Losail, Qatar Circuit.  Courtesy Yamaha Racing

2008 World Superbike Round 1 - Qatar

Text and Photos Courtesy Kawasaki Racing, Suzuki Racing, Yamaha Racing and World Superbike.  Edited by webBikeWorld.

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Qualifying
Troy Corser continued his dominance in Losail qualifying to further his record Superpole winning tally today, posting a remarkable new track best of 1:58.053, nearly four tenths of a second faster than his Superpole record from '07, using a race tire on his YZF-R1.

It was Corser's 41st career pole win in WSB racing, and it could have been a 1'57 lap but for a slight wobble in the middle of his high-speed chase around the 5.380km Losail circuit.  Corser was fully 0.636 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger, Ruben Xaus, in the kind of competition that Corser has made his very own.

Noriyuki Haga shook off the effects of a big highside crash on day one to record the sixth fastest Superpole time, and earn a second row start.  Haga feels confident in his race set-up, and was not worried to be off the front row, as he had qualified fourth fastest going into Superpole, and has good race pace.

The winds that plagued day one at Losail continued today, albeit at a reduced level, but final set-up adjustments may remain to be made in warm up on race day morning, tire choices will be vital at this most changeable of WSB circuits, and therefore the team members expended a lot of time and effort in trying to choose a suitable combination for race day.

Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha GMT94) just missed out on Superpole qualification by going 17th in practice, his team-mate Davide Checa (Yamaha GMT94) was close to him, in 19th, in a field of 28.

Shinichi Nakatomi (Team YZF Yamaha) found the windy conditions at Losail a real challenge in qualifying, after a very positive test at Qatar shortly before race weekend. He qualified a lowly 26th today but found better settings for the races in the final free practice session this afternoon.

Troy Corser:  (1st - 1'58.053 - Yamaha Italia WSB Team):  "I do like this track although the grip levels are not always that good.  The bike is in balance even if I did have some sort of a tank-slapper halfway through the Superpole lap - mainly because I was pushing it so hard.  I had chosen a soft race tire over the qualifying tire because it makes the bike easier to control."

"For the qualifying lap you just need to ride very smoothly and it worked out fine.  During the regular qualifying sessions today we did some long runs in order to test tire life and I am confident we have a good set-up for tomorrow.  Last year, when I joined Yamaha, it took a couple of races to adapt.  We ended the year on a high note, however, and started that way again this year. I have to thank my team and our new Öhlins technician.  I pretty pleased with my latest Superpole win and looking forward to starting from the first row."

Noriyuki Haga (4th - 1'59.017 - Yamaha Italia WSB Team):  "I almost made a perfect Superpole lap but at one point the rear started chattering, so I missed a bit of time there.  Otherwise I am quite satisfied with Superpole, because we tried so many things for our race set-up that I didn't find a great feeling with the Superpole tire before I started my lap.  I am thinking about race strategy tonight, but I can't make too many predictions.  This track is peculiar, but I will try to do my best as always."

Suzuki World Superbike Team Report
The first race of the 2008 Superbike World Championship this weekend in Qatar sees the dawning of a new era for Team Alstare Suzuki.

After ten years with the same sponsor, it's all change for the new season.  And the changes don't stop there, for this year's Alstare Suzuki team also features two new riders.

With crowd favorite Yukio Kagayama staying though, the new three rider line-up is a fascinating blend of youth and experience.  All three riders have enjoyed their winter tests and are fit and ready for the championship's kick-off this coming weekend.

Yukio Kagayama:  "Last season was one to forget and I am determined not to have so many hurtful crashes.  The winter tests have gone well and now it's time to see how well we will stack up against our competitors in a race situation.  I think that the competition will be even harder then last year, but I am excited about the prospect of lots of tough racing because this is what I enjoy!"

Fonsi Nieto:  "It took a while to get used to the Alstare Suzuki GSX-R, but every time I rode the bike I became more and more comfortable with it.  Testing is one thing, but now it's time to see how we go in a race.  There are so many different factors in a race compared to testing and it's going to be very interesting for sure.  Of course, this year is going to be very hard because the series has become stronger and there are many good riders and bikes out there, but I am looking forward to the challenge."

Max Neukirchner:  "My new experience started with the winter tests, but I feel I know the team and mechanics now and we are working together really well.  The Suzuki I rode last season was nothing like the Alstare Suzuki, so there has been lots to learn.  But I am so happy to get this chance with a team like Alstare Suzuki and I am determined to give it everything I have.  There are so many good riders this year, but I think I can get some good results and have some fun at the same time."

Francis Batta - Team Manager:  "We have done a lot of work over the winter months and I seemed to have spent a lot of time in meetings trying to get everything organized for this season.  It's been tough, but now I'm looking forward to being at the racetrack and getting involved in the racing again.  We have an interesting rider line-up this year - a good mixture of experience and youth - and it's going to be fun working with the three different characters throughout the long season ahead and see how they perform.  We are under no illusions about how hard this season will be, but we at Alstare Suzuki like this kind of a challenge and will be giving it 100 per cent - as usual."

Yamaha World Superbike Team Report
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.

Noriyuki Haga.  Courtesy Yamaha Racing

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."

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."

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 tires, when the quicker times were made with 2008 development tires.  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.

2008 World Supersport - Parkes and Foret Set for Season Opener
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 race day, 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."

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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