World Superbikes Rd 4: Suzuki & Honda share spoils

”I think we put on a very good show today, for all the spectators and fans watching at home on TV. Katsuaki was very strong and I tried very hard to take the race win on the final lap. But I shifted down one too many gears going into the Parabolica for the last time and ran a little bit wide, which allowed Katsuaki to pass me. Second place is good for the championship.”

Fabrizio, had a bizarre start to what could have been a glorious home race for the lone Team Italia Megabike in the starting line-up.

”I rolled up to the line for the start and somehow forgot the gear order. So I tried to start with sixth gear selected. Seeing the rhythm of the raceI knew I could probably stay with the Ten Kate bikes if I had got a better start. I had a six second gap to make up from the first lap and was down in 22nd position at one stage. I arrived late to the leading group after passing almost everyone in the field. So in different circumstances I could have run a fantastic race. I lost more time trying to get free of Curtains Yamaha, because he knew that he could take some of my speed in the slipstream.”

On May 27-29 at Silverstone round five of both Supersport and Superbike classes takes place.

Results Supersport: 1 / K. Fujiwara / Jpn / Winston Ten Kate Honda / 30'15.930 / 2 / S. Charpentier / Fra / Winston Ten Kate Honda / 30'15.966 / 0.036 3 / G.Nannelli / Ita / Ducati Sc Caracchi / 30'18.656 / 2.726 4 / M.Fabrizio / Ita / Italia Megabike / 30'23.973 / 8.043 5 / K. Curtain / Aus / Yamaha Motor Germany / 30'24.093 / 8.163 6 / T. Lauslehto / Fin / Klaffi Honda / 30'42.496 / 26.566 7 / B. Parkes / Aus / Yamaha Motor Germany / 30'42.562 / 26.632 8 / S. Chambon / Fra / Gil Motor Sport / 30'42.870 / 26.940 9 / I. Goi / Ita / Bike Service / 30'53.427 / 37.497 10 / S. Le Grelle / Bel / Le Grelle Dholda In Action / 30'53.616 / 37.686 11 / J. Fores / Esp / Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra / 30'53.873 / 37.943 12 / B. Veneman / Ned / Suzuki Nederland / 31'00.128 / 44.198 13 / J. Stigefelt / Swe / Stiggy Motorsports / 31'03.884 / 47.954 14 / T. Miksovsky / Cze / Intermoto Czech Republic / 31'13.492 / 57.562 15 / M.Baiocco / Ita / Lightspeed Kawasaki / 31'21.888 / 1'05.958

Riders Championship Standings: 1 Charpentier 90, 2 Fujiwara 83, 3 Curtain 60, 4 Fabrizio 42, 5 Foret 38, 6 Parkes 38, 7 Chambon 32, 8 Nannelli 31, 9 Lauslehto 24, 10 Fores 23, 11 Stigefelt 19, 12 Veneman 13, 13 Vd Goorbergh 11, 14 Le Grelle 9, 15 Miksovsky 9.