SBK
Toseland the leading light on eve of Donington event
29 marzo 2007
He is looking for his first pre-race Superpole win of the 2007 season at Donington, but like many of his peers he will have to spend some time re-learning the track layout before laying down any possible pole-winning times. Roberto Rolfo (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) is currently just outside the top ten in the championship order, but compared to most of his peers he has great recent experience of Donington, thanks to several year of competition there in 250GPs and then MotoGP. Michel Fabrizio (DFX Corse Honda CBR1000RR), his team-mate Steve Martin (DFX Corse Honda CBR1000RR) and Joshua Brookes (Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR) are ranged out in order behind Rolfo in the championship standings, with Fabrizio 12th overall. Martin, despite being told he would not have a ride at Donington, or for the rest of the year, due to sponsorship issues, will be present in the DFX team until at least round six at Monza, and thus he will have the opportunity to score points at Donington this weekend. Karl Muggeridge (Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR) has suffered bad luck recently, but like Brookes found real progress in his machine’s set-up at a recent official test outing in Valencia, and thus returns to a circuit he knows well with hope of good results, and almost free of injury after a big pre-race fall at the previous round in his native Australia. Toseland has drawn confidence not only from his own form but the comments of other riders, with even more world titles than James’s single WSB crown from the 2004 season. “So far, the racing has been spot-on for me,” says an ebullient Toseland. “It’s an honour to be riding with such great competition and to hear the like of Troy Bayliss complimenting me at Phillip Island is very flattering. It’s a great feeling to be heading to Donington as the championship leader – I couldn’t ask for a better way to be going into the first home race. I feel fitter than ever and I cannot wait to race in the UK. I’ll give it everything I have to get a win for the fans.” Rolfo now feels ready to move into the upper echelons of his chosen class, after some tough rides since joining his new team. “Although the first two rounds did not go as smoothly as I might have hoped, my aim was to be inside the top ten and that’s where I am,” said Rolfo before heading to England. “I feel more confident on the bike and I know that I can do well at Donington if I get my head down and concentrate on the task. I have ridden at the track before from my days in the 250cc World Championship so I’ll use that to my advantage and hopefully get the top six place we are aiming for.” Despite two retirements so far Fabrizio is still close to a top ten placing and holds memories of 2006’s three podium finishes dear as he enters a track he has limited experience of. “At the moment I am concentrated on the championship and all my personal resources are focused on getting the best results possible,” said Fabrizio. “After the second Australian race I have demonstrated that it is possible for us to get onto the podium again. I know the Donington circuit because I raced there when I was in the 125 GP World Championship. I am sure that my motorcycle and my team are ready for this challenge.” Martin, who was unsure of having a ride until Monday of this week, is now ready to deliver his usual large hit of talent and commitment to the next task in hand. He also thinks Donington will even things out through the field. "Donington is the first track we get to ride this year where the factory teams haven’t tested,” said Steve. “Although my bike is unchanged from Phillip Island I feel it will be easier to be closer to the front as no one will have benefited from any testing there." For Brookes the most recent test was a real step forward and he hopes Donington will provide an even bigger one in his first year of Honda World Superbike competition. “Valencia was good, and it gave us the chance to look at the main areas of concern for us,” said the former WSS race winner. “The suspension is still not working the way we would like it to, but it’s better than it has ever been. I hope that Donington will see another Superpole qualification, and hopefully a little better result again from Phillip Island. I don’t know the circuit, but I’ve heard it rocks. Maybe the team and I can crack a couple of top tens in the races! We’ll see.” Karl Muggeridge is nearly back to full fitness. “We did a lot of good work at Valencia,” he stated, “and I can't wait to get down to it at Donington. My foot is nearly healed after by crash in Australia but I can't say it's healed enough to let me go running on it just yet. But it should be good for the next race. I haven't been to Donington for some time, but I have raced there a lot in the past.” |
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