WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP - DIABLO 666 ANNOUNCE 2006 TEAM LINE-UP

From left to right: James Hutchins, Marko Rohtlaan, Alex Cudlin.
 

February 27, 2006, London, UK:
Diablo 666, one of World Endurance Superbike’s most exciting teams, has signed up Australian Alex Cudlin for the 2006 season. Nineteen-year-old Alex will ride for UK-based team Kawasaki Diablo 666 alongside Englishman James Hutchins and Marko Rohtlaan of Estonia giving the team a new line-up of international appeal.
Alex will be making his debut in the World Endurance Series, but as the younger brother of Damian Cudlin, 23, he will no doubt be given some helpful tips from his sibling "Damo“, who rides for the Phase One Yamaha Team, finished the 2005 standings in 4th position after claiming a podium finish in Italy at the end of the season.
"Alex came over from Australia for some team testing with James and Marko in Jerez at the end of January and both Terry Rymer and I were very impressed not only with his speed around the track, but with his determination and focus,“ commented Team Manager, Miles Hutchins. "The whole team is excited to have Alex on board as we are a young and dynamic team and Alex fits the bill perfectly. He gels well with the other riders and the support team and to add to this, he is not content to languish in the shadow of his brother Damian’s success, so we are looking forward to a lot of fireworks and commitment from Alex in 2006."

Alex, from Blacktown in New South Wales, first raced back home in Australia in March 2003 and gained his racing experience in the Australian Superstock Championship. He is now delighted to have secured a ride in the Diablo 666 team which will see him racing in all seven events around Europe and Japan on the World Endurance Circuit which kicks off in April in Assen.

"To have secured a seat with the Diablo 666 Bolliger Team this season is a fantastic opportunity for me which I am really looking forward to,“ revealed Alex, who is a motorcycle mechanic in Taree when not racing professionally.

The Diablo 666 Bolliger are planning a test day at Brands Hatch on March 18 for some pre-season warm-up for the all-important the World Endurance Championship.

WORLD SUPERBIKES - ROUND ONE - QATAR!

The World Superbike and Supersport School Photo

...and guess who's on top in Superpole...

There's no need to tell you about qualifying and Superpole, you'll obviously get all that info from the www.worldsbk.com site. Just a couple of things, firstly The Foggy Petronas rider Craig Jones - he crashed on his out-lap of the morning session, suffering a flesh wound on his kneecap that needed multiple stitches. Despite a desperate attempt to record a qualifying time for that session, he missed recording a valid lap by just six seconds.

Rule changes for this season means that special soft qualifying tyres are not used during the two one-hour sessions, only in the one-lap superpole and preceding practice. Bayliss got pole (of course!) and Lanzi dragged himself spectacularly up from a first-qualifying bottom of the order into 2nd place - but the surprise really was Andrew Pitt punching the Yamaha Italia R1 into 3rd - Toseland has had a much better start this year, filling the remaining place on the front row but Karl Muggeridge fell in his Superpole lap after setting the second-fastest time in regular qualifying...and Corser starts the season OFF the front row...in 5th.

Muggeridge...“It cools down in the afternoon here and during Superpole it had become quite cool. We opted to put a slightly harder front tyre in but that was decided a couple of hours before. My last thought when I left the garage was, ‘should have gone for a softer one.’ I pushed and pushed but I was a little hot into the corner. It was the first of a group of three rights, and it’s fourth gear there, so it was a pretty fast crash. I tried to save it but I ran out of track"

Bayliss..."It feels great to be back in Superbikes and it's always nice to have pole position I did three years in MotoGP and it did me a lot of good so now I've come back as a stronger all round rider. I actually expected to do a little better in Superpole but I did enough to get pole and I'm happy with that. We'll see how things are looking tomorrow, but I'll try and get the best possible start and then play it by ear. There are two or three guys who can give me a few problems, starting with Lorenzo, who's going well at the moment but we mustn't underestimate Corser and Pitt as well."

In Supersport, Charpentier scored his 12th career pole position and his second in succession at Losail for the Winston Ten Kate team. A no less impressive feat for their new signing (last years Superstock sensation Turkish rider Kenan Sofuoglu) with his second fastest lap of the day, putting him in the very position he dreamed off after he set quickest time in Thursday’s wet qualifying session. He hoped to be second on the grid in dry conditions and this he got, thanks to a 2’04.089.

