WSBK – Videos, Statements & Analysis from SBK at Phillip Island – Statements from Superbike Riders in Australia

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Phillip Island SBK Videos, Statements and Analysis

WSBK - Videos, Statements & Analysis from SBK at Phillip Island - Statements from Superbike Riders in Australia

The first round of the World SBK 2012 took place yesterday at Phillip Island. 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 from Superbike riders in Australia

Max Biaggi, 1st then 2nd :
"After such a difficult winter, it is extremely satisfying for me. I worked hard, during the practice here at Phillip Island we really tried a lot of things and the results prove us right. The first weekend with my new team puts us in the lead and I have to thank both my guys and Aprilia for that. Race 1 was great, and maybe the second was even better. After I got off the track, I just thought about concentrating and doing my best, because coming back from last place is always risky. We have succeeded. We are bringing home two good results, and now there is nothing left to do except keep that intensity to confirm our level at Imola. I’m leaving for Montecarlo, so I will be home on Monday and I could start preparing for the next round".

Carlos Checa, fall then 1st :
"In the first run I had the worst crash I have ever had with the Ducati. I was under pressure and attacked a little too hard. It is extremely difficult to find the exact limit of the bike, the track, and mine. Today I exceeded that limit and I fell. The team did a fantastic job fixing the bike so I won the second round. In this race I started strong and when I saw Max was out I pushed again to isolate myself and win the race. Max had a great comeback, but I was able to maintain a solid pace and clinch a very important victory for me and my team.".

Marco Melandri, 2nd then 6th :
"I am very happy ! Giving BMW its best ever result in my first race on the RR is awesome. I still can’t believe it. The guys on the track and at the factory are working really hard, they did a great job. We weren’t sure what it would look like in the race because we hadn’t done any simulation during the pre-season tests. During the race, I just tried to keep my pace and not to push because I knew I had to watch the tires. I had to wait for the right moment to pass Tom Sykes and Sylvain Guintoli. In the last two laps Sylvain was attacking very hard again, but I remained focused on my race and defended my position. The second race was very difficult. It was hotter, and I had to push harder to catch up with the guys in front of me, which wasn’t easy. But we finished second in the championship after this first race weekend, and it’s better than expected. Now we have a month to analyze the data and try to make further improvements. We have trials planned in Spain and all the guys are working hard. We all have the same goal and I’m very happy to see that the motivation is high. Finally, I want to send my condolences to the Oscar McIntyre family we lost yesterday".

Sylvain Guintoli, 3rd then crash :
"After what happened to me last year, this was the best reward I could get. It took hard work, but I’m very happy and I would like to say thank you to the whole team. I was confident for another podium in the second race. While struggling with Melandri I went off the track to avoid falling but once on the grass I couldn’t manage the bike".

Tom Sykes, 4th then 3rd :
"I got off to a good start in the first heat, and all week I had felt really good lengthwise. It was a very difficult race with the wind sweeping us and the bike and me, but to be honest I had to use my head a bit to not let myself get into too much of a fight. I just wanted to manage the gap on my pursuers. To come out of it with a fourth place, on a track like this, using the same tires as the guys on the podium, it’s kind of a first for us. This demonstrates the progress the Kawasaki has made over the winter. Getting on the podium on the last lap was very satisfying. The bike worked really well during the winter testing: a big thank you to the team, they were very focused. The second race was even windier than the first, but my team manager and the team changed the balance of the bike and compensated for some things. Sure, we came to the limit but we managed to keep a steady pace until the end. I fought well with Max on two laps and a few turns in particular. Finally, to leave with pole position, a third and a fourth in the race: I am in heaven because this circuit has never been good for us in the past".

