WSBK – SBK Videos, Statements & Analysis at the Nurburgring – Superbike Riders’ Statements

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Videos, statements and analysis of the SBK at the Nurburgring

WSBK - SBK Videos, Statements and Analysis at the Nurburgring - Superbike Riders' Statements

The tenth round of the World SBK 2011 took place yesterday on the Nurburgring circuit (Germany). 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..

Superbike rider statements

Carlos Checa, 1st then 8th :
"“Today’s first race was very special for me as it represented my first SBK victory at the Nurburgring. I would like to dedicate this result to Claudio Castiglioni, he was an extremely important figure in the motorcycle world and he is a bit thanks to him that we are here today to ride these bikes. The result in the 1st round was for the championship. I knew it was important to increase the gap between Noriyuki and me in the first half of the race and that little advantage came in handy in the final phase when I started to suffer from a lack of grip. The second race on the other hand was one of the most difficult races I have had. never raced. We had to finish it of course, but I really suffered from the huge amount of water and the track conditions: we couldn’t even see the next turn! I’m sorry for those who took risks and I am also for Biaggi who did not run with us today i. I hope he will be better and that we will see him again in Imola. But for us it was a very positive day and I am very happy with the result".

Tom Sykes, 11th then 1st :
"Getting a first World Superbike victory is fantastic, especially with the new Kawasaki. Everyone in the team knows that every time I ride my bike it’s all or nothing: it’s my way of riding, and today that commitment paid off in the second round. I dug a ditch behind me when the conditions were the worst, but when the track evacuated water our times unfortunately ran out of steam and I was under pressure from Sylvain. Then the water level rose again and we found our rhythm. Everything went as planned at the start of the first heat, but the poor tire choices and my physical condition didn’t help: when it started to rain, I smiled. We have changed the bike quite a bit since the outing in Misano where we took pole position, so it was kind of a bet that we launched in these wet conditions. Guys gave me a great motorbike today".

Marco Melandri, 2nd then 6th :
"The first race was not easy so I’m very happy with my podium. I got off to a good start but wasn’t that fast on the first laps. I made a mistake: I lost the front when braking and widened, which cost me a lot of time. I then caught up with Eugene and finally Noriyuki, but Carlos was too far. I have to thank my team, they still worked hard and did a great job all weekend! I tried to hang on and finish without falling (in the second round, Editor’s note). I had a problem with the electronics on the bike and the display was not working well so I was very careful to stay on my two wheels. I think the decision to finish two thirds of the race under these conditions was not correct. I am very disappointed, in my opinion the race should have been stopped early for safety reasons".

Sylvain Guintoli, 6th then 2nd :
"Finally, we obtain a result that rewards the efforts made so far. Throughout the German weekend we can say that the bike reacted well. During the race, I gradually found the right feeling with the tires, and managed to be competitive in both races. The podium ? I’m so happy, it’s a success that I want to share with the whole team who have been working very hard lately. The future ? I am confident and I think we could have some new satisfactions like this".

Noriyuki Haga, 3rd then DNF :
"I’m really happy to be back at the forefront. During the first run, I managed to take advantage of my place on the grid and everything went very well. Then, as soon as I started to lose pace, Melandri passed me. I had planned some adjustments for the second run so I was hoping to run in the dry. Anyway, I was pretty good in the wet, but when it started to rain more heavily it got tough. Even though I slowed down, I lost the front. I’m sorry, I would have liked to give the team a victory just after the podium".

Jakub Smrz, DNF then 3rd :
"Already yesterday, during qualifying and the Superpole session, I understood that something was going to change, and that’s what happened. We were competitive the whole way, and the wet conditions gave us a little extra boost even though it was not easy to keep the bike on the track in some spots. Third place? I dedicate it to all the people who believed in me during this difficult period and were close to me, starting with my mechanics and the whole team."

