2- Haga (Yamaha) 325, 3- Corser (Yamaha) 316, 4- Neukirchner (Suzuki) 298, 5- Checa (Honda) 284…19- Nakatomi (Yamaha) 48

Team YMF Yamaha Superstock

YZF Yamaha Junior Team

Barrier and Baz ready to confirm

FIM Cup Superstock 1000
Sylvain Barrier, injured at Brno at the end of July, was back in Magny-Cours for the last race. He was always with the leading group and did a very courageous race, rewarded with the seventh position.

Sylvain Barrier: «My knee is OK, but my ankle still hurts as it is a little bit complicated. This new track is not so bad. I kind of like it, with its uphill and downhill sections."

Martial Garcia (team-manager): "Sylvain Barrier is now back in shape and he showed it at Magny-Cours with a good 7^th place. We expect him to do well again this weekend."

FIM Cup Superstock 1000 standings:
1-Simeon (Suzuki) 131 points, 2-Polita (Ducati) 127, 3-Berger (Honda) 124, 4-Roberts (Ducati) 122, 5-Pirro (Yamaha) 89…22-Barrier (Yamaha) 13

Superstock 600 European Championship
Loris Baz won the European title at Magny-Cours during the last race. This season, he won 3 races out of 9, at Valencia, Monza and Brands Hatch. He finished second at the Nürburgring, at Brno and at Magny-Cours, and he was also third at Misano, which means he climbed 7 times on the podium in 9 races.

The Superstock 600 race is traditionally on Saturday, but it will be different this weekend at the event will be on Sunday at 1:20 PM, between the Supersport race and the second leg of the Superbikes.

Martial Garcia (team-manager): "After he won the title, Loris Baz will want to confirm here all the hope people have invested in him."

Superstock 600 European Championship standings:
1- Baz (Yamaha) 166 points, 2-Vostarek (Honda) 121, 3- Bussolotti (Yamaha) 118, 4- Linfoot (Yamaha) 112, 5-Rea (Yamaha) 107

10/08/08 *One more thanks to BOUTIN DESIGN for special painting of French round!* *Bike was original and very nice.* *Thank you Christophe.*

10/05/08 Magny-cours (France) Sunday

Team YZF Yamaha

2 points for Nakatomi

With his 14^th position in race 1, Nakatomi earned 2 points for the World Championship. The next race will be the last one of this year, at Portimao in Portugal.

Troy Bayliss (Ducati) was the quickest at the start of the first race in front of Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha). Then the Japanese rider took the lead and kept it until the end of the event. Behind Haga, Fonsi Nieto did a good race to finish second, in front of Troy Bayliss who was crowned World Champion for the third time. Nakatomi, who was 19^th in the beginning, progressed to 14^th position.

In race 2, there was a tremendous fight between Bayliss and Haga, and the Australian rider finally was the winner. Troy Corser finished 3^rd in front of Carlos Checa. Shinichi Nakatomi, having shattering problem again, was 17^th.

Shinichi Nakatomi: "In race 1, I had some shattering problem after 10 laps. It was difficult to push. For race 2, we changed the set up but the shattering problem came back. I crossed the front a few times. It was a difficult race. Magny-Cours was not so good, so I shall change my mind for the next event at Portimao."

Team-manager Martial Garcia: "Nakatomi earned a good 14^th position in race 1, fighting with Sebastien Gimbert. He had some shattering problems, which happened again in race 2. It's why he could finish only 17^th, close to the points."
Race 1:
1- Haga (Yamaha), 2-Nieto (Suzuki), 3-Bayliss (Ducati), 4-Biaggi (Ducati), 5-Neukirchner (Suzuki)…14-Nakatomi (Yamaha)

Race 2:
1- Bayliss (Ducati), 2- Haga (Yamaha), 3-Corser (Yamaha), 4-Checa (Honda), 5-Xaus (Ducati)…17- Nakatomi (Yamaha)

Superbike World Championship standings:
1- Bayliss (Ducati) 410 points, 2- Haga (Yamaha) 325, 3- Corser (Yamaha) 316, 4- Neukirchner (Suzuki) 298, 5- Checa (Honda) 284…19- Nakatomi (Yamaha) 48

14^th and final round of the Superbike World Championship: November 2^nd at Portimao (Portugal)

Team YMF Yamaha Superstock

YZF Yamaha Junior Team

FIM Cup Superstock 1000
Brilliant 7^th position for Barrier

Still suffering from his crash at Brno, Sylvain Barrier did a very good race at Magny-Cours, finishing 7^th only 8 seconds behind the winner.

There was a great fight in the beginning between Freddy Foray (Suzuki) and Xavier Simeon (Suzuki). Smrz (Honda) the pole man was in fourth in this early stage and Barrier (Yamaha) sixth. Simeon kept the lead for a while, until Smrz passed him and went to win the event in front of Foray, as Simeon did a little mistake and could finish only fifth. Barrier was always with the leading group and did a very courageous race, rewarded with the seventh position.

Sylvain Barrier: «I had a cool start. Then I gained a few positions when I braked on the outside. I was 6^th after one lap, then 5^th in a good group but I started to feel the pain 6 laps from the finish. I had to slow down a bit, so I was 9^th but came back to 7^th and from then I had to resist the pain until the end."

Martial Garcia (team-manager): "I am extremely satisfied of this good result, as Sylvain is only coming back to racing after his injury. He is still suffering from some nerves and ligaments. This is a very brilliant 7^th position."

FIM Cup Superstock 1000 race results:
1-Smrz (Honda), 2-F. Foray (Suzuki), 3-Corti (Yamaha), 4-Polita (Ducati), 5-Simeon (Suzuki), 6-Millet (Yamaha), 7-Barrier (Yamaha)

FIM Cup Superstock 1000 Championship standings:
1-Siméon (Suzuki) 131 points, 2-Polita (Ducati) 127, 3-Berger (Honda) 124, 4-Roberts (Ducati) 122, 5-Pirro (Yamaha) 89…22-Barrier (Yamaha) 13

10/05/08 Magny-cours (France) Saturday

Team YZF Yamaha

Saturday qualifying

Team YMF Yamaha Superstock

YZF Yamaha Junior Team

Superstock 600 European Championship

Baz possibly champion next Saturday

With an advantage of 25 points over the second in the championship standings, and 40 over the third, Loris Baz may be champion at Magny-Cours this weekend. To have the title, he must leave the French track with a lead of 25 points minimum going to the last event in Portimao (Portugal) on November 2.

You can watch Loris' race live (and for free) on the official website of the promoter of the championship, next Saturday at 5:40 PM local time, on http://www.worldsbk.com/pubb_EN/sbkTV.php

Loris Baz: « I did two days of testing at Magny-Cours at the end of last week and everything went well. We worked on the chassis and the set up, and we found some good solutions. Andrew Pitt and Johnny Rea were there too and my fastest time was about 1 second slower than theirs. For me, the Magny-Cours race is like the others, which means I shall do my best."

In the FIM Cup Superstock 1000, Sylvain Barrier is back after his crash at Brno on July 19, because of which he could not participate in the Czech race, neither could he be in Brands Hatch and Donington.

Martial Garcia (team-manager): "Loris Baz is now closer and closer to the finish line taking him to the title. He has been training a lot since Donington. Magny-Cours will be the occasion for him to do a strong race. Sylvain Barrier is back after his bad crash at Brno. He could not do the last two races and he will want the team to remember him with a good result on this track that he likes a lot."

FIM Cup Superstock 1000 standings:

1- Roberts (Ducati) 122 points, 2- Siméon (Suzuki) 120, 3-Berger (Honda) 119, 4- Polita (Ducati) 114, 5-Pirro (Yamaha) 83…30-Barrier (Yamaha) 4

Magny-Cours FIM Cup Superstock 1000 stats:

Practice record (2007):

1'42.589 Niccolo Canepa (Ducati) 154.790 kph

Lap record (best race time 2007):

1'43.567 Ayrton Badovini (MV Agusta) 153.327 kph

Race result 2007:

1-Badovini (MV Agusta), 2-Corti (Yamaha), 3-Canepa (Ducati), 4-Scassa (MV Agusta), 5-Aitchison (Suzuki)

Superstock 600 European Championship standings:

1-Baz (Yamaha) 146 points, 2-Vostarek (Honda) 121, 3- Bussolotti (Yamaha) 106, 4- Rea (Yamaha) 93, 5-Linfoot (Yamaha) 87

Magny-Cours 600 European Championship stats:

Practice record (2007):

1'45.686 Maxime Berger (Yamaha) 150.253 kph

Lap record (best race time 2007):

1'45.829 Maxime Berger (Yamaha) 150.050 kph

Race result 2007:

1-Berger (Yamaha), 2-Antonelli (Honda), 3-Black (Yamaha), 4- Magnoni (Yamaha), 5-Ten Napel (Yamaha)

10/05/08 Magny-cours (France) Preview

Team YZF Yamaha
Nakatomi in great shape

Shinichi Nakatomi arrives at the track of Magny-Cours in great shape after finishing twice in the top 10 during the last meeting at Vallelunga, near Roma. Tenth of the first race, he finished eight in the second one, his best result so far this year.

In the first Italian event, Nakatomi did a very good race, fighting with good riders such as Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki), Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki), Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati) and Roberto Rolfo (Honda). In the second race, his opponents were Carlos Checa (Honda), Fonsi Nieto, Yukio Kagayama and Regis Laconi (Kawasaki). So Nakatomi in confident for this weekend at Magny-Cours.

