Race Results
Yamaha has won the 2007 World Superbike
Manufacturers Championship with a 28-point margin
following today's season finale at Magny-Cours.
Both Yamaha Motor Italia riders put
in 100% effort today to give the manufacturer the
title with Noriyuki Haga taking the double win and
Troy Corser coming home in third and fourth.
Both races were nail-biting events with Haga and
Corser making good use of team work to gain maximum
points.
Nobody could have asked for more
from Haga as he led both races from start to finish,
claiming his second double win of the season; the
first being at Monza. Corser also put in a
sterling performance during the day, battling with
Neukirchner and Bayliss in race one and Biaggi and
Nieto in race two, to take third and fourth.
Haga's double win was bittersweet as
the rider ended the day just two points off the
championship title. This is the third time
Noriyuki has finished second in the championship.
Corser's results today means he finishes the 2007
season in fifth place and today saw him take the
record for the highest number of World Superbike
race starts ever with 276 - one ahead of
Pierfrancesco Chili.
After 16 pole positions, 177 podiums
and 44 race wins Yamaha has claimed the
Manufacturers Title for the first time.
Shinichi Nakatomi finishes 2007 in
15th place following an 11th place finish in race
one and a DNF in race two.
Noriyuki Haga (1st and 1st - Yamaha Motor
Italia World Superbike Team): "In race one I
couldn't see what was happening behind but my pit
board was telling me so I built up as much gap as
possible to try and stay out of the battles going
on. My heart was definitely beating faster
though! For race two I didn't change anything
on the bike and I just tried my best.
I'm disappointed with second in the
championship, who wouldn't be with a gap of just two
points! But I'm happy. I've enjoyed
fighting with all the riders in the championship
this year. The last few races have been really
good, from a results point of view; I'll just have
to try harder next year. It's been good
working with Troy this year, we get on well and I'm
looking forward to developing the bike further with
him next year. I'd like to thank the team for
all their efforts and congratulations to James on
winning the championship."
Troy Corser (3rd and 4th -
Yamaha Motor Italia World Superbike Team): "I
got a great start in race one; my aim had been to
get in front and just go for the win but Nori was
very determined to get in front of me! I
wasn't going to risk crashing and taking us both out
in order to get back past him. I rode as hard
as I could but my front tire went off during the
race so I was unable to hold Bayliss off and he got
past. In race two I got off the line well
again and I just did my best to hold everyone up!
Overall I'm happy; I set out what I
achieved to do today and I'm pleased to have played
a part in giving Yamaha the Manufacturers Title."
Massimo Meregalli (Team
Coordinator, Yamaha Motor Italia World Superbike
Team): "Today has been a great day! We
did everything that was possible to win and Troy did
an excellent job for the team. I'd like to
thank both Nori and Troy for their team work and
efforts throughout the season. In addition I'd
like to thank everyone in the team; they have played
an important part in our championship fight.
Next year we'll be ready from the
first race. We won six races this year and got
18 podiums and this is the best result the team's
ever had. Honestly, to finish second with a
gap of two points leaves us a bit disappointed.
Nori has had a fantastic season and in our opinion
he didn't lose…"
Laurens Klein Koerkamp
(General Manager, Racing Division, Yamaha Motor
Europe): "To get the manufacturer title is
excellent - it shows the strength of the bike and
the total team effort including both riders.
It's been an unbelievable challenge but the team
never gave up and closed the gap. We were so
close to the rider title. Of course, at the
end of the season you can have many 'what ifs' but
that's racing and we've shown the 'spirit of
challenge' attitude and passion for racing that runs
through the team and Yamaha. The R1 was a new
bike this year and we've shown what it can do.
Next year we'll go for the rider title as well,
nothing less."