Eugene Laverty 4th then 5th :
" I was unlucky in the first race because my pace was good all weekend. My feelings on the bike were not as good as yesterday and the low temperature on the track did not help improve the grip of the rear tire. The second race was tricky and I think it should have been stopped for safety reasons. I felt like oil had spilled on the track after Rea fell and returned to racing, so everyone was falling. Luckily the pilots got away with no serious injuries, but I’m upset that I had to take so many risks."

Jonathan Rea, 10th then 4th :
"I was really excited to get back on the bike on Friday after a three-month hiatus, but struggled to get into the rhythm in the first run, I had some grip issues up front and I felt a lack of acceleration out of a corner. It rained just as the second race started, so it had to be delayed. I was really unlucky falling out of fourth place in the first corner, but luckily I was able to get the bike up and start fifth. When Nori Haga fell from the lead of the race I regained my fourth place, which satisfied me. I’m especially happy for the team and while it’s neither a podium nor a win, it’s good for the guys who haven’t had much to celebrate recently. It’s at least some motivation to take for the next race !"

Leon Haslam, 5th then DNF :
"I got off to a good start in the first run and managed to get past two guys. Then I tried to bridge the gap between me and Eugene Laverty. I just pushed a little too much, hit a false neutral point, and went off the track. Honestly, I thought the race was over. But I buried my head behind the bubble and managed to get back to fifth place. I’m glad I pulled it off, but I’m disappointed to be out. The fight was certainly pleasant. I felt really good in the second run. The fall was my fault. I bit a white line, which in these conditions is not good, and I fell. I managed to start again and climb up to seventh, but the race stopped before I crossed the line and the results were established on the previous lap: I was therefore ninth. The conditions were really bad, and the race probably should have been stopped earlier. I think I could have been on the podium today because my times were really good, but the decision to stop the race was really the right one".

Maxime Berger, DNF then 10th :
NC.

Michel Fabrizio, 16th then DNF :
"I’m really not sure what happened in the first lap of the first race. I engaged in a left while keeping an eye on Sykes who was on my left when I suddenly felt an impact on my right arm, just above the wrist. I don’t know if it was another pilot or something that came from the track. All I know is it was a pretty tough blow. I continued the race, I managed to pass a good number of competitors and I climbed to fifth place. At this point I was pretty happy as I started from twelfth position on the grid, but soon felt the pain in my arm getting worse. I felt it was swelling and as the race progressed it affected my throttle control. I couldn’t wring out the handle fully when I needed it and it didn’t take long to see others start to pass me by. I continued as best I could, but it was frustrating to see all the runners I had overtaken, overtaking me in turn. The pain only got worse, but I continued in case I could get any points. Unfortunately, I finished 16th: the day started badly. I was given some pain relievers (in pills, not injections) before the start of the second race, but knew it wasn’t going to be my day when the rain started to fall. Soon the trail was covered with large puddles everywhere and streams in many parts of the trail. We were aquaplaning even in the straights and just trying to turn around the track without falling was dangerous. My arm was aching badly and I wasn’t in the points, so the team and I concluded that there was no point in continuing. I got into the pits which was definitely the right decision. I watched the rest of the race from my pit, and I’m a little surprised that thirteen laps were completed before the red flag came out. I am happy to have survived without falling. The weekend had started quite well, and outside of the Superpole, Friday and Saturday had been good. My race pace was good and I was happy to be fifth after nine laps of the first run. Without the blow to my arm I’m sure I would have finished the first race in the Top 5. But the race is unpredictable and this day just wasn’t my lucky day.".

Max Biaggi, DNS :
"I think breaking your foot without falling would have its place in the Guinness Book of Records! I tried everything to get back on the track today, but it was impossible to race in these conditions. The pain was just too much. I am very disappointed. This is the first race I’ve missed in my 19-year career. Unfortunately we have no control over the bad luck, which I hope was pleased with this weekend as I would really like to finish the season properly"

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