Track-News 2008

04.07.08. WSBK. After taking his first win at Misano in San Marino last weekend in race two Steilgarda Go-Eleven Ducati's Ruben Xaus will head to the italian circuit of Vallelunga near Rome along with the rest of the Superbike paddock for two of official testing next tuesday and wednesday. This is a vital test for the team as it will put them in a good position for when the race comes to Vallelunga on september 21st. Also making his debut at the test is 20-year-old Niccolo Canepa who will be riding as a wild card at Brno, Vallelunga and Magny-Cours for the Xerox Ducati team.

29.06.08. WSBK. Round eight, Misano, San Marino, day three, race two. An incident on lap two when Karl Muggeridge's DF Honda spilled oil on the fast start-finish line, the race was red flagged and after a twenty minute delay it was re-run over the whole twenty four laps race distance. In a thriller of a race Sterilgarda Go-Eleven Ducati's Ruben Xaus battled hard with the likes of Corser and Bayliss to take his first win of the season ahead of his team -mate Max Biaggi and Xerox Ducati's Troy Bayliss. Fourth place saw Yamaha Motor Italia's Nori fight his way from nineteenth on the grid as his team-mate Troy Corser who made a mistake while lying in third with four laps to go finished in fifth. Sixth was RG Team Ducati's Lorenzo Lanzi, seventh Alstare Suzuki's Max Neukirchner, eighth Hannspree Ten Kate Honda's Carlos Checa, ninth Guandalini Racing Ducati's Jakub Smrz with Alstare Suzuki's Fonsi Nieto finishing in tenth.

29.06.08. WSBK. Round eight, Misano, San Marino, day three, race one. Germany's Max Neukirchner took victory in race one at Misano in San Marino ahead of Yamaha Motor Italia's Troy Corser and Xerox Ducati's Troy Bayliss. The Alstare Suzuki rider who started from tenth on the grid battled his way through the pack to take his first ever win at the Misano circuit. Fourth was Sterilgarda Go-Eleven Ducati's Ruben Xaus who led for the first half of the race until he was passed by Corser and Neukirchner, fifth Hannspree Ten Kate Honda's Carlos Checa, sixth RG Team Ducati's Lorenzo Lanzo, seventh Guandalini Racing Ducati's Jakub Smrz, eighth Vent-Axia VK Honda''s Gregorio Lavilla, ninth Ipone Yamaha's Shinya Nakatomi, tenth Yamaha Motor Italia's Nori Haga. Both Max Biaggi and Michel Fabrizio crashed out as the Xerox Ducati rider lost his front end while trying to pass the Sterilgarda Go-Eleven rider resulting in both of them ending up in the gravel, Also not finishing race one was the PSG-1 Kawasaki duo of Regis Laconi and Makoto Tamada who both crashed on seperate occassion's.

28.06.08. BSB. Round six, Mallory Park, Leicestershire, day two. Rizla Suzuki's Tom Sykes took pole position at Mallory Park for round six of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship. The Huddersfield rider after a technical problem took to his spare bike to set a time of 56.005 seconds ahead of Relentless TAS Suzuki's with Airwaves Ducati's Shane Byrne and HM Plant Honda's Cal Crutchlow rounding out the front row in fourth. HM Plant Honda's Leon Haslam fifth, sixth NW200 Ducati's Michael Rutter, seventh RM Yamaha's Karl Harris, eighth Tena For Men Honda's Tristian Palmer, ninth Build Base NW200 Ducati's John Laverty and MSS Discovery Kawasaki's Billy McConnell in tenth.

28.06.08. WSBK. Round eigtht, Misano, San Marino, day two, Superpole. In hot sunny conditions Yamaha Motor Italia's Troy Corser took pole position at Misano circuit in San Marino with a time of 1min'35.903 seconds ahead of fellow countryman Xerox Ducati's Troy Bayliss and Sterilgarda Go-Eleven Ducati's Ruben Xaus with Xerox Ducati's Michel Fabrizio rounding out the front rwo in fourth. Fifth was Sterilgarda Go-Eleven Ducati Max Biaggi, sixth RG Team Ducati's Lorenzo Lanzi, seventh Guandalini Racing Ducati's Jakub Smrz, eighth PSG-1 Kawasaki's Regis Laconi, ninth Alstare Suzuki's Fonsi Nieto and team-mate Max Neukirchner in tenth.

