WORLDSBK.COM - bis 20.06.2011

[WORLDSBK.COM]

The Althea Racing team's line-up for the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup has been completed with the signing of Davide Giugliano alongside his fellow Italian Lorenzo Baroni.

One of the protagonists of last season with five podiums to his name, 21-year-old Giugliano will step back on a twin-cylinder Ducati machine again in a season that should mark a turning point for the talented youngster.

"I'm really happy to join the team and I'd like to thank Genesio Bevilacqua for giving me this opportunity," declared Giugliano. "I'll have a fantastic bike and I hope to be able to score the results that so far I have never been able to achieve. In this team I've found some exceptional professional people, and with their help I want to aim for the top".

Bevilacqua is also confident that the signing of Giugliano is a step forward. "Davide is strongly talented, and for several reasons has been unable so far to express his talent but I'm sure that with our support and with our bike his ability will emerge, stimulated also by the presence of his team-mate, who will race with the same objectives".

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Another team is getting ready to fill the ranks of the World Supersport Championship this year. The Bike Service Racing Team, based in Rimini, the reigning Italian CIV domestic Supersport title holders, will tackle the entire season with two young riders and Yamaha R6 machinery: 20-year-old Roberto Tamburini and 21-year-old Luca Marconi.

Team managers Stefano Morri and Massimo Nelti have opted for two of the brightest young talents in Italian racing, and they will be up against some of the world's top riders in the category in 2011 with the aim of rapidly learning the ropes.

The Bike Service Racing Team will also be taking part in the European Superstock 600 Championship with 18-year-old Luca Salvatori, one of the revelations of the 2010 CIV series.

The team will be going to Portimao for the official Infront Motor Sports tests before heading to Australia for the final pre-season tests and the opening round of the season.

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

Some big name teams in the WSBK paddock are getting set to test even before the next official IMS sessions at Portimao at the end of this month - such is the pace of preparation as we face the latest season of Superbike World Championship racing.

In the Superbike class, the newly unveiled Castrol Honda World Superbike Team, with riders Jonathan Rea and Ruben Xaus on board, will test at new WSBK venue Aragon on Thursday and Friday this week.

They will be joined in Spain by the Supersport World Championship wing of Ten Kate's 2011 effort - the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team - with riders Fabien Foret and Florian Marino.

At Almeria, Kawasaki Provec Motocard.com Supersport World Championship riders Broc Parkes (photo) and David Salom will go through the latest of their winter tests, on the same days as the Honda guys will be lapping Aragon.

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

Massimo Roccoli has re-joined the Lorenzini by Leoni outfit and will take part in the 2011 Supersport World Championship on a Kawasaki ZX-6R machine. With the signing of the Italian following Fabien Foret's unexpected departure, the Lorenzini team has now completed its 2011 line-up, which will see Roccoli alongside the already-confirmed Vittorio Iannuzzo. Both riders come off the back of a difficult season that never saw them realize their true potential. The Italian team will also take part in the FIM Cup Superstock 1000 with two new ZX-10R bikes for Sheridan Morais and Lorenzo Savadori.

"I can't hide my satisfaction for the agreement with Massimo Roccoli," said team owner Vanni Lorenzini. "In 2008 we went our separate ways after three successive domestic Supersport titles as well as a world championship win at Misano and excellent results in 1000 Superstock, but we always remained in touch. Massimo's ability as tester is precious and so is his talent. I knew he was without a ride so we moved to sign him for the world championship. With Iannuzzo and Roccoli in the team, I feel sure we'll be able to do a good job for Kawasaki. My team won't be present at Portimao because we've already done a lot of testing in Spain and we are working to get the bikes ready for the opening round at Phillip Island. It's going to be difficult this year but we are sure we can get up amongst the leaders. Thanks to Kawasaki and everyone who has made this possible."

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

This coming weekend, the Pata Racing Team Aprilia and Noriyuki Haga will be presenting their 2011 season to the press and fans in Italy.

