Oz Racers Around the World – September 2007
MotoGP
After
two days of roasting hot weather, dominated by Dani Pedrosa, rain arrived on
Sunday, giving the underdogs a welcome chance to shine and increasing pressure
at the front of the field - particularly when Pedrosa and second-on-the-grid
Valentino Rossi were only 13th and 17th
in the wet warm-up.
Meanwhile Stoner, who had struggled
to a season's worst ninth in qualifying had been an impressive second fastest
in the warm-up - and charged up to third by the end of lap one.
Pedrosa defied his warm-up
performance to snatch an early lead, and the Repsol Honda rider even made a
slight break - before being reeled-in by wet weather specialist Anthony West. Unfortunately for the
Stoner had stuck to Melandri's rear wheel, but it was Rossi who eventually toppled his fellow Italian. The Doctor had dropped back to seventh, then made steady progress forwards and, as the track developed a clear dry line, was able to hunt down and pass title rival Stoner on lap 12. Rossi's determination to take the lead almost saw him collide with Melandri, but the #46 made a clean out-braking move stick at the end of on lap 14 - after which Melandri and Stoner immediately dived for the pits, with Rossi waiting one further lap.
The circuit was effectively dry by that stage and, with lower ranked riders gambling on a bike change much sooner, lap times proved that slick tyres were the way forward. Stoner, Melandri and Rossi were ultimately punished for staying out so long, since all three missed out on a podium, but few could blame them - Stoner and Rossi were concentrating on beating each other, while Melandri probably found it hard to surrender the grand prix lead.
When the order had sorted
itself out, Capirossi had taken the lead - helped by a perfectly timed bike
swap - with
The Italian's problem wasn't the timing of his pit stop, since he rejoined in second behind Capirossi, but some form of issue with the front tyre of his second Fiat Yamaha, which prompted the former five times MotoGP world champion back into the pits to have his machine examined - all but handing Stoner the crown. Rossi was sent back out, but again struggled to slow his M1 - running wide at the end of the back straight - and he was left to limp home in a very unlucky 13th.
Meanwhile, Capirossi was never under threat and charged to his third Motegi victory in a row by over ten seconds from de Puniet, who in turn claimed his first ever MotoGP podium by 1.5secs over Elias. Toni, still recovering from a broken femur, secured his second podium of the season - but will it be enough to keep his Gresini seat for 2008?
After an unsuccessful lunge at Elias, Guintoli was forced to settle for a career best fourth - a comfortably 16secs clear of long-time leader Melandri, who had overtaken Stoner on lap 20. Casey was probably pleased to have his future team-mate away from his rear wheel and went on to cross the line a safe sixth, almost 20 seconds clear of West.
After claiming his place
in MotoGP history, a relieved Stoner
was congratulated by both outgoing champion Nicky Hayden and 2001-2005 champion
Rossi, before carrying a huge Australian flag back to the pits - where he was
mobbed by an erupting Ducati team, ready with 'world champion' winning t-shits.
After the podium ceremony, Stoner and
his crew were quite rightly allowed onto the rostrum to celebrate their
triumph, claimed at the home circuit of rivals Honda, Yamaha,
Indeed, Ducati is the
first non-Japanese manufacturer to win the premier-class crown since Phil Read
handed another Italian factory, MV Agusta, its final 500cc World Championship
in 1974. Stoner is the second youngest world champion after
Freddie Spencer in 1983, while Bridgestone's first MotoGP World Championship
ends Michelin's 14-year reign. Stoner's
former 250cc rival and fellow 21-year-old, Pedrosa, a pre-season title
favourite, had a much worse day - suffering a vicious highside out of the final
turn, while on worn wet tyres, on lap 15. Stoner will now take his 1st world
championship home to
AMA
Following the 19 races that made up the most anticipated showdown in AMA Superbike Championship history, the title was decided by just a single point. Superstar Ben Spies came up huge when it mattered the most, delivering a masterful performance on Sunday afternoon at Laguna Seca to secure a repeat crown.
Six-time AMA Superbike king Mat Mladin controlled the race over its opening half, leaping out into the lead at the start and holding down the top position for 15 of the race’s 28 laps. The Aussie held strong under intense pressure from Spies early and then started to eke out an advantage around lap 10, pushing his works GSX-R1000 to just over a second in front of Spies’ identical machine.
However, any thoughts at that point that Spies may not have the sufficient fight in him today were erased when he stole big chunks out of that lead and closed right back onto his rival’s rear wheel to open lap 16.
Spies then set up the move of the season in the series’ most renowned corner. The 23-year-old Texan pulled alongside the 35-year-old Australian as they quickly closed on a lapper and entered the Corkscrew. Spies nudged ahead for a moment but Mladin reclaimed the lead briefly as the dove down the hill. His momentum forced him a touch wide and Spies took full advantage of the small opening, slicing back into first as they exited the corkscrew. The Texan immediately capitalized on the maneuver, pulling more than a half second by the time they next crossed the stripe.
