WSBK – Is it really going to heat up in Misano? – Many outsiders …

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It will really heat up in Misano ?

WSBK - Is it really going to heat up in Misano? - Many outsiders ...

The Mondial SBK begins its second half of the season on the Adriatic coast on Sunday … A dream destination at the start of summer? Not depending on the weather … Site takes stock of the ranking … before showers upset everything ?

Many outsiders…

With its particularly large field this year, the Mondial Superbike boasts prestigious names well beyond 10th place. !

Thus we find in 12th and 13th position the two Suzuki Alstare riders, Yukio Kagayama and Max Neukirchner. This weekend, only the Japanese should unfortunately be able to line up on the all-new GSX-R 1000, as the German is still healing his Monza wounds…

For the moment, Max cannot yet work on his plastered right leg but claims that the upper part of his body "becomes very sharp, more than it has ever been! It’s going to be fun removing the cast, because my right leg might look very thin next to the other", he says cheerfully…

Patient and motivated, the sympathetic Neukirchner will be present as a spectator in Misano in order to slip, why not, a few tips to his replacement Fonsi Nieto. Obviously, Max will not compete in the Donington Park event either: he expects a return to business in the next event, in Brno on July 26..

For his part, Yukio Kagayama will be present this weekend in Misano, despite his right ankle injury which prevented him from properly defending his chances in Salt Lake City and could have ruined his season….

"At Tooele hospital where he was taken just after the fall, Yukio was told that he would have to wait six months to heal properly.", reports his team. But a second medical opinion, established by the eminent Californian specialist Dr Ting – who notably operated on Hopkins on his hip a few weeks ago – reassured him…

"I am getting better and better every day and although my body will not be on top in Misano, it will be much better than in Salt Lake City"Says the Japanese pilot. To complete his short rehabilitation, he stayed a few days in the United States with his friend Haga on the Roberts ranch..

"It was nice spending time with Nori, Kenny Sr and Kenny Jr, taking a good break away from the circuits", rejoices Kagayama who will do everything to improve his Italian performance last year: 11th and 12th.

Disappointing for the moment, Shinya Nakano – on the second Aprilia – and Shane Byrne – who had dominated the pre-season testing of Portimao on the private Ducati Go Eleven – are respectively 14th and 15th in the championship. But good results could allow them to quickly reach the Top 10 !

The same goes for the two BMW drivers, Ruben Xaus and Troy Corser, who are 16th and 17th in the championship with 40 and 36 points respectively … Scores that the two stars of the SBK World Cup recorded in two, or even just one week. end in previous years !

Nevertheless, the Spaniard and the Australian remain optimistic: Ruben is convinced that it will not be long before we see the potential of the S1000R come to light. He also recalls that last year, he obtained a victory on the handlebars of his Ducati..

"But the BMW is new", observes Ruben,"and we will have a lot of work to put her on the podium this weekend". Entering the Top 5 would already be a good performance for the Munich firm, whose best result is Xaus’ 7th place at Monza.

Troy Corser shares his teammate’s optimism, especially since he seems to have solved a big problem, not on his bike but on his injured shoulder at Monza.

"I felt that something was wrong, given that I could not raise my right arm above my shoulder", explains Troy. Now put back in place – ouch! -, Troy’s shoulder will certainly not be at 100% of its capacity but the" old crocodile "has seen others..

"It was good for the team to be able to bring the bikes back to the workshops and inspect the information gathered in South Africa and the United States.", also notes the n ° 11 who had hoisted his R1 on pole last year in front of an armada of six Ducati !

Behind the two Behemians, the first Kawasaki finally makes its appearance in the ranking, at a distant 18th place: the n ° 23 of Broc Parkes !

"We left Miller feeling good despite results which did not reflect the development of our bike and were only bad luck."Says the Australian pilot who we actually saw at the forefront three weeks ago.

Makoto Tamada still injured, Jamie Hacking will resume service this weekend and the following weekend in Donington for the official Kawasaki team. Good news for the Greens, since the American won them the best result of the season (7th) !

Impressive "at home" in Salt Lake City, we can not wait to discover the "real" level of this AMA Superbike tightrope walker (the editorial staff of Site expressly advises you), on a track he does not know !

Finally, remember that the tricolor colors will be defended this weekend by Matthieu Lagrive (read): in the absence of Regis Laconi who has already returned to the pool and the training bike and quietly recovers the memory, Matt will be our only rider on the track in Superbike category.

"This will be my first race for the Althea Superbike team", warns n ° 14 who will have to familiarize himself with the Fireblade version" race of speed "and not of endurance …"I know the technical team and I am sure they will help me adapt to the new bike", assures Matthew.

We will also closely monitor the results of David Checa, Carlos’ little brother who officiates in the GMT94 team. "David Checa, in great shape will be keen to prove that his driving is intact and that his fall from Assen is a distant memory. Our goal is to return to the Superpole for the first time this year for testing and why not to score points during the races", can we read on the official website of the French team.

In Supersport, we will follow with interest the developments of Fabien Foret, currently 7th in the championship. "I love this track", launches the tricolor pilot, unlucky last year:"I started from the first row but I was taken out from the first corner, I had tumbled in the standings before regaining 10 places and finishing 4th", remembers the n ° 99 of the official Yamaha team !

To find out all about the 2009 Misano races, go to Site on Monday !

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