The launch will take place on Saturday 22 January at 2 pm at the Verona Trade Fair during Motor Bike Expo 2011, where the new livery of the Aprilia RSV4R, the bike which the Italian team will use this year, will be unveiled for the first time.

Show visitors, Haga and SBK fans will have a great opportunity to meet up with the popular Japanese rider, who has made Italy his second home over the years, and listen to the team members talk about the upcoming WSBK season, which gets underway in just over one month's time.

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

On the occasion of a top-level meeting this week, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and Infront Sports & Media expressed once again their joint commitment to further strengthen the unique profile of the FIM Superbike World Championship (SBK) and its position as one of the leading international motor sports series. FIM acknowledges the efforts Infront has taken in enhancing the competition throughout recent years and will continue to support the international sports marketing agency in all its activities for a sustainable development of the FIM Superbike World Championship.

Sanctioned by the FIM and promoted by Infront Motor Sports, the annual FIM Superbike World Championship is the only Road Racing World Series for production motorcycles. This uniqueness and its popularity amongst motor sport fans make the championship a key asset for the FIM and a valuable property for Infront, as one of the leading international sports marketing agencies. In addition, the series fulfils a clear market need as it uses the same bikes as millions of passionate motorcycling fans around the globe.

In order to reinforce an aligned approach for the upcoming years, high-ranking FIM representatives - including President Vito Ippolito, Deputy President Jorge Viegas and CEO Guy Maitre as well as other members of FIM management - met with members from the Infront management - including its President & CEO Philippe Blatter, Stephan Herth, Executive Director Summer Sports, as well as the SBK founders Maurizio and Paolo Flammini representing Infront Motor Sports as President and CEO - at the FIM headquarters in Mies, Switzerland.

The participants agreed on the high potential of the FIM Superbike World Championship and both entities are fully committed to support the future development of the series. The aim is to strengthen the profile of the competition and a unique position within the portfolio of FIM sanctioned top series.

Vito Ippolito said: "During the past three years, Infront has invested considerable efforts into promoting the series as well as enhancing it in various fields - be it the brand positioning, the TV coverage, the marketing or the fan interaction. We highly appreciate the significant contribution and comprehensive know-how of the Infront Group and will closely co-operate in ensuring the successful future of the championship. It is clearly a core asset for FIM."

Philippe Blatter added: "This meeting has been extremely valuable and the reinforcement of our joint commitment is a clear sign for the sport itself and all stakeholders of the FIM Superbike World Championship, including manufacturers, sponsors, media and racing circuits. Together with FIM we will further develop the unique identity of Superbike and make sure that it remains its strong position within the motor sports realm. The much increased TV audience in 2010 and the raising popularity among motor sports fans, clearly indicates the potential of this competition. We are prepared to further invest into the property creating more added-value for commercial partners and further excitement for the fans."

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

Statistically speaking, the most successful team in the Supersport World Championship is the Ten Kate squad, who will come back to shoot for their ninth Riders' World Championship in 2011.

With their WSBK wing now running Castrol title sponsorship, the WSS squad will once more run Hannspree colours, as the Taiwanese consumer products manufacturer stays onboard with a team that has brought them much success. The family firm, with owner Gerrit Ten Kate and his nephew Ronald running a unique system which features staff which are almost exclusively from the same small Dutch town of Nieuwleusen, is incredibly tight-knit and supportive of each other. A band of brothers, you could say, who unlike most teams sleep in their trucks overnight during races weekends.

In terms of riders, last year's World Champion Kenan Sofuoglu has moved on, as has his riding partner Michele Pirro, but the exit of one proven world champion has brought about the return of another.

Fabien Foret won the 2002 WSS crown for Honda, Ten Kate and himself, and now he returns with his desire to win as sharp as ever. The 37-year-old rider's winning record puts him third on the list of all time victors, and he is easily the most successful rider to still be competing in this class.

