From Aprilia

On the brand new Silverstone track, Max Biaggi, undisputed leader in the rankings, wants to celebrate is 100th WSBK race properly. Leon Camier is playing on home turf and aims for a top result. 


Silverstone, 29 July 2010 - In a land soaked with motorcycling passion like Great Britain, Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team has every intention of arriving with a three-coloured "wave". With two leaderships to defend on a track which is new to everyone, the team from Veneto can count on the enormous motivation which both colours-bearers have.

The "Corsair", Max Biaggi, is playing the part of a cannibal this season, strengthening a well deserved first place in the rider rankings with victory after victory. The Silverstone round holds a particular taste for him also. His participation in Race 1 will take Max to 100 starting lines in World Superbike. Celebration from the top step of the podium would be the perfect crowning of an exceptional career.

Leon Camier arrives at Silverstone with just as much motivation. The English rider is determined to achieve the best results after to unfortunate races. The reigning British Superbike champion is quickly learning how to work on his RSV4 and the home atmosphere could speed up the apprenticeship.

"To arrive at this stage of the season with a 68 point advantage over the nearest competitor is an astonishing result - declares Max Biaggi - especially considering the fact that we are in our second year in the Championship with a completely new bike. Now that we are out front, we don't want to let the opportunity slip through our fingers. We are earning every single result, considering the great work the Team and I are doing. Silverstone is a track which is new to everyone. I think that right from the first practice laps we'll be able to get a fairly good idea of the quality on the pitch. Our biggest worry are the bumps since the RSV4 doesn't seem to digest them too well, but we also know how to operate. The races at Misano and the second race at Brno showed that our work pays of and the little problems are certainly not insurmountable obstacles. My goal is to be on top 4."

Leon Camier is looking for a perfect weekend: "I'm really looking forward to this race, hopefully we can have a smooth weekend and we can find a rythem fast and not make any mistake! If everthing goes smoothly and we have no problems, we are capable of a good result. It's going to be a hard weekend as there are 7 brits trying to prove a point and a couple of wild cards that are going to be very fast.
The new track is unknown to everyone so we are all on a level playing field, hopefully the bumps won't hinder the Aprilia too much and we get a good start, but I'm expecting a tougher weekend than ever!"

THE DUCATI XEROX TEAM CROSSES THE CHANNEL FOR ROUND 10 AT NEW-LOOK SILVERSTONE

Silverstone (UK), Tuesday 27th July: the Ducati Xerox Team heads to the UK or, more specifically, to Silverstone, the only "new" track to feature on this year's World Superbike calendar, after a two year absence. The upcoming tenth round is also the last event before the championship's traditional month-long summer break; Round 11 is scheduled for 5th September at the Nürburgring in Germany.

The historic Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire, UK, has undergone some major restructuring during recent months and the track layout is now very different to that on which the Superbikes last raced in 2007. The last time Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio visited the English circuit, they experienced some particularly bad weather that resulted in the cancellation of Race 2. Race 1 went ahead as planned but heavy rain conditioned the outcome and while Noriyuki finished on the podium behind Troy Bayliss (race winner on the Ducati), Michel unfortunately crashed out. Haga has raced at Silverstone on five previous occasions, and has achieved seven podium finishes over nine races, an impressive record. Michel is yet to celebrate a podium finish at this particular circuit but he, Noriyuki and the entire Ducati Xerox Team are looking forward to the challenge that the new look track will present.

At the latest round, held three weeks ago at Brno in the Czech Republic, both Noriyuki and Michel made a great start to the weekend, topping the timesheets in the early sessions. Superpole did not go as planned for either rider, but despite their grid positions, the Ducati Xerox men fought hard with Michel scoring a podium finish in the second race and Noriyuki making up many positions in both races to close in fifth and sixth.

Going into round ten of thirteen, Haga is still in fifth position in the overall standings while team-mate Fabrizio finds himself eighth. Ducati lies in third position in the manufacturers championship.

Noriyuki Haga (5th in championship, 172 points)

Noriyuki has scored some impressive results at the British track in the past.

"We haven't been to Silverstone for a few years but we've heard that they've made some great track modifications and I'm looking forward to going back there. I've had some good results there in the past, quite a few podiums from what I remember and it was always a track that seemed to suit my riding style. We'll have to wait and see just how much it's changed but I'm looking forward to the event and hope we can do well."

