WSBK – Videos, statements and analysis of SBK in Aragon – Statements from Superbike riders in Spain

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Videos, statements and analysis of the SBK in Aragon

WSBK - Videos, statements and analysis of SBK in Aragon - Statements from Superbike riders in Spain

The eighth round of the World SBK 2012 took place yesterday in Aragon. 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 Superbike riders in Spain

Max Biaggi, 1st then 4th:
"We certainly did not save ourselves (in race two, Editor’s note). We all had the same conditions, so there was no way to tell the difference. I really had to go 100%, especially after halfway when the tires started to lose grip, forcing me to be careful not to make any mistakes. In the first run, after my last overtaking, I built an advantage of a few meters and I managed to win".

Marco Melandri, 2nd then 1st:
"It is simply amazing. Winning here is wonderful. I just want to thank my guys because we made another little progress on the bike. In the first run we had a good fight and I only lacked a little speed at the end to try to beat Max. At the start of the race, I first had to pass Eugene Laverty and Tom Sykes. Then I had to push hard to catch up with Max who was leading. Once I got to his level, I tried to overtake him, but it was not easy because I was struggling with my rear tire. Once in front, I would have liked to make life difficult for him but he overtook me quite easily. He was faster than me and on the last lap I struggled to follow him. It’s always nice to be on the podium, but I have to admit I was a bit disappointed. So I put all my efforts to get the victory in the second race. It wasn’t easy because the wind was really strong and the guys on Aprilia pushed hard. At first, Max couldn’t go as fast as in the first run, and it was the same for me. Eugene was very fast and suddenly, just a few laps from the finish, Max passed me. I stepped back in front of him, but widened so well that Chaz and Eugene passed me. They were driving so hard and so fast that it was not easy. I had no plan for the last lap, because in a race against guys like that trying to get past you around every corner you don’t have time to think. I just tried to find a good place to brake, at the end of the straight. Winning was so amazing. Tomorrow we will try a few more things and continue to work in this direction for the next races.".

Eugene Laverty, 5th then 2nd:
"I came here with the aim of getting on the podium and that’s what I achieved. It was a shame for the first race: I did not have the necessary grip to follow the leading pack and I finished fifth. Before the second race we made a few changes that allowed me to ride much better, enough to put me in the forefront. On the last lap Marco passed me where I hadn’t expected, but second place remains an excellent result which allows me to put aside the difficulties encountered in recent events.".

Carlos Checa, 3rd then 7th:
"Finishing in the top five would have been a good result already today, so reaching the podium was pretty unexpected to be honest. It’s always great to do that kind of result when you run at home. I thank all my team for their work as well as the public for their enthusiasm. We were a bit lucky at the end of the first race: I was sorry about what happened between Badovini and Sykes, and I’m glad they weren’t injured. The second race went pretty well, in the sense that my pace was a little better, but I couldn’t overtake those in front of me. They slowed me down a bit in the corners, then I lost ground on the straight. It’s difficult to run in these conditions, when you have to force in each maneuver, attack very hard in the last part of the track to compensate for what you lose in a straight line.".

Chaz Davies, 4th then 3rd:
"I watched Superbike when I was a kid and followed it like it was my religion. Imagine how I feel now …! Aprilias are very strong here, but they don’t tune up on their own. This is why I must say that I am very happy with my results which reward the work of the team. They gave me a great motorbike and our work was finally recognized. I now have a good feeling with the bike, even with the aerodynamics which is not a question of size. I’m a little taller (that Biaggi for example, Editor’s note), but my position in the saddle allowed me to ride without aerodynamic holes and that’s important. It was particularly so in the second run, going up tenth by tenth. When I got together with the others, I tried to do my best. I even found the time to get mad at myself for a couple of mistakes. When I reached the Top 3, I decided to fight without going overboard. I have to say that I respect Max Biaggi and everything he has achieved. I chose to fight with him, but I always wanted to be clean, showing him my wheel and passing him safely for his position in the world championship. Last year I was in his shoes (in Supersport on the R6, Editor’s note), I know that a mistake can be very annoying. As for the sequel, I have no special goals. I’ll fight weekend after weekend, knowing that I can always do better".

Jonathan Rea, 16th then 5th:
"It was a really tough day, and I didn’t need what happened in the first race when two drivers collided on the first corner, knocking me down. I got up and the bike was fit to start again, so I thought it would be good to gain some experience with setting the bike in the second run. We made a few changes between races and it made me fight a little better. At the start of the race the pace was fine for me but a few guys started to pull away and I couldn’t stay with them. I was in the second group today, but I was able to catch up with them and make some passes. The guys had improved my bike’s grip settings so when the tires got worn out I felt like I had more grip than the others. I came back up, then tried to pull a little gap for the last lap and finished fifth. For me, it’s an average result, especially here where we were preparing to finish in its waters there. I keep a bitter taste in my mouth after being broke in the first race. Finally, everyone receives their fair share, and I look forward to participating in the remaining races. At least it’s nice to start from here with a little bit of pace and to be able, after half the race, to turn in the times of the leading group. We can retain the positive points, but it remains an average weekend".

Tom Sykes, DNF then 8th:
"We are far from happy because we had done some fantastic testing last week and learned a lot. We arrived this weekend very strong, even in hot conditions, and I could do good lap times for a long time. I was confident for the races today, unfortunately the wind has picked up and it seems that we again had problems with the grip of the nose gear. We were already on the edge, but the situation was good. I expected a good result on the Ninja ZX-10R, but there was nothing we could do. We were still aiming for the podium in the first race when someone unfortunately tried a stupid maneuver that cost me and Kawasaki dearly because we could still be in the Top 3 without it. The guys on the team did a fantastic job and the bike was ready when the pit lane opened for the second race so thank you so it wasn’t comfortable for anyone. My boys had prepared a great bike for me, it’s just too bad the windy conditions prevented us from making it happen. This mistake from another rider pissed me off a bit and penalizes us, but I’m sure we can keep working during the tests tomorrow, we’ll get there. I am convinced that we can impose ourselves".

Sylvain Guintoli, 12th then 13th:
NC

Leon Camier, 9th then DNF:
"The funny thing is, I felt like I was driving really well today. I was on most of the other riders in the corners and on the brakes, but I was losing on the acceleration out of a slow corner. On the return straight, I lost between three and five tenths of a second and it’s hard to catch up at this level of competition. The wind was pretty strong today and it affected our braking cues: it was easy to overflow, especially in the slow hairpin at the end of the straight. I am really happy with the chassis of my Suzuki Fixi Crescent and find the electronics have improved a bit recently. If we can improve the acceleration out of the corners and get a little more power, I think our bike will be able to compete with the best".

Loris Baz, DNF then 20th:
"We just weren’t lucky today. I was stamped in the first corner: it was my first stroke of luck. Pilots fell in front of me, forcing me to cut straight ahead. My race pace was pretty good and I think I could have finished 11th, but that’s when my selector rod broke after a few laps: I had to come back. My pace was good in the second run, but the wind was quite problematic, and we couldn’t find a solution. I wanted to lean more to put the bike in the corners, but the wind was beating on me and it made the situation worse. I had a few laps to work on this then selector bad luck broke again. We ain’t done nothing wrong, it’s just bad luck".

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