SBK
Brno preview: James Toseland ready for more success
19 luglio 2007 
Toseland, the 2004 World Superbike Champion, has lacked nothing in determination in the most recent rounds and ended the Vallelunga tests placed fourth fastest, despite trying out many new electronic developments on his well-proven CBR1000RR. Toseland is currently a clear 21-points ahead of 2001 and 2006 champion Troy Bayliss, with Noriyuki Haga another five points back; Max Biaggi is now fourth, 43 points from Toseland. Roberto Rolfo (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) is looking for his first elusive SBK podium in his second Superbike season, having scored two fourth places at Monza and Silverstone. Michel Fabrizio (DFX Corse Honda CBR1000RR) was drafted into MotoGP action at Sachsenring last weekend and in finishing inside the top ten on a Gresini Honda RC212V he put himself into a good position to return to the scene of his greatest ever SBK rides. In 2006 Fabrizio scored two remarkable podiums at Brno, with a third in race one and an audacious second in race two, after deposing Corser and Haga at the finish line itself. Brno should see the return of Karl Muggeridge (Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR), but he will be competing in a one-man team this time around, after his former team-mate Joshua Brookes joined the Stiggy Motorsports Honda Supersport squad to see out the season on a CBR600RR. 19-year-old Luca Morelli (DFX Corse Honda CBR1000RR) approaches Brno with a great deal of confidence after some good rides this year, and three points scoring finishes at tracks as diverse as Assen, Silverstone and Misano. Toseland is a rider used to operating under pressure, and at present he is positively thriving on it, especially after two positive tests in the last few weeks. “We've had two tests since Misano and both of them went really well,” said Toseland. “We tested the new PI electronics and we were one of the quickest packages in both tests. I just can't wait to get back to racing and start winning again. Brno is a circuit that both myself and Honda have done well at in the past so I'm pretty positive about this weekend.” Rolfo is banking on largely good memories of Brno in his previous life as a 250cc GP rider to allow him to turn his natural enthusiasm into top scoring results, especially after a test here in June. “I really like Brno,” said Rolfo in the build-up to race weekend. “I rode there in the 250 class and I always got a good result, although unfortunately I crashed on the last lap of what would have been my first race win there in 2002. With Superbikes, the circuit feels very different. During the tests at Brno my lap time was good. I think the race conditions will be a lot hotter compared to the test conditions, but I don't mind this too much as I enjoy to race in hard conditions. Most of all I am looking forward to getting back to racing after the break.” Brno is a magic place in the psyche of Fabrizio, but the young Roman is not being blinded by nostalgia, as he recognises the growth of the championship in general this year. “After the first difficult part of the season in World Superbike the recent good result in MotoGP will help me to face the new race at Brno this week end. Last year it was fantastic because I secured two podiums after two exceptional races. I don’t know if this year will be possible to achieve the same results, just because the competition will be much stronger than last year. But I am calm, and together my team and I will work to be winners.” Muggeridge is happy to get to track action after some recent internal problems in the team prevented him from racing at round eight in Misano. He is also confident that his machinery will be in top condition after the enforced hiatus in track proceedings. “They have improved the bikes a bit made them tidier,” said Muggeridge. “We have some new people in the team again and there will be some new things at Brno, and we will be working on the bike a lot. At the moment it will be me alone and that should allow me to have all the best parts on both bikes at the same time.” Morelli has gown in leaps and bounds after his mid-season adoption into the DFX team, and sees 2007 as a change to re-write his 2006 Brno experiences. “I have a bad memory of Brno because last year I crashed in the second qualifying practice and I didn’t race until the Sunday. My feeling with the Honda CBR is much better after the test at Vallelunga but it will be very difficult to race because Brno is a circuit where it will be fundamental to have a perfect set up. I will fight to finish in the top ten final positions, and I would like to get into Superpole - that would almost feel like a victory.” Two weeks after Brno Brands Hatch host what is traditionally the biggest SBK and WSS race on the calendar, between 3 and 5 August. |
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