The other 2011 rider may be the same nationality as Fabien - French - but 17-year-old Florian Marino is at the opposite end of the experience spectrum. A very talented rider who challenged for the championship in the Superstock 600 European Championship in 2010 (also on a Ten Kate Honda), Marino is almost a complete rookie in WSS. He did race one time already, for the Ten Kate Junior Team at Magny-Cours last year, when the 600 Superstock title had been decided.

The Ten Kate team is legend in this class of racing, nothing less. They have taken Foret, Chris Vermeulen, Karl Muggeridge, Sebastien Charpentier (twice), Andrew Pitt and Kenan Sofuoglu (twice) to the crown. Since 2007 that team has enjoyed Hannspree sponsorship, which continues for another year.

A series of winter tests is now being completed, including a two-day test at Phillip Island even before the official tests start, which shows that they are looking as well-prepared and serious as ever.

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

Aussie star Josh Waters (22) will be campaigning a full spec Yoshimura GSX-R1000 at his home round at Phillip Island in February, and he has now had a chance to speak about his excitement at having been given such a high-profile and high quality opportunity on the world stage.

"I am so happy to be riding for Yoshimura Suzuki at Phillip Island," said the 2009 Australian SBK title winner. "I can't wait to ride the bike and will try very hard to come home with good results."

This will be Waters' first ever WSBK ride, and the collective memory cannot help but draw attention to the fact that a certain Troy Bayliss had his first ever WSBK rides as a wildcard Ansett Air Freight Suzuki rider, way back in 1997. On that occasion Bayliss took two fifth places, in a wet race one and a dry race two.

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

Luca Scassa (Yamaha ParkinGO) pushed on to set the fastest time in the first Supersport World Championship test session of the final day at Portimao, with a 1'57.123 lap. The track was wet to start and remained so after overnight rain.

Behind Scassa was the Provec Motocard.com Kawasaki of David Salom, then the Parkalgar Honda of Sam Lowes, a new star in this class of racing. Broc Parkes, Salom's team-mate, posted the fourth best time, with the leading quartet covered by only 0.392 seconds.

Sixteen riders ventured out on the wet surface, in total. One more WSS session remains, this afternoon at 12.40.

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

1 111 Xaus R. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'47.065

2 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'48.267

3 33 Melandri M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'54.348

4 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'54.516

5 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'56.276

6 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'56.328

7 17 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'56.361

8 4 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'56.378

9 41 Haga N. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'57.502

10 86 Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 1'57.759

11 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'58.089

12 52 Toseland J. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 1'58.234

13 121 Berger M. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'58.478

14 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'58.703

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

Ruben Xaus (Castrol Honda) used a window of opportunity to post the fastest lap of the morning session at Portimao, his 1'47.065 only approached by one other rider who made it around the circuit before a light fall of rain slowed the times again.

Michel Fabrizio (Suzuki Alstare) was second, 1.2 seconds back, but the rest were well behind, having been out in very different conditions. Marco Melandri was third on his Yamaha World Superbike Team machine, but over seven seconds behind Xaus.

 

 

 

