Round Two - Phillip Island

[Trev]

G'day guys, been given ten double passes to give away to the World Supers this weekend at the Island. No doubt they won't be of much use to nearly all of you due to the tyranny of distance but you might still find the quiz a good test of your Superbike knowledge and might enjoy it anyway.

You will need to use a common browser such as IE and a common email program such as outlook or outlook express for your entry to go in. You need a 50% pass mark to go into the competition draw.

http://www.mcnews.com.au/NewsArchives/2007...uary/quiz_1.htm

[Trev]

Preview

Top-flight motorcycle racing action returns to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this weekend (March 2-4), with the 2007 Yamaha Superbike World Championship shaping up to be a classic battle between not only Australia’s two premier Superbike combatants, Troy Bayliss and Troy Corser, but also Italian superbike “rookie” Max Biaggi and British hard-charger James Toseland.

Racing devotees will still remember last year’s battle at Phillip Island, when the two Aussie world champions claimed the spoils at their beloved home track. Corser, then Suzuki-backed, reigned supreme in race one and the second 22-lapper went to Bayliss (Ducati) -- but not before Corser departed the scene after a vicious high side. To compound matters, Corser was then hit on the back and head by a passing Alex Barros.

The action is guaranteed to be just as furious in 2007, with practice and qualifying on Friday, March 2; second qualifying, Superpole and support racing on Saturday, March 3 and a packed program of racing including two 22-lap world Superbike races and a 21-lap world Supersport battle on Sunday, March 4.

Last year’s Phillip Island victory was Bayliss’ first win of his return season to Superbikes on the factory Ducati, and the campaign was all glory from there. The Ducati-backed Bayliss wrested control of the championship in a mid-year blitz that included eight successive wins, and claimed his second world title at the penultimate round in Italy.

After a difficult opening to his championship defence at Losail (Qatar) last weekend, which saw him labour to fifth and eighth place finishes, 37-year old Bayliss knows that Phillip Island is shaping up as a real acid test.

At least he can look back on his last visit to the circuit with confidence, where he recorded a best lap of 1:30.7 in pre-season testing – the best-ever World Superbike time around the acclaimed 4.445km circuit.

Meanwhile, Corser’s first outing in his new Yamaha factory colours at Losail was exceptional, which included pole position for the 39th time in his career, and a third place in race two behind Toseland (Honda) and probably the most highly credentialed debutante in world Superbike history – Max Biaggi (Suzuki).

With more confidence-inspiring kilometres under his belt in Qatar, Corser is sure to be a front-runner at Philip Island – a place where he has won at an unprecedented seven times, including two clean sweeps in 1996 and 2005.

Toseland (Honda), the 2004 world champion, and Biaggi (Suzuki) were the standout figures at Losail, sharing victories and second places in the two 18-lappers.

Toseland’s deeds were hardly a surprise to World Superbike aficionados, and the towering performance by Biaggi – which included a new lap record -- only added spice to what should be the most competitive season on record.

Biaggi is a past winner at Phillip Island in the 500cc grand prix class, and that pedigree alone will ensure that he’s a contender this weekend.

Biaggi and Toseland are joint championship leaders on 45pts, well clear of the battle for third between Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati, 25), Corser (Yamaha, 23) and Japan’s Yukio Kagayama (GSX-R1000, 23). Then it’s Haga (Yamaha, 21) and Bayliss (19).

Back at the local level, there are three other Honda-riding Aussies in the 2007 championship –Melbourne’s Steve Martin and teammates Karl Muggeridge (Gold Coast) and Josh Brookes (Bringelly).

Martin, who originally hails from Adelaide, could well be a threat at the island. He is blindingly fast at his favourite home circuit – as is Brookes, who won the world Supersport round there in 2004.

Australian riders have won five of the last six World Superbike races at Phillip Island, and a total of 20 out of 31 dating back to 1990.

Behind Corser, Anthony Gobert (five wins) and Bayliss (three) have been the most successful Australian riders at Phillip Island.

Six manufacturers will be represented on the grid this weekend – Yamaha, Ducati, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki and MV Agusta – with all of them drawing from the same pool of Pirelli control tyres.

The tyre parity means that up to 10 riders are capable of winning at Phillip Island – a unique characteristic that world Superbikes boasts in the often sole competitor dominated arena of global motorsport.

CURTAIN AND PARKES TO FLY THE AUSSIE FLAG IN WORLD SUPERSPORT

In the major support class of world Supersport, the Novocastrian pair of veteran Kevin Curtain and Broc Parkes (Yamaha Motor Germany) will continue to fly the Aussie flag.

Curtain has been runner-up in the past two championships – a crash in last year’s final round handed the trophy to arch-rival Sebastien Charpentier (Honda) – while Parkes is now ready to shoot for championship honours.

They will compete in one 21-lap race at the island against a field of spirited hard chargers from around the globe, led by Charpentier and his lightning fast Turkish teammate, Kenan Sofuoglu.

The latter won at Losail last weekend, ahead of Curtain. Charpentier (crash) and Parkes (tyre problems) failed to finish.