Despite there being 33 bikes involved in the final qualifying session, the Winston Ten Kate Honda team were simply head and shoulders above the rest, with Sofuoglu’s nearest challenger, Yamaha rider Kevin Curtain, 0.652 seconds behind the young Turk. Weather conditions for the 18-lap race on Saturday 25th are expected to mirror those in final qualifying, with warm ambient temperatures and a dry track surface.

QATAR - RACE ONE RESULTS

On the last lap, Haga tried a pass on race leader Kagayama but lost the front wheel into the corner, taking them both out. Toseland had closed the gap on the first five riders (Haga, Kagayama, Pitt, Bayliss and Corser) and passed three of them before the last lap crash. The Ten Kate Honda rider won the first race after the leading pair crashed - and it was a richly-deserved win. The combination of Winston Ten Kate Honda and James Toseland is looking to be the surprise early package of the World Superbike season.

1	Toseland J.	Winston Ten Kate Honda.	Honda CBR 1000RR	36'31.339	18
2	Bayliss T.	Ducati Xerox.	Ducati 999 F06	36'31.427	18
3	Pitt A.	Yamaha Motor Italia WSB.	Yamaha YZF R1	36'33.729	18
4	Corser T.	Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra.	Suzuki GSXR1000 K6	36'33.938	18
5	Fabrizio M.	D.F.X. Treme.	Honda CBR 1000RR	36'38.338	18
6	Barros A.	Klaffi Honda.	Honda CBR 1000RR	36'46.056	18
7	Rolfo R.	Ducati SC - Caracchi.	Ducati 999 F05	36'46.563	18
8	Chili P.	D.F.X. Treme.	Honda CBR 1000RR	36'52.522	18
9	Borciani M.	Sterilgarda - Berik.	Ducati 999 F05	36'53.789	18
10	Neukirchner M.	Team Pedercini.	Ducati 999 RS	36'55.271	18
11	Abe N.	Yamaha Motor France-Ipone.	Yamaha YZF R1	36'56.155	18
12	Muggeridge K.	Winston Ten Kate Honda.	Honda CBR 1000RR	36'56.982	18
13	Laconi R.	PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse.	Kawasaki ZX10R	37'00.478	18
14	Gimbert S.	Yamaha Motor France-Ipone.	Yamaha YZF R1	37'01.316	18
15	Xaus R.	Sterilgarda - Berik.	Ducati 999 F05	37'08.014	18
16	Nakatomi S.	Yamaha Motor France-Ipone 2.	Yamaha YZF R1	37'08.834	18
17	Iannuzzo V.	Celani Team Suzuki Italia.	Suzuki GSXR1000 K6	37'37.793	18
18	Martin S.	Foggy Petronas Racing.	Petronas FP1	37'37.933	18
19	Battaini F.	Kawasaki Bertocchi.	Kawasaki ZX10R	37'43.141	18
20	Pedercini L.	Team Pedercini.	Ducati 999 RS	38'14.419	18
21	Al Naimi T.	D'Antin MotoGP.	Yamaha YZF R1	37'17.531	17
22	Kagayama Y.	Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra.	Suzuki GSXR1000 K6	34'28.903	17
23	Haga N.	Yamaha Motor Italia WSB.	Yamaha YZF R1	34'28.909	17
24	Nieto F.	PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse 2.	Kawasaki ZX10R	18'32.918	9
25	Walker C.	PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse.	Kawasaki ZX10R	14'30.609	7
26	Foret F.	Alstare Eng. Corona Extra.	Suzuki GSXR1000 K6	12'30.807	6
27	Clementi I.	Team Pedercini.	Ducati 999 RS	8'25.635	4
28	Lanzi L.	Ducati Xerox.	Ducati 999 F06	6'09.545	3
29	Jones C.	Foggy Petronas Racing.	Petronas FP1

QATAR - RACE TWO

Ivan Clementi stalled at the sighting lap and had to start from pit-lane but once again Pitt and Haga got away first with Bayliss in third but Corser was faster this time around, gradually passing riders to take the lead and breaking away from the Haga/Pitt battle...until Bayliss started his charge 6 laps from the end of the race, closing down Corser and passing him twice on the last lap...but it was obvious that the Suzuki had more horsepower and Bayliss just couldn't make it stick, Corser taking the win. Haga slipstreamed Toseland out of the final corner to snatch back 3rd place at the chequered flag.