28.06.08. MOTO-GP. Round nine, Assen, Holland, day three, race day. Marlboro Ducati's Casey Stoner won the Dutch TT at Assen in Holland in true style in front of 95,000 screaming race fans. The 22-year-old Australian who won from pole positon took the lead early on from Repsol Honda's Danny Pedrosa crossed the line some two seconds ahead of the Honda man with Yamaha Tech 3's Colin Edwards in a brilliant third. Fourth was Repsol Honda's Nicky Hayden, fifth JIR Team Scot's Andrea Dovizioso, sixth Fiat Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo, seventh Rizla Suzuki's Chris Vermeulen, eighth San Carlo Gresini Honda's Shinya Nakano, ninth Yamaha Tech 3's James Toseland, tenth Alice Ducati's Sylvain Gunintoli while Fiat Yamaha's Valentino Rossi who crashed on the opening lap managed to remount and finish down in eleventh. The championship now stands with Danny Pedrosa 172 points, Valentino Rossi 167 points, Casey Stoner 142 points.

27.06.08. BSB. Round six, Mallory Park, Leicestershire, day one. Before heavy rain fall Rizla Suzuki's Tom Sykes topped the time sheets at the end of day one at Mallory Park in Leicestershire by setting a time of 1 min.00490 seconds ahead Tena 4 Men Honda's Tristion Palmer and STP Superbike MV Augusta's Chris Burns. Neither of the Airwaves Ducati riders ventured out onto the wet track as did NW200 Ducati's Michael Rutter aswell as eleven other riders opting to set a better time in saturday's final qualifying sessions.

27.06.08. MOTO-GP. Kawasaki's John Hopkins has been ruled out of tomorrow's race at the Dutch TT in Assen in Holland. The Anglo-American 26-year-old rider crashed heavily in the final qualifying session breaking his left ankle. This is a bitter blow for Hopper as he felt that a good result was on the cards for saturday's race.

27.06.08. WSBK. Round eight. Misano, San Marino, day one. Xerox Ducati's Troy Bayliss set the fastest time on day one for round eight of the Hannspree World Superbike Championship at Misano in San Marino. The Xerox Ducati rider set a time of 1min 36.865 seconds ahead of Guandalini Racing Ducati's Jakub Smrz and Yamaha Motor Italia's Troy Corser, fourth was Sterilgarda Go-Eleven Ducati's Max Biaggi, fifth Yamaha Motor Italia's Nori Haga, sixth PSG-1's Kawasaki's Regis Laconi, seventh RG Team Ducati's Lorenzo Lanzi, eighth Sterilgarda Go-Eleven Ducati's Ruben Xaus, ninth Alstare Suzuki's Max Neukirchner and in tenth DF Honda's Karl Muggeridge.

27.06.08. MOTO-GP. Round nine, Assen, Holland, day two. Casey Stoner took pole position for a second weekend in a row at Assen in Holland for tomorrow's race. The Marlboro Ducati ace set a blistering of of 1 min'35.520 seconds to set a new lap record ahead of Repsol Honda's Danny Pedrosa and Fiat Yamaha's Valentino Rossi. Fourth quickest was Repsol Honda's Nicky Hayden, fifth LCR Honda's Randy de Puniet, sixth Yamaha Tech 3's Colin Edwards, seventh Fiat Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo, eighth Rizla Suzuki's Chris Vermeulen, ninth RSM San Carlos Gresini Honda's Shinya Nakano with Alice Ducati's Sylain Quintoli in tenth.