Haga's Superbike form at Silverstone: 
2007: Race 1 - 2nd
2006: Race 1 - 2nd, Race 2 - 2nd
2005: Race 1 - DNF, Race 2 - 3rd
2004: Race 1 - winner, Race 2 - 2nd
2002: Race 1 - 2nd, Race 2 - 10th

Michel Fabrizio (8th in championship, 147 points)

Michel looks forward to riding the new-look track.

"I've raced at Silverstone before of course but my results were nothing to write home about. With the changes to the track layout it will be interesting to see how everyone goes, I guess we'll all be starting on a level playing field, and so I am confident that we can put together two great races. I hoped to do better at the recent Brno round and so will try my best to take as many points as possible this weekend to improve my position in the overall standings."

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Ten Kate Honda

The Hannspree Ten Kate Honda World Superbike championship team is looking forward to round ten of the 2010 series this weekend (30 July-1 August), which takes place at the revised Silverstone circuit, just over 100km northwest of the UK's capital, London.

Jonathan Rea is hoping to build on his sparkling performance last time out at Brno in the Czech Republic where he won the first race and finished second in race two. The Ulsterman, who recently moved to the Isle of Man, retains third place in the championship standings behind Max Biaggi and fellow Brit, Leon Haslam.

Immediately following his Brno success, Rea, 23, jetted directly to Japan to test with the FSS TSR Honda team in preparation for the prestigious but gruelling Suzuka 8 Hour race, which he contested with team-mate Kousuke Akiyoshi last weekend. Despite two stop-go penalties and a crash with a back-marker, which left them in 42nd place, the CBR1000RR-mounted duo staged a remark able comeback to take the third podium slot.

Rea is looking forward to getting to grips with Silverstone's new circuit layout in what will be his second ?home' race of the season after Assen in Holland. After racing in both British Supersport and Superbike championships earlier in his career, he has a strong following in the UK and is looking forward to an enthusiastic British crowd this weekend.

His Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate, Max Neukirchner, is hoping to put the last races at Brno behind him after crashing out of both encounters on the opening lap. The German was understandably disappointed for himself and his team, as well as the hoards of his fans who had made the trek down to the Czech Republic from his home town of Chemnitz.

By his own admission, Neukirchner has not enjoyed the level of results that he had hoped for this season but the 27-year-old heads to Silverstone more determined than ever to fulfil his a nd his CBR1000RR Fireblade's undoubted potential.

Jonathan Rea

The 8 Hour was a pretty gruelling race - probably the most difficult thing I've ever done physically. I had an awesome time, though, and had a great team who really looked after me well and made the whole experience a lot of fun. Now it's back to business at Silverstone, which looked like a pretty fun place to ride when I went up to watch the MotoGP race there. Some friends have ridden it, too, and given me a few pointers. But it's a new challenge and fresh motivation for me, so I'm really looking forward to riding there. It'll be a tough weekend and, just because it's my home race, it won't be any easier than any other. But I'm hoping I'll get a lot of support and I'm really looking forward to racing in front of the brilliant British fans. We have to forget about earlier races and see how the bike i s performing on Friday morning; then we'll move forward in as positive a way as we can from there.

Max Neukirchner

Brno was a very tough weekend for me and the two crashes were very difficult to deal with after we had found something positive over the two days before. It was also very disappointing for all the friends who came down from Germany to see the race. I've tried to put it out of my mind and focus on the positives though and I'm looking forward to bringing these to Silverstone this weekend. I've had a good conversation with Ronald ten Kate and we both really want to finish the season in a good direction and hopefully on a high. Silverstone is a new circuit for everyone and therefore we all start a little bit more equal. I also hope that the weather is a little better than the last time I was there three years ago, when the second race was cancelled!

Ronald ten Kate - team manager

This weekend should be even more interesting as Silverstone is a new circuit and a new experience for all the riders. I'm quite sure that Jonathan will recover well from his Suzuka experience where, despite some early problems, he and his team still managed to get on the podium. He will certainly want to perform well this weekend too, especially in front of his home crowd. For Max, we all hope he can build on the positives from Brno where he was denied a good result on race day by two unfortunate crashes.

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WSBK

Biaggi and Co. make eagerly awaited Silverstone comeback 
Round ten of the 13-round HANNspree FIM Superbike World Championship will take place at the latest incarnation of the classic Silverstone circuit this weekend, between 30 July and 1 August. 
 
