Brno (Czech Republic), Sunday 23 July: Ducati Xerox Team riders Troy Bayliss and Lorenzo Lanzi had two below-par races in the seventh round of the World Superbike Championship at Brno today. Bayliss was eliminated by Régis Laconi in a first-corner first-lap incident in the opening counter, while Lanzi struggled with lack of grip in his front tyre and had to come into the pits for a change. Both riders then suffered with severe lack of grip in the second race and could only manage eighth and ninth. Troy Bayliss’s lead in the championship with five rounds remaining is now 73 points.

“The whole day had been going to plan up until the first corner and I guess you could say it was one of those racing incidents” explained Troy. “Pitty got in a little hot and bumped into me which pushed me wide. Régis had already gone wide and then ran into me as well, down I went and that was my morning over. Like I said before you never know with racing what’s around the corner. In the second race I had to work harder than to have a win but I only lost four points and I have to take it on the chin and move on. Lorenzo gave me a place at the end and you never know a point could be important at the end of the year. I put a softer tyre on for race 2 but after two laps my grip was going down and I had to ride it home, but even that was a struggle.”

“We had been protagonists all weekend and had set quickest time in the morning warm-up. There was just time for a bit of relaxation and ….then two races to forget” declared Lorenzo. “For the second race I had managed to sort out the front but then I had problems with the rear. Me and my team are a bit disappointed to say the least. We worked hard as always, we were looking good on the front row and ready for two good races. The conditions were the same as yesterday, the same as in the tests, I don’t know what else I can say. Now let’s move onto the next round and hopefully things will be better at Brands Hatch.”

RACE 1: 1. Kagayama (Suzuki); 2. Toseland (Honda); 3. Fabrizio (Honda); 4. Haga (Yamaha); 5. Corser (Suzuki); 6. Nieto (Kawasaki); 7. Walker (Kawasaki); 8. Nakatomi (Yamaha); 9. Abe (Yamaha); 10. Chili (Honda). RACE 2: 1. Kagayama; 2. Fabrizio; 3. Haga; 4. Corser; 5. Toseland; 6. Nieto; 7. Muggeridge (Honda); 8. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox); 9. Lanzi (Ducati Xerox); 10. Walker.

POINTS: Riders - 1. Bayliss 262; 2. Haga 189; 3. Toseland 188; 4. Corser 173; 5. Barros 151; 6. Pitt 128; 7. Kagayama 106; 8. Lanzi 80. Manufacturers - 1. Ducati 272; 2. Suzuki 238; 3. Honda 236; 4. Yamaha 218; 5. Kawasaki 118; 6. Petronas 4.

(this article was taken from insidebikes.com)

The word from Husqvarna;

The unbeatable Gerald Delepine has conquered another victory in occasion of the 5th Supermoto Italian Championship’s round held in Pomposa.

During Sunday’s race 1, Gerald was preceded by his teammate Ivan Lazzarini who, in race 2, was victim of a bad fall that cost the young rider an injury to his left wrist. This allowed Gerald to conquer the first step of the podium and to bounce to the top of the provisional international classification.

Next goal for the Husqvarna CH Team is the conquer of the next Supermoto World Championship’s GP which will take place in Sardinia next week end.

(this bulletin was taken from insidebikes.com)

Valentino Rossi proved why is a World Champion today, with a breathtaking display at Donington, moving from 12th on the grid, inexorably closer to the front of the pack, and eventually scoring a second place.

The first half of th race was generally dull, with only Pedrosa’s error in trying to overtake Melandri for the lead livening things up. Pedrosa regrouped himself and settled in to a comfortable lead on lap 12 of the 30 lap GP, whilst Melandri, Kenny Roberts and Casey Stoner kept close company, weighing each other up.

But the race edged towards a true grandstand finish as Ross - still carrying a wrist injury from Assen last week, worked his way to the battle for 2nd place on the podium - and some valuable points.

An error by Melandri let Rossi slip past two riders, jumping from 5th to 3rd in one corner, but Melandri hadn’t given up the battle and eventually, it became a hectic dice for the final three laps between these two Italian rivals. Melandri#s last lap mistake on the Melbourne loop saw him run wide, at exactly the point where Rossi had taken a wide corner entry, so he could take advantage of any error by Melandri - Rossi slipped past and one corner later was looking at the chequered flag.

The Donington crowd went wild, the track was swarming with fans, some kissing the tarmac in adulation - Pedrosa had won, but nobody seemed bothered about that apart from his family and pit crew.
British race fans knew they had seen a Maeastro at work today, and the chant of `Rossi, Rossi’ echoed around the podium as Valentino took the trophy for second spot.

The final result then saw Dani Pedros take the win, Rossi 2nd, Melandri 3rd, Stoner 4th, Roberts 5th, Edwards 6th and Hayden 7th. Hayden still leads the title race, with Pedrosa closing fast, but mathmatically, it is still possible for Rossi to win - and who would bet against that?

British rider James Ellison was 14th today.

(this article was taken from insidebikes.com)