FINAL FLOURISH FOR FOGGY PETRONAS RACING
30 September 2005 - Foggy PETRONAS Racing

Foggy PETRONAS Racing riders Steve Martin and Garry McCoy will be looking to end their World Superbike campaigns with a flourish as the season enters its climax over the next two weekends.

The penultimate round is staged at the Italian circuit of Imola this weekend before the final action takes place at Magny-Cours in France the following week.

Both Australians are well-acquainted with the undulating and thrilling 4.933km circuit, situated on the outskirts of Imola city centre. Steve, who finished on the podium at Imola last year, is also hoping for his 100th World Superbike finish in race one to join an exclusive list of only 16 riders, while Garry was fifth in both of last year’s races.

And team owner Carl Fogarty is expecting his team to continue to build on recent strides forward with chassis development.

He said: “The FP1 is now as good as it has ever been to ride, although we are still a little down on power. So Imola might not be an ideal circuit for us due to the uphill sections and it might be a bit of a battle for us to challenge for top ten places, although the weather can always play a part at this time of year.”

Steve, who recently re-signed for FPR for 2006, said: “At Assen we completely solved the chatter problem that I have been experiencing all season and so, at Lausitzring the following week, I was able to set the bike up to suit my style better. And I am really enjoying riding the bike now and am revved up about getting back on it. Imola is an exhilarating, technical track that is not all that easy to ride, with quite a few blind spots. After the results in Germany I am looking forward to going to another circuit where I know I can go well, as I had my last podium there.”

Garry said: “I like the track – it’s fast and flowing, up and down. The Acque Minerali is pretty spectacular, dropping down the steep slope with trees on either side and with the fast right at the bottom. But the key corner is the last chicane before coming onto the front straight. With the finish line half-way down that straight you want to come out of there pretty tidily, especially if you have somebody right behind you on the last lap!”

Circuit information: Imola, Italy

Superpole: Troy Corser 1:48.694 (2001)
Lap record (race): Troy Bayliss 1:48.389 (2002)
Fastest FPR lap on Pirelli: Troy Corser (2nd qualifying, 2004) 1:52.136
Pole position: Left
Circuit length: 4.933km
Corners: 10 left, 6 right
Corner radius: 11m minimum
Maximum slope: Downward 6.2 per cent. Upward 7.8 per cent

www.foggypetronasracing.com

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