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Yamaha WSBK teams are ready |
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Posted by Staff
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Wednesday, 20 February 2008 |
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Round 1: Losail, Qatar
Track length: 5400m
Opened: 2004
Fastest
superbike lap: 1:58.402 (Troy Corser, Yamaha)
Lap record: 2:00.061 (Noriyuki
Haga, Yamaha)
Last year's winners: Max Biaggi (Suzuki) and James Toseland
(Honda)
After visiting the Losail International Circuit twice during
pre-season tests, Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser (both Yamaha Motor Italia WSB
Team) appear to be all set for the 2008 World Superbike season. Both riders have
shown their speed on the 2008 spec YZF-R1, being top runners in all three
pre-season tests at Qatar and Phillip Island. Having worked through various new
and updated components and making sure all parts have been properly checked, the
team is confident and ready to race.
As track conditions at the Losail
track are not optimal at present - and heavy winds are predicted for the first
days of the upcoming race weekend - the team is in the fortunate situation of
having gathered lots of data from the previous outings.
Shinichi
Nakatomi (Team YZF Yamaha) was also out testing recently in Qatar in preparation
for the start of the year, running his 2008 spec Yamaha YZF-R1 machine in his
one-man team.
Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB
Team)
"During the winter tests we tried a few new parts, with the
variable intake settings for example, and we found a lot of positive results
over the past tests. We have put in enough laps in order to be confident.
Hopefully the track will clean up a bit as the grip conditions can be quite
treacherous out here, especially if the wind is blowing this hard. Whatever
conditions we are facing, I am eager to get started, that's for sure."
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Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team)
"We have to see
tomorrow how the conditions will be and start working from there. If the weather
allows us we would like to get some specific suspension settings double checked
but all-in-all I am ready for this race and the season ahead."
Massimo Meregalli (Team Coordinator, Yamaha Motor Italia WSB
Team)
"After the last weeks testing we are quite optimistic, we
encountered no real big problems. The overall feeling is positive within the
team. I guess we have a strong package with both the riders and the 2008 YZF-R1.
We are ready to go out and fight for podium spots with Troy and Nori."
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Shinichi Nakatomi (Team YZF Yamaha)
"This season is looking good.
The preseason testing went very well. I have a better feeling than last year at
the same period of time. We shall receive more new engine parts after the
Phillip Island race and we are looking for an even better potential."
Martial Garcia (Team Manager, Team YZF Yamaha)
"The time that
Nakatomi did during the preseason tests in Qatar is satisfying because he did it
with 2007 control tyres, when the quicker times were made with 2008 development
tyres. We are more ready this year than the beginning of the 2007 season. This
is very useful. The Yamaha YZF-R1 is in great shape, and there is an improvement
for the suspension with new KYB parts.
Parkes and Foret all set
for season opener
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Broc Parkes and Fabien Foret (both Yamaha World Supersport Team) declared
themselves ready to take the 2008-specification Yamaha YZF-R6 into competitive
action this weekend after their final pre-season test was completed last week in
Qatar.
Although the ever-changing Losail track is looking set to be a
handful in the next few days, in terms of a lack of grip from the asphalt, the
time spent on this same venue during the winter tests could prove to be a real
advantage come raceday, Saturday 23 February.
Broc Parkes (Yamaha
World Supersport Team)
"We are lucky to have tested here recently and
that we were able to find a good base set-up. Overall I am very happy with the
new YZF-R6. The aerodynamics work better for me as I am now more tucked into the
bike compared to the previous one and for sure the YCC-I system make a big
difference. If weather conditions remain the same, I will try to keep my head
down tomorrow and not put anything on the line."
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Fabien Foret (Yamaha World Supersport Team)
"It looks like there
will be pretty hard conditions out there tomorrow. I am not going to push too
hard, that is for sure. We improved over the last weeks and I am confident in
the bike and team. I am looking forward to finally get started."
Wilco Zeelenberg (Team Manager, Yamaha World Supersport
Team)
"We have spent eight days of testing with the 2008 YZF-R6 and so
far we made big steps. The Phillip Island test was all about fine-tuning and
finding the best set-up for the riders. It looks like we found a solid base
set-up and the riders seem to have the speed. The weather forecast for tomorrow
does not look too good but let's hope for better conditions over the weekend."
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