26.06.08. MOTO-GP. Round nine, Assen, Holland, day one. Marlboro Ducati rider Casey Stoner set the pace on day one at the Dutch TT at Assen in Holland. The 22 year-old Australian set a time of 1 min'36.087 seconds ahead of Fiat Yamaha's Valentino Rossi and Yamaha Tech 3's Colin Edwards. Fourth was Repsol Honda's Nicky Hayden, fifth RSM San Carlos Gresini Honda's Alex de Angelis with team-mate Shinya Nakano sixth, seventh LCR Honda's Randy de Puniet, eighth Kawasaki's John Hopkins, ninth Repsol Honda's Danny Pedrosa, tenth Rizla Suzuki's Chris Vermeulen with Britain's James Toseland down in thirteenth.

22.06.08. MOTO-GP. Round eight, Donington Park, UK, day three, raceday. Pole sitter Marlboro Ducati's Casey Stoner led from start to finish to win the British Grand - Prix by over three seconds ahead of Fiat Yamaha's Valentino Rossi and Repsol Honda's Danny Pedrosa who fought hard against Rossi throughout the race but was no match for the Italian in the end. Fourth place saw Yamaha Tech 3's Colin Edwards fair better than his team -mate James Toseland who started from sixteenth on the grid only to crash on the first lap going into turn one where he remounted to complete the race in seventeenth. Fifth was JIR Team Scot's Andera Dovizioso, sixth Fiat Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo, seventh Repsol Honda's Nicky Hayden, eighth Rizla Suzuki's Chris Vermeulen, ninth RSM San Carlos Gresini Honda's with Kawasaki's Anthony West in a season's bests in tenth.

21.06.08. MOTO-GP. Round eight, Donington Park, UK, day two. Reigning World Champion Casey Stoner made the most of the wet conditions at Donington Park in the U.K to take pole position for sunday's race. The Marlboro Ducati rider lapped the derbyshire circuit in a time of 1'38.881 seconds ahead of Fiat Yamaha's Valentino Rossi and Rizla Suzuki's Chris Vermeulen. Fourth was the Repsol Honda's Nicky Hayden, fifth Yamaha Tech 3's Colin Edwards, sixth JIR Team Scot's Andrea Dovizioso, seventh Kawasaki's Anthony West, eighth Rizla Suzuki's Ben Spies, ninth Repsol Honda's Danny Pedrosa, tenth RSM San Carlos Gresini Honda's Shinya Nakano. Britain's James Toseland had his worst qualifying session of the season as the Yamaha Tech 3 rider crashed twice and will start tomorrow's race from sixteenth.

20.06.08. MOTO-GP. Round eight, Donington Park, UK, day one. Marlboro Ducati's Casey Stoner set the pace in both of the practice sessions on day one of round eight of the British Grand-Prix at Donington Park in the UK. The current reigning world champion set a time of 1'28.253 seconds ahead of Repsol Honda's Nicky Hayden who was using the new Honda pneumatic valve-engine for the first time. Fiat Yamaha's Valentino Rossi with third with Yamaha Tech's Colin Edwards in fourth, fifth was RSM San Carlos Gresini Honda's Alex de Angelis, sixth Repsol Honda's Danny Pedrosa, seventh RSM San Carlos Gresini Honda's Shinya Nakano, eighth Yamaha Tech's James Toseland, ninth Rizla Suzuki's Chris Vermeulen with LCR Honda's Randy de Puniet in tenth.

18.06.08. WSBK. Xerox Ducati boss Davide Tardozzi has confirmed that British Superbike rider Shane "Shakey" Byrne is on his wish list for 2009 when he has to fill the seat of current rider Troy Bayliss when he retires at the end of the season. Davide knows it's a huge task in finding a rider to replace Troy Bayliss but the British Airwaves Ducati rider Byrne has run away with the series so far on the Italian machinery. This would boost the British fans hopes for 2009 as there is no British rider in the World Superbike Championship this year due to James Toseland signing for the Yamaha Tech 3 in Moto-Gp at the end of last year.

