WORLDSBK.COM - bis 20.06.2011

[WORLDSBK.COM]

The return of Donington to the WSBK fold in 2011 has been lauded by riders and fans alike, and for good reason. This track situated in the East Midlands of England not only kicked off what would become the Superbike World Championship phenomenon, but has been the catalyst for a number of all-time highpoints in WSBK racing history.

The first four races were conducted on the ‘national' circuit at Donington, without the Melbourne loop section, with Davide Tardozzi and Marco Lucchinelli sharing the wins. In 1989 Fabrizio Pirovano scored a victory, and Giancarlo Falappa scored his first ever WSBK win that same meeting. Neil Hodgson was another rider to take his first WSBK race win at Donington, some 11 years later.

Maybe most memorably of all, Carl Fogarty - a near veteran of 28 previous WSBK races - really launched his WSBK career in 1992, when he fell in race one, then won the first of his all-time record 59 races that same day.

The Donington ‘winners' club' in general reads like a who's who of WSBK racing. Carl Fogarty is the leading Donington victory collector with six, and his great rival Scott Russell took five Donington victories in his career. Either Fogarty or Russell won every race at Donington from race two in 1992 to race two in 1995 - nine races in a row when they locked out all comers.

Behind the leading two Donington riders, Noriyuki Haga has three wins, while Falappa, Troy Corser, Colin Edwards, Neil Hodgson and Ben Spies all have two. Single Donington winners include Tardozzi, Lucchinelli, Pirovano, Fred Merkel, Doug Polen, Stephane Mertens, Raymond Roche, Aaron Slight, Pierfrancesco Chili, James Toseland, Troy Bayliss and Ryuichi Kiyonari.

Donington, an early round in most previous seasons, has also been the first WSBK race for many WSBK stars outside of their native territories. Bayliss's first ride in WSBK outside Australia came at Donington in 1998, while Corser's first northern hemisphere WSBK ride, in 1994, saw him go third on the grid, retire in race one but earn a third place in race two.

The rest as they say, is history, and in 2011 Donington will get the chance to make more history in the WSBK championship.

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Joan Lascorz, multiple Supersport World Championship race winner and now a contracted Kawasaki Racing Team WSBK rider, is closing in on his first Superbike experience. His ‘comeback' test is scheduled for the 29th and 30th of November, at Almeria in Spain.

Lascorz has been on a long road back to fitness after his big Silverstone crash, as he himself explained. "My recovery is going well," said Joan. "I left hospital on the 15 of September and I have been training since then, nearly every day. Now I feel so good and I'm working to get my muscles back and be strong to push the bike. I have done some Supermotard riding and was only 1.5 seconds away from my record, which made me very happy. I have to work and be patient to win back even more mobility in my arm. Nerves and muscle must recover with time."

Motorcycle racers are, understandably, a particularly active bunch, and Lascorz is no different. So how did he spend his time, after his Silverstone crash? "I did some training, watching TV, and looking for a house to live in. Then I started riding my mountain bike, running, gym work and spending time with my cheetah." Yes, Lascorz is a big-time animal lover and has a pet cheetah at home in Spain!

With a factory Kawasaki waiting on him for 2011 Lascorz has plenty of reasons to be upbeat about his future, a handy thing after losing so much time in the middle of this season. "I'm happy and motivated," said Joan. "It has been a big pain to lose all this time because we have been planned tests in Japan, Almeria, Valencia, Magny-Cours, Motorland and Almeria too. We will have to work hard and fast but I know all the team are working while I'm ‘repairing'. It will be great to run with the Paul Bird team and try to put the Kawasaki again in a good place, as we did in the Supersport World Championship."

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In 2010 Roger Lee Hayden had a disappointing rookie year in World Superbike with the Kawasaki Pedercini team, only finishing an overall 19th after struggling on mainly unfamiliar tracks. Next year the American will leave the series to return to the USA, but he will continue to race in the Superbike category.

The 26-year-old Hayden will be team-mate to another familiar face from WSB, Ben Bostrom (behind Hayden in the photo), in the MJM team, owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan. AMA Supersport champion in 2007, Roger Lee has actually won 14 races and been on the podium 38 times in his career.