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

1 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'48.893

2 77 Ellison J. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1'49.802

3 5 Lundh A. (SWE) Honda CBR600RR 1'51.910

4 22 Tamburini R. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'52.097

5 4 Rea G. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1'52.962

6 19 Pirotta M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'53.635

7 60 Ivanov V. (UKR) Honda CBR600RR 1'53.870

8 87 Marconi L. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'56.138

9 8 Chesaux B. (SUI) Honda CBR600RR 1'56.460

10 9 Scassa L. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'57.123

11 44 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'57.286

12 11 Lowes S. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1'57.319

13 28 Szkopek P. (POL) Honda CBR600RR 1'58.094

14 7 Davies C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1'58.530

15 21 Marino F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1'58.824

16 99 Foret F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1'59.359

17 25 Jerman M. (SLO) Triumph Daytona 675 2'01.571

18 117 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 2'02.733

19 29 Yurchenko V. (RUS) Yamaha YZF R6 2'17.713

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

1 11 Lowes S. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1'45.845

2 44 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'45.931

3 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'46.316

4 99 Foret F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1'46.415

5 7 Davies C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1'46.594

6 4 Rea G. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1'47.259

7 77 Ellison J. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1'47.281

8 9 Scassa L. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'47.365

9 21 Marino F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1'47.852

10 117 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 1'47.941

11 5 Lundh A. (SWE) Honda CBR600RR 1'48.146

12 60 Ivanov V. (UKR) Honda CBR600RR 1'48.585

13 28 Szkopek P. (POL) Honda CBR600RR 1'49.357

14 25 Jerman M. (SLO) Triumph Daytona 675 1'49.408

15 8 Chesaux B. (SUI) Honda CBR600RR 1'49.933

16 22 Tamburini R. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'50.203

17 87 Marconi L. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'52.261

18 19 Pirotta M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'53.635

19 29 Yurchenko V. (RUS) Yamaha YZF R6 1'54.711

20 73 Pozdneev O. (RUS) Yamaha YZF R6 1'55.480

21 24 Blokhin E. (RUS) Yamaha YZF R6 1'56.208

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

Broc Parkes (Kawasaki Motocard.com) was the fastest rider in the final session, with a 1'48.893, riding on a track that was still affected by earlier rainfall. The overall fastest rider in these official IMS tests, therefore, is Sam Lowes (Parkalgar Honda).

Lowes set a 1'45.845 on Wednesday, when track conditions were at their best. He fell earlier today, hurting his foot and hand, but continuing to ride in the afternoon session.

James Ellison (Bogdanka PTR Honda) was second fastest on track in the final WSS session, while Alexander Lundh (Cresto Guide Racing Team) was third quickest.

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

1 111 Xaus R. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'47.065

2 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'48.267

3 41 Haga N. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'53.414

4 58 Laverty E. (IRL) Yamaha YZF R1 1'54.130

5 33 Melandri M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'54.348

6 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'54.516

7 121 Berger M. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'55.633

8 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'56.276

9 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'56.328

10 17 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'56.361

11 4 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'56.378

12 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'56.571

13 86 Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 1'57.759

14 52 Toseland J. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 1'58.234

15 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'58.703

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

1 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'43.503

2 4 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'43.676

3 58 Laverty E. (IRL) Yamaha YZF R1 1'43.707

4 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'43.770

5 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'43.789

6 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'43.840

7 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'43.879

8 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'44.369

9 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'44.446

10 17 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'44.752

11 52 Toseland J. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 1'44.764

12 41 Haga N. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'44.857

13 111 Xaus R. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'44.885

14 121 Berger M. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'44.886

15 33 Melandri M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'45.461

16 86 Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 1'45.678

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

Few riders ventured out onto the track in the final Superbike session, which was again hit by inclement weather, and it was Noriyuki Haga (PATA Racing Team Aprilia) who ended up on the top of the timesheets.

But the fastest rider over all three days at the Portimao test was Jakub Smrz (Team Effenbert - Liberty Racing). His 1'43.503 on the dry opening day was not beaten through the rest of the sessions, giving his Czech-based Ducati team a great start to life in WSBK racing.

Fastest man on Friday was Ruben Xaus (Castrol Honda), whose lap of 1'47.065 was recorded in a dry window between the rains, which came and went with great frequency, if little force.

In the overall three day rankings, Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) was second, and WSBK rookie Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike Team) third, with Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike) a confident fourth.

Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) filled the top five with World Champion Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) sixth, despite only taking to the track on the dry first day.

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

Jakub Smrz proved to be the fastest rider in official Infront Motor Sports pre-season testing at Portimao. After three days of changeable weather conditions, the Effenbert-Liberty man's time of 1'43.503 remained unbeaten throughout, giving the Czech-based Ducati team a great start to life in WSBK racing.

