WSBK – SBK Videos, Statements & Analysis at Silverstone – Statements from SBK Drivers in Great Britain

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SBK Videos, Statements and Analysis at Silverstone

WSBK - SBK Videos, Statements & Analysis at Silverstone - Statements from SBK Drivers in Great Britain

The tenth round of the World SBK 2012 took place yesterday at Silverstone. To complete our live reports, here are the statements of the SBK riders, our analyzes and the video summaries of the Superbike and Supersport races..

Statements by SBK pilots in Great Britain

Loris Baz, 1st then 2nd:
"It’s really special to win, and to win in England because I raced here in BSB last year for a while. I would also like to thank Kawasaki for believing in me. We didn’t make a mistake in the first race and finished ahead. I think we were also very quick in the dry, and we could have fought for the five or seventh places. I chose the slick tire because it was the best choice for the first run. The conditions were crazy for a while and at first I lacked grip, but when I saw the showers coming I pushed hard even though it was quite wet, and I stayed on the bike. I am really happy, as you can imagine. I would like to thank the whole team and clarify that we are also thinking of Joan Lascorz, to whom we dedicate this victory. As for the second run it was amazing to be in the Top 3 again. The start of the second race was not that wet, so I tried to keep my tires, then I started to go up on Kuba and Sylvain. I passed them both before I fell. I think looking at the race classification on lap eight to establish the race results was the right decision, as there was a lot of fuel on the track for two laps, and a lot of water. I’m really happy, thank you to everyone on my team and to Kawasaki once again".

Sylvain Guintoli, 16th then 1st:
"It’s a nice victorious comeback after the bad times I had. I immediately felt comfortable in the team and we managed to get the best out of everyone. It’s a shame for the first run, I thought the weather would get worse and I was careful. In the second round, I remained perfectly focused. Before the red flag, the mood was apocalyptic, there was oil or gasoline on the track, but I rode as calmly as possible and the strategy paid off. Thanks to the team, she did a wonderful job".

Michel Fabrizio, 2nd then 13th:
"It was a very good day, and it’s a nice reward after some difficult times. A big thank you to the team who have always worked so well. I got this second place, and I think it is well deserved: I really wanted it and I fought all the way to the checkered flag to get it. In the second heat, I rode carefully because the conditions were difficult and many riders got trapped. Unfortunately the race was stopped".

Ayrton Badovini, 3rd then DNF:
"This first podium in Superbike obviously makes me very happy, especially considering the last spectacular corner (Ayrton crossed the finish line on the buttocks, Editor’s note) ! I’m also happy for the team because despite being very fast in several events, we always came home empty-handed. In the second race the conditions were tough and I was one of the many drivers to crash, but it’s racing. I want to dedicate my podium to Lorenzo, after what happened to him yesterday (his teammate in Superstock got injured, Editor’s note) ".

Jonathan Rea, 4th then 9th:
"The first run was just crazy, but I liked it because I knew it would be a tough race for the win, and we really had our chances! I widened a bit in turn five on the first lap and the rear gave way in the middle of the curve, so I ended up dead last. But I never gave up and it was nice to be chasing for victory until the last corner, it gave me motivation for the second race. It was really strange to start on wet tires when the track was not completely wet: it was hard for everyone though. I was saving my tire at the start which is why I was so far behind, but when the rain hit I started to push a bit. My fall, like that of almost everyone, was caused by my rear tire which had no more grip. There have been so many falls like this in the wet this year – gas cut, to the point of noose – it gets a little frustrating. In the end, we took points from the championship leaders, it’s not a bad job. To come away with a fourth and a ninth place is better than what I expected last night, we gladly take them and continue on our way".

Eugene Laverty, 10th then 4th:
"We had some problems during the first race, but the most important thing was to finish and collect some points. In the second run, the tuning of my RSV4 did not work very well on wet asphalt, but when the sky cleared I increased my pace. I recovered several places and could have improved my position even further, but the race was interrupted. The rules were applied correctly, although I think they could have considered the next round like they did in the first place".

Carlos Checa, 5th then 6th:
"The conditions were dangerous today, especially in the first heat: racing in the wet with slick tires is obviously not at all fun, although it arguably makes the races exciting for spectators. I was doing really well before the rain started to fall, but once it came on some sections of the trail got wetter than others: I lost a bit of confidence and slowed down as a result, thinking that maybe a guy or two would overtake me. Instead, there were five or six! In the final laps, when I saw how hard the lead group was attacking and how difficult it was to just stay on their two-wheelers, I chose to stay wise and follow them rather than push and take risks. Fifth place is not bad considering the conditions. In the second heat, I lost a bit of ground at the start, but I managed to catch up in the following laps, until I caught up with Berger who was in fifth position. I saw a little oil on the track and widened to avoid it: I raised my hand at that point to indicate to the race director that the conditions were getting worse, but I fell little after. Anyway, we have amassed a few points and now we need to focus on the event in Russia".

Maxime Berger, 11th then 5th:
NC

Marco Melandri, 7th then 8th:
"It has been an incredible day. The two races were completely different, but they were equally difficult. It was very important to finish today. Many young riders who are not involved in the championship fight attacked very hard, making the races difficult. However, I am very happy because we are leaving from here without any damage and good points. I am now looking forward to reaching Moscow because the track is new to everyone. I just hope the weather will be more stable there".

John Hopkins, DNF then 10th:
"The conditions were pretty tricky in the first run and I got pushed around a bit in the first corners, which pushed me down quite a bit in the standings. We had made a few last minute adjustments to the settings and they bothered us a bit because I never really got over it and got stuck in a group in the background. Unfortunately, an electrical problem then put me out of the race, it was a bit disappointing. In the second run, we hoped that the track would be completely wet or totally dry. We took the bet to fit wet tires and it rained when we reached the grid, confirming our good choice. I got off to a good start and had a good race from the start. Then it started to rain heavily and the carnage started: a lot of guys fell, we were all in aquaplaning … it’s a shame because I felt comfortable before that, the Suzuki GSX-R Fixi Crescent was doing really well and I’m sure we could have finished under 10. The bike had huge potential here this weekend, the engine was running strong, I had taken a step forward in terms of confidence and I was feeling great, but for one reason or another, it didn’t do it completely in the race. It’s like that. The bike is much better now and that’s always taken for the remaining races".

Max Biaggi, DNF then 11th:
"In the first run, I bit on the white line and the bike slipped away, a simple mistake. It’s a shame, however, because the sixth place I was defending was a good position given the conditions. In my opinion stopping the second race was the right decision, you could see oil or gasoline on a few corners and it was too dangerous. My lead in the provisional was halved: such is the result of the weekend. So now we’re going to focus on Moscow where we’re starting from scratch, on a track that’s new to everyone".

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