"I'm so excited to be a part of Team Jordan!," said the youngest member of the Hayden racing dynasty. "These guys have a great crew and I'm excited to get on the bike as soon as possible. I'm ready to show what I'm made of... It's also good to be home, there's no place like home," said Hayden.

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With the results obtained in the 2010 Superstock 1000 FIM Cup by Italians Andrea Antonelli and Eddi La Marra, the Honda Lorini team was one of the protagonists of the series, and it now intends to repeat that form in 2011 with one extra rider in the squad.

Next year the Lazio-based team has confirmed Antonelli, who finished on the podium three times in his run to third overall in the championship, as well as his team-mate La Marra, who achieved his aim of constantly being amongst the front-runners in his learning season.

But that's not all. After the form shown in 2010, next year the Honda Lorini team intends to win the title and with this aim in mind, it has signed up another rider with considerable experience in this category: Daniele Beretta (photo), who has emerged in the last two years, first on a Ducati and then on a BMW as team-mate to champion Ayrton Badovini.

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Roberto Rolfo has returned to the Superbike World Championship for the Kawasaki Pedercini team, with whom he will ride the new ZX-10R machine in 2011. The 30 year-old Italian moves to the Pedercini team after one season in the Moto2 GP class where he took one win at Sepang in Malaysia and a third place at Sachsenring in Germany.

Rolfo already has three years' experience in World Superbike. In 2006, he raced with team Ducati SC Caracchi, while in 2007 he joined the Hannspree Honda Ten Kate team and the year after the Hannspree Honda Althea team. In 2009 he started the season with Stiggy Honda team but after only a few races he was replaced by John Hopkins due to the team's economic problems.

Roberto Rolfo :"I'm really very happy to return to the Superbike championship. My three years' experience in this fascinating and competitive championship was unforgettable and I will try my best to improve my preceding results. I immediately established a good feeling with the entire Pedercini family. They are reputable professionals and we are on the same wavelength concerning next year's targets. I decided to leave Moto2 because I'm eager to ride the new Kawasaki ZX10R and take advantage of all its great power. It feels grand to be back in Superbike and I'm determined to put a good season together next year. I'm looking forward to testing the new bike very soon and getting familiar with it while also getting to better know my new team. This will be my very first time on a Kawasaki bike".

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Tickets for the 2011 USA Round of the FIM Superbike World Championship at Miller Motorsports Park are now on sale. As in 2010, the event will take place on Memorial Day weekend, May 28-30, with the races taking place on Monday, May 30. The weekend will also include the return of AMA Pro Road Racing to Miller Motorsports Park for the first time since 2008, and the third annual Larry H. Miller Superbike Challenge pro-am race.

Also as in 2010, there will be a rock concert (artists to be announced at a later date) on Saturday, May 28, but this year's event will also include a second concert on Sunday, May 29. The weekend will include a pre-event press conference and fan party, both of which will be open to the public.

"We are already working hard on our preparations for the return of the FIM Superbike World Championship in 2011," said Miller Motorsports Park general manager John Larson, "and we are looking forward to another great event. We have structured our ticket prices to make them more affordable for families on a budget and are offering meaningful discounts for those who purchase early."

For specific information on the USA Round of the FIM Superbike World Championship, visit the event website at www.SBKUSA.com.

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The FIM has handed down the updated 2011 WSBK calendar and as was the case in 2010 it features 13 rounds, which will take place at some of the world's most evocative and iconic racetracks.

The season opener takes place at the incomparable seaside circuit of Phillip Island, one of the fastest and most open circuits in the entire world of racing (photo). It, like many others, is an old friend of WSBK racing and it will of course feature as an official pre-season test venue, shortly before race weekend, on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22. Raceday itself will be Sunday, 27 February 2011 - make a note of it now. At Phillip Island World Supersport will also make its only non-European appearance of the year.

Early springtime at Donington Park will echo the very beginnings of WSBK in 1988, with this brilliant motorcycle racing venue all ready to welcome back WSBK racing after a year's absence. March 27 will be raceday, for the first of two races to be held in the UK next year.

