|
|
2008-02-23 WSBK:Fonsi Nieto takes maiden World Superbike victory
Be first to comment this story
Fonsi Nieto took his maiden victory after four years in World Superbike championship, bringing his Alstare Suzuki to the top positions with four laps remaining in the race 2 and staying there despite attacks from Xaus and Biaggi. Ruben Xaus has given more reasons for Spanish fans to celebrate, as he finished race 2 in second place, just few tenths of a second in front of team-mate, Max Biaggi, who took last podium position. Troy Bayliss was unable to repeat pace from race 1 as he finished in distant 4th place, in front of team-mate, Fabrizio.
Fonsi - Race 1: 7th, Race 2: 1st This is my first WSBK win and my first race win since Donington in 1993! Yes, It’s been a long, long while. I’ve worked very hard in this championship and today I reaped the reward of all the hard work. Today my Suzuki Alstare bike was faster then the Ducatis, but I definitely raced with my mind today. I used the same bike, with the same set-up in both races, though I did have the traction control on a harder setting in the first race and the bike was not as comfortable to ride as it was in race two. There was only five degrees difference in temperature between the two races, but the bike felt different in both races! In the second race, I was able to conserve my bike and the tyres and finish strongly and that’s why I won. I would like to thank all the people who had faith in me and have supported me these past years. And I’d like to thank Francis and Patricia Batta, the whole team and Suzuki for all their help. I know there are people out there who didn’t think I could be a winner, but today I proved them wrong!
Troy Bayliss - Race 1: 1st, Race 2: 4th It's a very good start to the season for the team, exactly what we needed! Overall I'm very happy with the results. In race 1 I didn't make the greatest start and so it took me a while to make it to the front of the pack. The last eight laps were a bit of a battle against Max but I was finally able to get past him and, although I made a couple of small mistakes, I was pretty comfortable and took the win. I would have loved to take another podium in race 2 but it wasn't to be and I come away from this round leading the championship by 2 points so I can't exactly complain. Now I'm ready to move on to Phillip Island where I hope to have another great weekend.
Qatar 2008 - WSBK race 2 results: 1. Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki) 2. Ruben Xaus (Ducati) +0.301 3. Max Biaggi (Ducati) +1.321 4. Troy Bayliss (Ducati) +6.452 5. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) +7.627 6. Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati) +9.117 7. Troy Corser (Yamaha) +10.806 8. Max Neukirchner (Suzuki) +11.661 9. Jakub Smrz (Ducati) +13.269 10. Kenan Sofuoglu (Honda) +14.563 11. Carlos Checa (Honda) +15.953 12. Makoto Tamada (Kawasaki) +16.748 13. Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) +18.356 14. Gregorio Lavilla (Honda) +26.311 15. Roberto Rolfo (Honda) +26.560
|
Back to MotoGP news home
|
|
|