SUPPORT CATEGORIES

Also on the Phillip Island event card will be national support events for Superbike, Supersport Superstock and Forgotten Era machinery. The latter caters for Period 4 (1963-1972) and Period 5 (1973-1980) historic motorcycles – the type of hardware that assisted Wayne Gardner on the road to stardom.

20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

A gaggle of Australia’s former World Superbike stars, including Rob Phillis and Kevin Magee, will take part in a special 20th year championship celebration this weekend.

Phillis and Magee will cut some demonstration laps with their countryman Peter Goddard before the opening World Superbike race on Sunday, while popular New Zealander Aaron Slight will also make the journey across the Tasman to join them.
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EVENT INFORMATION AND TICKET PRICES

The 2007 round marks the 14th consecutive year that the challenging 4.445km circuit with its high-speed straight, sweeping corners and panoramic ocean vistas has hosted world Superbike action.

Lots of great ticket options are available from individual to family passes through to BAR SBK – a portable ticket that gives access to three prime undercover licensed viewing locations around the circuit. Maybe VIP corporate hospitality is more your style with the deluxe Advantage Plus package including a tour of pit lane and superior accommodation. Various other corporate packages are available such as SBK Express – a one day ticket with return helicopter transfers from Melbourne.

For those fans who opt to pitch a tent, camping is available in the Trackside Campground - including entertainment, toilets, showers, hot food vans and general store. A camping ticket for four nights (Thursday to Sunday inclusive) costs $80 per ticket.

Lots of family activities complete the picture including the Yamaha Blue Zone for kids, the jumping castle and bungee trampolines.

TICKET PRICES:
General Admission
Race day ticket – Sunday only $70.00 (children 5-15… $32)
Three Day ticket – Friday, Saturday, Sunday $120.00
Family – Sunday $140.00
Family – three day ticket $240.00
BAR SBK (undercover licensed facility with Superscreen Vision)
Includes Viewing at Gardner Straight/Siberia/Lukey Heights $180

Camping (four nights – Thursday to Sunday inclusive) $80 per person (children 5-15..$27)

VIP Corporate Hospitality
SBK Express $1,800
Advantage Plus (from) $1,095
Club Superbike $685
Aussie Superbike Club $450

WINS AND RECORDS
2006 Results Race One – Troy Corser; Race Two – Troy Bayliss
Lap Records
Best Lap 2006 Troy Bayliss – Ducati 1m31.908
Superpole 2006 Troy Bayliss – Ducati 1m32.159
Race Record 2006 Troy Bayliss – Ducati 1m32.402

[CB Boy]

G'day guys, been given ten double passes to give away to the World Supers this weekend at the Island. No doubt they won't be of much use to nearly all of you due to the tyranny of distance but you might still find the quiz a good test of your Superbike knowledge and might enjoy it anyway.

You will need to use a common browser such as IE and a common email program such as outlook or outlook express for your entry to go in. You need a 50% pass mark to go into the competition draw.

http://www.mcnews.com.au/NewsArchives/2007...uary/quiz_1.htm[/b]

Entered......
I'll be at PI this weekend......wooo hooo

[green litre]

Thanks for that Trev, can't wait! Wonder just how many PSB'ers are going.

[Trev]

Preview
Australian World Superbike hero Troy Bayliss (Ducati) has declared that only all-out attack will see him retain his No. 1 plate at the end of the 2007 season.

Speaking before round two at Phillip Island’s grand prix circuit this weekend (March 2-4), the 37-year-old said that he was a “passenger” in the opening battle at Qatar last Sunday, and he now has to re-focus in the midst of so many talented riders.

“I don’t plan to “defend” my title in 2006 -- the only way is to attack it by the horns,” said Bayliss, who laboured to fifth and eight places in Qatar. “Phillip Island always makes for great racing, and it really brings out the rider in you. I’ll be certainly looking to hit back on Sunday, although I know that four to five riders are going to be battling it out at the front.”

Bayliss is the current lap record holder at Phillip Island with a 1:32.402, but he scorched around the 4.445km circuit in a blistering 1:30.7 during pre-season testing in January.

Bayliss was philosophical about his underwhelming start to the year in Qatar.

“I suppose it’s all about points – but they weren’t the ones I was really after!” said Bayliss, a 34-time World Superbike race winner. “Qatar was certainly more difficult than I expected, and it just goes to show that you can’t rely on testing all the time. It’s the racing that really counts.”

Racing purists will be hoping that Bayliss resumes normal service at the sharp end of the field at Phillip Island, where he’s expected to face off against the heavyweights from Qatar: Troy Corser (Yamaha), rookie Max Biaggi (Suzuki) and Honda’s James Toseland.

Corser, 35, is delighted with how his new collaboration with Yamaha is working out, even though his preparation for 2007 has been an abbreviated one.

“We’ve only had about 10 days together as a team, so we are a little bit behind the other outfits,” said Corser, who claimed his 39th pole position in Qatar. “Saying that, I am relaxed and ready, and it’s great to be back at Phillip Island – a round that all riders look forward to.

