This weekend the World Superbike Championship rolls into Valencia with the top men in confident mood. Even though neither the Yamaha or Ducati teams took part in testing here, three of the four riders have multiple wins, and will be looking to add to their tallies.
Troy Corser has taken the top step of the podium five times at the Spanish track and has ridden there every year but one since it opened in the year 2000.
“I felt much more confident on the bike in the second race at Phillip Island so we can go to Spain with a setting that worked well there. We have learned a few things in the first two races,” said the affable Aussie.
“Valencia should be good, even though we didn’t go there to test like most other people this year. The set-up that we found in race two in Australia should work well is Spain also. I think we have really found something to help the tyre and the chassis.”
His Yamaha team-mate Nori Haga has had time to recover from some big crashes but thinks it may have been prudent to attend the recent test session.
“It feels like the first two races this year have just been an exercise for me. We have not had the chance to build our performance on the bike so it feels like our season will start in the European races,” said the Samurai of Slide.
“The break between the race in Australia and Valencia has been useful, it allowed me to recover after some bruising crashes It would have been good to test at Valencia maybe, but I feel very positive going into this race anyway.
“Everybody in the team knows the bike and Valencia very well. Last year I got two podiums there, this year I think we will be able to challenge hard again."
Haga’s bike mate in the paddock, Yukio Kagayama, is also recovering from a big off but is enthusiastic about his chances aboard the Alstare Suzuki.
“The recent tests showed that my collarbone was OK and now that I’ve had a bit more time off, I feel even better. I don’t think that I will have any trouble with the injury, but Valencia is quite a physical track, so I’m sure it will get a good work out! Last year in Valencia I was recovering from my crash in Donington, so my results were not good at all. This year, I feel that I can challenge for podiums in both races and that’s what I will be trying to do.”
Fonsi Nieto is the hometown hero, and is holding down a surprise second place in the championship. He said: “Racing at home is always a bit special and I want to put on a good show for all my fans this weekend - especially after my pair of DNFs last year!
“I am second in the championship at the moment and will be chasing a couple of podiums for sure. Valencia is a track where it is important to have a really good bike set-up if you want to go fast, so that’s what we’ll be trying to do from the very start of practice. There are quite a few Spanish riders in the championship this year and I am hoping that we get a good crowd for the race and can give them something to shout about.”
Team-mate Max Neukirchner is aching to improve his results so far and is chasing top six places. He said: “I am sure that I can improve on my 12th and 10th places from last year and realistically I shall be chasing top six finishes this weekend.
“I am getting more and more comfortable with my bike every time I go out and as long as we can find a good set-up in practice, I think I can make a good show. Valencia is a tough track and you need a very good set-up if you want to be at the front, but I am hoping that Sunday will be a good day for me and the team.”
Former British Superbike champion Gregorio Lavilla now has a 2008 FireBlade in the Bird Motorsport colours. He has been testing at Albacete in Spain. He thinks the new bike isn’t hugely different to the 2007 model but after a day’s shakedown, he was able to put some serious work into laptimes.