Shinichi Nakatomi: "I hope to have a good result at this race in Magny-Cours because this is my French team's home track."

Martial Garcia (team manager): "Nakatomi will be motivated to confirm his excellent Vallelunga result."

The Magny-Cours circuit

In 1959, Jean Bernigaud, mayor of Magny-Cours, created a kart track which became quickly the Circuit Jean Behra (named after the French driver 4^th of the 1956 F1 championship). In 1971 was inaugurated the longer (3.850 km) new track.

On July 7, 1991 was organized for the first time at Magny-Cours a F1 Grand Prix, with the President of the Republic and 100 000 spectators. There was only one motorcycle Grand Prix held at Magny-Cours and it was on July 19, 1992. Pierfrancesco Chili was on the pole position of the 250cc race. The first Superbike World Championship race was held in 1991, before coming back in 2003.
World Championship standings:
1-Bayliss (Ducati) 369 points, 2- Corser (Yamaha) 290, 3- Haga (Yamaha) et Neukirchner (Suzuki) 280, 5-Checa (Honda) 262…18-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 46
Magny-Cours stats
Practice record (2007):
1'38.501 James Toseland (Honda) 161.213 kph (Nakatomi: 1'41.846 / 17^th)
Lap record (best race time 2007):
1'39.844 Max Neukirchner (Suzuki) 159.040 kph
Race 1 result 2007:
1-Haga (Yamaha), 2-Bayliss (Ducati), 3-Corser (Yamaha), 4-Neukirchner (Suzuki), 5- Nieto (Kawasaki) … 11-Nakatomi (Yamaha)
Race 2 results 2007:
1-Haga (Yamaha), 2-Biaggi (Suzuki), 3- Nieto (Kawasaki), 4- Corser (Yamaha), 5- Bayliss (Ducati) … Nakatomi (Yamaha) DNF

14^th and final round of the Superbike World Championship: November 2^nd at Portimao (Portugal)

Team YMF Yamaha Superstock

YZF Yamaha Junior Team

Superstock 600 European Championship

Baz possibly champion next Saturday

You can watch Loris' race live (and for free) on the official website of the promoter of the championship, next Saturday at 5:40 PM local time, on http://www.worldsbk.com/pubb_EN/sbkTV.php

FIM Cup Superstock 1000 standings:

1- Roberts (Ducati) 122 points, 2- Siméon (Suzuki) 120, 3-Berger (Honda) 119, 4- Polita (Ducati) 114, 5-Pirro (Yamaha) 83…30-Barrier (Yamaha) 4

Magny-Cours FIM Cup Superstock 1000 stats:

Practice record (2007):

1'42.589 Niccolo Canepa (Ducati) 154.790 kph

Lap record (best race time 2007):

1'43.567 Ayrton Badovini (MV Agusta) 153.327 kph

Race result 2007:

1-Badovini (MV Agusta), 2-Corti (Yamaha), 3-Canepa (Ducati), 4-Scassa (MV Agusta), 5-Aitchison (Suzuki)

Superstock 600 European Championship standings:

1-Baz (Yamaha) 146 points, 2-Vostarek (Honda) 121, 3- Bussolotti (Yamaha) 106, 4- Rea (Yamaha) 93, 5-Linfoot (Yamaha) 87

Magny-Cours 600 European Championship stats:

Practice record (2007):

1'45.686 Maxime Berger (Yamaha) 150.253 kph

Lap record (best race time 2007):

1'45.829 Maxime Berger (Yamaha) 150.050 kph

Race result 2007:

1-Berger (Yamaha), 2-Antonelli (Honda), 3-Black (Yamaha), 4- Magnoni (Yamaha), 5-Ten Napel (Yamaha)

9/21/08 Vallelunga (Italy) Sunday

Team YZF Yamaha
Good races for Nakatomi

Shinichi Nakatomi did a very good race 1, fighting with good riders such as Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki), Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki), Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati) and Roberto Rolfo (Honda). He finished in 10^th position. Race 2 was even more brilliant with his best result this year: 8^th position! Nakatomi is now 18^th in the World Championship standings.

Troy Bayliss (Ducati) got the best start in front of Max Biaggi (Ducati), Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) and Troy Corser (Yamaha). Then Haga took the lead until the chequered flag and won the race in front of Biaggi and Corser. Shinichi Nakatomi was 16^th in the beginning of the race, and then had great fights with Fonsi Nieto, Roberto Rolfo, Lorenzo Lanzi and Yukio Kagayama. He finished finally 10^th, with the second top speed.

In race 2, Nakatomi started well, but was slowed down by a crash involving Max Biaggi and Kenan Sofuoglu. Then he went back to 10^th position, fighting for the 6^th place with Carlos Checa, Fonsi Nieto, Yukio Kagayama and Regis Laconi. He finally finished in 8^th position, his best result this year. The team is very proud of him.

Shinichi Nakatomi: "Yesterday, we had problems with the setting. This morning, the feeling was better. We made more changes in the right direction. The first race was good. In the second race, I lost a lot of time in the beginning because of Biaggi's early crash. Then I progressed forward. On the average, it's not so bad. The test we did in July at Vallelunga was useful. I hope to have a good result at the next race in Magny-Cours because this is my French team's home track."

Team-manager Martial Garcia: "All the work we have done during practice finally paid off. We ended up 10^th, only 19 seconds behind the winner. Nakatomi's best lap (1'38.2) was 7 tenths of a second slower than the quickest time (1'37.5). One of the reasons of this good result is a good Pirelli tyre choice. We have one of the best top speeds. In race 2, he confirmed his talent. This is his best result this year. I am happy because this shows the qualities of the bike and the point in doing testing. Thank you very much to the team for the excellent job that has been done."

Race 1:

1- Haga (Yamaha), 2-Biaggi (Ducati), 3-Corser (Yamaha), 4-Neukirchner (Suzuki), 5-Checa (Honda)…10-Nakatomi (Yamaha)

Race 2:

1- Haga (Yamaha), 2-Fabrizio (Ducati), 3- Corser (Yamaha), 4- Neukirchner (Suzuki), 5-Checa (Honda)…8-Nakatomi (Yamaha)

Superbike World Championship standings:

1-Bayliss (Ducati) 369 points, 2- Corser (Yamaha) 290, 3- Haga (Yamaha) et Neukirchner (Suzuki) 280, 5-Checa (Honda) 262…18-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 46

13^th round of the Superbike World Championship: October 5^th at Magny-Cours (France)

9/21/08 Vallelunga (Italy) Saturday

Saturday qualifying

Team YZF Yamaha

Bayliss in pole position, Nakatomi 19^th

It rained on Friday at Vallelunga and Noriyuki Haga was the fastest on his Yamaha. His teammate Troy Corser was fourth behind the two Ducatis of Ruben Xaus and the World Championship leader Troy Bayliss.

The sun was shining on Saturday and Troy Bayliss was the fastest in front of Max Neukirchner (Suzuki) and Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) during the qualifying practice. Shinichi Nakatomi was 19^th. In Superpole, Troy Bayliss was again the quickest of all in front of the two Yamahas of Corser and Haga. This is the 25^th pole position for the Australian champion.

Shinichi Nakatomi: "I have been testing here in July, but now my feeling is very different. We changed the tyre and the settings, but I still do not have enough feeling. I hope we can find a good set up for the race. So far, even if we changed the settings, my feeling is not so good."
Martial Garcia (team-manager): "It has not been possible to go as fast as we did in July because of the state of the track. The practices on Friday were perturbed by the rain so we miss two practice sessions."
Qualifying results:
1- Bayliss (Ducati), 2- Corser (Yamaha), 3- Haga (Yamaha), 4-Biaggi (Ducati), 5-Kiyonari (Honda)…19-Nakatomi (Yamaha)

World Championship standings:
1- Bayliss (Ducati) 359 points, 2- Corser (Yamaha) 258, 3-Neukirchner (Suzuki) 254, 4-Checa (Honda) 240, 5-Haga (Yamaha) 230…21-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 32

13^th round of the Superbike World Championship: October 5^th at Magny-Cours (France)

9/21/08 Vallelunga (Italy) Preview

Team YZF Yamaha
Top 20 is the goal

Shinichi Nakatomi is now 21^st in the provisional standings and his main goal during this Roman weekend is to gain at least one position.

With a total of 32 points right now, Nakatomi is not directly threatened by Cal Crutchlow who is 22^nd with 20 points. But he can hope to progress in the standings, as Roberto Rolfo in front of him has a total of 35 points, the same number of points as Tom Sykes. And Regis Laconi is not so far in front with 37 points.

Martial Garcia (team manager): "With three events to go, Shinichi Nakatomi will be very motivated to earn a few points and express his talent on a dry track after the wet weekend at Donington."."

The "Autodromo Piero Taruffi"

Located 35 km north of Roma, near Campagnano di Roma, the Autodromo di Vallelunga is owned by the Automobile Club of Italy since 1967. The "international" track is 4.110 km long for the motorcycle races and 4.085 km long for the car events. The "club" track is 1.746 km long. The minimum width is 10.97 m, and 14 m on the start-finish straight. There are 7 right hand curves and 3 left, with a minimum radius of 23 m and a maximum of 166 m.