But Troy Bayliss leads the World Championship by 2 points.

1	Corser T.	Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra.	Suzuki GSXR1000 K6	36'20.395	18
2	Bayliss T.	Ducati Xerox.	Ducati 999 F06	36'21.420	18
3	Haga N.	Yamaha Motor Italia WSB.	Yamaha YZF R1	36'23.857	18
4	Toseland J.	Winston Ten Kate Honda.	Honda CBR 1000RR	36'23.858	18
5	Pitt A.	Yamaha Motor Italia WSB.	Yamaha YZF R1	36'24.745	18
6	Lanzi L.	Ducati Xerox.	Ducati 999 F06	36'40.005	18
7	Barros A.	Klaffi Honda.	Honda CBR 1000RR	36'40.943	18
8	Fabrizio M.	D.F.X. Treme.	Honda CBR 1000RR	36'41.578	18
9	Muggeridge K.	Winston Ten Kate Honda.	Honda CBR 1000RR	36'43.593	18
10	Xaus R.	Sterilgarda - Berik.	Ducati 999 F05	36'46.928	18
11	Abe N.	Yamaha Motor France-Ipone.	Yamaha YZF R1	36'47.249	18
12	Nieto F.	PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse 2.	Kawasaki ZX10R	36'48.527	18
13	Rolfo R.	Ducati SC - Caracchi.	Ducati 999 F05	36'48.530	18
14	Borciani M.	Sterilgarda - Berik.	Ducati 999 F05	36'54.571	18
15	Gimbert S.	Yamaha Motor France-Ipone.	Yamaha YZF R1	36'55.790	18
16	Walker C.	PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse.	Kawasaki ZX10R	37'02.553	18
17	Nakatomi S.	Yamaha Motor France-Ipone 2.	Yamaha YZF R1	37'11.301	18
18	Martin S.	Foggy Petronas Racing.	Petronas FP1	37'11.899	18
19	Clementi I.	Team Pedercini.	Ducati 999 RS	37'21.338	18
20	Battaini F.	Kawasaki Bertocchi.	Kawasaki ZX10R	37'21.851	18
21	Al Naimi T.	D'Antin MotoGP.	Yamaha YZF R1	36'54.502	17
22	Chili P.	D.F.X. Treme.	Honda CBR 1000RR	20'23.698	10
23	Kagayama Y.	Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra.	Suzuki GSXR1000 K6	19'02.062	9
24	Neukirchner M.	Team Pedercini.	Ducati 999 RS	16'27.979	8
25	Jones C.	Foggy Petronas Racing.	Petronas FP1	12'28.620	6
26	Pedercini L.	Team Pedercini.	Ducati 999 RS	8'32.420	4
27	Laconi R.	PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse.	Kawasaki ZX10R	4'12.838	2
28	Foret F.	Alstare Eng. Corona Extra.	Suzuki GSXR1000 K6	2'10.998	1
29	Iannuzzo V.	Celani Team Suzuki Italia.	Suzuki GSXR1000 K6	2'13.996	1

DAVID CHECA OUT OF WORLD SUPERSPORT COMPETITION FOR THREE ROUNDS

Yamaha GMT94 rider David Checa will miss the opening rounds of the 2006 Supersport World Championship after breaking his wrist in a testing accident on Wednesday. The Spaniard had only completed a few laps at the Albacete circuit in his homeland when he crashed the YZF-R1 he is due to race at the Le Mans and Bol d'Or 24 hours endurance races alongside his World Supersport commitments.

"David is very disappointed," commented team owner Christophe Guyot. "He can't understand why he lost the bike but he has kept his iron will. He knows that even if he has to miss a few races there will be a lot more opportunities to prove how well he can race with GMT throughout the season."

With doctors recommending a four-week lay-off, Checa will miss the Qatar and Australian rounds of the Supersport World Championship, due to take place on February 25 and March 5 respectively. David is planning to return to the saddle for the Le Mans 24 hours race on 22-23 April. As this clashes with round three of the Supersport World Championship, Checa's first race outing on the R6 is expected to be at the Monza race on May 7.