April 17 is the day for yet another classic WSBK venue, Assen, while the first of three Italian-based WSBK rounds come along at super-fast Monza, on May 8. The normal European theatre of operations is left behind for a short period after Monza, and the Superbike class alone heads to America and the Miller Motorsports Park this year, for a race on Monday May 30 - on the Memorial Day holiday. Note that there will be no Supersport World Championship round at Miller in 2011, but the programme will see the reintegration of a round of the AMA Superbike Championship.

Two race weekends in a row will be enjoyed in June, the first being the San Marino Round at Misano on June 12 and then a new adventure beckons for the full WSBK travelling circus, the debut of the Motorland Aragon Circuit in Spain on June 19.

The wide corners and chicanes of Brno form round eight on July 10; the even faster layout of Silverstone has its latest taste of WSBK action on July 31. Double the thrills for British fans, and they will have several top riders to cheer on again, as they did in 2010.

August is a race-free month for all WSBK classes, with action reconvening at the historic Nürburgring circuit on September 4. An intense end to the season sees three European rounds, Imola, Magny Cours and Portimao, all coming along within a four-weekend period.

Imola has been reconfirmed on September 25, Magny-Cours in France is the penultimate round of the year on October 2, while instant classic Portimao is again the venue for the final round of the season, on October 16. Portimao will, in fact, bracket the WSBK season neatly, as it hosts the first official test of the year, between 26 and 28 January.

Ten rounds remain in the Superstock classes, as there will be no races for those classes in Donington, and their season gets underway at Assen, on April 17.

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Shane 'Shakey' Byrne, proven WSBK race winner and double British Champion, has confirmed he will not be racing in WSBK in 2011, as he returns to the UK for a season with the respected HM Plant Honda team.

33-year-old Byrne was a top ten runner in 2010, with the Althea Racing Ducati team. As recently as 2009 he scored a podium finish, at the San Marino Round in Misano for the Sterilgarda Ducati team. In the UK Byrne has been champion in 2003 and 2008, and has taken 27 individual race wins, on Ducati machinery each time. This time around Byrne is hoping to have a similar degree of success on a four-cylinder machine, as he joins current BSB Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari in the main Honda BSB team.

"I'm delighted to be joining HM Plant Honda," said Byrne, "I've spent many years in BSB competing against them so I know just how strong the team is - finishing first and second in 2010 is testament to that. My clear aim is to join Kiyo and Niall Mackenzie in having three British titles to my name! I'm looking forward to working with Kiyo as he obviously knows the bike like the back of his hand; he's a cool guy and I think we will work well together. I'm also looking forward to riding a four-cylinder motorcycle again. People say I've only had success on twins, but I've never had the chance to ride a top-specification four-cylinder machine, so I'm excited at the chance to prove to people I can race and win on a four too!"

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As the manager of a team based in the UK, Paul Bird Motorsport's Paul Risbridger now has two British rounds to plan for in 2011, the first at Donington Park on March 27 and the next at Silverstone on July 31. And that's just fine by Risbridger, a man with three different nationalities of rider in the official Kawasaki squad for 2011, including British star Tom Sykes.

"In some ways it is easier to start the European races in the UK," said Risbridger, speaking to WorldSBK.com. "It does not make a huge difference but it gives us more lead time in the run up to the first event, as we will spend less travelling time to get there. The first European round is always different because you have your own trucks and so on with you, which you do not have at a fly-away like the season-opener Australia."

The official KRT bikes may be stationed in the UK through the year and the PBM race workshop may be situated in Cumbria, in the north of England, but the Donington and Silverstone races will only be ‘home' races for some of the cosmopolitan team.

"Nowadays half our team comes from around Europe," said Risbridger, "so we still have to fly them in to the British races. So time-wise Donington coming first is a gain, but logistically it is about the same as most other European rounds."

The British WSBK rounds are particularly intense for the Paul Bird Motorsport operated team anyway, mainly because it had such a strong record in the UK Superbike scene before stepping up to WSBK racing in 2008. And for a rider like Tom Sykes, a British round must also be an understandably busy event? "There is more pressure on any rider at his home round," said Risbridger. "The focus is on them, as there is simply a raised expectation for any rider on home soil. So you have to manage that side of things. There is more media activity around the team at those times as well."