The championship has been to Silverstone on six previous occasions, the most recent being in 2007, when only one race took place due to incessant rain that flooded the track before race two could get underway. The Silverstone that WSB returns to this year is a very different venue from previous versions, with massive investment in both a heavily modified circuit layout and infrastructure improvements resulting in a 5.902 km circuit, which owes a lot to the ex-airfield circuit's original reputation as a fast and open racetrack, where speed is a key element.
  
Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) and his factory team have been almost immaculate in 2010, winning half the races on offer, finishing every race in the points and having no individual placing lower than eighth. Biaggi has been so consistent he has only had five non-podium finishes all season. No surprise to find that Max is a clear championship leader after round nine at Brno, now having a 68-point advantage approaching Silverstone.
 
Biaggi has not got far to look to see the immediate threat at Silverstone, with the first of seven well-equipped local riders being second placed in the overall WSB rankings, Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare). Haslam could ask for no better current WSB venue to try to make big inroads into Biaggi's points lead, as he will have the crowd firmly on his side for the first time all year, and greater recent experience of at least some of the Silverstone layout than many of his rivals.
 
There are no fewer than seven full time riders in the 2010 line-up who emanate from the UK, and all of them are on either official or well-supported machinery. For this reason alone Silverstone may well provide the best chance of a new name appearing on the 2010 winner's roster since Kyalami in May.
 
So far we have had six different race-winning riders, the roll of honour led by Biaggi with nine victories. Next up, Haslam is tied on three wins with overall third placed rider Jonathan Rea (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda). Rea has been busy of late, winning the first race at Brno last time out before heading to Japan and a podium slot at the Suzuka 8 Hours last weekend.
 
Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) was a winner at round one in Australia and he is now fourth in the points, close to Rea and the following rider in fifth place, Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox). Haga is another with a single win to his credit in 2010, and the most recent rider to enter the 2010 winners' club is Haga's own team-mate, Michel Fabrizio - eighth overall and twice a podium man in the past two rounds. The Ducati 1200cc Vee-twin riders will all arrive at Silverstone with the same regulation minimum weight of 162 kg as the other machines, after once more breaking through the lower threshold of the balancing regulations at the previous Brno round.
 
The seven British regulars looking for hometown glory on Sunday include James Toseland (Yamaha Sterilgarda), a double WSBK champion but a rider still looking for his first win in his comeback season. He has already stated that a British 1-2-3 is very possible at Silverstone and for him the top step of the podium is his overriding motivation this weekend. James is sixth in the current rankings.
 
Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) was unlucky to injure himself at the previous round in Brno, missing raceday, but he is expecting great things from his S1000RR around the fast sweeps of Silverstone, if he comes through a test at Mugello in good condition. Troy is seventh now, two points ahead of a chasing Fabrizio, with the second official BMW rider, Ruben Xaus, 13th overall and improving all the time. 
  
One of the ?magnificent seven' local riders is particularly well known to British crowds, 2009 BSB champion Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia). Already a podium placer on his vee-four Aprilia, Camier is having an intense learning year in WSB, tied on points with a Superpole expert in his first full season, Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda). Briton Crutchlow has scored pole four times so far, and has four podium places to boot. He is tenth in the championship, but tied on the same 138 point total as Camier and British-domiciled Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki Alstare).
 
Shane Byrne (Althea Ducati) sits 12th right now, looking forward to his latest return home to race and another chance to match his sheer speed over a single lap to a race result of equal prominence. 
 
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) is the seventh Brit in regular WSB competition in 2010 and he more than anyone will see Silverstone as an opportunity to shine. With his regular team-mate Chris Vermeulen out for the rest of the year through injury, he will have the legendary figure of Akira Yanagawa alongside him at Silverstone, as the Japanese star stands-in for Chris for this race.
 
Series regular Luca Scassa (Supersonic Ducati) who suffered a fracture at the Brno race weekend, has recovered well and will race in England. Jakub Smrz (Pata B&G Aprilia) will be on a vee-four for this round again, with Max Neukirchner (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) and Honda privateer Broc Parkes (ECHO CRS) out for more points to move up the standings. Lorenzo Lanzi (DFX Corse Ducati) plus Pedercini Kawasaki team-mates Roger Lee Hayden and Matteo Baiocco are also privateers worth watching.
 
Wildcards of the highest quality and equipment levels are set to join the Silverstone party in 2010, as Josh Brookes and Ryuichi Kiyonari (both HM Plant Honda) combine forces to lever points and places from the hands of the regulars. Privateer rider Tommy Bridewell will also be made welcome in the WSB paddock on his Quay Garage Honda.

