WSBK – Corser under pressure! –

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Corser under pressure !

WSBK - Corser under pressure! -

The Lausitz Eurospeedway is hosting the World Superbike for the third time. If Corser is still well ahead of the championship, he seems to be marking time compared to Vermeulen and Haga who are in great shape … The final sprint is launched !

The drivers of the Superbike and Supersport championships have only had a few days to recover from their Dutch adventures (read) and must already get back on their mounts … Built in 2000, this weekend’s circuit has already received the World Cup Superbike twice in 2001 and 2002.

In the first year, Colin Edwards (Honda VTR 1000SP) and Troy Bayliss (Ducati 996R) won after two hotly contested races on the Eurospeedway. Then in 2002 Bayliss (Ducati 998F02) had achieved the double, beating – both times! – Edwards (Honda SP2) and Ruben Xaus (Ducati 998F02).

The unknown Lausitzring

As the circuit has not been visited for three seasons, many drivers will compete in their first race at Lausitzring. This track has the particularity of being located in the center of a speed ring (very common in Eastern Europe) and therefore mixes long straights and tight bends..

This type of layout forces the drivers to use one and the same trajectory, preventing them at the same time from making as many overtaking as on wide and rolling tracks like Assen or Brno for example. As Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia) explains, the Lausitzring is a "good track for testing and solo touring, but it gets tough during the race as it’s hard to overtake"…

It is therefore imperative to make good tests and especially to make a perfect lap during the superpole so as not to be stuck in traffic at the start of the race … Chris Vermeulen (Honda Ten Kate) also confides that "if it rains, it’s a real ice rink"…

Vermeulen follows his plan

"I said before Assen that there was no reason I couldn’t get eight wins in the first few races.", insists Vermeulen who has so far fulfilled his contract by pocketing the first two of these eight races. The young Australian knows he can mathematically win the title and intends to get back on his compatriot Troy Corser (Suzuki Alstare), who is 83 points ahead.

Vermeulen knows the Eurospeedway for having carried out two days of intensive testing last July. An advantage that Corser does not have and which could weigh heavily in the balance: "even though it rained on the second day, these tests were useful"Says Vermeulen before admitting that it remains however"many points on which we can try to improve the bike".

With 150 points at stake in the next three events, Corser does not yet have his title in his pocket. His goal, after his "disappointment" last week, is therefore to "return to the podium and maintain my lead in the championship".

Even though he hasn’t done any tests at Lausitzring this year, the Australian is confident: "this trail hadn’t seemed difficult to me so I don’t think it will take long for me to relearn itThe veteran finished 5th and 7th in the 2001 event, riding a difficult Aprilia. Sure the GSX-R will prove more docile and allow him to fight for victory. !

Laconi package

Regis Laconi will ultimately not participate in this tenth event, his right shoulder – adorned with eight stitches – and a tendon having got the better of him. The Moselle must rest if he wants to participate in the last two events, including "his", on October 9 at Magny-Cours.

Obviously, after Laconi and all his fans, it is Vermeulen who deplores the absence of French: "it’s a shame that Walker [broken arm in Assen, editor’s note] and Laconi are not here this weekend – especially Laconi, who could have taken some points in Troy (Corser)"…

So it’s Lorenzo Lanzi, usually in private Ducati (Caracchi), who will replace the French in the official team alongside Toseland. The Briton, who took part in the same two days of testing as Vermeulen, should be operational quickly: "the practice was good, I was fast and we even have good settings if it rains". Will the reigning world champion be able to repeat his two podiums? ?

Haga in ambush

If Laconi risks missing Vermeulen, Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) rubs his hands: with only nine points behind Regis, the Japanese are likely to steal third place! Especially since 2002 on Aprilia, Nitro Nori had finished in fourth and then in fifth place !

Japanese teammate Andrew Pitt wishes "stand on the podium in the next six races", which would allow him to grab eighth place overall, occupied by Chile (Klaffi Honda).

In the Supersport category, Sebastien Charpentier (Honda Ten Kate) keeps his ideas in mind: "even though I won the title there are still three races to win", recalls the Charentais. As for his teammate Katsuaki Fujiwara, he must not relax his efforts if he wants to keep his second place.

Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Germany) is riding this weekend almost at home and will be keen to achieve a good performance in order to secure the handlebars of the new and promising R6 next year! As for Fabien Foret and Michel Fabrizio, they will also be there !

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