15.06.08. BSB. Round five, Snetterton, Norfolk, day three, race two. After seeing his team-mate deny him the win in race one Shane Shakey Byrne won race two in true style aboard the Airwaves Ducati machine ahead of his team-mate Leon Camier and HM Plant Honda's Cal Crutchlow. Fourth was NW200 Ducati's Michael Rutter, fifth HM Plant Honda's Leon Haslam, sixth Relentless TAS Suzuki's Michael Laverty, seventh Rizla Suzuki's Tom Sykes, eighth Lloyds Jentin Yamaha Simon Andrews, ninth Tena for Men Honda's Tristian Palmer, tenth Hydrex Bike Animal Honda's James Ellison.

15.06.08. BSB. Round five, Snetterton, Norfolk, day three, race one. Airwaves Ducati's Leon Camier took his first ever victory in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Snetterton in Norfolk ahead of his team-mate Shane Byrne and Rizla Suzuki's Tom Sykes. Camier kept his cool throughout the race to overcome a strong attack from his team-mate Shakey Byrne by winning by just 0.092 seconds. Fouth was HM Plant Honda's Cal Crutchlow, fifth HM Plant Honda's Leon Haslam, sixth Relentlas TAS Suzuki's Michael Laverty, seventh Hydrex Bike Animal Honda's James Ellison, eighth Ducati NW200 Michael Rutter, ninth Lloyds Jentin Yamaha Simon Andrews, tenth RM Yamaha Karl Harris.

15.06.08.WSS. It has been confirmed that Britain's Tommy Hill has re-broken his left femur in today's Worlds Supersport crash at the Nurburgring in Germany. The Hannspree Altea Honda rider has just come back from a nine months recovery where the 23 year-old broke his pelvis and femur while testing for the team last November in Spain. This is devastating news for Tommy as it is certain that he could miss the rest of the season and is currently be driven back to the UK where he is said to re visit the hospital in south London who operated on his first injuries. We all wish Tommy a speedy recovery here at Track-news.

15.06.08. WSBK. Round seven, Nurburgring, Germany, day three, race two. Race saw Yamaha Motor Italia's Nori Haga repeat victory in race two over his team-mate Troy Corser and Alstare Suzuki's Max Neukirchner, but Haga was forced all the way by Corser and Xerox Ducati's Troy Bayliss early on until Bayliss made a mistake going into turn one and dropping back to fifth. Lap after lap it seemed that Troy Corser was lining Nori Haga up for the pass and with three laps to go he managed to pass the Japanese star, but it was so short lived as the race was red flagged due to rain and with two thirds race distance complete the race result was taken from the previous lap and giving Haga his second win of the day. Troy Bayliss managed to make his way up to fourth and still leads the championship with 227 points, Carlos Checa second on 188 points, Max Neukirchner third on 176 points, Nori Haga fourth on 172 points and Troy Corser in fifth on 151 points.

15.06.08. WSBK. Round seven, Nurburgring, Germany, day three, race one. In a thriller of a race between Yamaha Motor Italia's Nori Haga and Xerox Ducati's Troy Bayliss where the pair swapped the lead at least six times, it was the Yamaha of Nori Haga that took full advantage of Bayliss's mistake with three laps to go to take victory at the Nurburgring in Germany, and to make the victory even sweeter Nori Haga was riding with six pins in his shoulder from the crash at Utah only two weeks ago. Pole sitter and home favourite Alstare Suzuki's Max Neukirchner could not match the pace of Haga and Bayliss and finished a credable third ahead of Yamaha Motor Italia's Troy Corser and Hannspree Ten Kate Honda's Carlos Checa, Sterilgarda Go-Eleven Ducati's Ruben Xaus finished sixth with Xerox Ducati's Michel Fabrizio seventh and Alstare Suzuki's Fonsi Nieto in eighth.

14.06.08. BSB. Round five, Snetterton, Norfolk, day two. Airwaves Ducati ace Shane Shakey Byrne took his fourth pole position of the year by setting the quickest time in the final session of qualifying at Snetteron in Norfolk. The London born rider set a time of 1'05.162 seconds in wet tricky conditions ahead of HM Plant Honda's Cal Crutchlow and Airwaves Ducati's Leon Camier with HM Plant Honda's Leon Haslam in fourth. In fifth and heading off row two is Rizla Suzuki's Tom Sykes, sixth RM Yamaha's Karl Harris, seventh NW200 Ducati's Michael Rutter, eighth Relentless TAS Suzuki's Michael Laverty, ninth MSS Discovery Kawasaki's Billy McConnell and rounding out the top ten Hydrex Bike Animal Honda's James Ellison.