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2007 World Superbike
Magny-Cours - October 7, 2007
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Circuit Length: 4,411. Temp:
15. Crowd: 75,000. Weather: Dry |
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Race 1 - 23 Laps |
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Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total
Time |
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1 Noriyuki Haga Yamaha JPN
38'33.762 |
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2 Troy Bayliss Ducati AUS
0'2.770 |
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3 Troy Corser Yamaha AUS
0'3.735 |
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4 Max Neukirchner Suzuki GER
0'8.570 |
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5 Fonsi Nieto Kawasaki ESP
0'12.925 |
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6 Max Biaggi Suzuki ITA
0'13.283 |
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7 James Toseland Honda GBR
0'16.395 |
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8 Ruben Xaus Ducati ESP
0'22.581 |
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9 Regis Laconi Kawasaki FRA
0'22.828 |
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10 Roberto Rolfo Honda ITA
0'32.729 |
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11 Shinichi Nakatomi Yamaha
JPN 0'38.305 |
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12 Karl Muggeridge Honda AUS
0'53.685 |
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13 Yoann Tiberio Honda FRA
0'53.799 |
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14 Michel Fabrizio Honda ITA
0'53.915 |
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15 Guillaume Dietrich Suzuki
FRA 0'56.474 |
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Race 2 - 23 Laps
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Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total
Time |
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1 Noriyuki Haga Yamaha JPN
38'35.353 |
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2 Max Biaggi Suzuki ITA
0'3.518 |
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3 Fonsi Nieto Kawasaki ESP
0'9.142 |
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4 Troy Corser Yamaha AUS
0'9.257 |
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5 Troy Bayliss Ducati AUS
0'12.825 |
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6 James Toseland Honda GBR
0'19.316 |
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7 Roberto Rolfo Honda ITA
0'20.994 |
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8 Regis Laconi Kawasaki FRA
0'22.452 |
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9 Michel Fabrizio Honda ITA
0'22.505 |
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10 Ruben Xaus Ducati ESP
0'28.352 |
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11 Karl Muggeridge Honda AUS
0'44.333 |
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12 Yoann Tiberio Honda FRA
0'48.077 |
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13 Guillaume Dietrich Suzuki
FRA 1'23.307 |
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14 Luca Morelli Ducati ITA
1'23.826 |
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15 Dean Ellison Ducati GBR
1'37.631 |
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Fastest Lap |
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Max Neukirchner Suzuki GER
1'39.844 |
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2007 World Superbike
Final Rider Standings |
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Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Points
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1. James Toseland Honda GBR
415 |
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2. Noriyuki Haga Yamaha JPN
413 |
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3. Max Biaggi Suzuki ITA 397
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4. Troy Bayliss Ducati AUS
372 |
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5. Troy Corser Yamaha AUS
296 |
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6. Ruben Xaus Ducati ESP 201
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7. Lorenzo Lanzi Ducati ITA
192 |
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8. Roberto Rolfo Honda ITA
192 |
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9. Max Neukirchner Suzuki
GER 149 |
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10. Regis Laconi Kawasaki
FRA 137 |
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11. Michel Fabrizio Honda
ITA 132 |
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12. Fonsi Nieto Kawasaki ESP
125 |
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13. Yukio Kagayama Suzuki
JPN 116 |
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14. Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 66
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15. Shinichi Nakatomi Yamaha
JPN 66 |
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2007 World Superbike
Final Manufacturer Standings |
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1. Yamaha 467 |
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2. Ducati 439 |
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3. Honda 439 |
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4. Suzuki 419 |
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5. Kawasaki 192 |
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6. MV Agusta 1 |
Race Preview
The 2007 World Superbike
Championship comes to a thrilling finale this
weekend at the French circuit of Magny-Cours.
The final round of the championship
will be played out in true dramatic form with the
top three riders all in with a chance of lifting the
trophy on Sunday.
Only one weekend ago, the race in
Vallelunga, Italy saw the championship possibilities
left wide open as Noriyuki Haga took a third and
fourth while championship leader Toseland could only
manage third and 11th.
Max Biaggi also got in on the act
when he took first and second to move into second
championship place. With only 33 points
separating these three riders there is everything
still to fight for.
It's not just the riders'
championship that is at stake this coming weekend.
The manufacturer championship will also be decided
at the final round. Honda currently leads but,
with Yamaha only 3 points adrift, a good result from
either Haga, Corser or Nakatomi could see Yamaha
take the honors.
Haga's performance at Magny-Cours
has been positive in the past; he won in 2004 and
last year came second and fourth as well as taking
the fastest lap of race one. This year it's
all about the top step of the podium as the Japanese
star is only too aware.
"Magny-Cours is going to be a real
animal fight for the win. Toseland, Biaggi,
Bayliss, Corser and I are all looking at that top
step with determination," Haga says. "It's
going to come down to who wants it the most and who
has the best set-up. But I plan to spoil
everyone else's party!"
Corser might be out of championship
contention but there is still a steely determination
about him. Mr. Superpole has twice taken pole
position at the French circuit - in 2004 and 2006.
In fact, 2006 was a very good year
for him; as well as pole he took best lap, the race
record, came third in race one and second in race
two. Corser goes to Magny-Cours looking to end
the season on a high with his first win for Yamaha.
"I'm looking forward to the last
race. I've gone well on all the other bikes I've
ridden there and Nori's shown how well the Yamaha
can go at Magny-Cours so it should be a good
combination!" comments Corser.
"Of course I'm going there looking
to win, I'm hungry for one before the end of the
season. Vallelunga was a bit of a mixed bag
for me with a DNF in race one and a fourth in race
two. I'm keen to move on from that and end
2007 on a positive note. What could be better than
giving Yamaha the manufacturer title!"
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Magny Cours Race Circuit |
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Magny-Cours Circuit Data
Track length: 4411m
Track opened: 1959
2006 World Superbike winners: Toseland (Honda, race 1);
Bayliss (Ducati, race 2)
2006 World Superbike fastest lap: 1'40.370 (Bayliss,
Ducati)
World Superbike lap record: 1'39.147 (2006, Corser,
Suzuki)
Circuit tel: +33 386 21 80 00
Circuit website: www.magnyf1.com
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World Supersport Championship
Last weekend at Vallelunga proved a challenging one
for the Yamaha World Supersport Team as set-up and
tire problems dogged the team throughout the
weekend.
