BIAGGI 2ND ON BRNO GRID

[totalmotorcycle]

BIAGGI 2ND ON BRNO GRID
Wednesday, August 1st, 2007 - Suzuki Press Release - Total Motorcycle - www.totalmotorcycle.com



Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Max Biaggi was on course for pole position in the 16-rider Superpole shoot-out at today's ninth-round World Superbike Championship round in the Czech Republic right up the moment last rider Noriyuki Haga went out onto the Brno circuit.

At that stage, Biaggi had lapped the 5.403 km circuit in 2:00.018 - a time that looked unbeatable. But then Haga blitzed his Yamaha round the undulating track in 1:59.603 and became the first rider ever to have lapped a Superbike at Brno in less than two minutes. But Biaggi is happy enough with second today, a front row grid position and is ready for two long 20 lap races tomorrow.

His team mate Yukio Kagayama made a couple of small mistakes on his Superpole lap and ended sixth quickest - the same as last year. Third fastest in Superpole today is Troy Bayliss (Ducati) with series leader James Toseland (Honda) fourth.

Max Biaggi - 2nd:

"My Superpole lap time was the fastest I've been round here this weekend and I thought maybe it was good enough for pole position. It didn't work out that way but I'm not too unhappy because I am on the front row and that is what counts. If the weather is as hot or similar to these last two days, tyres are going to be a crucial element. I think the guy who wins tomorrow's race is the one who conserves his tyres best. It's going to be a long, hard day for sure and the last five or six laps of the races are going to very interesting. I hope that tomorrow Brno will once again give me good memories."

Yukio Kagayama - 6th:

"I was sixth in qualifying last year and went on to win both races, so if I can do the same I will be very happy! Today I made some mistakes in Superpole and lost some time. That was enough to lose the front row, but sixth is not so bad. I went onto the grass and then wheelied when I hit the ripple strip and that was probably about four-tenths-of-a-second gone. Then some slides and more time lost, so that's where my Superpole lap went. But I'm quite happy with my times on race rubber and as long as I get a good start I think I can be competitive for sure. It's going to be very hard tomorrow - especially if the weather stays as hot. Tyre life is going to be a problem and you will have to have a good tyre strategy to win the race. This is going to be my goal."

Final WSB Qualifying: 1 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:59.603, 2 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 2:00.018, 3 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 2:00.034, 4 Toseland (GB-Honda) 2:00.235, 5 Corser (Aus-Yamaha) 2:00.251, 6 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 2:00.879, 7 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 2:01.078, 8 Neukirchner (D-Suzuki) 2:01.177, 9 Rolfo (I-Honda) 2:01.234, 10 Fabrizio (I-Honda) 2:01.690.

SUPERSTOCK 1000:

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Xavier Simeon was on course for a front row grid place in final qualifying today but his flying lap was brought to a halt because of a red flag.

Up to the red flag his time through the first two splits would have put him second quickest, but when the flag came out, the chance was gone.

Xavier Simeon - 5th:

"I am happy, but not happy. I'm happy because the team have worked hard and given me a very, very good bike and I like riding it a lot. I am unhappy because I know I should've been on the front row of the grid. I would've been there but for the red flag. But that's how racing is sometimes. The tyres are going to be a bit of a problem tomorrow because of the heat but it's the same for everybody and we will have to see what happens in the race and how the tyres perform. I am really enjoying riding this bike at this track and I still think I can be on the podium tomorrow.

Friday Superstock Qualifying: 1 Van Keymeulen (B-Yamaha) 2:06.364, 2 Badovini (I-MV) 2:06.859, 3 Baiocco (I-Yamaha) 2:07.178, 4 Dionisi (I-Suzuki) 2:07.602, 5 Xavier Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 2:07.633, 6 Pirro (I-Yamaha) 2:07.782.