14.06.08. WSBK. Round seven, Nurburgring, Germany, day two, Superpole. Home hero Max Neukirchner stormed to his second pole position of the season at his home round at the Nurburgring in Germany today. The Alstare Suzuki rider set a time of 1'55.047 seconds which was just enough to keep Xerox Ducati's Troy Bayliss from taking pole. Third was Hannspree Ten Kate Honda's Carlos Checa, fourth Yamaha Motor Italia's Nori Haga, fifth Xerox Ducati's Michel Fabrizio, sixth Yamaha Motor Italia's Troy Corser, seventh RG Team Ducati's Lorenzo Lanzi, eighth Sterilgarda Go-Eleven Ducati's Max Biaggi, ninth DF Racing Honda's Karl Muggeridge, tenth Sterilgarda Go-Eleven's Ruben Xaus.

13.06.08. BSB. Round five, Snetterton, Norfolk, day one. It was the HM Plant Hhonda rider Leon Haslam that set the pace at the Norfolk based circuit for round five of the Bennetts British Superbike Champion. The Derbyshire based rider set a blistering time of 1'05.448 seconds ahead of the Rizla Suzuki of Tom Sykes and Airwaves Ducati Leon Camier. fourth was the RM Yamaha of Karl Harris, fifth NW200 Ducati's Michael Rutter, sixth Hm Plant Honda's Cal Crutchlow, seventh Lioyds Jentin Yamaha's Simon Andrews, eighth Relentless TAS Suzuki's Michael Laverty and in ninth and tenth was the MSS Discovery Kawasaki riders Billy McConnell and Stuart Easton.

13.06.08. WSBK. Round seven, Nurburgring, Germany, day one. Yamaha Motor Italia's Troy Corser finished day one top of the time for round seven of the Hannspree World Superbike Championship at the infamous Nurburgring in Germany ahead of Xerox Ducati's Troy Bayliss and Hannspree Ten Kate Honda's Carlos Checa, fourth was home hero Alstare Suzuki's Max Neukirchner ahead of his team-mate Yukio Kagayama, sixth PSG-1's Kawasaki's Regis Laconi, seventh Yamaha Motor Italia's Nori Haga, eighth Xerox Ducati's Michel Fabrizio and in ninth and tenth was the Sterilgarda Go-Eleven Ducati's of Ruben Xaus and Max Biaggi.

09.06.08. MOTO-GP. Rizla Suzuki rider loris Capirossi is hoping to be fit for the British Grand-Prix at Donington Park next weekend after fracturing his hand at the Catalan Grand-Prix last sunday. The Italian veteran rider was hit from behind by RSM San Carlos Gresini Honda's Alex de Angelis on the eleventh lap and had to miss monday's test session. Loris said "It's a really bad end to the weekend, but it's racing, but i have to be careful now as it won't be easy to recover."

08.06.08. MOTO-GP. Round seven, Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. raceday. Home hero Danny Pedrosa made little work of securing victory at the Cataluyna Grand-Prix in Spain. The Repsol Honda rider took the lead from pole-sitter Marlboro Ducati's Casey Stoner on lap one and was never troubled throughout the race to take the chequred flag. Fiat Yamaha's Valentino Rossi eventually took second spot from Casey Stoner with two laps remaining where the Italian started from ninth on the grid. Fourth was JIR Team Scot's Andrea Dovizioso, fifth Yamaha Tech 3's Colin Edwards, sixth Yamaha Tech 3's James Toseland, seventh Rizla Suzuki's Chris Vermeulen, eighth Repsol Honda's Nicky Hayden, ninth RSM San Carlos Gresini Honda's Shinya Nakano, tenth Kawasaki's John Hopkins.

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