...UPDATE!

More news...could the "GoShow" acually be coming back?
It seems that David broke his radius bone in testing...but because of the very close friendships in World Endurance, the Yamaha Austria Team manager Manfred Kainz has stepped in, arranging Australian Anthony Gobert to take David's place on the WSS GMT94 600cc Yamaha for these two rounds. It's also rumoured that Gobert could possibly find a place in the GMT94 team for the Le Mans 24hr race and, depending on his results, even a ride at the Suzuka 8hr event as well. Could this be Gobert's rehabilitation?...it's all up to the mercurial Australian.

IT'S OFFICIAL - PRESS RELEASE FROM GMT94
After David Checa’s injury while testing GMT 94 Yamaha R6 Supersport bike in Spain, Aussie Anthony GOBERT is coming back to race on YAMAHA-GMT 94 for the two first rounds in the World Supersport championship in Qatar (25 February) and … Australia on 5 March.
Anthony Gobert, winner of numerous rounds in the World Superbike Championship and Yamaha rider in the American Championship, is now back – and very motivated – on the world scene.  He’ll be racing under n° 49: his lucky number “23” has already been allocated and n° 94 is David Checa’s.
What’s more - the Australian race will be his 31^st birthday present! If you wish to read more about him, please find his resume on www.gmt.fr

"I'm really happy to have the opportunity to get back into the world series with a good team and bike," he said. "I took a few years out to work out what I wanted to do and I've realized that it is to get back into racing. I raced in Australia last year and it looked like I might be doing that again, until this offer came to ride in the first few races. At first I was approached for the Phillip Island race but I really wanted some time on the bike beforehand, so the team invited me along to Qatar as well. The first race will really be a test for us. I raced supersport for Yamaha US in 2001 and 2002 but the bikes have changed a lot since then. It's a new track, team, tyres and bike for me and I haven't ridden for five months, so the goal in Qatar to get a good set-up and hopefully a top ten. If we can get into the groove in Qatar then there's no reason why we can't be aiming at the top five in Phillip Island."

David Checa is now feeling great after the successful operation on his arm. The surgeon said he could be back for the Le Mans pre-race test days as well as those planned in Misano for World Supersport at the beginning of March. The whole team is looking forward to his comeback and are preparing a great bike as a welcome back present! However many thanks to Anthony GOBERT who will in the meantime be giving us the opportunity to gain the experience we need to prepare to face the really tough opposition as soon as possible.

CUDLIN Vs CUDLIN - FAMILY AT WAR

23 year old Damian Cudlin took on the big guns in the 2005 series, and became a major player in the Championship by season’s end. Riding for the Phase One Yamaha team under the watchful eye of team boss Russell Benney, "Damo" finished 4th in 2005 standings, ending with a sensational podium finish in Italy. Having recently re-signed for the Phase One Yamaha team, Damian is getting ready for a real shot at the 2006 title.

Among the 80 odd riders standing in his way, one of which will be his brother Alex.

19 year old Alex Cudlin is the newest recruit to the Kawasaki Diablo team and having served his apprenticeship in the Australian Superstock Championship, Alex is ready to step up to the WEC and plans on making life hard for his Big Brother.

“I’m really excited about this opportunity to race for Diablo Kawasaki in the WEC” Alex said. “I’m sure there will be a lot of hard racing and I know Damian will be strong in the championship this year, so I’m looking forward to try mix it with him.”

Damian, who played a key role in getting Alex a ride in the WEC, is also really looking forward to the new challenge. “I think it’ll be great being able to have someone to travel with at least, and I’m sure we’re going to have a lot of fun along the way...but I can’t let my brother beat me. I’d never live it down. He’s still my little brother!”.

PHASE ONE TEAM UPDATE

Phase One's latest newsletter is online at their website HERE. This little item may be of interest to budding racers out there!

A vacancy still exists in the SEA (Shell Endurance Academy...the Phase One Juniors) team for the full season and all tests. Please contact Russell by email on russell@phaseone.co.uk until Friday 16th Feb and then by mobile/text 07739 178988 from 16th Feb to 1st March whilst he is away testing, for details...

