WSBK – The 2009 World Superbike is attacking in Australia! – The Ducati champion

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The 2009 World Superbike attack in Australia !

WSBK - The 2009 World Superbike is attacking in Australia! - The Ducati champion

This weekend at Phillip Island kicks off the new Mondial Superbike season! A 2009 edition that promises with the arrival of two manufacturers (Aprilia and BMW) and top pilots (Spies, Sykes, Byrne and Nakano among others). Presentation…

The Ducati champion

To keep its world title, the Bologna manufacturer can count on mainly two drivers. Naturally, the first is none other than the replacement of – triple – reigning world champion Troy Bayliss: Noriyuki Haga !

Indeed, the Japanese rider has a superb track record in World Superbike: 6 poles, 87 podiums and 33 victories, including 8 just last year. At the controls of the 1198 "Factory", he is therefore the big favorite at the start of the season..

That said, every year Nitro Nori is at the top of the shelves and he has never been crowned. Subscriber to the third rank in the world since 2004 – except in 2007 with a "title" of vice-world champion – despite a talent and an ardor recognized by all, Haga is sorely lacking in regularity: customary of crushing doubles, he also happens to chain the "bubbles"…

"He’s a driver who never gives up, in true Ducati style.", comments its Team Manager Davide Tardozzi,"for the first time he will be driving a factory Ducati and I am sure he will get the support of Ducati fans and bring them great satisfaction".

For his part, the principal concerned recalls that his last victory at Phillip Island dates back to 1998 and that his best result recently recorded is a 3rd place in 2007 … "Chi va piano va sano", in short: Haga would he have learned this winter to take your troubles patiently and earn points rather than aiming for victory at all costs ?

Michel Fabrizio – Team Ducati Xerox’s second official rider – slow to secure his first WSBK victory, Ducati’s chances of shining in 2009 may lie more in Shane Byrne, two-time English champion..

Impressive during the official tests in Portimao (read), Shakey – that’s his nickname – benefits from the services of the Sterilgarda team, which raced Max Biaggi and Ruben Xaus last year.

"Shane was the fastest rider in Portimao and we hope he will fight at the forefront in Australia as well.", declared his team manager Marco Borciani, sorry not to be able to run his second driver Alex Polita on the first two rounds of the championship.

"The current economic situation has deprived us of the assistance of several sponsors", regrets the Italian boss, who will do everything to field a second motorcycle in Valencia on April 5. Without even mentioning the fate of Polita, we can bet that the Sterilgarda team will be able to offer Byrne a motorcycle at the height of his abilities.

The French will obviously follow very closely the evolutions of the Ducati DFX Corse n ° 55: that of our national Laconi Regis! Also to watch, the 1098 "Guandalini Racing" of Jakub Smrz – still very fast in qualifying – and Brendan Roberts, winner of the Superstock 1000 cup last year..

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