37TH SUPERPOLE
02 September 2006 - Suzuki Racing

CORSER TAKES ASSEN SUPERPOLE

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Troy Corser shrugged off problems in World Superbike qualifying to take his 37th Superpole at Assen today - his first Superpole since Monza in early May and his third of the season - to move further ahead of his nearest rival Carl Fogarty, who has recorded 21 pole positions.

It was a fantastic Superpole for Team Alstare and their GSX-R1000s because team mate Yukio Kagayama set the third-quickest time of the day and will line up on the front row of the grid.

Between him and Corser is Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) with series leader Troy Bayliss (Ducati) in fourth place.

Team Alstare Engineering Corona Extra rider Max Neukirchner was a sore from yesterday’s crash and, in qualifying this morning, he was unable to force his way into the 16-rider Superpole shoot-out. But despite qualifying only 23rd, he is continuing his learning process at a pace and looking forward to improvement in tomorrow’s two 22-lap races.

Troy Corser - 1st, 1:38.965:

“After the small problems in qualifying, it’s fantastic to take Superpole today. It’s been a bit of a while, but once we’d improved the clutch feeling and got some more grip I knew that I was in for a chance of a front row place on the grid. And, to be honest, that’s what I expected, so to get Superpole is a bonus. Front row is so important here, as any race, because the first section of the track consists of four or five slow turns and you have to be up the front or else you’ll get left behind. Tyre-life is going to be a real factor tomorrow because nobody will have good grip in the second half of the race. I really hope that it doesn’t rain tomorrow because that’ll ruin the races and not make it so much for the fans.”

Yukio Kagayama - 3rd, 1:39.176:

“I like the new section of the track and maybe that’s because we are all seeing it for the first time so nobody has a big advantage or experience over me. For sure tomorrow’s races are going to be very hard because of the tyres. I don’t think there will be much grip in the latter part of the race and there will be many slides. I am happy that Troy-san took pole today but there is a lot of pressure on me to beat him off the line and get to the first turn ahead. He is a very hard rider, but I am ready for the big battle.”

Max Neukirchner - 23rd, 1:41.617:

“I was a second faster today then yesterday which makes me happy, but I felt tired and sore today and just couldn’t push as hard as I wanted to. My neck feels very stiff, so riding the bike is hard after a number of laps. The first few turns are particularly hard for me and it’s only when I get on to the old section that I begin to feel a bit more comfortable. But this is my first race weekend and I am learning as fast as I can. I’m learning the Alstare Engineering bike and I’m learning how to work with a brand new team. I really would like a couple of good finishes tomorrow and hope to be able to get into the points.”

Final WSB Qualifying: 1 Troy Corser (Aus-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:38.965, 2 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:39.009, 3 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:39.176, 4 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:39.304, 5 Barros (Bra-Honda) 1:39.419, 6 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda) 1:39. 543, 7 Toseland (GB-Honda) 1:39.565, 8 Pitt (Aus-Yamaha) 1:39.756, 9 Nieto (E-Kawasaki) 1:39.958, 10 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 1:40.149. 23 Max Neukirchner (D-Alstare Engineering Corona Extra) 1:41.617.

SUPERSTOCK 600:

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Xavier Simeon qualified second fastest in the European Superstock Championship qualifying today and will start on the front row of the grid.

His nearest rival in the championship, Nicola Canepa (Ducati) took pole position with a time of 1:47 197. Davide Giugliano (Kawasaki) was third quickest, with Roy Ten Napel (Yamaha) completing the front row.

Xavier Simeon - 2nd, 1:47.538:

“Today was much better then yesterday because I had more grip and the bike’s set-up felt better. Today I could enter the turns faster and so I felt more confident. My team did a really good job for me and now I’m looking forward to the race tomorrow and a big battle. Maybe it will be a fight with Canepa and Giugliano or maybe it will be a fight with just Canepa. If that happens then I am confident that I can beat him because I’ve done that many times this season already. If I have a chance of taking the win, I will do it, but I will not take any chances with the championship at stake.”

Final Supersport 600 Qualifying: 1 Canepa (I-Ducati) 1:47.197, 2 Xavier Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:47.539, 3 Giugliano (I-Kawasaki) 1:47.762, 4 Ten Napel (NL-Yamaha) 1:47.919, 5 Antonelli (I-Honda) 1:48.046, 6 Lundh (S-Honda) 1:48.517.

www.suzuki-racing.com

More News
  For September 2006
  From Suzuki Racing
  For Superbike
  Biker247.com Home Page