YAMAHA AUSTRIA UPDATE

Mandy Kainz's Yamaha Austria Team have gone with Pirelli tyres for the 2006 season...and recent WSB testing times at Valencia show that Pirelli's are fast becoming the tyre of choice. Massive amounts of data from some of the fastest riders in the World over the past two years have paid dividends...and now it's time for Yamaha Austria to collect. I tipped them last year for the World Endurance Championship but, because of a string of incidents that can only be down to incredibly bad luck, they were unable to challenge the Castrol Suzuki Team - and for the first time in 3 years, I didn't predict the winners.
They'd better not let me down this time!

INNODROM NEWS
The No.15 team Innodrom have a new website...it's HERE

SUPERBIKE TESTING IN VALENCIA AND LOSAIL

MONDAY 6TH FEBRUARY - VALENCIA

XEROX DUCATI -  Troy Bayliss continued his fantastic run of testing form in his return to World SBK™ by posting a best first day time of 1’34.9 at Valencia. Favourable track and weather conditions contributed to every rider’s opening day performance, but Bayliss was in a class of his own, turning in a time only 0.267 seconds from the absolute Valencia SBK™ best. Bayliss’s team-mate, Lorenzo Lanzi, scored fourth quickest time, with a 1’36.8. None of the top riders were issued Pirelli qualifying tyres on the first day.

TOSELAND ADAPTS WELL TO HONDA POWER
Second fastest rider was another former World Champion, and the man Bayliss replaced in the Ducati Xerox team, James Toseland, who scored a 1’35.8. Toseland’s team-mate, Karl Muggeridge, did not concentrate much effort on setting lap times on day one, as he worked through a gruelling chassis testing programme. Nonetheless he went third fastest, thanks to a 1’36.1.

ABE TOP YAMAHA RUNNER
Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France IPONE) posted a best time of 1’36.9 almost equalling the quickest lap of his 2005 qualifying efforts. As a non Pirelli Development Team rider, Abe – like many of his peers - lapped on 2005 spec rubber throughout. Ivan Clementi (Pedercini Ducati) was in fine form also, scoring a 1’37.2, while his new team-mate Max Neukirchner set a 1’37.5.

ROLFO LEARNS NEW ROLE SWIFTLY
Roberto Rolfo (Caracchi Ducati) matched Neukirchner’s 1’37.5, proving that the former 250cc and MotoGP rider is learning the ropes of this new discipline quickly. A strong Ducati presence was completed by Lucio Pedercini (Pedercini Ducati), Marco Borciani (Sterilgarda Ducati) and Norino Brignola. Fabien Foret, on a ‘home-brewed’ Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki, ran out with a best of 1’38.7 in his first test after his promotion from SS™.

SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP®
Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) made his latest outing a memorable one after only one day, with a best of 1’37.6 - almost a second faster than his nearest challenger, Katsuaki Fujiwara (Megabike Honda). New to the SS™ class, Yoann Tiberio (Megabike Honda) posted a 1’39.5, the same as young Turk, Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda). A rash of new riders in Supersport World Championship® 2006 includes Aussie Josh Brookes, who made his latest transition from Honda power to Ducati power on a 1’41.3. Nedog (Caracchi Ducati), scored a 1’43.4.

Bayliss Ducati Xerox 1.34’’9
Toseland Winston Ten Kate Honda 1.35’’8
Muggeridge Winston Ten Kate Honda 1.36’’1
Lanzi Ducati Xerox 1.36’’8
Abe Yamaha France 1.36’’9
Clementi Team Pedercini 1.37’’2
Rolfo Team Ducati SC Caracchi 1.37’’5
Neukirchner Team Pedercini 1.37’’5
Pedercini Team Pedercini 1.37’’9
Borciani Sterilgarda Berik
Foret Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra 1.38’’7

Charpentier Winston Ten Kate Honda 1.37’’6
Fujiwara Megabike Honda Team 1.38’’4
Tiberio Megabike Honda Team 1.39’’5
Sofouglu Winston Ten Kate Honda 1.39’’5
Brooks Team Ducati SC Caracchi 1.41’’3
Nedog Team Ducati SC Caracchi 1.43’44

TUESDAY 7TH FEBRUARY - VALENCIA

Troy Bayliss once more ripped into his testing task with gusto at Valencia, setting a quicker time than Neil Hodgson’s previous recorded track best on a SBK™ race weekend, with a 1’34.3 on qualifying tyres. He made an even more impressive 1’34.4 on 2006 versions of Pirelli’s race spec tyres. Bayliss worked through some additional tyre options before finishing the test early and satisfied with his latest outing.

