WSBK – Between fights and miracle! –

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Between battles and miracle !

WSBK - Between fights and miracle! -

The last round of the World Supersport and Superbike took place on Sunday at Magny-Cours. In front of their audience, the French showed a keen sense of attack, like the rest of the pack. Back on an afternoon like no other…

After the canceled South African event, France once again hosts the last round of the Superbike and especially the Supersport. Especially, because in 1000 cc, Bayliss is already crowned since Imola (read) while in 600 cc, Sebastien Charpentier is fighting like a lion since his injury to retain his title !

During the tests, the Charentais dominates largely. On the first day, he completed a lap almost a second faster than Curtain, his rival for the 2006 title. "We gave him a good blow to the head and he didn’t get over it !", Sebastien explained the day after the race (read our interview,)…

The next day, General Seb drives home the point definitively by signing a record pole (1 ‘42.506) which relegates the Australian four places behind to 1.3 s. Sofuoglu, Parkes and the "Franco-Spanish" David Checa complete the first line.

At the head of the second row is therefore Kevin Curtain ahead of Fujiwara, Nannelli and Roccoli. Chambon for his part obtained a nice 10th place for the last race of his career, followed three places further by a new teammate – and replacing in 2007 – Fabien Foret. Yoann Tiberio qualifies in a delicate 20th place ahead of Perret 23rd, Leblanc 24, Duterne 34 and Metro 36.
Magny-Cours, 08/10/2006 – Regis Laconi, 15th in the championship this year, regrets not being able to shine in front of his audience at Magny-Cours… Video Site.

In Superbike, a certain suspense remains despite the overwhelming supremacy of King Bayliss: who of Haga or Toseland will win the title of vice world champion? Separated by only two points, the fight to get a good place on the grid was just as close.

Finally, behind a Corser with peace of mind – he will ride next year alongside Haga on the official R1 – Toseland sets the second fastest time in the Superpole. Lanzi and Muggeridge are inserted between the English and Noriyuki Haga, whose stopwatch is still 8 tenths more than that of James. But on racing tires, the difference is less obvious…

On the second row are Bayliss, which is racing for the first time on the Nivernaise track, Neukirchner and Kagayama. Gimbert took the last place in the third row, just ahead of the great host of the Imola event: Alex Barros. On his ZX-10R, Laconi is ranked 15th (see our video interview).

First Superbike race

After only one lap, the first round of Superbike is stopped by the presence of oil on the track. Time to take care of the ugly stain and the drivers set off for 23 laps. Corser, delighted with this interruption because it benefits "more grip"that on the very first lap, takes the lead in the race ahead of Toseland, Bayliss, Muggeridge, Kagayama, Lanzi and Xaus.

Haga, who started very badly, climbs like an arrow from the first laps: "I made a mistake during braking but the bike was going very well, I was able to attack hard and get back on the leaders", explains the Japanese at the end of the race.

Determined to finish the season in second position, Toseland dislocated Corser in the fourth lap, pushing his Honda Ten Kate to its limits. But Troy Corser does not admit defeat so far and remains in the wheel of the British…

One Troy often hiding another, Bayliss is in third place but doesn’t seem able to beat his compatriot. On the other hand, Haga was quick to join the top three! In the 9th lap, the Yamaha rider took third place and increased the pressure on the two leading men, already in the midst of a fight. !

So follows a fiery second half of the race between the two lieutenants of Bayliss. "There were a few touches from time to time, but we’re used to it now", James will testify on arrival.

Behind Bayliss, Kagayama, Walker and Lanzi are doing solo races. Even Barros, who had accustomed us this season to making his way through the peloton – and in particular during the last two races in Italy -, goes relatively unnoticed on the Nivernaise track..

You have to wait about fifteen seconds after the passage of the first pilots to appreciate a superb fight between Laconi, Fabrizio, Neukirchner, Nakatomi and Abe. Unfortunately, Gimbert has already given up on "brake problem".

In the end, after superb overtaking, sliding and other contacts, Toseland was the first to cross the finish line. Haga is in his wheel, followed by a few lengths by the 2005 champion Troy Corser. Bayliss finished fourth in this first round, far ahead of Kagayama, Walker, Barros and Lanzi.