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Toseland and Crutchlow prepare for their 'home race' at the Silverstone WSB weekend

Silverstone circuit

Yamaha Sterilgarda riders James Toseland and Cal Crutchlow are geared up and determined to give it their all this weekend for their home race in front of the British fans at Silverstone for round 10 of the World Superbike Championship. The Silverstone circuit, which has gone undergone major restructuring this year, was last visited by the World Superbike paddock in 2007. With the changes this year, the circuit will be new to all riders who will be riding on its 5.9km track for the first time on Friday.

"The home race is no different to any other race," said Cal Crutchlow. "I always want to do well and give it my best shot. Last year in World Supersport at Donington I did the same. I especially hope that we put on a good show for all the fans that turn out to see the seven Brits in action. We had some tyre issues at Brno; hopefully these won't be repeated this round and we can focus on being fastest all weekend and delivering two race wins."

"We had a decent second race coming from last to finish fourth at Brno which wasn't a bad result although fourth isn't where I want to be," commented James Toseland. "All the little problems we've had this year has meant the championship has gone away a little bit. I'm going to Silverstone with nothing to lose; the icing on the cake would be to win at home. The track looks really good; I did a PR event to launch it last week and had a look round. With seven British riders there's every chance the podium will be all British which would be great. It should be a great event for the UK."

Silverstone technically speaking according to Marcus Eschenbacher, Cal Crutchlow's Crew Chief

"Silverstone is a completely new track for us so we have to evaluate a new gearbox, chassis and electronic setup. The track has all kinds of character, a fast part and also a very tight infield. The challenge will be to find the best compromise in a very short timeframe. We will start the weekend with our base setup that we've developed bit by bit. We also have some new chassis setups to try; this will be introduced in the spare bike. So we hope to find the best gearbox and base setup on Friday and start fine tuning on Saturday."

Silverstone technically speaking according to Frankie Carchedi, James Toseland's Crew Chief

"Silverstone could be one of the most exiting races of the year with James eager to carry on from Brno where he battled through from last to fourth in extreme track temperatures. We had good race pace in Brno but our problem area was both race starts. We have some new parts and strategies to improve this and we will be testing before the race weekend. The factory MotoGP team have provided us with some valuable information so we can get a head start on a good gearing, as this is a new track for all teams. The track looks a little bumpy in places, but with plenty of overtaking opportunities. During the weekend we will work hard on the set-up to suit the new Pirelli tyres which will be used for the first time at Silverstone."

Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team Manager "It's the only 'new' track we visit on the 2010 World Superbike calendar so we don't have any data at all to prepare ourselves. With the exception of the information from the GP team everything has to be discovered by us on Friday in the first session. We are going to Cal and James's home country so we are really motivated because it's like a home race for us. We are looking forward to Sunday and believe we can give a good performance for the British fans."

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LEON AND SYLVAIN LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR HOME RACE

The tenth round of this year's Superbike World Championship is a ?home' race for both Team Suzuki Alstare riders Leon Haslam and Sylvain Guintoli. It is a home race for Leon because he is a Briton and lives in Derbyshire, but it is also a home race for Sylvain because the Frenchman has lived in UK for some time and is married to an English girl. Sylvain will be making the short trip from his home near Melton Mowbray, while Leon will have a slightly further journey.

Both have raced in the British Superbike Championship and have been to Silverstone before, but this will be their first time on the "new" track. The historic Silverstone circuit has undergone major reconstruction this year and the new layout is very different to to that which was used when World Superbikes were last there in 2007.

Leon
I was at the launch of the new track at Silverstone earlier this year and it's very different to what it was before. It seems to be a fast and flowing high-speed track and I'm sure the racing is going to be very close. 
I am looking forward to the weekend and although some might say that there is extra pressure on me to do well in front of my home fans, I do not see it that way. 
I want to do well at all tracks and although I'd obviously like to do well in Silverstone, my main concern will be to finish in front of Max in both races. The ideal situation would be for me to win both races and the other six Brits to finish ahead of Max!

Sylvain

It's always good to race at home and because I have been in England so long, I feel like it is my home, which in fact it is because I live here! I have raced at Silverstone before, but now the track is very different and all of us will have to learn the track before we can really charge. 
Normally, I am quite good at learning tracks, so hopefully things will go well for me in practice and qualifying, so that I can do a good Superpole and end up with a good grid position. If I do that, I have a very good good chance of giving my ?home' fans and friends something to shout about.

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