The official Kawasaki effort in 2011 features Spanish WSBK rookie Joan Lascorz and the vastly experienced Australian Chris Vermeulen, as well as Sykes, in 2011.

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

Australian Superbike Champion Bryan Staring has signed for the Pedercini Kawasaki team to race Kawasaki's all-new ZX-10R in the 2011 Superstock 1000 FIM Cup. Staring impressed team owner Lucio Pedercini during a test at Magny-Cours in France last month, the pair coming to an agreement and signing the deal a short time ago.

23-year-old Staring already has a successful career behind him including several International appearances: 2009 ASBK champion with Yamaha, 2010 ASBK champion with Honda, a recent win at the Kings of Wanneroo and two races in British Superstock 1000 for the successful HM Plant Honda team, finishing 4th overall at Brands Hatch as replacement for Steve Plater.

"The team seems really good and my feeling so far has been that they're really keen to have me onboard," Staring said. "The new ZX-10R is going to be really good and I was lucky enough to test it in France last month, so I know it will be great. I guess this is the first part of the next stage in my career and I'm excited to be headed to Europe. Expectations are hard to say, but my goal is to win the Superstock championship. I don't know what to expect until I get there, but hopefully we can get a lot of testing done before the start of the season and kick goals from the first round onwards."

Staring will join up with 20-year-old Italian Marco Bussolotti and 17-year-old Leandro Mercado of Argentina in a three-rider Superstock squad, as confirmed by team manager Donato Pedercini.

"We strongly believe that a team with Staring, Bussolotti and Mercado will put us in a good position to fight for first place in the next Superstock 1000 FIM Cup. The bike is completely new and we have had a bit of time to work together with our suppliers, with Ohlins and in cooperation with Kawasaki, in order to be ready at the beginning of the season. We are scheduling some test sessions before and after the official pre-season tests in Portimao, during which we will further develop the Kawasaki ZX-10R."

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

In 2010 Fabrizio Perotti stamped his authority on the inaugural one-make Triumph ParkinGo European Series with three wins to his name at Valencia, Misano and Nurburgring, as well as two seconds and a third that enabled him to take the title.

Next season however the Italian wants to make a quantum leap forward and up into Supersport and although nothing is yet confirmed, he is banking on his ParkinGO trophy win to help him find a place in the world championship.

"My aim is to race in Supersport with a Triumph team, because I want to continue with them along the path I started on this year," says the 26 year-old from Brescia, a fitness and martial arts expert. "I believe I have all the right cards to do well in this category, and in addition thanks to the experience gained this year, now I know all the tracks where Supersport races at and I think this can be a good advantage. In 2010 the potential of the Daytona 675 was plain to see and as a result I'm sure that I can do really well on this bike".

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Jonathan Rea ended his 2010 season injured and under the surgeon's knife, but his recovery since then has been gathering pace as he gets ready to have his first ride on his 2011 Honda, at Portimao on 29 and 30 November.

Rea said, "I have been working closely with my physio, Isla Scott, and I have almost a full degree of movement back in my wrist. Not quite 100% but getting there. I have only had the wire out of my wrist for ten days, and the swelling is well under control. I recovered very well from that. The strength in my wrist is pretty good, sufficient to ride the bike."

Rea's shoulder injury is also coming along well, but he needs his wrist to heal completely before he can get himself back to 100% fitness in his shoulder area.

"My shoulder is still a little bit unstable but until my wrist is 100% better it is difficult to load the shoulder in the proper way to build it up," said Jonathan. "I feel good from that point of view but I have a cold at the minute, which is proving hard to shake off!"

For Rea, a return to track action with a team that he regards as almost family will be the biggest winter boost of all. "I am excited to go riding again and check out the new parts we will be testing. It will be nice to see the team again. Some of them came over to visit me in Ireland, at the Belfast Supercross, and we had a great night there."

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The most recent World Championship winning squads, Aprilia Alitalia and Yamaha Sterilgarda begin testing at Phillip Island on Tuesday next week, as they continue development of their 2011 spec machines.