Finally out in front, Spies put his head down and gapped Mladin by another full second on the following circulation and continued on to open up more than five seconds of padding as he completed the most pressure-filled, antagonizing 12 laps of his career. Spies’ seven-win season, which included no finish worse than second place and resulted in a repeat championship, confirmed his standing as one of the series’ all-time greats just three years into his Superbike career.
After scoring the most important of his 18 career AMA Superbike wins, Spies said, “I didn’t want it to be that close, I’ll tell you that much. I was going to say this if we won the title or not: when it comes down to riding, I think Mat he rode the best he’s ever ridden this year. Yeah, he gave some points away but he kept coming back and coming back. We know speed-wise we’ve got to get it together and get a little bit more for next year. But our goal was to win the championship this year and we did that. “It was one of those deals, coming into here I was trying not to deal with all the pressure and just get going with it. The race went just liked I hoped it would… Once the pass happened, when I got in front I knew I had some strong sections and he had some strong sections too. I just thought if I could string together some laps it’d be pretty good at the end and we did. We came out on top and we did our job this weekend.”
While he came up a point shy in the title race (652-651), it’s impossible to argue that Mladin’s record-breaking 12-win season was anything but one of the most impressive the series has ever seen. The Aussie stayed true to his repeated claims that his primary goal this year was to win races and deemed ’07 a success despite falling just short of his seventh career AMA Superbike title. Mladin remarked, “If we were thinking about championships, we’ve given up some points in a couple of races, just through riding hard and trying to get race wins. That was the plan at the start of the year, so to be disappointed now would be somewhat hypocritical because we did what we wanted to do, and that was try and win as many races as possible. “We came up a point short in the end and that’s the way it goes. I’m happy, honestly. It was a great season and I thanked Ben on the podium for helping me become the racer that I am. I had to pick up my pace and pick up my game to get up to his level and it’s been a really good year. I’m looking forward to the off-season; go home and start working and do a few things different and see if we can’t come back for another shot at it next year.”
While all the focus was on the epic Spies/Mladin duel, there was still another podium placing to be decided. Jordan Suzuki’s Aaron Yates tracked down and ultimately overtook the fast-starting American Honda’s Jake Zemke with a nifty corkscrew pass of his own to secure third. Yates’ completion of the Suzuki-podium sweep was an apt way to conclude a season thoroughly dominated by the ’07 GSX-R1000, which won every single Superbike and Superstock race this season.
Despite losing out in the race to Yates, fourth-place finisher Zemke narrowly held onto third in the final points standings over the Georgian, 468-465. The 2007 AMA Superbike Championship battle fully lived up to its expectations as one of the most intense of all time. Neither Spies and Mladin show any sign of backing down now -- the ’07 campaign closes with promises of an equally memorable duel brewing on the horizon.
AMA - Formula Extreme
Honda’s Aaron Gobert finished his season in fine style, claiming the final Formula Xtreme race of the season. The Australian, who has struggled to recapture his Superstock-title winning form in recent years, showed renewed strength in ’07. Also late-season frontrunner Marty Craggill exited the contest as 12 laps when his Ducati went up in flames with the Australian still at its controls.
World Superbikes – Magny
Cours
Race One:
The World Superbike
Championship has just been blown wide open due to Lorenzo Lanzi suffering a
turn one high side. The Xerox Ducati rider crashed mid pack, causing the
other riders to scatter around him. Toseland had to
take to the gravel to avoid the crashing Italian and rejoined the race dead
last. Max Biaggi also lost ground due to this incident and had to battle his way
forward along with Toseland. Joining Haga on the podium was Troy
Bayliss on the second of the Xerox machines who was bashing elbows with
third place man, Troy Corser. The
Two Australians were taking chunks out of one another during the final few laps
of the race.
Following the tough race
Haga said, “I was checking behind me and every lap my heart was vibrating more.
I just think, no crash and keep going. I was lucky at
the start as I almost take in the crash. I am happy for the result and I will
try for next race. I guess with the weather I will make some changes to my
bike. I must pay
Bayliss admitted that it was hard
work as this track makes for tight racing. I was mad as I didn't put a good lap
together in Superpole. Our bike is as good as anyone's but it struggles into
the back straight. Nori was in control and looked like he could have gone
faster, he kept a good pace.”
Corser was once again deprived of the win
that he wants, “I got a great start and the plan was to get in front and win,
and let this lot battle it out for the championship. Haga was determined to get
to the front. I tried some moves but I didn't want to risk anything. When
Toseland who ran across the gravel with his race bike's rear wheel spinning and snaking in the uneven terrain. He did an amazing job of holding onto his bucking machine to rejoin the race. Biaggi, who also got tangled up in the turn one crash had rejoined the action in 13th whilst Toseland was running 17th. Biaggi ran wide in his efforts to get further up the standings and when he came back onto the racing line he was very lucky not to get taken out by Karl Muggeridge.