Jonathan Rea, 7th then 4th :
"We filled our bag with points to head to Imola, but we wanted to be on the podium in both races. I honestly think we had a bad tire in the first run. We didn’t want the same fate in the second run and we thought about changing the tire, but the logic and our race simulations done this weekend were to keep this (harder) tire in the high temperatures. I got more grip right away – OK, the temperature was even higher, which went against our reasoning – but the tire seemed to work well and I was able to drive hard and steadily until five laps from the finish. The tires were dead and I slowed down. I felt fresh and ready in both races, the guys did a good job all weekend. We had a little crash on Saturday and the guys worked hard, under the one bike rule, to get us back on track. You have to realize that this circuit is a bit unusual, because we spend a lot of time on the angle, with the heat generated in the tire. We are now heading towards some tracks that are good for us and there is a lot of work to be done back to our base. Guys need to find some speed, that’s on the agenda. I just debriefed and everything looks OK. I want to say thank you to all of them for their help this weekend. It’s good to feel fit and healthy at the start of the season, I’m looking forward to the second round now".

Jakub Smrz, 5th then 11th :
"After a good first race, we decided to change a few things on the bike for race 2. I didn’t get off to a good start and although the bike, my lap times and top speed were good I didn’t. couldn’t get past 11th place. Too bad. We still did a great job on the bike and I am grateful for the incredible work my team did.".

Leon Haslam, 12th then 5th :
"Overall I’m really happy. We had a problem in the first run that I couldn’t fix. Even though the goal was limited to scoring points, I knew I could do better. The guys worked really hard between races: they changed the engine, the electronics and the balance of the bike, and we were able to fight for the Top 5 right away. a great reward for the whole team and the medical staff who succeeded above all in getting me rolling! I also want to express my condolences to the family and friends of Oscar McIntyre, who died in this tragic accident yesterday".

Michel Fabrizio, 6th then fall :
"Except for my start, I am very satisfied with the first race. In the second run, however, after another bad start, I lost the lead in the fourth corner. (the Honda pin, NDLR). I don’t know what caused the accident. I took a slightly different course, but the speed was the same. It’s a shame because I felt comfortable on the bike like never before … It’s racing! We will bounce back to Imola".

Maxime Berger, fall then 7th :
"In the first race, I decided to ensure my start as well as the first two laps. I start to go up, and on the 6th lap I am in 7th position. Then I’m going to run into Jonathan Rea’s Honda, I’m faster than him at times, and him faster in places, I can’t get past him. On the 12th lap I missed braking and pulled straight ahead. I manage to stay on my wheels, but I’m back in 20th position, there are 10 laps to go, and we’ll have to whip to get points. I didn’t give up, and I managed to pass the checkered flag in 13th position. In the second race I got off to a good start, but in the second lap I was hit by another driver, and I lost four places at once. When the adrenaline rush is over, I concentrate and start my ascent. I pass the checkered flag in 7th position this time, just one tenth from 6th. I equalized my best result of last year on the first race weekend, that’s nice. 10th place in the championship with 12 points, the season started well. During this Australian trip, I discovered in addition to an excellent bike a team and a team really very professional and nice, and I want to thank them all. I think we’re going to do a great job together, throughout this championship. I’m already in a hurry to get back in the saddle. See you now, in Imola the weekend of April 1st, and that’s not a fish 😉".

Leon Camier, 17th then 12th :
"I wanted better results today but we gathered loads of information in the team’s very first WSBK race and I’m sure we’re going to feel a big improvement at Imola. I can’t tell you how satisfied I am with the GSX-R chassis: for me it has the potential to win races. The bike brakes really well, is stable in curves, and I like its character perfectly. If we can get a little more horsepower then we’ll be competitive for sure. In the first race, I got knocked out by Giugliano and lost some ground. I started to attack to come back, but as the race progressed the tire completely worn out and I couldn’t push anymore. In the second run, I got stuck in the first turn, lost some ground and ended up 14th at the end of the first lap. I could put a lot of people on the brakes, but I lacked acceleration and top speed. So once again, my way of driving – to compensate – destroyed the tire at the end. It was a tough day, but the potential is huge".

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