The three day test, from 30 November until 2 December, will be of particular interest back in Italy, as current World Champion Max Biaggi will share track time with his old GP sparring partner Marco Melandri (Yamaha) for the first time since Marco joined the WSBK circus. It will be Melandri's second WSBK test per se, having ridden the works R1 at Valencia earlier this month (photo).

Eugene Laverty will partner his fellow new Yamaha signing, and after a fabulous first ride on the official R1 at the immediate post-season tests at Magny-Cours, before a further encouraging test at Valencia, much is expected of him as he tries the 2011 spec machine for size once again.

Alongside Biaggi will be his regular team-mate Leon Camier, who has now recovered well from a wrist injury that spoiled the end of what was a more than promising rookie season in WSBK. Phillip Island As the Phillip Island track presented some difficulties for Aprilia at the start of this season, the team will most probably be working to resolve the set-up issues at this particular track.

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

The first day of testing for the Aprilia and Yamaha Superbike teams has concluded at Phillip Island in Australia, with 2010 champion Max Biaggi on the top of the results sheet.

Biaggi's time of 1 minute 32.4 seconds, which he set in 71 laps, was around six-tenths slower than Troy Corser's best race mark (1'31.826). The Italian was testing an evolution step engine, a different swing-arm and new engine mounts that help give better rigidity and traction. Team-mate Leon Camier on the other hand had a few technical problems with both his RSV4 machines often in the pits. His best time was 1'33.4 in 88 laps.

Over at Yamaha, an excellent second best time of 1'32.9 (86 laps) was set by Eugene Laverty, just half-a-second down on Biaggi, while Marco Melandri had set-up problems on the 2010-spec bike due to the windy conditions and a few teething issues on the 2011-spec machine which has different cycle components and power delivery, and the Italian could only set a time of 1'33.5 over 78 laps.

Weather conditions today were cloudy and blustery, with a high of 18°C, although the track was dry, while rain is forecast for tomorrow's second day.

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Bad weather also conditioned day 2 of SBK testing at the Algarve circuit in Portugal as heavy showers and low temperatures made the work difficult for the numerous teams who had headed for southern Europe to prepare their 2011-spec machines.

Unofficial times recorded by the teams put Ten Kate Honda man Ruben Xaus (Images: Kel Edge Photography) at the top of the timesheets with a time of 1'55.8. The Spanish rider, on his first time out with the Ten Kate team, looked comfortable in the wet and did a lot of laps on his new CBR machine.

Three tenths of a second slower was Britain's Leon Haslam, the new BMW Motorrad man now looking comfortable on his S 1000 RR bike despite some electronic problems during the day, while Michel Fabrizio (Suzuki Alstare) set a similar time to Jonathan Rea (Ten Kate Honda), who did not go out at all today. Troy Corser was next up with the second BMW, with Noriyuki Haga (Aprilia Pata) also lapping under the two minute mark.

James Toseland got to grips with his new BMW machine, but it was the test team's S 1000RR and the two-times world champion was not aiming to post any quick laps. Maxime Berger's expected debut on the Supersonic Ducati 1098 was postponed as the Italian team decided not to make the trip down to Portugal due to the poor weather conditions.

Unofficial times: 1. Xaus (Honda) 1'55.8; 2. Haslam (BMW) 1'56.1; 3. Rea (Honda) 1'56.9; 4. Fabrizio (Suzuki) 1'56.9; 5. Corser (BMW) 1'57.1; 6. Toseland (BMW) 1'58.2; 7. Haga (Aprilia) 1'58.2

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The second day of Aprilia and Yamaha Superbike testing at Phillip Island has concluded with Max Biaggi once again the quickest man out on the track. The Aprilia rider got down to a time of 1 minute 32.3 seconds with his RSV-4 machine in milder conditions than on day 1.

The 2010 champion was able to confirm the good performance of the new Ohlins forks and he also tried out a new swing-arm and fuel tank, amongst other things. The tests also revolved around a new engine spec, with a different power delivery.