The Autodromo started as a horse race track. The first car race was organized on December 9, 1951 on a sand oval, like it was done in the USA. The asphalt track was built in 1957. The "international" circuit, then 3.222 km long, was inaugurated on May 19, 1963. The most recent important work was done in 2005.

The biggest motorcycle competition organized on this circuit before the first WSBK race in 2008 has been the Endurance World Championship from 2002 to 2005, under the FG Sport flag. The car Grand Prix of Rome welcomed from 1985 to 1991 the Formula 3000 Championship.
July 8^th and 9^th tests:

The two-day tests in July produced some good results for Pirelli. The Italian tyre manufacturer brought two new front and three rear tyres to the Rome track for the manufacturer development teams, all of which gave positive results. Noriyuki Haga on his Yamaha YZF-R1 lapped half-a-second quicker on average than last year's time.

1-Xaus (Ducati) 1'36.032, 2-Canepa (Ducati) 1'36.404, 3-Bayliss (Ducati) 1'36.448, 4-Fabrizio (Ducati) 1'36.678, 5-Corser (Yamaha) 1'36.770, 6-Kiyonari (Honda) 1'37.017, 7-Checa (Honda) 1'37.023, 8-Haga (Yamaha) 1'37.115, 9-Smrz (Ducati) 1'37.243, 10-Sofuoglu (Honda) 1'37.300, 11-Biaggi (Ducati) 1'37.333, 12-Rolfo (Honda) 1'37.547, 13-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 1'37.628, 14-Muggeridge (Honda) 1'37.899, 15-Aoyama (Honda) 1'37.927, 16-Lanzi (Ducati) 1'38.869, 17-Pridmore (Honda) 1'39.547, 18-Morelli (Honda) 1'41.320

World Championship standings:
1- Bayliss (Ducati) 359 points, 2- Corser (Yamaha) 258, 3-Neukirchner (Suzuki) 254, 4-Checa (Honda) 240, 5-Haga (Yamaha) 230…21-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 32
Vallelunga stats

Practice record (2007):
1'35.890 Troy Bayliss (Ducati) 154.300 kph (Nakatomi: 1'37.775 / 10^th)

Lap record (best race time 2007):
1'37.419 Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) 151.880 kph

Race 1 result 2007:
1- Biaggi (Suzuki), 2-Bayliss (Ducati), 3-Toseland (Honda), 4-Haga (Yamaha), 5-Fabrizio (Honda) … 9-Nakatomi (Yamaha)

Race 2 results 2007:
1-Bayliss (Ducati), 2-Biaggi (Suzuki), 3-Haga (Yamaha), 4-Corser (Yamaha) 5-Rolfo (Honda) … 9-Nakatomi (Yamaha)

Superstock: back in Magny-Cours
The Superstock 1000 and 600cc classes will not be at Vallelunga, where only Superbikes and Supersports will participate. So we shall have to wait until the French event to see Loris Baz, leader of the 600cc Superstock European Championship, and his teammate Sylvain Barrier back from injury. The team whishes a quick recovery to Franck Millet who was injured last week during the Bol d'Or practices.

13^th round of the Superbike World Championship: October 5^th at Magny-Cours (France)

9/7/08 Donington Park (United Kindom) Sunday *Team YZF Yamaha* Nakatomi in the top 15 After some complicated practice (30^th time) Shinichi Nakatomi did a good first race, avoiding to crash, which was not the case for many riders. He finished honourably 15^th and scored one point. He was 18^th in race 2. Starting from the 30^th position on the starting grid, Nakatomi was quickly 25^th, and progressed to 23^rd on lap 3. He did better and better, with the 21^st place on lap 7, and then 18^th when the race had to be stopped because of some oil on the track. After the restart, he was 17^th after lap 12 and 15^th after lap 17. Three laps later, the race was definitely stopped because of the rain. Nakatomi ended up 15^th and scored one point. Troy Bayliss (Ducati) won the race and in the process made his advantage bigger in the World Championship standings. In race 2, Nakatomi on the rain was 28^th after 1 lap and 24^th after 2 laps. He kept on progressing with regularity and was 22^nd after 18 laps and 20^th at the end of lap 20. Finally he finished in 18^th position. The winner was Kiyonari (Honda) who did a very beautiful race. Shinichi Nakatomi: "The conditions were difficult. We made a mistake when we decided to use intermediate tyres, when the other riders used slick tyres. After 10 laps, my feeling was coming better. For the second race, we changed a few things on the setting of the bike. In this race 2, I did my best on this very wet and difficult race track."" Team-manager Martial Garcia: "The conditions were very difficult during the practice because of the rain. I would never have made a bet that we could finish in the points." Race 1: 1-Bayliss (Ducati), 2-Sykes (Suzuki), 3-Biaggi (Ducati), 4-Lavilla (Honda), 5-Kagayama (Suzuki) Race 2: 1-Kiyonari (Honda), 2-Crutchlow (Honda), 3-Corser (Yamaha), 4-Ellison (Honda), 5-Fabrizio (Ducati) Superbike World Championship standings: 1- Bayliss (Ducati) 359 points, 2- Corser (Yamaha) 258, 3-Neukirchner (Suzuki) 254, 4-Checa (Honda) 240, 5-Haga (Yamaha) 230 12^th round of the Superbike World Championship: September 21^st at Vallelunga (Italy)	Team YMF Yamaha Superstock YZF Yamaha Junior Team FIM Cup Superstock 1000 Superstock 600 European Championship Baz still leader of the championship For his first ever race on the wet, Loris Baz defended his lead in the championship. He started only 20^th, after two small crashes during practice. In the first lap; he was already 13^th, then progressed to 11^th in lap 3. After 7 laps, he was on 8^th position, but unfortunately crashed during the last lap. He could re-join the race and ended up 12^th. So he is still leading the championship, with now a 25 points advantage. In the 1000cc class, after difficult practice (32^nd time), Franck Millet started well and was 19^th at the end of the first lap. He progressed to 15^th on lap 2, and then 14^th on lap 3. He finished in 17^th position, close to scoring some points, and ended up 2^nd French rider. Xavier Simeon (Suzuki) won the race with a great style. Loris Baz: «One must accept his own mistakes. Even the great champions make some. I had a very good race until two curves from the end. I missed a gear and a rider passed me. I wanted to pass him back and went on the outside but I missed my braking. I am sorry for the team." Martial Garcia (team-manager): "After some difficult practice because of two crashes and a complete inexperience of the wet, Loris saved the points of the 12^th position and saved a good advantage on Vostarek. Franck Millet, substituting for Sylvain Barrier, fulfilled his mission." FIM Cup Superstock 1000 race results: 1-Simeon (Suzuki), 2-Polita (Ducati), 3-Giugliano (Suzuki), 4-Roberts (Ducati), 5-Kirkham (Yamaha)…17-Millet (Yamaha) FIM Cup Superstock 1000 Championship standings: 1- Roberts (Ducati) 122 points, 2- Siméon (Suzuki) 120, 3-Berger (Honda) 119, 4- Polita (Ducati) 114, 5-Pirro (Yamaha) 83 Superstock 600 European Championship race results: 1-Bussoloti (Yamaha), 2-Lowes (Kawasaki), 3-Rea (Yamaha), 4-Linfoot (Yamaha), 5-Vostarek (Honda) Superstock 600 European Championship standings: 1-Baz (Yamaha) 146 points, 2-Vostarek (Honda) 121, 3- Bussoloti (Yamaha) 106, 4- Rea (Yamaha) 93, 5-Linfoot (Yamaha) 87

9/7/08 Donington Park (United Kindom) Saturday Saturday qualifying *Team YZF Yamaha* Difficult practice for Nakatomi After two days of permanent rain, Shinichi Nakatomi could only qualify in 30th position. The quickest rider of the Superpole was the leader of the World Championship Troy Bayliss (Ducati). Nakatomi, not very much at ease on the wet, had some difficulties during the qualifying sessions at Donington. The level was very high, with 6 very fast British wild card riders. The Superpole was wet like the rest of the practice sessions, and with very little grip the Australian rider Troy Bayliss was the fastest and will start tomorrow from the pole position. Shinichi Nakatomi: "The conditions have been difficult. Today my feeling was better than yesterday. My lap time and my grid position are not very satisfying. We did not have enough time and the team did not have enough information. I hope it will be dry tomorrow." Qualifying results: 1 - Bayliss (Ducati), 2-Kiyonari (Honda), 3-Checa (Honda), 4-Xaus (Ducati), 5-Ellison (Honda)… 30-Nakatomi (Yamaha) World Championship standings: 1-Bayliss (Ducati) 324 points, 2-Neukirchner (Suzuki) 252, 3-Corser (Yamaha) 242, 4-Checa (Honda) 233, 5-Haga (Yamaha) 230... 20-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 29 12th round of the Superbike World Championship: September 21st at Vallelunga (Italy)	Team YMF Yamaha Superstock YZF Yamaha Junior Team FIM Cup Superstock 1000 Superstock 600 European Championship Baz crashes, Millet 32^nd Two small crashes for Loris Baz without consequences, as the Yamaha rider will start tomorrow in 20^th position. He should score several points and he will keep for sure the leadership of the championship. His main opponent Patrick Vostarek could only qualify in 12^th position. The rain in Donington was a big problem for all the riders. Franck Millet was 32^nd of the qualifying practices, while Xavier Simeon (Suzuki) was the fastest of all. Loris Baz: « Overall, the result of these two days of practice is average. I had two little crashes, but this is my first time in the rain and my first time on this track. On the first day, I had a small technical problem and I missed half of the session but I still finished fourth. On Saturday, I crashed after four laps and I could not re-join because my bike was damaged. In fact I crashed because I felt I was not fast, when in reality… I was first! Maybe I wanted to do too much. It will be OK for the race." Martial Garcia (team-manager): "Loris crashed on a drying track, but the house is not on fire. He is 20^th on the starting grid, and his mission is to score some points." FIM Cup Superstock 1000 qualifying results: 1- Simeon (Suzuki), 2-Seaton (Suzuki), 3-Kirkham (Yamaha), 4-Polita (Ducati), 5-Roberts (Ducati)…32-Millet (Yamaha) FIM Cup Superstock 1000 standings: 1-Berger (Honda) and Roberts (Ducati) 109 points, 3-Simeon (Suzuki) 95, 4-Polita (Ducati) 94, 5-Pirro (Yamaha) 83...26-Barrier (Yamaha) 4 Superstock 600 European Championship qualifying results: 1-Bussolotti (Yamaha), 2-Lowes (Kawasaki), 3-Fanelli (Triumph), 4- Linfoot (Yamaha), 5- Rea (Yamaha)…20- Baz (Yamaha) Superstock 600 European Championship standings: 1 - Baz (Yamaha) 117 points, 2 - Vostarek (Honda) 110, 3 - Linfoot (Yamaha) 74, 4 - Bussolotti (Yamaha) 71, 5 - Rea (Yamaha) 61

