WSBK – Third round of the World Superbike in Valence –

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Third round of the World Superbike in Valencia

WSBK - Third round of the World Superbike in Valence -

After his victory at Le Mans this weekend, Christophe Guyot’s GMT 94 is racing his first round of the World Superbike on Sunday in Valence. An excellent opportunity for Moto-Net to follow this championship which has nothing to envy to MotoGP in terms of fighting !

The participation of in a round of the World Superbike this weekend in Valencia, after its brilliant victory at Le Mans (read), could only encourage Moto-Net to follow this championship which has nothing to envy to MotoGP in terms of baston and sports show … Presentation.

As soon as he got off his bike, David Checa left Le Mans for the Carole circuit, in the Paris region, to ride in a race configuration with his team manager, Christophe Guyot, and GMT chief mechanic, Michel Guerre. While the endurance R1 has no secrets for him, the Superbike version is still a little-known tool for the young Spanish brother of Carlos Checa.

"Honestly, we have no ambitions for Valencia !", warns Christophe Guyot straight away, lucid."We were unable to prepare for both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Mondial Superbike. Moreover, David has never ridden on the Yamaha R1 of this discipline! For my part, I rode the machine and I was very impressed with the phenomenal power of the engine.".

After the rounds of Qatar and Australia, the World Superbike caravan has landed on the old continent. And this year promises to be a pivotal year: the regulations amended in 2003, raising the four-legged to a displacement equal to that of the twin cylinders (1000 cc), could well undermine the hegemony of Ducati and its mythical twin. … In 2004, the Italian brand left Honda with only four victories and in 2003 it was completely successful !

In total, over the 17 years of existence of the Superbike championship, Ducati has been crowned 14 times best manufacturer, elevating its sports models – including the most famous, the 916 – to the status of living legends..

But the 2005 season ignored this impressive record and started off very strongly with four victories for Team Suzuki-Alstare, including three doubles, even if for the moment it is Troy Corser, the Australian veteran, who dominates the debates with already three victories! The former world champion on Ducati 916 silences in a very nice way the bad tongues who had buried him prematurely…

Yukio Kagayama, his Japanese teammate, follows him like his shadow when he doesn’t overtake him. The rookie impresses with his victory and his three second places.

Yet there are many contenders for victory: James Toseland, reigning world champion on Ducati, Noriyuki Haga who returns to Yamaha, Norick Abe on R1 as well, Pierfrancesco Chili on CBR 1000 RR, Chris Walker (former British Superbike champion) at Kawa, Garry McCoy on the fragile Foggy Petronas FP1, Karl Muggeridge (reigning Supersport world champion), Chris Vermeulen (third in the championship last year), Andrew Pitt, Ben Bostrom, etc..

Regis Laconi, on a Ducati surprisingly difficult to regulate, limits the damage and manages to rank 3rd in the championship thanks to two podiums, but hopes to do better in Valencia: "times were good during winter testing here", explains the Mosellan,"so i think we will do a good job this weekend".

The other Frenchman in the category, Sebastien Gimbert (David Checa’s teammate in GMT), is 14th on his R1 from the Yamaha Motor France Ipone team alongside Norick Abe. The reigning world endurance champion and winner of the 2005 24 Hours of Le Mans still set the best time of the second round in Qatar: a performance that gives hope for good results. !

Supersport

The Supersport category is no exception. In the 600s, Honda reigns supreme, leaving Yamaha and Australian Kevin Curtain only second at Phillip Island.

This category, known for its memorable fights, is all the more interesting as among the best tamers of 600 this year there are no less than three French! At the head of the championship, Sebastien Charpentier at Honda-Ten Kate totals 45 points after a second place at Losail and a superb victory at Phillip Island.

Fabien Foret, World Champion in the category in 2002 on CBR, has been with Yamaha since last year. He is currently fourth in the championship with 27 points. The No.99 only reached the top step of the podium once last year in June at Silverstone and hopes to do much better this year !

As for the stainless Stephane Chambon, champion of the specialty in 1999 on Suzuki but now at Honda, he remains on the lookout in sixth place with 17 points.

Finally, Christophe Cogan should offer a good show despite a Suzuki GSX-R slightly behind this year. He will be joined this weekend by Julien Enjolras on R6, one of the best drivers in the French Open Championship.

The circuit of Valence having been the favorite place of many teams this winter, the motorcycles will be regulated "to the hair" and the fight promises to be particularly tight … By adding real French chances, the weekend is announced very hot !

Matthieu BRETILLE – Photos DR and Eric MICHEL

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