Supersport Race

On the start line, Sebastien Charpentier knows he is about to run one of the most important races of his career … Even if victory alone will not be enough for him for the title – Curtain has an 18 point lead ! -, the Charentais wants above all to shine in front of his audience, who had not seen him run last year (read).

Sebastien therefore makes a careful start behind his teammate Sofuoglu. The Charentais does not fear anything from the Turkish, whose racing instructions have been clear for a few races: to interpose between Seb and Kevin to promote the return of the world champion in the general classification … A method that works and that the two Ten Kate pilots will conscientiously apply !

Behind the two Honda’s, Broc Parkes plays the disruptive while waiting for Curtain to come back from 5th place. Only here, the 4th competitor is a serious candidate: David Checa! Almost "at home", the Spanish of GMT 94 gives the leader of the provisional a hard time, especially in the braking of Adelaide !

Several times, David’s R6 "Stock" momentarily loses the front, or even both wheels! "I thought I was going to fall but the bike got up on its own !", will admit Checa, attesting to the difficulty of exploiting these machines to the maximum. Nannelli also demonstrated an outstanding piloting on his Ducati and goes back on the two Yams.

In front, at the end of the 7th lap, Sebastien Charpentier takes the lead of the race. Parkes remains dangerous despite his still limited physical condition, but Curtain is decidedly struggling. After all, even leaving the last round to Seb, the Yamaha rider only needs 8 small points to be crowned, which the 5th place offers him plenty..

That’s when the unexpected happens: in the following lap, Curtain’s R6 is lying in the gravel! "I’m not sure what happened, I was riding with Checa and I was trying to widen the gap a bit because we almost touched each other several times … I was on the long left when I lost the front and I fell". Goodbye calf, cow, pig and 2006 title for the Australian quadra !

General Seb imperturbably widens the gap on his teammate and what follows, we know her: he administers the sixth race of the year and masterfully wins the title for the second consecutive time (read our and) !

Far behind him, Kenan obtained his 6th podium in a row – the record of the year -, followed more than 7 seconds by a disconcerted Parkes … But Broc has nothing to regret: even if "in great shape, I could have run with Sebastien and Kenan", a victory for the Yamaha rider would not have allowed Curtain to retain his 1st place.

Nannelli secures a very good 4th place while Checa 5th achieves his best performance of the season. The same goes for Leblanc who finished for the first time of the year in points (13th).

In the championship, Charpentier (194 points) is finally ahead of Curtain (187) by 7 points. The duo are ahead of their respective teammates: Sofuoglu (157) by far the best rookie of the year and Parkes (145). Tiberio finished 7th, Chambon 15th, Lagrive, Berger and Foret 23, 24 and 25th respectively and Leblanc 36th.

For his part, David Checa finished 11th in the world but above all assures his team a place in the top 10, which thereby acquires the status of "standing of the Supersport World Championship". From next year, Christophe Guyot’s team will enter a second motorcycle ridden by Sebastien Gimbert alongside that of his endurance friend David Checa … A shocking duo to be followed very closely in 2007 !

SSP final general classification:

Pilot Team Points
1 Carpenter S. Winston Ten Kate Honda 194
2 Curtain K. Yamaha Motor Germany 187
3 Sofuoglu K. Winston Ten Kate Honda 157
4 Parkes B. Yamaha Motor Germany 145
5 Harms R. Stiggy Motorsports Honda 117
6 Roccoli M. Yamaha Team Italia 96
7 Tiberio Y. Megabike Honda Team 80
8 Stigefelt J. Dark Dog Stiggy Mr. Honda 70
9 Vizziello G. Yamaha Team Italia 69
10 Fores J. SLM Racing Yamaha 49
11 Checa D. GMT 94 Yamaha 44
12 Nannelli G. Megabike Honda Team 43
13 Fujiwara K. Megabike Honda Team 39
14 Sanna S. Parkalgar Honda 32
15 Chambon S. Gil Motor Sport Kawasaki 31
23 Lagrive M. Intermoto Klaffi Honda 18
24 Berger M. Gil Motor Sport Kawasaki 17
25 Drill F. Yamaha Motor Germany 16
36 Leblanc G. Vazy Racing Team Honda 3
– Enjolras J. Tati Team Beaujolais Yam –
– Duterne S. Tati Team Beaujolais Yam –