9/7/08 Donington Park (United Kindom) Preview *Team YZF Yamaha* The start of the final sprint After the first 10 races of the Superbike World Championship, the riders arrive at Donington Park after a one month break for the final sprint which includes four races. Before they go to Vallelunga, then Magny-Cours, and finally Portimao, it's on the East Midlands track that the riders will meet this weekend. Some very good wild card entries will be also ready to go with a lot of motivation, like Tom Sykes, third at Brands Hatch in the first race on August 3, when unfortunately he had to retire because of a punctured radiator. Cal Crutchlow and Leon Haslam will ride for the HM Plant Honda Team, with Neil Tuxworth the Honda UK racing manager in charge, famous in the Superbike World Championship in the past with riders like Colin Edwards, James Toseland, Chris Vermeulen, Carl Fogarty, John Kocinski and others like Aaron Slight. There are 8 races to go and Troy Bayliss (Ducati) is leading the championship with an 82 points advantage over Max Neukirchner (Suzuki), while Troy Corser (Yamaha) is in third 92 points behind Bayliss. Carlos Checa (Honda) is fourth, 101 points behind, and Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) is fifth, 104 points behind. So far Bayliss has won 7 races out of 20, Haga 4, Kiyonari, Checa and Neukirchner 2, and Nieto, Xaus and Lanzi 1. Max Biaggi has not yet won a race this season, like Troy Corser, even if the Australian finished 8 times in the top 5 during the last 10 races. The rider of the Team YZF Yamaha Shinichi Nakatomi will do his best at Donington to score championship points and possibly have a better position in the World Championship standings. Martial Garcia (team manager): "Shinichi Nakatomi is back from Japan in great shape. But Bernard Gardet, our (excellent) cook since 2001, is not well and we hope he will recover very quickly." 20 and 10 years ago at Donington April 3, 1988: 1^st World Superbike race ever. Winners: Davide Tardozzi (Bimota-Yamaha) and Marco Lucchinelli (Ducati). August 7, 1988: Waine Rainey became the first rider to use carbon disc brakes (AP Lockeed) during the British Grand Prix. He won the 500 cc GP on a Yamaha. April 13, 1998: 1st European World Superbike event for Noriyuki Haga who won both races on a Yamaha. The Superpole was cancelled because of a snowstorm. The circuit The 4.203 kms track can be divided in two parts: The first one from Redgate to Coppice is fast, while the second one from the Fogarty Esses to Goddards is slower. The first is the 1977 layout and the second is from1985 when it was decided to make the track longer so he would comply with the homologation rules for Grand Prix racing. The first motorcycle Grand Prix was organized in 1987 and the Superbike World Championship came to Donington as soon as it was created in 1988. For a while, the surface here was quite slippery, but the quality of the grip is now good since the track has been resurfaced in 2004. World Championship standings: 1-Bayliss (Ducati) 324 points, 2-Neukirchner (Suzuki) 252, 3-Corser (Yamaha) 242, 4-Checa (Honda) 233, 5-Haga (Yamaha) 230... 20-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 29 Donington stats Practice record (2007): 1'30.370 Troy Bayliss (Ducati) 160.261 kph (Nakatomi: 1'34.985 / 22^nd) Lap record (best race time 2007): 1'31.575 Troy Bayliss (Ducati) 158.150 kph Race 1 result 2007: 1-Toseland (Honda), 2-Corser (Yamaha), 3-Biaggi (Suzuki), 4-Haga (Yamaha), 5- 5-Lanzi (Ducati) …17-Nakatomi (Yamaha) Race 2 results 2007: 1-Haga (Yamaha), 2-Biaggi (Suzuki), 3-Corser (Yamaha), 4-Xaus (Ducati), 5-Lanzi (Ducati) …14-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 12^th round of the Superbike World Championship: September 21^st at Vallelunga (Italy)	Team YMF Yamaha Superstock YZF Yamaha Junior Team FIM Cup Superstock 1000 Superstock 600 European Championship Baz leading, Millet instead of Barrier Loris Baz arrives at Donington with a 32 points advantage for the eighth race of the Superstock 600 European Championship, out of a total of ten events. In the 1000 cc class, Franck Millet will ride Sylvain Barrier's R1 as Barrier is still recovering for the knee injuries he suffered in Brno. Loris Baz wants to confirm his actual domination over the championship, with only three races to go: "If we look at the numbers, I can be champion at Donington. This will be my first opportunity to win the title. But I do not enjoy so much this type of situation, as I would like to win the race, but at the same time I must not crash. I shall have to adapt to the circumstances of the race, on this track of wish I like the lay out." Franck Millet is 21. He was born on October 21 in 1986. He raced in 2006 the Superstock 600 European Championship and his best result was 5^th at Magny-Cours. In 2005, he was Swiss champion in the Superstock 600 category, with 6 victories out of 10 races (Brno, Oschersleben 1 & 2, Dijon 1 & 2, and Ledenon). In 2007, the son of sidecar pilot Jean-Louis Millet raced in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup. The whole team is with Sylvain Barrier and wishes to see him soon with us on the tracks. FIM Cup Superstock 1000 standings: 1-Berger (Honda) et Roberts (Ducati) 109 points, 3-Simeon (Suzuki) 95, 4-Polita (Ducati) 94, 5-Pirro (Yamaha) 83...26-Barrier (Yamaha) 4 Donington FIM Cup Superstock 1000 stats: Practice record (2007): 1'34.690 Michele Pirro (Yamaha) 152.950 kph Lap record (best race time 2007): 1'34.653 Michele Pirro (Yamaha) 153.009 kph Race result 2007: 1-Canepa (Ducati), 2-Corti (Yamaha), 3-van Keymeulen (Yamaha) 4-Aitchison (Suzuki), 5-Baiocco (Yamaha) Superstock 600 European Championship standings: 1-Baz (Yamaha) 142 points, 2-Vostarek (Honda) 110, 3-Bussolotti (Yamaha) 81, 4-Rea (Yamaha) 77, 5-Linfoot (Yamaha) 74 Donington Superstock 600 European Championship stats: Practice record (2007): 1'37.263 Michele Magnoni (Yamaha) 148.900 kph Lap record (best race time 2007): 1'36.677 Domenico Colucci (Ducati) 149.806 kph Race result 2007: 1-Magnoni (Yamaha), 2-Antonelli (Honda), 3-Colucci (Ducati), 4-Barrier (Yamaha), 5- Berger (Yamaha)

08/27/08

A small information for confirm Nakatomi's participation for Donington Park round next week. After holiday in Japan, he was ready for come back. Concerning Sylvain Barrier, he was still working after injury in Brno. He will be ok for french round in Magny-cours. Franck Millet will be replace him for Donington Park round.

Craig Jones: 1985-2008

We are sad to inform that, as a result of a serious head injury sustained in an accident during yesterday's FIM Supersport World Championship race at Brands Hatch, Craig Jones, aged twenty three from Northwich, Cheshire died today in the early hours of the morning in the Royal London Hospital. It appeared that Craig lost control and fell from his Team Parkalgar CBR600 Honda at Clark Curve and was immediately and unavoidably struck by a following rider.
Immediate expert medical attention was provided and Craig was then flown by the Kent Air Ambulance to the Royal London Hospital where further assessment and treatment continued. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of this morning (Monday).
Paolo Flammini, CEO of FGSport, declared:
"We are all deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Craig Jones following the injuries he received in his accident during the Supersport race. Despite his young age, Craig had been part of the World Superbike and Supersport scene for the past five years and he will be deeply missed by everyone in the paddock. He was having a great season with the Parkalgar Team and his race at Brands Hatch was another demonstration of his great talent. We at FGSport would like to convey our thoughts and sincerest condolences to his family and friends".

8/3/08 Brands Hatch (United Kindom) Sunday

Team YZF Yamaha
First victories for Kiyonari
Very beautiful victory in the Superbike World Championship for Kiyonari in race 1, in front of Bayliss and Biaggi. In race 2, the Honda rider wins again, in front of the Yamaha riders Haga and Corser. Troy Bayliss is still leading strongly the World Championship with a 72 points advantage.
Shinichi Nakatomi unfortunately could not take part in the race, due to a medical decision because of a slightly broken bone in his left hand.
Shinichi Nakatomi: « My wrist feels a little bit better today, but it will take some time to heal completely. »
Race 1:
1- Kiyonari (Honda), 2-Bayliss (Ducati), 3-Biaggi (Ducati), 4-Kagayama (Suzuki), 5-Nieto (Suzuki)
Race 2:
1- Kiyonari (Honda), 2-Haga (Yamaha), 3-Corser (Yamaha), 4-Neukirchner (Suzuki), 5-Nieto (Suzuki)
Superbike World Championship standings:
1-Bayliss (Ducati) 324 points, 2-Neukirchner (Suzuki) 252, 3-Corser (Yamaha) 242, 4-Checa (Honda) 233, 5-Haga (Yamaha) 230... 29-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 29
11^th round of the Superbike World Championship: September 7^th at Donington (UK)

Team YMF Yamaha Superstock
YZF Yamaha Junior Team

FIM Cup Superstock 1000
Superstock 600 European Championship
Victory for Loris Baz!
After Valencia and Monza, Loris Baz won beautifully his third race of the season in Brands Hatch. This is his 6^th podium out of 7 races ! After crashing, his main opponent in the championship Patrick Vostarek loses precious points, while Loris has now a 32 points advantage in the provisional standings.
Starting from pole position, Loris is quickly in 4^th position behind Rea, La Marra and Vostarek. At the end of lap 1, Vostarek leads in front of Baz. On lap 3, Vostarek is fighting for the lead with Loris and Linfoot. Then Linfoot passes the Frenchman who grabs quickly again the second position. On lap 5, Loris takes the lead. Vostarek and Linfoot crash together and both have to retire. Baz is then leading in front of Lonbois (+ 0.8) et Rea (+ 2.1). Lonbois catches Loris (+ 0.1) with 4 laps to go. On lap 9, Lonbois overtakes Baz, who gets quickly the lead back. Finally Loris can manage to stay in front of the excellent Belgian and wins a beautiful race.
Loris Baz: « It was really good. I missed a little bit my start, but I had to win not to lose any more points to Vostarek. Only the first position was important. I made a few mistakes, like a lack of confidence in the front. I caught Vostarek, who later crashed. I had to be careful not to fall. Lonbois passed me but I overtook him as soon as I could. I am very happy with this victory. Thank you to my team. »
Martial Garcia (team-manager): « Loris has done a very impressive race which demonstrates all his qualities even if he is young. He proved again today that he has a lot of talent. »
Superstock 600 European Championship race results:
1-Baz (Yamaha), 2-Lonbois (Suzuki), 3-Rea (Yamaha), 4-Beretta (Suzuki), 5-Petrucci (Yamaha)
Superstock 600 European Championship standings:
1-Baz (Yamaha) 142 points, 2-Vostarek (Honda) 110, 3-Bussolotti (Yamaha) 81, 4-Rea (Yamaha) 77, 5-Linfoot (Yamaha) 74
FIM Cup Superstock 1000 race results:
1-Berger (Honda), 2-Morais (Kawasaki), 3-Antonelli (Honda), 4-Roberts (Ducati), 5-Polita (Ducati)
FIM Cup Superstock 1000 Championship standings:
1-Berger (Honda) et Roberts (Ducati) 109 points, 3-Simeon (Suzuki) 95, 4-Polita (Ducati) 94, 5-Pirro (Yamaha) 83...26-Barrier (Yamaha) 4

8/3/08 Brands Hatch (United Kindom) Saturday

Team YZF Yamaha Nakatomi no starter
On Friday, Shinichi Nakatomi crashed heavily in the last left hand curve. He landed on his wrists and was hurt. On Saturday morning, he came to see the official doctors of the Championship who took the decision not to let him race because there was a possibility of fracture.
Martial Garcia (team-manager): "Nakatomi had a bad crash because of a highside. As he is hurt at his left wrist, the doctors decided to declare him unfit."
Qualifying results:
1-Bayliss (Ducati), 2-Haga (Yamaha), 3-Kiyonari (Honda), 4-Smrz (Ducati), 5-Corser (Yamaha)
World Championship standings:
1-Bayliss (Ducati) 309 points, 2- Neukirchner (Suzuki) 230, 3- Corser (Yamaha) 218, 4-Checa (Honda) 215, 5- Haga (Yamaha) 210… 19- Nakatomi (Yamaha) 29
11^th round of the Superbike World Championship: September 7^th at Donington (UK)

Team YMF Yamaha Superstock
YZF Yamaha Junior Team

Superstock 600 European Championship
Pole position for Loris Baz
Great achievement for Loris Baz which a nice pole position in Brands Hatch, two tenths of a second in front Patrick Vostarek, his main opponent ifor the championship.
Loris was the fastest on Friday and it was very efficient as it rained a little bit on Saturday and the wet surface could not allow the riders to go any faster. This is the second time (after Monza) that Baz is on pole position.
Loris Baz: « Everything went really well. This is a track I really like. I have the potential to be on the front with Vostarek. We used a new tyre on Friday for the first qualifying session and it was a good idea. The most important is the pole position. »
Martial Garcia (team-manager): "Loris' performance is excellent. On Saturday, he did only a few laps to check the condition of the track."Superstock 600
European Championship qualifying results:
1- Baz (Yamaha), 2-Vostarek (Honda), 3-Rea (Yamaha), 4-La Marra (Suzuki), 5-Lowes (Honda)Superstock 600
European Championship standings:
1- Baz (Yamaha) 117 points, 2-Vostarek (Honda) 110, 3- Linfoot (Yamaha) 74, 4- Bussolotti (Yamaha) 71, 5- Rea (Yamaha) 61

7/20/08 Brno (Czech Rep) Races

Team YZF Yamaha

Nakatomi 12^th and 15^th

Thanks to two fast and consistent races, Shinichi Nakatomi earned some championship points in Brno in both races. He is now in 19^th position in the World Superbike standings, where the level of competition is very high.

Nakatomi was in 15^th position after the first lap of race 1, when the leader was Troy Corser (Yamaha) in front of Max Biaggi (Ducati), Troy Bayliss (Ducati), Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) and Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki). Shinichi Nakatomi did some good lap times: 2'01.1 in the first heat and 2'01.0 in the second one. He raced again Kenan Sofuoglu (Honda), Karl Muggeridge (Honda) and Niccolo Canepa (Ducati) in the first event and did a great job finishing in front of the wild card Italian factory Ducati rider.

Starting 14^th in the second race, the Japanese rider raced hard against Gregorio Lavilla (Honda) and David Checa (Yamaha), finishing finally in 15^th position and receiving a point for the championship. This second race was the occasion for the Ducatis to finish in the top 3, with Bayliss winning in front of Fabrizio and Biaggi.

Shinichi Nakatomi: "In the first race, the beginning of the event was good, but then I ran into problems after 10 laps with the front tyre and it was difficult to keep a fast pace. I could not beat Sofuoglu and Muggeridge but I was happy to finish in front of Canepa that I passed in the last lap. I had a good start in the second race, then I had again some trouble with the front tyre. I kept on fighting, but it was not easy against the Hondas and Ducatis. There were a lot of changes in the positions and it was a hard race."

Team-manager Martial Garcia: "I am very satisfied because we earn points in both races. The distance with the winner is very small in the first race. After a good start in the second race, Shinichi could one more time finish in the top 15 and get some points. This shows the result of all the work that we have done during the first part of the season."

Race 1:

1- Bayliss (Ducati), 2-Corser (Yamaha), 3-Fabrizio (Ducati), 4-Biaggi (Ducati), 5-Kiyonari (Honda)…12-Nakatomi (Yamaha)

Race 2:

1- Bayliss (Ducati), 2- Fabrizio (Ducati), 3- Biaggi (Ducati), 4- Corser (Yamaha), 5-Neukirchner (Suzuki)…15- Nakatomi (Yamaha)

Superbike World Championship standings:

1-Bayliss (Ducati) 309 points, 2- Neukirchner (Suzuki) 230, 3- Corser (Yamaha) 218, 4-Checa (Honda) 215, 5- Haga (Yamaha) 210… 19- Nakatomi (Yamaha) 29

Round 10 of the Superbike World Championship: August 3 / Brands Hatch (United Kingdom)

Team YMF Yamaha Superstock
YZF Yamaha Junior Team

FIM Cup Superstock 1000

Barrier not able to race

Sylvain Barrier's crash on Saturday did not look too bad, but unfortunately a pocket of blood developed during the following night in his leg and Sylvain was not able to start the race.

This pocket of blood was compressing some veins and the doctors in charge of the championship could not allow the French rider to participate to the event. Sylvain went back to France very disappointed and he will be operated shortly to solve the problem, so he can participate at the race in Brands Hatch in two weeks.

