Max Biaggi improves on Checa to go overall fastest

Three days of Superbike testing at Motorland Aragon, where a round of next year's championship will be held for the first time, have concluded in Spain. At the end of the test the overall top rider was 2010 champion Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia), who clocked an impressive time of 1 minute 58.0 seconds, three tenths quicker than the benchmark set by Althea Racing's Carlos Checa on day 1.

Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) made more progress today, the British rider recording a 1'58.6 second lap as the 2011-spec ZX-10R gets closer and closer to the top runners. A good testing job was also done by BMW Motorrad and Leon Haslam was finally able to get under the two minute mark with a time of 1'59 dead, three-tenths ahead of team-mate Troy Corser.

Michel Fabrizio continued to acclimatize with his new Suzuki Alstare GSX-R1000, and despite suffering from flu he was able to set the same sub-two minute time of 1'59.2 as Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia).

No improvement on yesterday was recorded by Noriyuki Haga (Aprilia Pata Racing), while Katsuaki Fuijwara (Kawasaki Racing Team) continued to carry out sterling testing work for the team, under the watchful eyes of Chris Vermeulen, in the pit garage but still on crutches.

The quickest of the three Supersport riders out on the track today was again Luca Scassa (Triumph ParkinGO) in 2'00.9, ahead of Chaz Davies (Triumph ParkinGO) and Broc Parkes (Kawasaki Motocard.com).

Unofficial times: 1. Biaggi (Aprilia) 1'58.0; 2. Sykes (Kawasaki) 1'58.6; 3. Haslam (BMW) 1'59.0; 4. Fabrizio (Suzuki) 1'59.2; 5. Camier (Aprilia) 1'59.2; 6. Corser (BMW) 1'59.3; 7. Haga (Aprilia) 1'59.6; 8. Fuijwara (Kawasaki) 2'00.2

Source: http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/

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James Toseland talks BMW

Having just been confirmed as a BMW Motorrad Italia Superbike rider for 2011, alongside Ayrton Badovini, former champion James Toseland is excited to be on the brink of another new adventure in a class he has conquered on two previous occasions.

Speaking exclusively to www.worldsbk.com, Toseland said, "It was an inconsistent year in 2010, so in the current climate I am thankful to BMW for seeing some potential there to put me in such a good team. I am going to go into next season injury free and with everything fully mended, and with a winter plan of training and physio completed. I intend to give it my best shot."

Next up for Toseland is a visit to BMW's base in Germany, before on- bike testing starts in earnest. "I am going to Germany for about a week to go to their training camp. Whatever it takes to get ready for next year. It is not easy getting a job in racing nowadays, so I am intent on making sure it all works out well."

Source: http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/

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Max Biaggi from Sykes as Aragon test concludes

New World Superbike champion Max Biaggi remained on top of the timesheets during the third and final day of testing at Aragon in Spain.

Biaggi and Aprilia took over the top spot after day one pace setter, Althea Ducati's Carlos Checa, left the test early to make his MotoGP return in this weekend's Portuguese Grand Prix.

Checa had set a 1min 58.3sec on day one, which Biaggi was unable to beat on day two, but the Roman dropped 0.7sec from his best lap time on Friday to set a 1min 58.0sec and take overall honours.

Checa was still second on combined times, but there was a surprise in third with Kawasaki's Tom Sykes setting a 1min 58.6sec on the final day.

The Englishman, the only one of Kawasaki's three 2011 factory riders on track at the test, was 0.4sec in front of countryman Leon Haslam.

The new BMW rider was in turn 0.2sec clear of his Alstare Suzuki replacement Michel Fabrizio and Biaggi's team-mate Leon Camier, who set the same lap time.

Haslam's factory BMW team-mate Troy Corser lapped a tenth slower than on day two on his way to a Friday sixth.

New PATA Aprilia rider Noriyuki Haga was behind Corser in seventh after also not improving on the final day.

Kawasaki's Katsuaki Fujiwara was eighth.

Former WSBK rider Luca Scassa set the Supersport pace from fellow ParkinGO Triumph rider Chaz Davies, with Kawasaki's Broc Parkes in third.

Source: http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/

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BMW Italia signs Badovini and Toseland for WSBK

Team BMW Motorrad Italia Superbike has now stepped up to join the 2011 FIM Superbike World Championship, and this team will field the current Superstock 1000 FIM Cup Champion, Ayrton Badovini, and double World WSBK champion, James Toseland.

The team, the current champions in Superstock with Badovini, will have technical support from the BMW Motorrad Motorsport factory team, which is providing engines and electronics for the BMW S 1000 RR. Andrea Buzzoni, the Director of BMW Motorrad Italia and the Manager of the new Superbike project (in the photo with Badovini) will lead the team. Serafino Foti will serve as Sporting Director and Gerardo Acocella will be the Technical Director. Exciting prospect Lorenzo Zanetti (ITA) will run for the team in the Superstock 1000 class.

Hendrik von Kuenheim, General Director BMW Motorrad stated, "From next season, our BMW Motorrad Motorsport factory team will be joined in the FIM Superbike World Championship by a factory-supported BMW line-up in the shape of the BMW Motorrad Italia SBK team. The team has experience in motor racing, and in this championship specifically. Last year in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, BMW Motorrad Italia demonstrated their ability to achieve success with the BMW S1000RR, and in impressive fashion. Although the challenge in the Superbike World Championship is that much tougher, I'm convinced that BMW Motorrad will benefit from this new addition to the field. After all, competition is the lifeblood of business. We would like to wish the team every success."

"After winning the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup, we are continuing with a renewed challenge in the sporting arena," added Buzzoni. "We planned this ambitious project with enthusiasm and determination and we are happy to find the same enthusiasm in BMW AG's top management. Our Italian squad will receive technical support from Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport. The collaboration between the two teams will allow a profitable exchange of experience, know-how, solutions and ideas for development, all with the common objective of constantly improving performance. We are delighted to be able to assure Ayrton, who has given us such satisfaction in our racing competition debut, of a well-deserved promotion. Ayrton will be riding alongside two-time world champion James Toseland, who has shown great motivation and enthusiasm for the project."

Source: http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/

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Kawasaki announces five riders for Superbike and Supersport

Kawasaki has confirmed the line-up of its factory-supported teams in both WSBK and WSS classes for the 2011 racing season. Tom Sykes will ride alongside Chris Vermeulen and Joan Lascorz essentially forming a three-man WSBK effort for KRT. The team, being run by the Paul Bird Motorsports squad once more, will be using the all-new Ninja ZX-10R.

Broc Parkes and David Salom will be running in World Supersport for the Kawasaki Provec Motocard.com team, competing on the well-proven Ninja ZX-6R.

Sykes, like Vermeulen, has been retained for the 2011 Superbike World Championship season, as part of a determined attack on the title with the new Ninja ZX-10R. He is already taking part in an extensive winter test programme, including the current track outings at Aragon in Spain. Vermeulen will start his second season with the factory Kawasaki after he finishes his rehabilitation from reconstructive surgery on his right knee. Promoted from the Supersport division, rising star Lascorz is preparing himself for his latest challenge, in the Superbike class, after several successful seasons for the Spanish rider in WSS racing.

In Supersport Parkes, already confirmed as a 2011 rider for the Kawasaki Provec Motocard.com team, will be joined by Spanish rider Salom. David has much experience in this class and is thrilled to be in a factory squad with the strong recent track record enjoyed by Kawasaki.

Ichiro Yoda, KME Racing Manager: "We believe that three riders giving information inside the PBM team will speed up the process of developing the all-new Ninja ZX-10R, and help tune up the new bike's potential very quickly! Then, obviously, we hope to be highly competitive from the very beginning of next season. For WSS, we are very happy to work with Broc Parkes, who was ex-WSB rider for us, and along with David Salom there is a big racing passion and high motivation to succeed next year. We feel confidence with them and the Provec team management to achieve our target of winning that championship."

Source: http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/

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Max Biaggi takes over at Aragon test

Max Biaggi leads Thursday World Superbike testing at Aragon.

With Wednesday pace setter Carlos Checa leaving the Aragon test early in order to make his MotoGP return at Estoril this weekend, new World Superbike champion Max Biaggi took over at the top on Thursday.

Riding on a track layout slightly different to that used for the inaugural Aragon MotoGP round earlier this year, Aprilia rider Biaggi set a best lap time of 1min 58.7sec, which is 0.4sec behind the best by Checa on his Althea Ducati.

No less than four riders were credited with the second fastest lap time, with new Alstare Suzuki rider Michel Fabrizio, BMW's Troy Corser, PATA Aprilia's Noriyuki Haga and Kawasaki's Tom Sykes all lapping half a second behind Biaggi.

Sixth fastest was Biaggi's team-mate Leon Camier, making his return from injury at the test and only 0.1sec behind the second place riders, with fellow Briton Leon Haslam (BMW) seventh with a time of exactly two minutes.

Katsuaki Fujiwara (Kawasaki) was 0.2sec behind Haslam in eighth.

Testing concludes on Friday.

Source: http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/

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Carlos Checa leaves Motorland Aragon on a high

Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) left Motorland Aragon in the best possible mood this evening after further improving his best time of the morning, on the first of three days of Superbike testing at the Spanish track.

The Spaniard, who now leaves for Estoril, ended the day with a time of 1 minute 58.3 seconds, a full second faster than second-placed Michel Fabrizio (Suzuki Alstare) and followed by Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia), who was one-tenth away.

All the other riders at the test remained above the two minute mark, starting with Noriyuki Haga (Aprilia Pata Racing), on his second outing on the Italian V4 machine with a time of 2'00.3". A fraction away from the Japanese rider were Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki).

Katsuaki Fujiwara (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Troy Corser (BMW) both set a time of 2'00.6", together with the impressive Italian youngster Lorenzo Baroni (Althea Racing Ducati), the real surprise of the test so far.

Leon Haslam, again running a 2010-spec BMW S 1000RR, concentrated on getting familiar with his new machine, and remained above the 2'01 mark.

Testing at Motorland Aragon continues tomorrow and Friday.

Unofficial day 1 times: 1. Checa (Ducati) 1'58.3; 2. Fabrizio (Suzuki) 1'59.3; 3. Biaggi (Aprilia) 1'59.4; 4. Haga (Aprilia) 2'00.3; 5. Camier (Aprilia), Sykes (Kawasaki) 2'00.4; 7. Corser (BMW), Fuijwara (Kawasaki), Baroni (Ducati) 2'00.6; 10. Haslam (BMW) 2'01.0.

Source: http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/

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Moto2 battle to Portugal

With Toni Elías already proclaimed World Champion the Spanish and Italian riders are in close combat for second place in the standings, with Thomas Lüthi still holding an outside hope as well.

Toni Elías’ crowning as inaugural Moto2 World Champion in Malaysia may have ended the chase for the 2010 title, but the battle for runner-up spot is still very much alive with two rounds remaining. This weekend at the bwin Grande Premio de Portugal both Julián Simón and Andrea Iannone will be aiming to improve their individual chances of taking the honour with strong results.

Champion Elías has a solid record at Estoril having won three times previously there (250cc in 2003 and 2004 and MotoGP in 2006), but the focus will undoubtedly be on the two riders who sit further back in the standings. Just two points separate Mapfre Aspar’s Simón and his Fimmco Speed Up rival Iannone in second and third position, with Swiss rider Thomas Lüthi of the Interwetten Moriwaki team also still holding a mathematical chance of ending the campaign in second as he sits 36 points off Iannone and in fourth.

Neither Simón or Iannone have scored a podium finish at Estoril before with the Spaniard’s fifth place in the 125cc class in 2006 his best result there to date. His Italian counterpart has not had a top-ten finish in four previous starts at the track, with 11th in 2008 his best result to date. Lüthi meanwhile took a podium finish on his way to the 2005 125cc title and has finished fourth twice in the past three seasons in the former 250cc category.

Simone Corsi (JiR Moto2) is currently fifth in the Championship and enjoyed a dominant 125cc visit to Estoril in 2008 taking victory from pole, whilst his team-mate Alex de Angelis is fresh off the back of his first win in the Moto2 campaign having tasted success in Australia.

Another rider also in good form is young Brit Scott Redding who took his Suter machine of the Marc VDS Racing Team to a season’s best finish of second at Phillip Island, and who has qualified on the front row for five of the last six races.

Joining the Moto2 field this weekend will be two wild card riders in Dani Rivas (Mr Griful) and Xavier Simeon (Holiday Gym Racing), whilst Turkish rider Kenan Sofuoglu begins his two-race partnership with the Technomag-CIP team, as does Spaniard Carmelo Morales with Racing Team Germany.

Source: http://www.motogp.com/en/news/

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