There were two crashes during the day, involving SBK rookie Marco Melandri and Leon Camier, at the long left-hander leading onto the pit straight. The Italian hurt a finger, but not seriously, while Camier continued testing after his crash but then hit a seagull. With his arm swollen he decided to call it a day.

Tomorrow the tests will continue for a third and final day, but the weather forecast is for rain.

Unofficial times: 1. Biaggi (Aprilia) 1.32.3; 2. Camier (Aprilia) e Laverty (Yamaha) 1.32.5; 4. Melandri (Yamaha) 1.32.6.

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The BMW Motorrad team completed its 2010 winter test programme with three days at Jerez (Spain), followed by two more days at Portimão in Portugal this week. Troy Corser and Leon Haslam (Image: Kel Edge Photography) were joined by test rider, Steve Martin, and Leon's father, Ron Haslam, who also completed some laps on the BMW S 1000 RR. Unfortunately both tests were hampered by rain, with only one day of dry running on the Thursday at Jerez. During the five days, the team completed a total of 1.540 test kilometers.

The team worked on the suspension and the engine of the BMW S 1000 RR, and tested several new chassis parts and adjustments. Troy and Leon both also tried a new Öhlins front fork, which was initially developed for MotoGP, new brakes and geometry changes. In Portimao, BMW Motorrad Italia SBK rider James Toseland also had his first roll-out with the BMW S 1000 RR.

Troy Corser: "Unfortunately we had the bad weather, but on the dry day at Jerez we gathered lots of good information. My comments and those of Leon were pretty much in parallel regarding the areas we want to improve, and the areas where we think we are heading in the right direction. We tried many different things on the suspension together with Öhlins, which was also very good. Unfortunately the rain followed us from Jerez to Portimão, but to get some wet testing is also quite valuable, because during the season it can rain at any track we go to."

Leon Haslam: "We made good progress. In Portimão we did not have any dry time, but on Monday I was quickest in the wet in the morning and quickest on the drying track in the afternoon. On the last day, we were down to the times where we should be. However, we were not even pushing to get a fast run, but we were just looking to improve the bike in a few different areas. It would have been nice if it had been dry, so we could have made even more progress, but I am happy."

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Leading publisher Black Bean Games officially announces that a new exclusive SBK® videogame is being developed by its in-house racing team, Milestone Studios, in order to deliver the ultimate bike racing game available on the current generation consoles. SBK®2011 is scheduled for release in May 2011 for PlayStation®3, Xbox360® and PC.

Following the successful International launch of the award-winning SBK®X, both Black Bean Games and Milestone are looking forward to setting a new standard in the bike racing genre, with tons of graphics and gameplay improvements.

SBK®2011 will feature a brand new artistic direction, an up-to-date driving model to meet the gamers expectations following the most accurate feedback collected so far on the web, as well as a more appealing presentation and side effects, due to an overall enhancement of the whole visual impact (menus, environments, 3D objects, lighting effects and much, much more). A simple side-by-side comparison with SBK®X will allow the major improvements to stand out.

As regards the official content available on launch day, SBK 2011 will deliver the entire official package of the next Championship Season: all classes, all riders and all tracks from the 2011 roster.

The adrenaline will be the only element you won't be able to master... The rest is just a matter of riding skills!

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Eugene Laverty took advantage of a soft tyre and a dry ‘window' to edge out Max Biaggi and go quickest at the end of three days of testing at Phillip Island. The Yamaha man, who has looked impressive all the way in testing for his rookie WSBK season, recorded a time of 1 minute 31.5 seconds around the Australian track to take the top slot.

The final day of testing saw rain in the morning, which interrupted proceedings for a couple of hours, but the track then was then dry until late in the afternoon when further rain brought an end to the tests for Yamaha and Aprilia.

Biaggi, quickest on the first two days of the test, did not have time to respond to Laverty's mark and the Aprilia rider had to settle for second-best with a time of 1'32.1.

Leon Camier stayed third on the second Aprilia, just three-tenths off the pace of Biaggi, while Marco Melandri also recorded the same time for Yamaha. The Italian took the opportunity to gain confidence with Pirelli's rain tyres as well as run with some 2011-spec rubber.