Second Superbike race

The last Superbike race of the year sees the first four riders of the first round – Corser, Toseland, Haga and Bayliss – dominate the proceedings: only Muggeridge manages during the first ten laps to overtake the new world champion. But the Honda rider is forced to let his compatriot pass, determined to win a 13th victory this season.

However, Corser and above all Toseland do not hear it that way and during the first half of the race they try to widen the gap on a Haga in delicacy with his rear rubber. "For the second run, we didn’t touch anything, unfortunately the performance of my rear tire was not as good and after two or three laps I knew it would be very hard to win", regrets Nitro Nori.

The first laps also give the French public chills as their two darlings Gimbert and Laconi are battling for 10th place with Walker and Neukirchner! "I don’t know if anyone noticed, but I got off the track and had to dodge Chris by a millimeter !", will testify the Moselle.

Having left with an unusable tire (see our video interview), Regis was forced to return to the pits on the 14th lap to start again in last position with a new rubber. Gimbert for his part continues his fight against young Max Neukirchner then Alex Barros…

Bayliss needed a little time and a little last minute change before the start, "increasing my feeling in the middle of bends", to seek another victory."We learn a lot during the race", assures Troy !

On the 13th lap, the Kangourou overtook Haga and hit the Suzuki n ° 1. In the space of two laps, the Ducati phenomenon swallows the second and a half that separates it from the leading duo. "It was my first visit to Magny-Cours and we progressed slowly all weekend", will simply declare the red n ° 21.

The end of the race is like its start: wild! We do not count the initiation of falls on the part of competitors during braking, nor the number of contacts, especially between Muggeridge, Pitt and Lanzi! But Bayliss is undeniably a tone above the rest – who doubted that? – and take command three laps before lowering the checkered flag.

Corser, doped by the flight of his compatriot and wishing "leaving Alstare on an optimistic note", in turn doubles Toseland who for his part ensures a second consecutive podium.

Like his 2006 title, Bayliss’ victory is clear and flawless. Troy Corser is definitively reconciled with the podium by achieving his best performance since Monza (read) while Toseland retains his second place in the general classification against a helpless Haga.

The transfer of power is respected during a podium which is at least evocative, since the 2006, 2005 and 2004 champions appear in the order. !

In the championship, the good deal of the weekend is concluded by Corser who thanks to his 36 points covers Pitt and Barros at the post! Laconi finished in 15th position, four places and 80 points ahead of Gimbert.

On the constructors side, Ducati is logically crowned. Ultimately, the Italian manufacturer has 36 points ahead of Honda (414) and Yamaha (401). Follow Suzuki (372), Kawasaki (229) and Petronas (19) who have decided to stop competing, leaving Fogarty rimless for next year…

SBK final general classification:

Pilot Team Points
1 Bayliss T. Ducati Xerox 431
2 Toseland J. Winston Ten Kate Honda 336
3 Haga N. Yamaha Motor Italia 326
4 Corser T. Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra 254
5 Pitt A. Yamaha Motor Italia 250
6 Barros A. Klaffi Honda 246
7 Kagayama Y. Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra 211
8 Lanzi L. Ducati Xerox 169
9 Walker C. PSG-1 Kawasaki Corsica 158
10 Nieto F. PSG-1 Kawasaki Corsica 2 139
11 Fabrizio M. D.F.X. Honda Treme 125
12 Muggeridge K. Winston Ten Kate Honda 123
13 Abe N. Yamaha Motor France-Ipone 112
14 Xaus R. Sterilgarda – Berik 103
15 Laconi R. PSG-1 Kawasaki Corsica 103
19 Gimbert S. Yamaha Motor France-Ipone 23

20

 Drill F. Alstare Eng. Corona Extra 19

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