Superbike
Max maintains his second place in the championship on a difficult day in Brands Hatch
The unseasonal weather interrupted proceedings at Brands Hatch today, but somehow both 24-lap races took place with all riders on slick tyres. Race one was delayed because of a rain shower as the teams lined up on the grid, but the track dried out and the race got under away after fifteen minutes or so.
Wet Superpole causes confusion
Just before the start of Superpole, rain began to fall on the Brands Hatch circuit and so the organisers decided that the 16-rider shoot-out would be a “Wet Superpole”, giving the riders 50 minutes and a maximum of twelve laps to set their fastest lap times.
Yukio third !
Team Suzuki Alstare rider Yukio Kagayama mastered a bumpy track and blustery conditions in this afternoon’s qualifying at Brands Hatch to end the day with the third fastest lap time. His team mate Fonsi Nieto finished tenth and Team Alstare Suzuki rider Max Neukirchner fourteenth. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) used his years of British Superbike Championship experience at the Kent circuit and took provisional pole position, just over a tenth of a second faster then Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha).
Trio ready for points attack
Team Suzuki Alstare riders Fonsi Nieto and Yukio Kagayama together with Alstare Suzuki rider Max Neukirchner will be going all out to score as many points as possible this weekend at Brands Hatch.
Beauty and the poise
During a World Superbike event, there are sometimes media events which are just plain fun. At the ninth round of this year’s WSBK Championship in Brno, a group of racers and media were invited to take part in a ten pin bowling competition held in a huge shopping complex on the outside of Brno.
No joy for Fonsi, Yukio or Max in Brno
Brno was neither a good round, nor a bad round, for Suzuki Alstare riders Fonsi Nieto and Yukio Kagayama and Alstare Suzuki rider Max Neukirchner.
Second and third rows for the Suzuki trio in Brno
Team Suzuki Alstare rider Fonsi Nieto finished seventh quickest in Superpole and will start tomorrow’s pair of 20-lap races from the second row of the grid.
Fonsi quickest of the Suzuki trio
Team Suzuki Alstare rider Fonsi Nieto finished the first day of qualifying at Brno today with the sixth fastest time and ended the quickest of the Belgium based squad.
Team Alstare refreshed and ready for Brno
One of the best-loved circuits on the calendar, Brno, is the scene for the next round of this year’s Superbike World Championship. The undulating circuit, situated in the Czech Republic is a demanding 5.503 kilometre track and will once again provide a stern test for all riders. Last year, Team Suzuki Alstare rider Yukio Kagayama took a superb third place in the first race and will be hoping for more of the same this weekend.
Yukio back on the track
Team Suzuki Alstare rider and the team are back on the racetrack this weekend, but not in a World Superbike Championship event. Instead, Yukio and the team are at Goodwood for the famous Festival of Speed from 11-13 July.
Max goes into second in the championship!
Team Alstare Suzuki rider Max Neukirchner took a superb win in the first race at Misano today and seventh in race two, to move into second place in the championship behind Troy Bayliss (Ducati).
Hard day in the hot sun
It was a hard day in the hot sun for Fonsi Nieto, Yukio Kagayama and Max Neukirchner at Misano today and, despite their grid positions, all three are in a positive frame of mind about tomorrow’s pair of 24-lap races.