Kawasaki World superbike / supersport - Donington

Post by **MadKaw** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:28 am

KAWASAKI SUPERBIKE TEAM EAGER FOR ACTION
Donington Park, Europe, 27 March 2007 - Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse Ninja ZX-10R) and Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse Ninja ZX-10R) approach the third round of the season in good shape after a useful test session at Valencia a few days ago. Donington Park is the venue for this weekend’s action, the 4.5km circuit making a return to the SBK calendar for the first time since 2001.
Both Nieto and Laconi have vast experience of the generally flowing and generally hilly English circuit, albeit from the days when they raced in Grands Prix categories. Laconi also has experience in Superbike guise at Donington, from the 2001 season.

A lack of recent track time around Donington will be a factor shared with most other riders, and therefore each Ninja ZX-10R rider sees Donington as a genuine opportunity to make early ground in qualifying, and put themselves in good grid positions for the vital run down Craner Curves in the early laps of the races themselves.

Currently Nieto has a best 2007 result of fifth and sits tenth in the championship overall, while Laconi has a best of 11th so far and sits 18th overall. On previous form at Donington, Nieto has two podium finishes in the 250cc GP class, including a win in the 2003 season.

Fonsi Nieto: “We have been thinking about tyre and set-up solutions for Donington ever since the test at Valencia but a lot will depend on the weather there. I like the track a lot and I won a 250 GP race there. It should be very interesting to ride a Superbike around Donington, and not a 250.”

Regis Laconi: “I am really happy to be going to Donington because it is a track that I really like and I did well there on the 500 machine. I think it is good to have a new track and I think it is particularly important for us as it levels things out for a starting set-up. The last part of the circuit is always the most difficult part but it is the sort of circuit where the rider can really make a big difference.”

-------------------------------------

FORET AND RIBA LOOKING FORWARD TO DONINGTON CHALLENGE
Donington Park, Europe, 27 March 2007 - After some immense early season performances from Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R riders Fabien Foret (GIL Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R) and Pere Riba (GIL Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R) the prospect of a round Donington Park is one that they will relish.
Even though the ZX-6R is a new model this year it has already gathered a host of honours in the hard fought Supersport category, up to and including Foret’s victory.

Foret’s brilliant start sees him second overall in the title chase and he will be hoping to replicate his astounding win at the most recent race in Australia.

Riba has a trump card of his own to play, three seasons of competition in the intense British Supersport championship on the previous model of 600cc Kawasaki. He therefore has unrivalled knowledge of the English circuit in recent times, as the Supersport World Championship has not stopped off at Donington since the 2001 season.

Fabien Foret: “For sure Donington will be held in different conditions from those we have experienced in the two previous races and the test at Valencia. But we will be ready to race and compete. We were consistently fast on a race set-up in the test at Valencia recently, which shows we can get the bike working well at different tracks. Donington is a circuit in two halves, but the thing everyone is thinking about most is the weather.”

Pere Riba: “I know Donington and I have had some good results there in the past. It is not an easy track and you get packed in at the first corner and then the left right down the hill is very important. It is also the hardest track in the world on brakes and second to fourth gear acceleration in the slower section, so the engine power and gearbox settings are important too. We are happy to go there because we have already shown that the bike is working well - and not just at one track.”

-------------------------------------------------

GIUGLIANO HEADS TO DONINGTON READY FOR THE FIGHT
Donington Park, Europe, 27 March 2007 - After two rounds of his rookie season in World Supersport Davide Giugliano (Lightspeed Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R) now has a keen appreciation of the challenge he faces in this tough year in the 600cc division.
After two long hauls to Qatar and Australia, Giugliano will see out the remaining 11 races in Europe, but the next opportunity for him to score points, Donington Park, is another new venue for the teenage Roman rider and his Ninja ZX-6R. It is, nonetheless, one he looks forward to.

After a recent Valencia test Giugliano is confident that he can make a telling impact at Donington, having found a good base setting to allow him to take on a circuit with two distinct natures - one fast and flowing, the other requiring heavy braking.