Undeterred, Parkes still put in a
good performance to finish fourth. The team
has a slight advantage this weekend, having tested
at Magny-Cours last month where they got the
opportunity to find a good wet set-up.
Parkes goes to Magny-Cours with
second place in the championship still in his sights
and his track record shows that he will be a serious
contender for the win on Sunday. He finished
third last year, took the win in 2005 and took pole
in 2004.
"I really like Magny-Cours or rather
it seems to like me! I got my first win there
so the circuit has a special place in my heart,"
says Parkes.
"I'm fired up and confident; I want
that second place in the championship. Magny-Cours
is normally good for the Yamaha, Curtain came second
there the year I won. I've closed the door on
Vallelunga and moved on. It's time to focus on the
final round of the year and go there to win."
This weekend sees Tommy Hill partner
Parkes for a fourth and final time this season.
Hill, who is riding for the team in addition to his
British Superbike commitments, goes to Magny-Cours
strong-minded in chasing a top five finish this
weekend after a disappointing round at Vallelunga,
where he crashed out on the first lap.
"We are starting this weekend with a
plus point immediately because we know that we're
going to have the tires that both Broc and I have
felt happiest with - that's the tire that we used at
Brands and Lausitz. That means that we won't
be chasing set-up all weekend," says Hill.
"It's a shame that last weekend
didn't go according to plan for me. The team
did everything they could to help me feel as
comfortable as possible on the bike. I'm just
sorry I couldn't get a good result for them.
Moving on from that, I'm pretty confident about this
weekend. I tested there with the team last
month so got some good laps in and know which way
the track goes at least! I'm looking for a top five
finish."
FIM Superstock 1000 Cup
Vallelunga proved to be an excellent round for
Yamaha in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup. Corti
took his first win of the season which in turn gave
Yamaha the manufacturer title, proving the
competitiveness of the 2007 R1.
The rider championship, though, is
still open. Any one of the top five riders
could walk away with the title this coming weekend.
Matteo Biaocco, riding an R1, still heads the board
but with only one point separating him from second
nothing is guaranteed. With his win last
weekend, Corti has put himself back in championship
contention and is only nine points adrift. His track
record at this circuit makes him a serious contender
- in 2006 he took pole, the fastest lap and the race
win.
Maxim Berger on his side took the
championship's title in the European Championship
Superstock 600 on his YZF-R6, with still one round
to go. The 18-year old Frenchman proved to be
the fastest and most consistent this season
resulting in the second championship title in three
years for Yamaha with Corti winning the title in
2005.
Suzuki Team Report
Max Biaggi and Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra head
to this weekend's final World Superbike round at
Magny Cours on a mission to lift the title.
Following the Italian's victory and
second place at Vallelunga, he lies 29 points behind
series leader James Toseland, but any slip-up by the
Briton could give him a chance of taking the title.
Biaggi had his first ever outing on
the GSX-R1000 at Magny-Cours at the end of last
season so is no stranger to the track, but since
then the bike has developed a lot so he will have to
work hard to find a good set-up in practice and
qualifying. Nonetheless he and the team are
ready for the challenge and hoping to end the season
on a high.
Biaggi's team mate Yukio Kagayama is
traveling to the French circuit but does not know if
he will be able to race there this weekend: His
injured right hand and knee caused him to pull out
of last weekend's race at Vallelunga but the
Japanese rider is determined to race at Mangy-Cours
if he feels he can. He will go out on Friday
morning practice and see how his injuries hold up
before making a decision.
Max Biaggi: "This will
be an interesting weekend for sure and I will be
doing my best to put pressure on Toseland throughout
the weekend. He is an experienced rider, but
anything can happen in racing and I want to be a
position to capitalize on any mistakes."
"At least I am no stranger to Mangy-Cours,
but the Suzuki is now very different to when I made
my first test of it at the end of last season.
For me, I will start my usual way of working with
the bike's set-up and try and get it right for the
race. I am confident that I can make some good
results this weekend, but what will happen yet I do
not know. We shall just have to see."
Yukio Kagayama: "I was
very disappointed not to race last weekend, but even
I realized that it would have been a pointless
exercise. It is not as if I had been going for
the title or second place, so there was no need for
me to race and maybe crash again. Really, I
should not race this weekend, but I want to if I
can! I do not want to end the season sitting around
the pits and doing nothing, because I am a racer and
I want to race!"
2006 Magny-Cours Results
Race 1: 1 Toseland (GB-Honda), 2 Haga
(J-Yamaha), 3 Corser (Aus-Suzuki), 5 Yukio Kagayama
(J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra). Max Biaggi DNS
Race 2: 1 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati), 2 Corser, 3
Toseland, 9 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona
Extra). Max Biaggi DNS.