2004 CHAMPION TOSELAND SECOND QUICKEST
James Toseland (Winston Ten Kate Honda) was second fastest rider on qualifying tyres, with Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox Team) the second fastest when using race rubber. Each of the top Honda and Ducati riders had access to 2006-spec tyres, including Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda). Fourth fastest overall Muggeridge equalled Toseland’s best on race tyres, but was marginally behind with a qualifying set-up.

NEUKIRCHNER ADAPTS QUICKLY TO DUCATI POWER
Max Neukirchner (Team Pedercini Ducati) and Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France IPONE) shared a best time of 1’36.4 on the final day, with neither able to use 2006 specification tyres. Neukirchner, a new inductee to the Pedercini squad, enjoyed his time on the Ducati, making the most of its characteristics in a short space of time. Abe tested ignition and electronics packages on day two, stopping him making great improvements to his suspension set-up.

PRIVATE RIDERS TO THE FORE
Ivan Clementi (Pedercini Ducati) and Roberto Rolfo (Caracchi Ducati) also shared a best time; 1’36.6. Marco Borciani (Sterilgarda Berik Ducati) was only a tenth behind, but the biggest improvement over day one came from new Suzuki rider, Fabien Foret (Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) who posted a 1’36.9.

PIRELLI TIMES (R: Race tyres - Q: Qualifying tyres)
Bayliss (Ducati Xerox Team) 1.34''4 R 1.34''3 Q
Lanzi (Ducati Xerox Team) 1.35''6 R 1.35''4 Q
Toseland (Winston Ten Kate Honda) 1.36''2 R 1.35''3 Q
Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda) 1.36''2 R 1.35''5 Q
Nuekircnker (Team Pedercini Ducati 1.36''4 R
Abe (Yamaha Motor France IPONE) 1’36.4 R
Clementi (Pedercini Ducati 1.36''6 R
Rolfo (Caracchi SC Ducati) 1.36''6 R
Borciani (Sterilgarda Berik Ducati) 1.36''7 R
Foret (Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1.36''9 R
Pedercini Pedercini Ducati 1.37''2 R

SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP®
Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) once more proved to be transcendent, setting a 1’37.1 lap when going for a single quick time, and a host of fast laps with a full race set-up in place. Katsuaki Fujiwara (Megabike Honda) as again his closest challenger, with a 1’37.5 also set on 2006 tyres.
Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda) came on in leaps and bounds in what was his first full test for his new team, taking a 1’38.2 time, and impressing all who watched him. Only these three riders used 2006 spec tyres.
French rookie Yoann Tiberio (Megabike Honda) made a 1’39 flat, while Josh Brookes (Ducati SC Caracchi) did a 1’39.5.

SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP® TIMES
Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) 1.37''1
Fuji (Megabike Honda) 1.37''5
Soufouglou (Winston Ten Kate Honda) 1.38''2
Tiberio (Megabike Honda) 1.39''0
Brookes (Ducati SC Caracchi).39''5
Nedog (Ducati SC Caracchi) 1.41''2

TROY BALISS - "The first time I tested here in November I did a 36 and now today on the race tyre I did a 34.4 which is quite an improvement" declared Troy, who covered 133 laps of the Valencia track on his Ducati 999F06. "Obviously I feel pretty comfortable on the bike and things are going really well so that makes me happy. The start of the championship is just around the corner and we haven't had to change the bike a lot since I first hopped on it. I'm feeling confident and I'm sure I'm going to be a contender for the championship and especially for the race wins. It's been quite a while since I've won so I'm a bit excited about that and can't wait to get one under my belt. I'm very impressed with the bike and feel good on it. I haven't felt this much at home for a long time!"

LORENZO LANZI - "I felt that I rode well and am pleased with that, I made a good improvement over yesterday when I struggled to get into the groove and back onto the bike after a break of two months" said Lorenzo. "Today I did some good times, on race tyres we're just two or three tenths away from Troy's pace with 1m35s. The feeling with the bike is good and we learnt a lot these two days so I now think we're ready for Qatar. The championship finally gets underway in a couple of weeks time and it'll be great to get back to racing, especially with the factory Ducati, and the prospects are looking good".