Unofficial times: 1. Laverty (Yamaha) 1'31.5 (on soft tyres); 2. Biaggi (Aprilia) 1'32.1; 3. Camier (Aprilia) 1'32.4; 4. Melandri (Yamaha) 1'32.4.

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Despite bad weather throughout the two days of tests in Portimao, Suzuki Alstare rider Michel Fabrizio left the track in a positive frame of mind and happy with his continuing understanding of the GSX R1000 bike and his new team as he recorded a best time of 1'57.1 in 70 laps.

"Conditions were not good here at all and there was no real possibility of ever going out on slick tyres," declared Fabrizio. "There were times when it looked as if the track would dry out and then it rained again! It was not so bad when the track was soaking wet because then I could use full wet tyres and find out about the grip level - which is not so bad. I did actually put some slicks on at one stage, but as soon as I did that, it began to rain and so we had to take them off and put on wets again!"

Michel said he was satisfied with the direction things were taking with the team and especially the four-cylinder bike, which he has not ridden for four seasons. "Even though conditions were not good, I was able to understand more about the bike and also get more used to my team. Now I will have a bit of break, spend some time with my family and then look forward to my next test, next year. I wish you all the best for Christmas and I'll see you again in the New Year."

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Simon Buckmaster, boss of the Parkalgar Honda Racing team in the Supersport World Championship, is already looking forward to the 2011 championship; as well he might with three strong riders in the squad.

"I feel confident that our new signings, Sam Lowes and James Ellison, will be able to run up front from the very start," said Buckmaster, who was attending the British Motorcycle Live show at the NEC in Birmingham. "Both of them are experienced riders and along with Miguel Praia we have a good line up for 2011 already."

The team, privateer all the way but well supported by Portuguese owners Parkalgar, has come close to winning the Supersport World Championship for the past two years, but narrowly missed out each time. Although naturally disappointed to have come so close more than once, Buckmaster was honest in his appraisal of the situation.

"I am proud of everyone who has contributed to our efforts over the past few years. They have all done a good job. When you look at the records, we have won 12 of the 25 races held in 2009 and 2010, which is remarkable really; nearly half the races. Last year Eugene scored eight wins and two other podiums, all within 13 races. In almost any year that would have been good enough to win the title. Last year Eugene crashed in one race at Portimao but still got going again to score points. There was only one DNF, at Brno. We as a team are also proud to have played a part in Eugene's career, because he is a very talented rider."

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Yamaha's new signings Eugene Laverty and Marco Melandri (photo) spent the three days at Phillip Island testing out various parts including new Ohlins (TRVP25) front forks on both the 2010 and 2011 racebike. A large part of the test for both riders, particularly Melandri, included ongoing physical modifications to the YZF-R1 racebike to fit their riding style, adjusting foot pegs, handlebars and other geometry settings.

The 2011 bike tested by the riders featured a revised weight balance, the new Ohlins forks, new engine performance parts and a different seat and fuel tank design. The bike also features standard fuel injectors and fuel pump in line with the 2011 racing regulations.

Laverty was clearly enjoying his third outing on the R1, having been impressively quick in the first two tests, he was again fast from the off, leaving Australia as the fastest rider of the test with a blistering 1'31.5 lap on soft race tyres at the end of day three, over half a second faster than closest rider Max Biaggi. He also spent some time on race simulation, putting in consistently fast race pace laps.

"I'm pretty pleased with the test, it's a nice way to go into the winter break. In the three days we got a lot of laps done, the second day especially was big breakthrough. So far we've had two one day tests so the second day here was where we really made the bike mine. The race times on the 2011 machine weren't so far away from 2010 bike so we're developing in the right direction. The new Ohlins front fork is definitely an improvement. I'm still learning this bike so we are fine tuning it as we go."

Following his one day test in Valencia last month this was Marco Melandri's first proper opportunity to work through some set up developments on his new R1 racebike. The Italian rider improved steadily over the test days, making steps each day as the team continued to modify the physical set up of the bike to suit him. Day three saw him record a 1'32.4 lap on race tyres. Melandri also took the opportunity in the rain to experience his bike on Pirelli wet tyres. The team now have valuable data to take away to work over the winter to make further changes to suit the new riders in advance of the first test of 2011 next year.

