Althea
Ultra-close Tissot-Superpole goes to Sykes
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Saturday, 8th June 2013, 16:45 GMTUnder the grey skies of the Autodromo International do Algarve, the eni FIM Superbike World Championship riders tackled the 6th Tissot-Superpole of the season. An incredibly close battle for the top slot on the grid saw Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) scoring his 16th career pole position - the 5th in a row in 2013 - for just a thousandth of a second on Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team). The same gap between the top-2 riders in Superpole happened only once before, as in 2009 Ben Spies snatched pole from Michel Fabrizio at Kyalami. The 1'41.360 set by the British rider means also a new Best Lap for the Portuguese track. Today's Superpole was partly influenced by the weather, as drops of rain began to fall moments before the start of Superpole 2. As per the 2013 WSBK Sporting Regulations, a final 20-minute wet session took place with all 12 riders involved. The conditions quickly improved, though, meaning the riders could fight for the top positions on the grid on dry track. Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) completes the first row of the grid for tomorrow's two races, matching his previous good performances from qualifying. 4th place Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Goldbet) finished ahead of Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team), Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) and an improving Carlos Checa (Team Ducati Alstare), able to put up a good lap onboard his 1199 Panigale R despite his left shoulder injury. Frenchman Jules Cluzel (FIXI Cluzel) was 8th at the flag followed by the Italian trio of Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma Aprilia), Ayrton Badovini (Team Ducati Alstare) and Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Ducati). The 2011 STK1000 Champion had an innocent crash at Turn 8 during the last Superpole session. RELATED: Results | Standings | Photos |Tissot-Superpole Highlights Read article
Rea once again on top in Q2
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Saturday, 8th June 2013, 10:30 GMTJonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) kept himself at the very top of the timesheets in the second qualifying session at Portimao's Autodromo do Algarve. The 26 year old British has edged out in the closing stages from first place works Aprilia rider Eugene Laverty, courtesy of a 1'42.645 lap-time. Despite the clouds covering the sky above the circuit, almost all riders were able to considerably improve their times from yesterday and five of the six brands were well represented in the top-6. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) was 3rd followed by Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team). The double winner at Donington Park suffered a technical problem with his ZX-10R 10 minutes after the start of the session, but managed to get on track later on and to finish ahead of Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki), Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia) and Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma Aprilia). Read article
Perfect lap for Rea to Q1 lead
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Friday, 7th June 2013, 16:42 GMTClose competition was the key factor of today's Qualifying 1 for the eni FIM Superbike World Championship. Under dry track conditions and good temperatures throughout all 45 minutes available the top-10 riders were - in the end - all within a second of each other. Ulsterman Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) stormed to the top in the final stages to secure 1st place for just 52 thousands of a second over Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) and 0.097 seconds on the "King of Donington" Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team). Factory Aprilia rider Sylvain Guintoli rode to a final 4th place followed by Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia) and works BMW duo of Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies. Carlos Checa (Team Ducati Alstare) showed some good signs of recovery - after the unfortunate but almost inevitable withdrawal from Race 2 in the previous round - to end up 8th ahead of Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki), Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Ayrton Badovini (Team Ducati Alstare). French WSBK rookie Jules Cluzel (12th) lost control of his FIXI Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 for a seemingly innocent crash at Turn 3 with few minutes left on the clock. It was again a tough ride for 13th place Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike), still dealing with the difficult left leg injury that is heavily affecting his performance. No time set for Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma Aprilia) as the rider from Rome was stopped twice by technical problems on his RSV4. Read article
The Algarve coast to welcome WSBK for Round 6
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Wednesday, 5th June 2013, 15:51 GMTThe eni FIM Superbike World Championship heads to the magnificent shores of Algarve for Round 6, that will take place the upcoming weekend at Portimao's Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. The Portuguese track made its debut onto the WSBK scene in 2008 - not long after its completion - and it has been a permanent fixture of the calendar since then. The track is a riders' favourite thanks to the challenging, fast and undulating layout that gives a unique character and offers great racing. The "man on a mission" Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), who ended up 1st in Race 1 last year - after securing the top slot on the grid in the Tissot-Superpole - he's now looking forward to building on the momentum he gained after dominating the European Round at Donington Park. Double podium finisher in UK Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) still holds the lead in Riders Standings, despite not climbing onto the top step of the podium from the very first race of the season at Phillip Island. He was 3rd at the end of Race 1 last year and in 2011, after being edged out twice from second place by Carlos Checa. Team mate Eugene Laverty scored last time out at Portimao a late first - and only one - race win of his maiden season with Aprilia. Following a weather-hampered two-day test at Aragon last week, BMW official riders will aim for strong results after the mixed feelings of the past event. Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies - who won 3 out of 10 races so far in the season - are currently 46 and 61 points behind the leader and desperately looking to make up ground at Portimao. In 2012 Melandri had a nightmare weekend, ruining his World Title chase as he crashed out of Race 1 - injuring his back - and was forced to withdraw from the following one. While Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) had to sit out of the last two races due to his left leg injury - despite his efforts to be on track in front of his home crowd - fellow Brit Jonathan Rea tried everything he could to resurrect the flagging fortunes of the Team in 2013 and he is now looking forward to trying his very best again on the venue that saw his first WSBK appearance in 2008. Haslam, on the other hand, is continuing his rehabilitation hoping to be fit enough to race this weekend. Team Ducati Alstare is back to a two-rider line-up after Niccolò Canepa's one-off ride at Donington. Carlos Checa is still dealing with the osseus edema on the head of his left humerus, that forced him to withdraw from Donington second race, and is about to face another physically demanding track. The Spaniard's only victory on the Portuguese track dates back to 2011 (Race 1). Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) had one of the best performances of the past season last year at Portimao in Race 2, when he fought hard against former team mate Max Biaggi for 3rd place until a technical problem ruled him out of the race, on the penultimate lap. Although last year's unfortunate events, Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia) has fond memories of the track that hosted his World Superbike debut in 2011, straight after his coronation as FIM Superstock 1000 Cup Champion. Read article
Giugliano ready to take care of business at Portimao
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Wednesday, 5th June 2013, 15:38 GMTAfter Davide Giugliano's convincing performance in the European Round at Donington Park, just two weeks ago, team Althea Racing is confident about the next event, that will take place the upcoming weekend at Portimao, and plans to confirm the progress made this season so far. On the Portuguese track, that suits well the characteristics of the Aprilia RSV4, Genesio Bevilacqua' squad will work hard to achieve the best possible results, while Giugliano hopes to gain valuable points with which to improve his position in the Championship standings. "The Portuguese Round is one of my favourites", said Davide Giugliano, "because I really like the track and it's always nice to spend a few days in the Algarve. I hope we will encounter favourable conditions and some hot weather at last. After the two Donington races we are even more convinced about our capabilities and possibilities. I hope to be in the leading group at Portimao, making the most of my RSV4's great potential. I'm not setting a specific objective, other than to give it my all and achieve good results, for myself and the team." Read article
Maiden career double-win for Sykes today at Donington Park
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Sunday, 26th May 2013, 16:37 GMTTom Sykes' maiden double-win in the series comes after a total domination in Race 2 for the home rider, who continues his charge to the top now just 4 points away - in anticipation of the final decision by the FIM International Disciplinary Court on Monza Race 2 result. The last time a Kawasaki rider was able to secure both race victories dated back to 2000. Sykes pulled away from the chasing pack in the early stages and managed a 7 seconds lead up to the chequered flag, finishing ahead of works Aprilia duo of Sylvain Guintoli - still Championship leader - and Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team). The 26 year old Irishman, at his first rostrum finish on the Leicester track, had to defend his position from a late charge by Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet), who ran off track at "Fogarty Esses" following a final attempt of edging out the opponent from 3rd place. Melandri quickly rejoined to end up 5th behind the competitive Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia), who looked at times in the position to have a shot at the top-3 he's missing from June 2012. Slight improvement for works BMW rider Chaz Davies, 6th at the flag ahead of Frenchman Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team). A 4-way battle for 7th saw Niccolò Canepa having the better of Jules Cluzel (FIXI Crescent Suzuki), Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma Aprilia) and Jonathan Rea. The One Event rider for the round waved Team Ducati Alstare's flag high after Checa's withdrawal from Race 2 (left shoulder issues) and Ayrton Badovini's crash at Turn 2 on lap 19. The "nightmare weekend" of Leon Camier was completed by another low-speed crash at turn 12, with the Englishman able to get back on track for a final 13th place. RELATED: Results | Standings | Photos |Race 2 Highlights Read article
Sykes clocks the new Best Lap for another Tissot-Superpole