Jakub Smrz: "We brought two bikes here, one with almost the set-up as the one I used for a while last year and one set up like the factory team of last year. That had some different things with geometry, gearing, swingarm and so on and I was fastest on that one on the first day. The other two days there was not so much do, because the conditions were not fully dry, not fully wet, most of the time. The team worked perfectly and it is great for them to start the season being fastest in this test."

In the overall three day rankings, Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) is second, and WSBK rookie Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike Team) third, with Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike) a confident fourth. Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) filled the top five places, with World Champion Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) sixth, despite only taking to the track on the dry first day.

Michel Fabrizio (Team Suzuki Alstare) headed off Smrz's team-mate Sylvain Guintoli for seventh, despite crashing twice in the middle day. Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) was ninth and new WSBK rider Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Racing Team) beat some established names to go tenth quickest.

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

Just three days after the end of the official SBK test organized by Infront Motor Sports at the Portimao circuit, the Supersonic Team went to the Motorland Aragon track near Alcaniz in Spain. An additional effort for the Italian team, which is working hard to start on the best way in the World Superbike Championship 2011. Maxime Berger and his team arrived in a very cold place, but luckily the tests have not been hampered by rain and the Frenchman was able to accomplish more than 50 laps, along with a great deal of technical work. Today will be the second and final day of testing, with the hope that the rain remains far from Motorland Aragon and maybe with a milder temperature.

Maxime Berger: "Today was very cold here, but that does not stop me riding more than 50 laps on this beautiful track. We continued the work that we had to do at Portimao. I tried different types of tires and I got more familiar with the "ride by wire" and electronics of my Ducati 1198. My technicians are helping me a lot not only to exploit the electronics, but also with the many details from the telemetry. I am happy and satisfied, because my feeling with the bike and the team is increasing every time, and this gives me hope for the beginning of my first World Superbike race. For tomorrow I hope it will be not cold, but the important thing is that it does not rain. "

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

The FIM Superbike World Championship will be making a further step forward this year in its spectacular race coverage, and the recent IMS tests at Portimao were a true test-bed for the new technology. From the second round of the season onwards in fact, the on-board cameras will be making their debut, at Donington.

"We'll be using technology developed by Infront Italia," declared Fabrizio Civirani, SBK Executive TV Producer and TV director. "We presented a series of safety and visibility guidelines that have been developed with the use of technology from some of the most advanced companies in this sector. The engineering aspects were then developed within Infront, with the collaboration of experts from this sector and with Milan Polytechnic".

Two mini-cameras will be fitted to each one of eight bikes, seven representing the top 10 riders and manufacturers and one to be used at random between the other teams. The total weight of the equipment is around 1.2 kg.

"We are really pleased with the test," continued Civirani, "because the results were better than expected. We noted the absence of vibrations and radio interference. Now we have to try with all the TV cameras together".

This will be just the first phase of the operation. "With the Polytechnic we're looking at the possibility of building and developing even more advanced TV cameras that give better visibility".

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

New Zealand's Simon Crafar will be the head coach for the new World Superbike support series; the European Junior Cup. Crafar enjoyed a successful career in Grand Prix and the World Superbike championship, with a famous win at Donington Park and numerous podium finishes. He now coaches trackday enthusiasts and budding racers at circuits all around Europe.

The European Junior Cup takes place at six of the World Superbike rounds in 2011 and features 14 to 17 year old racers competing on identical Kawasaki Ninja 250 R machinery. The series has been conceived to provide close, competitive racing and to help prepare promising young riders for a successful career in motorcycle sport.

To aid this Simon and other star riders will be providing the Junior Cup racers with advice and guidance throughout the race weekend.

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

It was the last day of testing for Maxime Berger and the Supersonic Team at the Spanish Motorland Aragon circuit. Exactly like yesterday, very low track temperatures limited the work for Danilo Soncini's team. Luckily there was no rain, so Maxime Berger was able to complete 52 laps, including an harmless crash, probably due to the low temperature of the asphalt. The team will have two more days of testing in Australia, on 21 and 22 February, before the start of the season.