"It was a good test in the end, the three days were very intensive. It was quite challenging at first working on the 2011 machine but during the second day we started to find a way and then third day we found a big improvement and found a good pace for the race. The rain meant we couldn't find a good lap time with a soft tyre but for me that wasn't what was important here. The difference between a MotoGP bike and a superbike on this track are huge, the bike moves a lot more so the faster corners are very different but step by step it's getting better and better. The feeling is very good, I'm very happy. The track is a difficult track so we have done well and I think we can be very strong for the first race here next year."

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

Three hundred and fifty guests packed into the Estoril Casino on Friday to enjoy a very special evening that recognised and rewarded the exploits of the World's best motorcycle riders. Broadcast live on TV in several different countries a host of motorcycling legends were on hand to present the 2010 FIM World Champions with their respective awards, whilst also being honoured themselves for their services to two wheel sport.

Legends such as Giacomo Agostini, Roger de Coster, Jordi Tarres, Anders Eriksson, Ivan Mauger and Katja Poensgen were joined on stage by the likes of Jorge Lorenzo, Antonio Elias, Massimiliano Biaggi, Antonio Cairoli, Toni Bou, David Knight, Tomasz Gollob, Stephanie Laier, Ludivine Puy, and Laia Sanz as winners of their respective FIM World Championships.

2010 Superbike World Champion Biaggi as well as Supersport World Champion Kenan Sofuoglu were on hand to pick up their awards, while championship organizers Infront Motor Sports were well represented by the company top management, CEO Paolo Flammini and Director Paolo Ciabatti (Photo FIM: Mrs and Mr Flammini, Max Biaggi, Mr Ciabatti, Mr Duparc of FIM).

Speaking about this incredible and unique occasion Vito Ippolito, FIM President stated. "This is a very special evening, to have so many FIM World Champions and the FIM family together in one place. I am delighted to have this opportunity to celebrate the achievements of these riders and to show to the World just how strong motorcycle sport is even during these difficult times."

"I would like to thank all the riders and teams for taking time out of their busy schedules to be here this evening, and for understanding the importance of this event both for the FIM and for motorcycle sport as a whole."

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Racing Team) enjoyed his first ride on the 2011 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R racebike at Almeria in Spain recently. Joan was impressed by his new machine and enjoyed his transition to a new racing class, having been a championship contender for Kawasaki in the Supersport World Championship category this year. Despite suffering multiple injuries in a crash in early August, Joan finished third overall and is now almost back to full fitness.

Lascorz completed his first Superbike test with his initial goals all achieved and at a steadily increasing pace as he prepares for his first season of WSBK competition in 2011. Only the weather was an issue at times, leaving him and his crew having to wait for windows of clear conditions to arrive each day.

Said Lascorz, "I felt very good at this test but I must get a little more strength back to push the bike to his limits. My first impression of the bike is very positive and it delivers power in a good way. On the first day I made a few laps, on the second day a few more and on the last day I felt much happier, and did even more laps than before. I had a much better feeling from the bike also. For the moment I have to ride around my lack of strength but otherwise it all went OK. I have a few weeks to go before the Sepang test so I am working on improving my condition to let me go faster on the bike. For sure I will be ready for the first race."

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After recently renewing his agreement with the Honda Lorini team to race in the 2011 Superstock 1000 FIM Cup, Eddi La Marra immediately wasted no time in getting down to business with his Honda CBR1000RR machine. The first occasion was a race at Vallelunga last Sunday, where the young Italian won the Open category race ahead of another familiar face from Superstock 1000, Frenchman Loic Napoleone.

"The Vallelunga race was a good test for me and the bike," he declared. "The weather wasn't particularly good but we managed to make the best of the time available and work on the Honda's overall set-up".

In 2010 the 21-year-old from Ferentino near Rome was one of the top rookies in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup, and a sixth place in the final round at Portimao was his best result of the season. For next year, La Marra is aiming to do even better. "With one year's experience behind me I'll be aiming to get permanently into the leading positions. The competition will be tough but with this team and this bike we have the potential to get to the top."

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