FIM Cup Superstock 1000 race results:
1-Berger (Honda), 2-Roberts (Ducati), 3-Polita (Ducati), 4-Antonelli (Honda), 5-Simeon (Suzuki)

FIM Cup Superstock 1000 Championship standings:
1- Roberts (Ducati) 96 points, 2- Simeon (Suzuki) 95, 3- Berger (Honda) 84, 4- Polita (Ducati) 83, 5-Pirro (Yamaha) 73

7/20/08 Brno (Czech Rep) Saturday Qualifying + 600 race

Team YZF Yamaha
Nakatomi only 0.007 from the Superpole
For less than one hundredth of a second, Shinichi Nakatomi could not qualify for the Superpole. He was in 18^th position and he is looking for a good race. He finished 8^th in Brno in 2006 and 9^th in 2007.
On Friday, the Japanese rider was 17^th, 1.4 seconds behind the provisional pole position. On Saturday, he barely missed the qualification for the top 16 who go to Superpole even if his lap time was faster than the day before. The team could be proud of the best top speed, the Yamaha R1 being the fastest motorcycle of the whole field.
Shinichi Nakatomi: "We worked a lot on the set up and we made some progress, but the other teams too. My times have been faster and faster, but it was the same for the other riders. My feeling is not so bad, even if the grid position is not so good. The times are very close. We worked well on the set up for the race."
Martial Garcia (team-manager): "The practices have been positive, even if the final result is that we are not in Superpole for 0.007, only 1.2 seconds from the best time. We made a good choice of tyres, despite the aggression of the new track surface. We tested on the race distance with lap times between 2.01 and 2.02, which is one second faster than last year. We are confident for the races because the potential is very good."
Qualifying results:
1-Bayliss (Ducati), 2-Corser (Yamaha), 3-Fabrizio (Ducati), 4-Biaggi (Ducati), 5- Kiyonari (Honda)…18- Nakatomi (Yamaha)
World Championship standings:
1- Bayliss (Ducati) 259, 2- Neukirchner (Suzuki) 210, 3- Checa (Honda) 207, 4- Haga (Yamaha) 191, 5- Corser (Yamaha) 185…19- Nakatomi (Yamaha) 24
Round 10 of the Superbike World Championship: August 3 / Brands Hatch (United Kingdom)

Team YMF Yamaha Superstock
YZF Yamaha Junior Team
FIM Cup Superstock 1000
Superstock 600 European Championship

Baz 2^nd behind Vostarek
Brilliant race for Loris Baz who finished second behind the local rider Patrick Vostarek, who is racing here for the 9^th time today on this track. Thanks to this great performance, Baz is still leading the championship. Sylvain Barrier qualified in 14^th position for the 1000 cc race that will be held tomorrow.
Vostarek had the best start and Baz, in third position, was slowed down by the second Rea. Then Baz overtook Rea and was second at the end of the first lap, 1.2 behind Vostarek. He got closer and closer and he was right behind the Czech at half distance after 5 laps. Rea was in third, quite far 10 seconds behind the leaders. After that, Vostarek and Baz had an incredible fight, with the Frenchman taking the lead on lap 8 before Vostarek took the lead back. Both riders arrived together at the finish line, with a little advantage for Vostarek. With this great performance, Loris Baz keeps the championship lead, with now a 7 points advantage over Vostarek.
Loris Baz: « A good start was a must not to let Vostarek take too much of a lead. I knew that after 4 laps with the race tyres I was 0.5 to 1 second faster than him. But Gino Rea had a terrific start and he was hard to overtake. I passed him but he passed me back, had a big slide that slowed me down. I finally passed him and had to catch the leader. I was then 0.7 second faster than him on one lap, and he missed the inside of a curve so I caught him. While I was behind him, I tried to see where I could pass him, but it was very difficult because he knows the track very well. I passed him two laps before the end, but after that I could do nothing because my front tyre was no more performing well. I was crossing the front wheel all the time. I had to use my knee to keep my balance. This is a good weekend. My motorcycle was perfect. Thank you very much to the team. »
Difficult practices for Sylvain Barrier in the 1000 cc class, because of a small technical problem on Saturday morning during the free session. Then he was fast in the afternoon for the timed session and he was 14^th despite a little crash.
Martial Garcia (team-manager): "Loris Baz did a very beautiful race. A slower rider was hard to pass in the first lap but Loris passed him and came back right behind the leader. He tried very hard to win this race and his second position makes him stay the leader of the championship. I a very satisfied. Sylvain Barrier had a small technical problem in the morning and he was much faster in the afternoon despite a small crash with no consequence. He is 14^th and we are very confident."FIM Cup Superstock 1000 qualifying results:
1-Roberts (Ducati), 2-Pirro (Yamaha), 3-Berger (Honda), 4-Siméon (Suzuki), 5-Corti (Yamaha)…14- Barrier (Yamaha)FIM Cup Superstock 1000 standings:
1- Simeon (Suzuki) 84 points, 2- Roberts (Ducati) 76, 3- Polita (Ducati) 67, 4- Pirro (Yamaha) 63, 5- Berger (Honda) 59…25- Barrier (Yamaha) 4Superstock 600
European Championship race results:
1-Vostarek (Honda), 2- Baz (Yamaha), 3- Rea (Yamaha), 4- Linfoot (Yamaha), 5- Bussolotti (Yamaha), Superstock 600
European Championship standings:
1- Baz (Yamaha) 117 points, 2-Vostarek (Honda) 110, 3- Linfoot (Yamaha) 74, 4- Bussolotti (Yamaha) 71, 5- Rea (Yamaha) 61

7/20/08 Brno (Czech Rep) Preview

Team YZF Yamaha
Brno, Nakatomi's favorite circuit

At Misano, for the last race of the Superbike World Championship, Shinichi Nakatomi had his best result of the year with a good 9^th position. Last season, he finished 9^th in Brno, and then two times 9^th in Vallelunga. His best career result was in Brno in 2008 when he finished 8^th.

Indeed, the Japanese rider in confident coming to the Czech Republic, especially after the July 8 and 9 tests in Vallelunga went pretty well. Nakatomi was there only 1.6 seconds behind the fastest time of Ruben Xaus on a Ducati.

The surface of the circuit of Brno is completely new, the tarmac has been entirely resurfaced and we can expect quicker lap times this year than during the previous events.

Martial Garcia (team manager): "Shinichi Nakatomi is in great shape after his 9^th position in Misano. His Vallelunga tests were very positive. We could find there some good settings. We are optimistic about this coming race in Brno."

The track: from 29.1 to 5.4 km

On September 28, 1930 was organized the first race on the Masaryk track (named after the first president of the country Tomas Garrigue Masaryk). The circuit was then 29.1 km long. In 1949, it was shortened to 17.8 km. The motorcycle Grand Prix was organized from 1965 to 1974 on the 13.9 km track, then from 1975 to 1977 on the 10.9 km one. The actual Automotodrom was inaugurated in 1987. It is 5.403 km long and offers the spectators and excellent view. The slope is the most important of the Superbike World Championship, with a maximum of 7.52% uphill.

June 17 to 19 tests:

Bayliss (Ducati 1098 F08) 1'52.8

Fabrizio (Ducati 1098 F09) 1'52.1

World Championship standings:

1- Bayliss (Ducati) 259, 2- Neukirchner (Suzuki) 210, 3- Checa (Honda) 207, 4- Haga (Yamaha) 191, 5- Corser (Yamaha) 185…19- Nakatomi (Yamaha) 24

Brno stats

Practice record (2007):

1'59.603 Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) 162.630 kph (Nakatomi: 2'02.391 / 13^th)

Lap record (best race time 2007):

2'00.674 Troy Corser (Yamaha) 161.186 kph

Race 1 result 2007:

1-Toseland (Honda), 2-Biaggi (Suzuki), 3-Kagayama (Suzuki), 4- Haga (Yamaha), 5-Rolfo (Honda) … 10-Nakatomi (Yamaha)

Race 2 results 2007:

1-Biaggi (Suzuki), 2-Toseland (Honda), 3-Fabrizio (Honda), 4-Haga (Yamaha), 5-Rolfo (Honda) … 9-Nakatomi (Yamaha)

Round 10 of the Superbike World Championship: August 3 / Brands Hatch (United Kingdom)

Team YMF Yamaha Superstock
YZF Yamaha Junior Team

FIM Cup Superstock 1000

Superstock 600 European Championship

Baz against local opponent Vostarek

Loris Baz is coming to the Czech Republic with a 12 points lead on his main opponent Patrick Vostarek, the Czech rider who will have the advantage of playing at home. This will be Vostarek's 9^th race in Brno. Sylvain Barrier is confident after he finished 2^nd in Albi.

Loris Baz did some testing last weekend in Brno, with other riders including Patrick Vostarek. This was for the youngster the possibility to get used to the new surface.

Loris Baz: « I like very much this track of Brno. I know it quite well, having done some good testing on this circuit. I had a lot of problems with the endurance of the tires, probably because of the new asphalt, but it will be the same for everybody. I shall do my best to achieve the best possible result.'

On July 6, Sylvain Barrier finished 2^nd in a French Superbike Championship race in Albi, with the lap record. This great achievement makes him confident for the Czech race, where he finished 2^nd last year in the Superstock 600 European Championship race.

Martial Garcia (team-manager): "Last weekend, our two riders did some testing in Brno. Sylvain Barrier did a 2'05.6, the same as Maxime Berger and Davide Giugliano. He is now confident again after his 2^nd place in Albi and he is more adapted to the 1000 cc bike. Loris Baz had a little crash, but he is still confident. His job will not be easy against the local rider Vostarek."