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Saturday, 25th May 2013, 16:01 GMTThe 5th Tissot-Superpole of the season got underway today at Donington Park under an unusual British sunshine and home fans were not surprised to see Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) scoring his 15th career pole position. Thanks to his 4th consecutive top slot on the grid, the Huddersfield-born rider equals Colin Edwards at sixth all-time for Superpole wins, one off fellow English Neil Hodgson. The works Kawasaki rider bettered three times the previous Best Lap of the Leicester circuit, up to an unbeatable 1'27.378. An irony of fate for 2nd place Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team), who matched exactly the previous record set last year by Sykes (1'27.716) to secure a front row start along with team mate Eugene Laverty. After coming close to elimination in Superpole 2, Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) progressed to an outstanding 4th place, a great result for the Ulsterman on the track that saw him winning the latest WSBK race held on the Leicester circuit. Encouraging performance for Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) who was 5th at the chequered flag to precede works BMW riders Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies, Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia) and Niccolò Canepa. The One Event rider, current Championship leader in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, was the only one entry of the Team Ducati Alstare to qualify for Superpole 3, finishing 9th. Spaniard Carlos Checa ended his charge to the front rows in Superpole 2 and will start from 10th place on the grid, while Ayrton Badovini was 14th behind local man Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike), who was cleared to ride just before Free Practice 1 on Friday morning. Read article
Sykes again on top in Q2
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Saturday, 25th May 2013, 10:22 GMTThe Donington Park Circuit welcomed World Superbike riders today for the second qualifying session, that was held under blue skies much warmer temperatures, in sharp contrast from yesterday's weather conditions. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) was again the fastest rider on track after setting - with 10 minutes to go - an encouraging 1'28.800 to lead a pack of hungry competitors - from 2nd to 7th place - all within 0.226 and 0.474 seconds from the lead. Leon Camier's (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) remarkable performance in Q2 proved the good steps forward made at Monza by the FIXI Crescent Suzuki Team right, and that his fitness condition has definitely improved. The rider from Kent finished 3rd behind Championship leader Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) and ahead of Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) and Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team), with the Frenchman able to lap consistently with the front runners on the track that hosted his WSBK debut a year ago. Works BMW rider Chaz Davies rode his way up to 6th place in the final stages after an apparently hard time to find the right balance for his BMW S 1000 RR on the Leicester Track. The Welshman was followed by Italy's Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia) and Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike). Ulsterman's team mate Leon Haslam was again on track this morning to secure a top-15 finish and qualified for Superpole with the last slot available. Read article
Sykes pushes over the limit in Q1
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Friday, 24th May 2013, 16:55 GMTFollowing the morning's wet Free Practice, Qualifying 1 for the eni FIM Superbike World Championship at Donington Park saw improving conditions, that led to a nearly full dry situation towards the end of the session. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) set a 1'30.278 lap-time to finish on top, with a big margin (1.282 seconds) over 2nd place Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike). Sykes has made the difference at Donington Park today, as the remaining 9 to complete the top-10 finished within a second of each other. His encouraging start of the weekend was hampered by a late crash at Turn 4 that damaged his Ninja ZX-10R, but the works Kawasaki rider walked away from the gravel uninjured. A Few seconds before Frenchman Jules Cluzel (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) lost control of his GSX-R1000 at the exact same spot. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) kept his momentum after Monza's success up by finishing 3rd , followed by Aprilia duo of Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) and Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing), home rider Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) and Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma Aprilia). Melandri's team mate Chaz Davies was 8th ahead of works Aprilia rider Eugene Laverty. Local hero Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike) fought against the pain to complete an outstanding total of 8 laps. The rider from the near Derby was declared fit to ride but his conditions will be reviewed again before tomorrow's Qualifying 2. Haslam fractured his leg at Assen and despite still recovering from the injury, he is doing his very best to tackle the whole round. Read article
Laverty takes Race 2 win to close on Championship lead
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Sunday, 12th May 2013, 15:29 GMTEugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) has taken revenge over Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) after first race defeat for the win to achieve a crucial victory in Eni FIM Superbike World Championship Race 2 at Monza. The Irishman grabbed the lead on the penultimate lap and defended the position from a competitive Melandri, who set the fastest lap of the race right before the chequered flag in 1'42.379. With his 3rd race win of 2013, Laverty equals the same number of victories achieved in the past two seasons to close the gap on the Championship leader Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) to 13 points, with Tom Sykes 3rd at 18 points from the top. The Kawasaki Racing Team rider completed the podium ahead of Guintoli, as both riders were part of the 4-way battle that characterised most of the 18-lap race. 5th place for Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma Aprilia), after a close battle with Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia). Both riders had to face a strong Chaz Davies, up until the Welshman lost the front at Turn 5 during lap 12, and a fierce Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki), 7th at the flag. Read article
