WSBK – No more training! –

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No more training !

WSBK - No more training! -

It is on a track that the pilots of the World Superbike know inside out that the 4th round of the championship will be contested. In Valencia this Sunday we should therefore attend one of the most beautiful shows of the season. Ole !

Inaugurated in 1999, the circuit of Valence has been hosting the SBK and MotoGP Mondial events since that same year. Appreciated by pilots for its fluid but compact layout, teams for their winter tests and spectators for the containment of the action, this is an event not to be missed. !

If Troy Corser had cut all suspense short for the 50 points at stake in 2005 (read), the 2006 edition of Superbike gave rise to a superb fight between the same Corser and his compatriot Bayliss (read).

Symbolizing the transfer of power between the two Troys, the Valence event last year was the opportunity for the two pilots to interpret an Australian fable: that of the crocodile and the kangaroo! Indeed, authors of dazzling racing starts on soft-type compounds, Troy Corser and his GSX-R had been systematically joined and then overtaken by Troy Bayliss and his 999, more enduring..

Not content with administering a superb double, Troy Bayliss then managed for the first time in history to score a "hat-trick", winning the Grand Prix de Valence six months later riding the official GP6. !

It is true, taking advantage of the significant pressure weighing on this last decisive GP for the championship – and thus limiting the pace of the race -, the famous n ° 21 (12 for the occasion) had obtained an extraordinary victory in the MotoGP category ( read).

So will we see a Troy Bayliss flatten the competition this weekend as easily as he smashed his little finger at Donington? He himself doubts it after his little experiments in England: amputation of the first two phalanges of his right little finger and fission of an atom !

Bayliss plays physicist

After barely getting up from his highside and crossing the safety rail, Troy was unaware of the condition of his hand: "a kid asked me for my gloves. I took them off and to my surprise I saw my little finger hanging down by a shred of flesh", says the world champion on his official website."Without being an expert, I knew he wouldn’t stay long", he just noted with his Anglo-Saxon phlegm.

Unknowingly employing the method of the illustrious general practitioner Christian "Jerôme" Clavier, it must be said that his attention was then focused on a completely different region of his body: his groin, strongly heckled by the tank of his 999 then by the vibrator! The Xerox Ducati rider believes that he is "to split an atom", a metaphor well worth an in-depth medical report…

So let’s hope that the Australian will have fully recovered from his violent fall and his two injuries, and that he can properly defend these chances in Valencia. Fortunately, these excellent results during the last tests in February suggest that his 999 will allow him to fight hard with Troy Corser, announced as the star of this Sunday..

And for good reason, the Yamaha crocodile will race this weekend not only after its first – then second? – victory of the year but also to tie a record and beat another !

The man of records

By signing the Superpole on Saturday, Troy C. would become the first driver to sign five poles on the same circuit. Then the next day, the n ° 11 will have the opportunity to rise to the same rank of Carl Fogarty and Aaron Slight, the only drivers – for the moment – to have set eight fastest times in the race on the same circuit..

Naturally, Corser pays very little attention to these statistics and expects above all to "a very tight race" because "all teams have performed tests here"Fifth in the last tests in Valencia, Corser was not satisfied with his performance and was very reserved as to the ability of his R1 to go the distance.

Fortunately, the performance of the Yamaha in Donington Park has something to cheer up the men in tuning forks, even if the conditions were particularly wet and cold. A tough weather that shouldn’t have to face Corser and his comrades this time around … Although light rain is forecast – today, Thursday – for Sunday !

The other source of concern for the experienced pilot is the condition of the Spanish track: "The grip is different each time, and depends on the type of competition that has taken place previously – truck or Ford formula – and the amount of rubber left behind.", explains Troy that we should find despite everything at the forefront.

New podiums for Biaggi ?

Successor of the Australian in the Alstare Suzuki team, Max Biaggi is also one of the favorites of this weekend. "Riding a Superbike in Valencia is very different from riding a MotoGP, but I love riding my K7 and have already had some good times with it on this track.", recalls the Roman Emperor who blew everyone away during the first official tests.

Second in the Toseland 5-point championship thanks to his victory and four other podiums – in just six races! -, the Italian driver wants to be optimistic and aims for two new "good results"even if the races will also be"hard again".

For the n ° 3, this event will also be the opportunity to add a new circuit to his list of achievements: in seven participations in the premier category – three in 500cc then four in 990cc -, Biaggi has never won on this route. "not very technical" to his taste !

Keep the head

But James Toseland also plans to collect big points in Valencia! "I’m still ahead in the championship and that’s where I wanted to be after Donington so I repeat: I want to leave Spain in the lead", insists the British pilot.

For this, any technical incident – as it happened during the second round at Donington – is to be banned this Sunday, because the opponents of No.52 Ten Kate Honda will not give him a gift. !

Drivers to watch

Noriyuki Haga, the man who profited the most from the abandonment of James, is determined to achieve another victory! "Valencia is one of my favorite circuits and I have already won here", warns the Japanese terror.

Winner in 2000 then in 2004, Nitro Nori obtained two 5th places last year on the handlebars of the old R1. Thanks to the progress made by Yamaha this winter and the tests carried out in February with Pirelli, the Japanese are showing themselves "very optimistic" !

After an encouraging second English race – finished in 6th position – our national driver Regis Laconi is also enjoying renewed enthusiasm and should approach his weekend with all the more confidence as he will find the track on which he won his memorable GP500 victory !

Ruben Xaus will also be a driver to watch, given his excellent performance at Donington Park – despite his crash in the 1st round – and his status as local on the stage. Moreover, the Spanish rider has all the advantages since he drives a Ducati 999 very comfortable on the gnarled track of Ricardo Tormo, in view of the group firing of the brand during the last tests in any case !

Finally, Yukio Kagayama will be observed closely, but by doctors! "My season did not go as I would have liked: too many falls !", notes the Japanese plagued by pain in the ribs since his fall during the tests of Donington.

Driven out of the race in England by doctors following his brief loss of consciousness, Yukio has already missed four races since the start of the season and "do not like it !". But the Japanese pilot knows how to be reasonable:"I will have the odds checked before making my decision", he plans cautiously.

Sofuoglu alone in the world or against all ?

While the Ten Kate Honda team let it be known yesterday afternoon that Sebastien Charpentier would be back on his CBR600RR this weekend, a second press release arrived last night explained that due to a "severe pain due to a "small fracture in the coccyx", the Charentais would not compete in the 4th round of the championship.

And there is only one turn of the wheel until the two official Yamaha riders Kevin Curtain and Broc Parkes also forfeit due to their recent broken collarbone! Even if their team foresees the participation of its two holders "determined to roll in Valencia provided they can", all these misadventures benefit the same man: Kenan Sofuoglu.

Very happy with his victory at Donington Park obtained in a snatch, the Turkish driver now enjoys a comfortable lead over his competitors – 27 points over Fujiwara 2nd! – and just hope to get a podium in Valencia. While he was delighted to find Sebastien in Valence, Kenan will ride exceptionally alongside Andrew Pitt !

In the absence of the VIP – Very Important Païlotes – n ° 16, 11 and 23, the private teams will once again have the opportunity to shine at the forefront. The battle that will oppose Sofuoglu to Fujiwara, Harms, Jones, Roccoli, Riba without forgetting our French Foret, Tiberio, Gimbert, Checa – is he Spanish? -, Leblanc et Lagrive therefore promises to be captivating … So good Sunday !

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