FIM Cup Superstock 1000 standings:

1- Simeon (Suzuki) 84 points, 2- Roberts (Ducati) 76, 3- Polita (Ducati) 67, 4- Pirro (Yamaha) 63, 5- Berger (Honda) 59…25- Barrier (Yamaha) 4

Brno stats:

Practice record (2007):

2'06.060 Niccolo Canepa (Ducati) 154.300 kph

Lap record (best race time 2007):

2'06.093 Claudio Corti (Yamaha) 154.258 kph

Race result 2007:

1-Simeon (Suzuki), 2-Baiocco (Yamaha), 3-Corti (Yamaha), 4-Aitchison (Suzuki) 5-Pirro (Yamaha)

Superstock 600 European Championship standings:

1- Baz (Yamaha) 97 points, 2- Vostarek (Honda) 85, 3-Linfoot (Yamaha) 61, 4- Bussolotti (Yamaha) 60, 5- Beretta (Suzuki) 53

Practice record (2007):

2'09.318 Roy ten Napel (Yamaha) 150.410 kph

Lap record (best race time 2007):

2'09.271 Sylvain Barrier (Yamaha) 150.465 kph

Race result 2007:

1-Colucci (Ducati), 2-Barrier (Yamaha), 3-Berger (Yamaha), 4-Ten Napel (Yamaha), 5- Antonelli (Honda)

6/29/08 Misano (Italy) Races

Team YZF Yamaha Best result of the year for Nakatomi

With a very brilliant 9^th position in the first race, Shinichi Nakatomi achieves his best performance so far this year. Last season, he finished 9^th in Brno, and then twice 9^th in Vallelunga. His best career result was in Brno in 2008 when he finished 8^th.

After an excellent start, Nakatomi jumped from the 20^th position on the grid to the 14^th in the first curve. Troy Bayliss (Ducati) was the leader in front of Ruben Xaus (Ducati), Max Biaggi (Ducati), Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) et Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki). Xaus took the lead later, and then Troy Corser. After an average start, Max Neukirchner (Suzuki) passed everybody and grabbed the lead to keep it until the checkered flag. He won brilliantly in front of Corser and Bayliss.

Nakatomi did a very beautiful race, with fast and consistent lap times. This superb achievement gave him the 9^th position and he gained one place in the World Championship standings.

In the second race, Nakatomi started well (15^th) but the event was red flagged because of an oil patch from a crash. The restart was more difficult as Shinichi was blocked in 19^th position in a group of riders. He progressed and finished 15^th, while Ducati earned the top 3 positions with Xaus, Biaggi and Bayliss, in front of the Yamahas of Haga and Corser.

Shinichi Nakatomi: "On Friday, we could not find the right setting, even if we tried many different possibilities. I did not have enough feeling. On Saturday, we had a much better set up. I had a good start on race 1. I could follow Lavilla, but I made some small mistakes. I pushed really hard. I am happy with race 1. In race 2, the temperature was hotter. It was difficult for me to follow the riders who have traction control, because I don't have any and I had to accelerate later than them. The tyres started to move a lot after 10 laps, front and rear. I am happy with race 1 because I had a lot of stress because of not so good results before. Today, it was coming better."

Team-manager Martial Garcia: "After difficult practice sessions, we found a good set up during the warm up. This result is fantastic! Shinichi finishes 9^th only 19 seconds behind the winner, in front of Noriyuki Haga. This is the opportunity to score 7 points and to make a progression of one position in the championship. Shinichi had a good start in race 2, but unfortunately it was black flagged because of Muggeridge's crash. At the restart, Nakatomi was blocked and it was difficult to pass. He still finished 15^th, with one championship point. I am happy because everybody could see the progression."
Race 1:
1- Neukirchner (Suzuki), 2-Corser (Yamaha), 3-Bayliss (Ducati), 4-Xaus (Ducati), 5-Checa (Honda)…9-Nakatomi (Yamaha)

Race 2:
1- Xaus (Ducati), 2-Biaggi (Ducati), 3- Bayliss (Ducati), 4-Haga (Yamaha), 5- Corser (Yamaha)…15- Nakatomi (Yamaha)

Superbike World Championship standings:
1- Bayliss (Ducati) 259, 2- Neukirchner (Suzuki) 210, 3- Checa (Honda) 207, 4- Haga (Yamaha) 191, 5- Corser (Yamaha) 185…19- Nakatomi (Yamaha) 24

9^th round of the Superbike World Championship: July 20^th at Brno (Czech Republic)

In Misano, Barrier gained many positions and did a careful race, progressing from the 25^th to the 14^th position.

After an average performance during the qualifying session (21^st, with a time of 1'41.564) Sylvain Barrier did much better during the warm up: 9^th in 1'41.013, despite a little crash. During the race, Barrier was 25^th in the beginning of the race, and then progressed regularly with good lap times. Under the checkered flag, he was 14^th with 2 championship points.

Polita (Ducati) won the event in front of Pirro (Yamaha), Berger (Honda) and Roberts (Ducati). Even with a broken collarbone, Simeon (Suzuki) was an excellent 5^th and he keeps the championship leadership.

Sylvain Barrier: « It is not too bad. I was 25^th in the first curve, then I gained slowly some positions. Some riders slowed me down, but I did not want to take too many chances. I passed many riders and did most of my laps in 1.41. By the end of the race, it was a bit slippery when I was on the maximum angle, so I had to change my racing lines. Overall, I am not very happy because we lost too much time to find the right set up in the second qualifying session."

Martial Garcia (team-manager): "After Sylvain's crash during the warm up, I was a little bit anxious because he was unsettled. He had a careful start, and gained several positions with lap times the same as the top 10 riders. He raced carefully and earned 2 points. I think this is good because this gives him his confidence back."

FIM Cup Superstock 1000 race results:
1-Polita (Ducati), 2-Pirro (Yamaha), 3-Berger (Honda), 4-Roberts (Ducati), 5-Simeon (Suzuki)…14-Barrier (Yamaha)

FIM Cup Superstock 1000 Championship standings:
1- Simeon (Suzuki) 84 points, 2- Roberts (Ducati) 76, 3- Polita (Ducati) 67, 4- Pirro (Yamaha) 63, 5- Berger (Honda) 59…25- Barrier (Yamaha) 4

6/29/08 Misano (Italy) Saturday Qualifying + 600 race

Team YZF Yamaha

Corser (Yamaha) in front of 6 Ducatis

Troy Corser deserved one more time the name of "Mr Superpole" when he performed this difficult task for the 42^nd time in his career, which is the record. Shinichi Nakatomi was 20^th.

On Friday, Shinichi Nakatomi qualified with the 21^st time in 1'38.652, 1.789 behind the provisional pole position. On Saturday, he was quicker with a time of 1'38.133. It was worth the 20^th place, 1.721 behind the fastest time. He missed the qualification for the Superpole session for four tenths of a second. Troy Corser on a Yamaha was the quickest of the qualifying practice in front of the Ducatis of Troy Bayliss and Jacob Smrz.

In the Superpole, Corser did a great achievement when he finished first in front of the 6 Ducati riders Bayliss, Xaus, Fabrizio, Biaggi, Lanzi et Smrz.

Qualifying results:

1-Corser (Yamaha), 2-Bayliss (Ducati), 3-Xaus (Ducati), 4-Fabrizio (Ducati), 5-Biaggi (Ducati)…20-Nakatomi (Yamaha)

World Championship standings:

1- Bayliss (Ducati) 227 points, 2- Checa (Honda) 188, 3- Neukirchner (Suzuki) 176, 4-Haga (Yamaha) 172, 5- Corser (Yamaha) 154… 20-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 16

9^th round of the Superbike World Championship: July 20^th at Brno (Czech Republic)

Team YMF Yamaha Superstock
YZF Yamaha Junior Team
Superstock 600 European Championship

Loris Baz third

Loris Baz is still leading the Superstock 600 European Championship, thanks to a good third position on the Misano circuit in Italy.

After qualifying in third position, Loris Baz missed his start and was 6^th in the first corner. Then he charged to 3^rd position at the end of lap 1, behind Vostarek (the Nürburgring winner) and Beretta. In trouble because of another rider, he had to go straight entering a curve (without crashing) and restarted in 5^th place. Patrick Vostarek was by then far in front, but Loris could fight with the group looking for the 2^nd position. Bussolotti, in second, tried hard to make Loris stay behind him, when Loris had some trouble again because of another dangerous rider. Finally, he could save the 3^rd position and the precious points that go with it.

Loris Baz: « The start is usually one of my strong points, but today I was a bit afraid to jump the start. I gained some positions quickly, but I had a wrong rhythm in the group were I was. Biliotti tried to pass me in force, then he straightened his bike to take me out. I could have finished second, but it was hard to overtake Bussolotti. I am happy I passed many riders. My bike was very good. Thanks to the team."

Martial Garcia (team-manager): "I am very happy! Loris is now 12 points in front of Vostarek. He did a very intelligent race. Too bad he was in trouble two times because of another rider. He raced very well, and his fastest lap (new track record) during the race is the proof of it."