Davide Giugliano: “It was good to test in Valencia before we head off to Donington. It was useful to ride the bike at a track I knew and although we took some time to get to a good base set-up there, we learned a lot and that is what we will take to Donington. I think I will enjoy riding there very much and I have heard from other riders that it is a good circuit. With no-one else having raced there recently in World Supersport, it may be a good opportunity for us, as everyone will may be starting from roughly the same level.”

Nanna10r · Post by **Nanna10r** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:00 pm

Go Googie Go.

The lads a legend in my books. Hope he continues into the superbikes with KHI.

mfzx6r · Post by **mfzx6r** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:02 am

I see Steve Martin got the boot from his Honda team and now hasn't a ride

Zoidberg · Post by **Zoidberg** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 4:11 pm

Marto has been on the phone and they have managed to scrape together enough money for him to do the next 3 rounds. After that, they need more sponsors.

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 7:00 pm

Zoidberg wrote:Marto has been on the phone and they have managed to scrape together enough money for him to do the next 3 rounds. After that, they need more sponsors.

get on the phone to those volvo dealers steve

, pity they leave it to now to decide thay cant go the whole season when all the rides are taken. hope he finds the cash to do the rest of the season.

Zoidberg · Post by **Zoidberg** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 12:31 am

I think DFX had sponsors pull out so can't really blame the team (as I initially did). Hope he can get some good results and attract some cash to help him continue.

Good news is that Pere Riba got supersport pole. Bad news is that the Kwak superbikes are still ordinary.

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 1:07 am

Zoidberg wrote:I think DFX had sponsors pull out so can't really blame the team (as I initially did). Hope he can get some good results and attract some cash to help him continue.

Good news is that Pere Riba got supersport pole.

with foret 7th and giugliano 14th (only 1.2 sec off pole), a good result from the former champ and the young fella

Redback · Post by **Redback** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 1:17 am

Zoidberg wrote:Marto has been on the phone and they have managed to scrape together enough money for him to do the next 3 rounds. After that, they need more sponsors.

He must be back on a Duk?
Whoo...Brooksie just did a minute 59 in superpole, gone the car park route!!

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 1:20 am

unfortunately he crashed on his superpole lap

i also noticed he (brooskey) got down into the 1:31's in second free practice, 1.2 faster than his qualifiying time for superpole.

WTF is up with the live timing screen, it wont update on its own, i have to keep refreshing it

Redback · Post by **Redback** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 1:29 am

Phil wrote:unfortunately he crashed on his superpole lap i also noticed he (brooskey) got down into the 1:31's in second free practice, 1.2 faster than his qualifiying time for superpole.

WTF is up with the live timing screen, it wont update on its own, i have to keep refreshing it

post the link, I can't even get it

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 1:30 am

Redback wrote:
Phil wrote:unfortunately he crashed on his superpole lap i also noticed he (brooskey) got down into the 1:31's in second free practice, 1.2 faster than his qualifiying time for superpole.

WTF is up with the live timing screen, it wont update on its own, i have to keep refreshing it
post the link, I can't even get it

http://www.superbike.it/livetiming.php

looks like laconi will be on the second row at worst

update - looks like front row for reggie woo hoo, now lets hope he can get away and have a race at the front.

Redback · Post by **Redback** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 1:35 am

Phil wrote:
Redback wrote:
Phil wrote:unfortunately he crashed on his superpole lap i also noticed he (brooskey) got down into the 1:31's in second free practice, 1.2 faster than his qualifiying time for superpole.

WTF is up with the live timing screen, it wont update on its own, i have to keep refreshing it
post the link, I can't even get it
http://www.superbike.it/livetiming.php

looks like laconi will be on the second row at worst

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I lost my book marks and couldn't find the live timing page

Redback · Post by **Redback** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 1:41 am

looks like Troy Corser crashed too

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 1:41 am

looks like troy corser had a problem on his superpole lap. upshot of that is 1 duc, 1 yammy, 1 kawasaki and 1 rhonda on the front row. pity bayliss looks like he is going just piss off and leave everyone else, i'd love to see a good fight

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 1:48 am

Redback wrote:looks like Troy Corser crashed too

yep, he goes back to 8th.