Corser, who won his first world Superbike title in 1996, followed by No. 2 in 2005, is buoyed by the increased level of manufacturer support in this year’s championship.

“It’s fantastic for the organisers, riders and spectators,” said Corser. “And it’s great to see a lot of new faces in the paddock as well.”

Corser has won a phenomenal seven World Superbike races at Phillip Island, and he shared victories with Bayliss in what was a bittersweet 2006 round. After sweeping aside the field in race one, Corser then highsided in the second instalment – and was cleaned up by Brazilian Alex Barros.

Meanwhile, Max Biaggi declared his everlasting affection for his fellow Superbike competitors in today’s pre-event press conference. The Roman, who shares co-leadership of the 13-round title with Toseland, also lamented that it had taken him so long to “discover” World Superbike.

“It was my first time out in World Superbike at Qatar, and I enjoyed it a lot,” said Biaggi, who also set a new lap record. “Testing is always a little bit boring, so it was great to finally start the real thing.

“I wish I had discovered this championship years ago… because it is very competitive.”

When asked why people either adored or disliked him, a nonplussed Biaggi -- whose enmity with fellow Italian Valentino Rossi is now a part of motorcycle racing lore -- said: “I prefer to divide people – some love you and some don’t.”

Pushed further, the Italian said that he “loved” his new Superbike contemporizes – a level of admiration which is unlikely to permeate onto the track in Sunday’s two 22-lap races.

Biaggi and Toseland have already banked 45pts in 2007, well clear of the battle for third between Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati, 25), Corser (23) and Japan’s Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki, 23). Then it’s Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha, 21) and Bayliss (19).

There will be 22 riders on the grid this weekend, including three more Aussies: Melbourne’s Steve Martin and teammates Karl Muggeridge (Gold Coast) and Josh Brookes (Bringelly). The trio is all Honda mounted, with the former a front row-starter in the last four years.

In addition, four Australians will defend local pride in World Supersport: Yamaha duo Kevin Curtain and Broc Parkes and wildcards Chris Seaton (Honda) and Judd Greedy (Yamaha).

Curtain, 40, is a perennial Phillip Island front runner, including a win in 2001 and second places the last three years.

“Some of those defeats over the last three years have been very close calls,” said Curtain “so I reckon it’s about time to take my place on the top of the dais once again.

“I made the wrong tyre choice in Qatar, and I still finished in second place. That gives me a lot of confidence for this weekend.”

When asked when he’s going to start slowing down, Curtain said: “I thought I was riding the best I ever had when I was 30 years old, and now I’m saying the same thing at 40.

“The only thing is that I can now join the Ulysses Club (an organisation for ‘mature’ motorcyclists)!”

Practice and qualifying for the field of 22 world Superbikes and 38 world Supersport bikes begins on Friday, March 2; second qualifying, Superpole and support racing is on Saturday, March 3; and a packed program of racing including two 22-lap world Superbike races and a 21-lap world Supersport battle is on Sunday, March 4.

The support races will be for Superbike, Supersport, Superstock and Forgotten Era (1963-1980) machinery.

Another highlight of the weekend will be a special 20th year championship celebration, which will see a group of former World Superbike stars take part in some parade laps on Saturday and Sunday.

The cast will include Rob Phillis (who raced in World Superbike 1988-1994, 1996) on a Kawasaki; Kevin Magee (1991-1992) on a Yamaha; Peter Goddard (1989-1990, 1995-2002) on a Suzuki; New Zealander Aaron Slight (1989-2000) on a Honda, American Fred Merkel (1988-1993) on a Honda; and current Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi (1988-1992) on his beloved red machine.

Merkel will ride a replica of the Honda RC30 that he won the world title on in 1988 and 1989.

EVENT INFORMATION AND TICKET PRICES

The 2007 round marks the 14th consecutive year that the challenging 4.445km circuit with its high-speed straight, sweeping corners and panoramic ocean vistas has hosted world Superbike action.

Tickets can be purchased from Ticketmaster 7 on 1300 136 122 or from the circuit 03 5952 2710. For campsite bookings and full details on all ticket options, call the Superbike Hotline on (03) 5952 2710.

TICKET PRICES:
General Admission
Race day ticket – Sunday only $70.00 (children 5-15… $32)
Three Day ticket – Friday, Saturday, Sunday $120.00
Family – Sunday $140.00
Family – three day ticket $240.00
BAR SBK (undercover licensed facility with Superscreen Vision)
Includes Viewing at Gardner Straight/Siberia/Lukey Heights $180
Camping (four nights – Thursday to Sunday inclusive) $80 per person (children 5-15..$27)

WINS AND RECORDS
2006 Results Race One – Troy Corser; Race Two – Troy Bayliss
Lap Records
Best Lap 2006 Troy Bayliss – Ducati 1m31.908
Superpole 2006 Troy Bayliss – Ducati 1m32.159
Race Record 2006 Troy Bayliss – Ducati 1m32.402
Testing at Phillip Island – Jan 2007 Troy Bayliss 1m 30.7s

Images from Press Conference

http://www.mcnews.com.au/MotorcycleRacing2...ery_A/index.htm