Danilo Soncini: "Today was very cold and we worked hard with the team, Maxime Berger was not able to push hard but we have done a good job. Overall, we are satisfied because we were able to test many new parts and Maxime rode a lot getting more confidence with our Ducati 1198. Now we'll make the final checks and then we can prepare all to ship the bikes to Australia. In a few weeks the new season will start, it gets serious, we are ready. "

Maxime Berger: "Our test in Europe ended today. Now we have two days of testing at Phillip Island, were we will use all we tried during the winter tests. Today I also made a first slip, which fortunately did not have any consequences for me or the bike. The track was cold and the tires were struggling due to the low temperature. However, we have tested many parts and at the end today we were concentrated on the brakes. Even today we have a lot of data that will be useful in the future. I cannot wait to leave for Australia."

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

The 2011 FIM homologated motorcycles list for 2011 has been released and there is one major new addition for the Superbike and Superstock 1000 classes, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, in both standard and ABS versions.

For the other manufacturers, the Aprilia RSV4 Factory, BMW S1000RR, Ducati 1098R, Honda CBR 1000RR, Suzuki GSX-R 1000 (K7 and K9) and Yamaha YZF R1 model homologation remains unchanged.

In the Supersport and Superstock 600 division, entries of Suzuki's new GSX-R600L1 will be eligible from now on and the heavily revised Triumph Daytona 675R joins the previous Daytona 675 model on the homologation list.

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

A few days ago the Effenbert Liberty team left behind the Portimao rain to head for the wind and cold of the Motorland Aragon track in Spain for two more days of testing. The weather conditions meant that the team was unable to complete the work load but in general the two days were positive and a major step forward was made by the team in its preparation for the start of the championship.

Sylvain Guintoli : "Aragon is a great track. We didn't have any luck with the weather but we managed to do quite a few laps and get to know the track. We'll be ready for the next time, when we come here to race! I can't wait to get to Phillip Island for some sun!"

Jakub Smrz : "I really like the circuit, it's a pity it was so cold! Today in one of the chicanes a gust of wind hit the front of my bike and I crashed! We've tested a lot of stuff and I'm pleased with the way things went, because we improved and made some good progress. The feeling with the team and the way it works was also really good".

‘Kuba' Smrz stopped the clocks with a time of 1m59.9s and Sylvain Guintoli was slightly slower on 2m00.7s

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

Australian Bryan Staring has been granted a wildcard entry to race in the opening round of the 2011 Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island. The reigning Australian Superbike champion will campaign the Kawasaki ZX-10R for Pedercini Kawasaki - the same Italian-based outfit he will ride for in the 2011 Superstock 1000 FIM Cup.

"This is an incredible opportunity, I know Phillip Island very well, so I know what lap times will be required to be competitive," said the 23 year-old from Perth. "I am lucky I have had a lot of support from Australia, and Troy Bayliss in particular, has opened a lot of doors for me internationally."

Staring will be joined on the grid by countrymen Troy Corser (BMW), Chris Vermeulen (Kawasaki) and Josh Waters (Suzuki) at Phillip Island, in what is shaping up to be the strongest local representation at the Australian WSBK round in many years.

Staring was initially signed by Pedercini to contest the 2011 Superstock 1000 FIM Cup, but that doesn't start until mid-April, leaving the door open for him to make his WSBK debut at Phillip Island. Staring has already completed some exploratory laps on the Kawasaki Superbike at Malaysia's Sepang in mid January, and is mightily impressed by the all-new machine.

"It's a really promising motorcycle," said Staring. "Obviously, most of my testing to this point has been on the Cup-spec bike, but in that time I have developed a real insight into what makes it tick, especially the electronics. You always have to keep working on these things, but I am really happy with how it's all gone so far."

Staring has been the most successful Australian-based road racer over the last two years, winning the Supersport championship in 2009 before going one better and claiming the premier Superbike category in 2010.

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