On lap four Neukirchner set a new lap record of 1min 39.844secs while Michel Fabrizio was hit with a ride through penalty for a jump start. By lap five Biaggi was tenth and Toseland eleventh. Haga had a bit of a moment but managed to hold it. Just three laps later and both Biaggi and Toseland were into the top ten. Neukirchner was all over the back of Corser and was lining him up to try and take second place. He put a hard move on the tough Aussie forcing him to sit up mid corner. Corser wasn't letting him away with it and took his position back, while these two were dicing Bayliss was gradually closing down on them.
Ruben Xaus got caught up in the Biaggi –Toseland freight train as the pair of them sandwiched him through a corner pushing him back two places. By now Bayliss was getting impatient and shoved his way under Neukirchner physically bumping the German rider out of the way. Bayliss now had Corser in his sights and it all kicked off on lap 19. The feuding Australians changed place four times, bashing elbows all the way, but it was Bayliss who came out on top. Toseland came over the line in seventh place and now has 405 points, 17 clear of Haga who is second. Race two will decide the Championship.
Race Two:
The race win went to
Noriyuki Haga on the Yamaha Italia machine who rode a faultless race, leading
from lights to flag. He lost out on the title by just two points. Toseland
actually finished in sixth place but it was sufficient to clinch his second
World title. “About time,” he exclaimed, “I've been in the lead from the first
race. What a championship with Haga, Biaggi, Bayliss and Corser. I've
been in this Championship for seven years and I wanted to win it before moving
MotoGP. So thanks to everyone in Superbike,” said an emotional Toseland.
Haga, once again is the Brides maid to Toseland, “It was a little bit easy, we change the suspension settings for race two and used one grade harder tyre. I was pushing so hard. I can't complain, I do my best to win twice. I try next year for the title,” he said. Second place on the podium went to Max Biaggi on the Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki who had an epic battle with Troy Corser.
Biaggi was happy with his podium finishes saying, “Its good always but I'm always looking for better. I'm happy with my first year and Superbike is a championship I like. Race one I get involved with the crash with Lanzi and Toseland. I lost out and came back on track in 15th so I was disappointed. For race two I change the suspension front and rear. It worked better and I pushed from the start, I had a better rhythm but not enough to catch Nori.”
The final step of the podium went to the hard charging Fonsi Nieto on the PSG-1 Kawasaki. He had wanted a podium for his team before he moves on next year and that is exactly what he achieved.
Troy Corser had to settle for fourth place after two very physical battles with Biaggi and Nieto. The Australian was bumped into by both riders leaving him with his feet off the pegs and lucky to stay on his Yamaha Italia.
Haga got a perfect start to race two grabbing the hole shot and never looking back. Steve Martin crashed out on the first lap and was taken to the medical centre. As the race raged on Haga was leading from Corser with Biaggi Nieto and Toseland chasing. On lap four things started to get physical with Corser and Biaggi as they clashed fairings. Toseland was coming under fire from Max Neukirchner who was on the move to take fifth place from him. Biaggi ran wide on lap eight allowing Corser back through, this didn't last for long as Biaggi claimed his second place again. Corser wasn't impressed and forced his way under Biaggi who then returned the favour. He hit the side of Corser's bike knocking the Australian off line and out wide onto the rumble strips. Corser shot him a look across the track. Further down the field Bayliss was trying to make a move on Regis Laconi but unfortunately ran wide.
Nieto was now up to the sharp end and barged his way through to take third place from Corser. As Toseland continued to lap in fifth place Bayliss started to close him down and on lap 16 he made his move relegating the soon to be champion to sixth place.
The gloves came off with Corser and Nieto on lap 19, they swapped places and bashed fairings twice leaving Nieto in third and Corser in fourth. Having taken a good battering in both races Corser settled for fourth place. Lorenzo Lanzi opted not to take part in race two but he did speak to Toseland on the grid ahead of the event, a very sporting gesture following the incident in race one.
World Supersport – Magny Cours
Kenan Sofuoglu has taken his eighth win of the season beating Karl Muggeridge's record of seven wins.
He racked up pole position
and the race win at the final round of the World Supersport Championship at
Magny-Cours in
Wrapping up second place in the Championship and claiming second place in the
race was Broc Parkes
on the SSP Yamaha. The hard riding Aussie
led the early part of the race but was concerned about tyre wear as he had
opted to run a softer front than usual.
The final step of the
podium went to British rider Craig Jones on the Reve Ekerold Honda. Jones had a
huge three way battle with Gianluca Vizziello and fellow Brit Tommy Hill. Jones'
tyre smoking style won out giving him his third podium of the season. Vizziello had to settle for fourth place on the RG Yamaha
while Hill was pushed back to fifth place on the SSP Yamaha. The British
Superbike rider had been hoping for a podium finish and had been in contention
until Vizziello and Jones got involved.