SBK
WSBK: unique Monza experience looming for Carlos Checa and co.
08 maggio 2008
|
Honda riders have enjoyed success at the classic parkland track in the past, a fact that Honda’s supported riders will be looking to confirm at the fastest circuit on the SBK calendar. Despite several slow chicanes dotted around the layout, Monza has an average lap speed of almost 200kmph in qualifying trim, and in the right conditions that barrier could be broken. DFX Honda rider Michel Fabrizio took his 2007 model Fireblade to a top speed of 322.7kmph in qualifying last year, breaking the 200mph barrier officially for the first time in SBK history. Checa, having been mounted on a 2008 specification Fireblade from the outset of this season, is currently second in the championship, some 70 points behind early runaway leader Troy Bayliss. With his first career WSB victory almost within his grasp on more than one occasion this season already, Checa hopes to use the power of his Honda Fireblade to make an early break from the pack of leading riders that usually forms during most races at Monza. The effects of slipstreaming and heavy Braking for the numerous chicanes usually makes for close racing at this venue, and with so many riders on competitive machinery, this year’s races are expected to be particularly tight affairs. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) is another first-year Honda World Superbike hopeful to have shown flashes of real class, but thus far a podium finish has eluded him. Two no scores so far have held him back in 12th overall, but like his other team-mate, Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR Jr) Monza offers him a genuine chance to move up the championship table. Sofuoglu was the winner of the Monza WSS race last year, on the way to world champion status in the 600cc class. Sofuoglu is now 16th, on 26 points. Second best Honda rider in the championship chase so far is a former WSB regular, now a Honda privateer, Gregorio Lavilla (Vent Axia VK Honda CBR1000RR). Consistency has been the keyword in Lavilla’s first Honda SBK season, and the combination of his competitive spirit and the talents of his small but highly proficient team have already put him firmly inside the top ten. Karl Muggeridge (DFX Corse Honda CBR1000RR) is currently one place and one point behind Sofuoglu, after two points scoring rides at the previous round in Assen. Roberto Rolfo (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR1000RR) will miss out on the Monza race after breaking his left collarbone during a mountain bike training fall, and he is to be replaced by AMA Superbike rider Jake Zemke (32) from California. Rolfo hopes to be ready to race at the next round, at Miller Motorsports Park in the USA, on June 1. Zemke is a former Daytona 200 race winner for Honda, in the 2006 season and has taken AMA National race wins in the Superbike, Supersport and Formula Extreme classes. |
|
|
Print version
Send to a friend
Write your comment » Related headlines
Commenti dei lettori| Attenzione: si prega di non utilizzare un linguaggio offensivo, eventuali commenti volgari o offensivi saranno rimossi, così come link non giustificati. I commenti sono inseriti dai lettori, che se ne assumono la responsabilità |
|
Non sei registrato? Registrati, è gratis! |
|
|
Commento |
|
Ultime news:
