Suzuki dominates World Superbike Championships

With Andrew Pitt less than a second from a podium position in the first race, the Yamaha R1-based superbikes are clearly competitive, but luck just didn’t favour the two major Yamaha teams at Phillip island. The dreadful conditions of the second race saw the team’s chances evaporate quickly and like most teams other than Suzuki, Yamaha will be looking to improved fortunes when the circus assembles again at Velencia in Spain on April 24,

QUOTES from key riders and team managers:

Troy Corser, Alstare Suzuki, championship leader with 91 points: ”I was disappointed not to take Superpole, but I did say then that today would be much more important. In the dry, the Alstare Suzuki has been working really well and I knew that I could win today. My start was ok and once I got into the lead, I felt very comfortable and I was able to run my own laps and leave the rest to fight each other. As the race progressed I felt very relaxed and was a bit surprised that nobody got near me. It was a great feeling to win at my favourite race track and especially when I saw all the fans waving their flags and cheering. I was in control of the second race when the rain came down and it was stopped. I felt sorry for the fans, but it was absolutely the right decision because the track was very, very slippery and even before we returned to the pits, there were a few crashes. The second part was very wet and when Garry McCoy crashed right in front of me, I had to go off the track to avoid him! Yukio and I swapped the lead, but he wanted to win and I knew I had a time advantage, so I didn’t try to re-pass him. At the end of the day this was a perfect result for me and the team.” If you're a Troy fan, there’s also an extensive report on Troy’s web site

Yukio Kagayama, Alstare Suzuki, second in races 3 and 4 and second in championship with 85 points: “I am a very, very happy man today and so thank you to my team for making me so happy. Troy-san was very fast at the start of the first race and there was no way I could catch him, but I was happy to be on the podium in second place. I was very lucky in race two because when it was stopped, I think I was only in sixth place. When the second part began, Troy was fast again but later on I was able to catch him and then go into the lead. It was very slippery and I had many slides, but I still gave it a lot of gas because that is the way I ride! I took the chequered flag but I knew that Troy was the winner because he had been so far ahead in the first part. But getting two runner-up spots is a great feeling for me and I am so very happy.”

Regis Laconi Ducati Xerox Team, seventh in both races 3 & 4, third in championship with 54 points: “I made a good start and had a good first lap to be immediately up with the leaders. Troy was a bit faster than me but I kept second place well. I was happy because we changed the bike totally from the first race and now it was so good, so thanks to my team for giving me something different for the second race. I started to ride it in the wet but the rear shock was too hard and after three laps the rear tyre was finished. When I crashed, the rear went away and I made a big highside. I restarted the bike with the starter and got back in the race to finish seventh.”

Chris Vermeulen‚ ten Kate Honda, third in race 3, fourth in race 4, fourth in championship with 50 points: “I had a real battle with Max Neukirchner on another Honda towards the end of that race. He was going for it and riding really well. So well that I have a big black mark from his front tyre on my leathers! It’s a shame that I had to push so hard in the early stages because I was struggling with front end grip towards the race. But I was in a good rhythm and the bike felt good so I managed to hold on for the podium, which is the important thing. I had some good starts today but it just span up like crazy in the wet restart so I couldn’t get away as well as I needed to. It was really slippery out there – worse than in warm-up – and the wind didn’t help. I was going fine again in the dry and felt really comfortable but at least I got a few points today. A third and a fourth from ninth on the grid isn’t so bad. Imagine what we could do from pole position; but I haven’t had that pleasure yet. Then again, I’ve never started from the third row either!”

Ronald ten Kate team manager: “That was a good effort from Karl to bring the bike home for some more points after his crash in warm-up this morning. Of course, I am delighted for Chris achieving our first podium of the season. It’s just a pity that he had to start from the third row and push so hard early on, otherwise I think he could have been challenging a little earlier. It’s a pity about the weather here today because in the first dry part of that second race, Chris’s lap times were improving and he was making another charge towards a podium finish – just like in race one. Unfortunately we couldn’t complete the job in the wet second half but that’s how it goes sometimes. At least he collected another handful of points. I feel sorry for Karl, who has endured a tough day. I feel he deserved a lot more after qualifying so well but we’ll regroup and hope for better things when we return to Europe.”

Max Neukirchner, Klaffi Honda, fourth race 3, third race 4, fifth in championship with 37 points: “It was a hard ride today. The gusts of wind were incalculable. Especially in the second part of race II it was absolutely important to stay cool and relaxed. Those who risked too much were immediately out. The crashes were impressive. And Phillip Island – I really love it!” If you read German, you can get more detail at Max’s personal web site

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