Superstock 600 European Championship race results:
1-Vostarek (Honda), 2-Bussolotti (Yamaha), 3-Baz (Yamaha), 4-Lonbois (Suzuki), 5-Beretta (Suzuki)

Superstock 600 European Championship standings:
1- Baz (Yamaha) 97 points, 2- Vostarek (Honda) 85, 3-Linfoot (Yamaha) 61, 4- Bussolotti (Yamaha) 60, 5- Beretta (Suzuki) 53

FIM Cup Superstock 1000

Pole position for Yamaha

Like in Superbike and in Supersport, a Yamaha is in pole position in the Superstock 1000 category. Michele Pirro was the fastest in front of Giugliano (Suzuki) and Maxime Berger (Honda). Sylvain Barrier (Yamaha) was 21^st.

During the Saturday morning free practice session, the leader of the championship Xavier Simeon (Suzuki) broke his collarbone. Nevertheless, he rode the qualifying session in the afternoon and did and outstanding 12^th time, so he will start tomorrow on the 3^rd row. He will be operated next Monday in Cattolica (near Misano).

FIM Cup Superstock 1000 qualifying results:

1-Pirro (Yamaha), 2-Giugliano (Suzuki), 3-Berger (Honda), 4-Roberts (Ducati), 5-Perotti (Suzuki)…21-Barrier (Yamaha)

FIM Cup Superstock 1000 standings:

1-Simeon (Suzuki) 73 points, 2- Roberts (Ducati) 63, 3- Giugliano (Suzuki) 48, 4-Berger (Honda) 43, 5-Pirro (Yamaha) 43…27- Barrier (Yamaha) 2

6/29/08 Misano (Italy) Preview

Team YZF Yamaha

A promising second half of the season

After the first seven races until now, the Misano race is the gate to the second part of the year. It looks very interesting and there should be plenty of good quality show until the final event on November 2 on the Portuguese track of Portimao.

The last race at the Nürburgring was very good for Yamaha, with two victories for Noriyuki Haga, who was on the podium of the second race with his teammate Troy Corser who finished second. So Yamaha is now in second position of the manufacturers championship, only 31 points behind the leader Ducati, and 28 points in front of Suzuki in third position, and 44 points in front of Honda in fourth position.

Shinichi Nakatomi will try in Italy to have a good result so he can improve his 20^th position in the provisional World Championship classification.

The Santa Monica circuit:

Designed in 1969, Misano was opened in 1972. The circuit's length was 3488 meters at the time. There were three San Marino Grand Prix between 1985 and 1987. In 1993, it was increased to 4060 meters (2.52 miles) while track width was increased to 12 meters so that Misano could be homologated by the FIM. In 1997, the circuit infrastructures were revamped to boost its international status and appeal.

In 2007, it was decided that the track would be used clockwise. Not many racetracks have been used in the past with reversed direction. One of them is Pocono in the United States that is used counter clockwise for the NASCAR races and clockwise for the WKA (World Karting Association) Enduro series. Another one is Montlhery near Paris, France, "turning right" for the races and left for the manufacturers and press tests.

Misano's excellent location (the track is 4kms away from Riccione, 15 from Rimini and 130 from Bologna) means that both Grand Prix and World Superbike events have been held there and it is often used as a test track.

World Championship standings:

1- Bayliss (Ducati) 227 points, 2- Checa (Honda) 188, 3- Neukirchner (Suzuki) 176, 4-Haga (Yamaha) 172, 5- Corser (Yamaha) 154… 20-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 16

Misano stats

Practice record (2007):

1'34.948 Troy Corser (Yamaha) 158.490 kph (Nakatomi: 1'37.646 / 14^th)

Lap record (best race time 2007):

1'36.022 Troy Bayliss (Ducati) 156.714 kph

Race 1 result 2007:

1-Bayliss (Ducati), 2-Corser (Yamaha) 3-Kagayama (Suzuki) 4-Toseland (Honda), 5- Rolfo (Honda)… Nakatomi (Yamaha) DNF

Race 2 results 2007:

1-Bayliss (Ducati), 2- Haga (Yamaha), 3- Biaggi (Suzuki), 4-Kagayama (Suzuki), 5-Corser (Yamaha) … 14-Nakatomi (Yamaha)

9^th round of the Superbike World Championship: July 20^th at Brno (Czech Republic)

Team YMF Yamaha Superstock

Junior Team

Superstock 600 European Championship

FIM Cup Superstock 1000

Baz championship leader

After three podiums out of four races, Loris Baz is now the strong leader of the Superstock 600 European Championship.

He has a 21 points lead on his immediate follower Patrick Vostarek, who was the winner at the Nürburgring, eight tenths of a second in front of Loris. Misano is the 5^th of the 10 races held this year in this category, and the second part of the season will start on July 19 in Brno (Czech Republic)… in Vostarek's country.

Loris Baz: « I don't know this track very well because I have been in Misano only once, last May. I like the layout and I am confident for the race even if the Italians will play on their home turf. But be sure I shall try my best to score the best possible result." About Scott Redding (he is 15 like Loris) winning the Donington 125 cc GP: "Congratulations to Scott for this superb victory at his national Grand Prix. I raced with him the first time at Fontenay Le Conte in the Conti 50 Cup, then in Spain in the Metrakit championship. Congratulations also to Marc Marquez, also from the "Spanish school", for his third position."

Martial Garcia (team-manager): "The goal now is to manage carefully the championship and Loris is doing that very well. He has a good lead, but it is necessary to stay well concentrated."

Sylvain Barrier, who was operated between the Monza and the Nürburgring races, is now back in shape. Last year in Misano, he was the sixth fastest of the qualifying practices of the 600 class.

Superstock 600 European Championship standings:

1-Baz (Yamaha) 81 points, 2- Vostarek (Honda) 60, 3-Linfoot (Yamaha) 51, 4- Beretta (Suzuki) 42, 5- Petrucci (Yamaha) 41

600 Misano stats:

Practice record (2007):

1'41.612 Michele Magnoni (Yamaha) 148.090 kph

Lap record (best race time 2007):

1'41.649 Michele Magnoni (Yamaha) 148.039 kph

Race result 2007:

1-Berger (Yamaha), 2- Magnoni (Yamaha), 3-Bussolotti (Yamaha), 4- Gregorini (Yamaha), 5- Antonelli (Honda)

FIM Cup Superstock 1000 standings:

1-Simeon (Suzuki) 73 points, 2- Roberts (Ducati) 63, 3- Giugliano (Suzuki) 48, 4-Berger (Honda) 43, 5-Pirro (Yamaha) 43…27- Barrier (Yamaha) 2

1000 Misano stats:

Practice record (2007):

1'39.495 Matteo Baiocco (Yamaha) 151.240 kph

Lap record (best race time 2007):

1'39.337 Xavier Siméon (Suzuki) 151.484 kph

Race result 2007:

1-Baiocco (Yamaha), 2-Siméon (Suzuki), 3-Dionisi (Suzuki) 4-Corti (Yamaha), 5-Canepa (Ducati)

Team YZF Yamaha

Doni Tata Pradita scored his first point

Team YZF Yamaha

Doni Tata Pradita only 2 seconds from pole position

Team YZF Yamaha

20th time for Doni Tata Pradita

Valencia stats

Doni Tata Pradita progresses of 10 positions

Quicker time for Doni Tata Pradita

Team YZF Yamaha

Doni Tata Pradita: Good warm up, unlucky race

Good qualifying for Indonesian Doni Tata Pradita

Team YMF Yamaha

Thank you Bayliss, thank you Nakatomi

Team YMF Yamaha

Bayliss in pole, Nakatomi 22nd

2 points for Nakatomi

Magny-Cours FIM Cup Superstock 1000 stats:

Magny-Cours 600 European Championship stats:

Nakatomi in great shape

Magny-Cours stats

Magny-Cours FIM Cup Superstock 1000 stats:

Magny-Cours 600 European Championship stats:

Bayliss in pole position, Nakatomi 19th

It rained on Friday at Vallelunga and Noriyuki Haga was the fastest on his Yamaha. His teammate Troy Corser was fourth behind the two Ducatis of Ruben Xaus and the World Championship leader Troy Bayliss.

Top 20 is the goal

Vallelunga stats

The start of the final sprint

Donington stats

Donington FIM Cup Superstock 1000 stats:

Donington Superstock 600 European Championship stats:

Thanks to two fast and consistent races, Shinichi Nakatomi earned some championship points in Brno in both races. He is now in 19th position in the World Superbike standings, where the level of competition is very high.

Brno stats

Brno stats:

With a very brilliant 9th position in the first race, Shinichi Nakatomi achieves his best performance so far this year. Last season, he finished 9th in Brno, and then twice 9th in Vallelunga. His best career result was in Brno in 2008 when he finished 8th.

Corser (Yamaha) in front of 6 Ducatis

Troy Corser deserved one more time the name of "Mr Superpole" when he performed this difficult task for the 42nd time in his career, which is the record. Shinichi Nakatomi was 20th.

600 Misano stats:

1000 Misano stats:

20^th time for Doni Tata Pradita

Bayliss in pole, Nakatomi 22^nd

Bayliss in pole position, Nakatomi 19^th

Thanks to two fast and consistent races, Shinichi Nakatomi earned some championship points in Brno in both races. He is now in 19^th position in the World Superbike standings, where the level of competition is very high.

With a very brilliant 9^th position in the first race, Shinichi Nakatomi achieves his best performance so far this year. Last season, he finished 9^th in Brno, and then twice 9^th in Vallelunga. His best career result was in Brno in 2008 when he finished 8^th.

Troy Corser deserved one more time the name of "Mr Superpole" when he performed this difficult task for the 42^nd time in his career, which is the record. Shinichi Nakatomi was 20^th.