JAMES TOSELAND - “For me this test has mostly been about time with the bike. Getting to learn it even more, doing quite a few laps and I tried the qualifying tyres for the first time on a Honda. The first one I put in I was a bit tentative with but on the second one I did a decent time. We went round in circles a bit this morning, so we didn’t really improve until this afternoon. We worked on the tyres and then right at the end we changed a bit of the set-up and it gave us another improvement. I think we are nearly there now, largely because of the tests at Almeria and here. I’m looking forward to Qatar, especially with the amount of improvements we have made since the last time we were there.”

SUPERSPORT - SEBASTIEN CHARPENTIER - “The good weather helped us again today, and in general the track was OK. I am very happy because my best lap was a 1’37.1. I made a race simulation in the afternoon and my best lap in those conditions was a 1’37.6, with many laps in the 1’38s. I think this was a very good sign because those are very fast lap times. I am OK, ready to race, and my energy is at the maximum. We tested many different solutions, and we did a very good job. I think the team and I are completely ready for Qatar.”

MONDAY 6TH FEBRUARY - LOSAIL

QATAR TEST DAY ONE While one significant part of the Superbike World Championship® grid was sunning itself at high speed in Valencia, another faction was lapping Qatar in testing mode.
Team Yamaha Motor Italia and the DFX Honda squad were making the most of the desert heat, with Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) fastest on day one of three, on a 2’02.00. His team-mate Andrew Pitt, the 2001 SS™champion, was just 0.2 seconds behind. New SBK™inductee, Michel Fabrizio (DFX Honda) scored a 2’03.00, while the most experienced SBK™ rider of all, Pierfrancesco Chili (DFX Honda) scored 2’03.10.
On the second day times tumbled, as the Yamaha squad made advances with their new electronics systems, even if none of the riders present had any 2006 Pirelli development tyres available to them to test.
Haga was fastest on a 2’01.6, with Pitt almost keeping pace on a 2’01.7. Chili’s experience showed with his best of 2’01.8 while Fabrizio posted a 2.02 flat. The DFX Honda pairing worked through new front forks and three designs of rear swingarm.

1. Haga Yamaha 2'01"6
2. Pitt Yamaha 2'01"7
3. Chili Honda 2'01"8
4. Fabrizio Honda 2'02"0

TUESDAY 7TH FEBRUARY - LOSAIL

FGSport Group, the SBK Superbike World Championship® organiser has signed a three-year contract with digital rights company, Premium TV. Under the terms of the deal, FGSport Group and Premium TV will work together to deliver direct to consumer and syndicated SBK Superbike World Championship® products across both broadband and mobile platforms.

Working closely with FGSport Group, PTV will ensure live, delayed and downloadable digital content is delivered to broadband and mobile users according to specific offers in each country. The deal will also see the company syndicate the SBK Superbike World Championship’s® digital rights worldwide.

FGSport Group has created a new website, www.sbk.tv, that will feature video action of the SBK Superbike World Championship®. In those territories where live TV broadcasts have not been agreed, Premium TV will deliver live streaming of race action through the newly built www.sbk.tv broadband console. Premium TV will also be offering live content to mobile syndication partners on a territory-by-territory basis, irrespective of each territory’s broadcast deal. The www.sbk.tv site is accessible through www.worldsbk.com.

All content will be protected by Premium TV’s DRM technology; ensuring streams are piracy-protected and geo-blocked in line with FGSport Group’s broadcast agreements.

In the mobile space, Premium TV is using its proprietary technology to turn digital footage in to mobile-ready content. Users will be able to download a variety of SBK Superbike World Championship® content, which is likely to include live action, pre-race build-up and post-race analysis, and race highlights.

In addition to the same features enjoyed by mobile users, www.sbk.tv viewers will also be able to access archive footage of SBK Superbike World Championship® action via Premium TV’s searchable video archive (SVA).

The SVA will also enable SBK Superbike World Championship’s® fans to create their own personalised archive by storing their favourite video clips on the www.sbk.tv

Paolo Flammini, CEO, FGSport Group, comments: “To successfully deliver all of the excitement, passion and thrills of SBK Superbike World Championship® on broadband and mobile requires considerable technical skill and investment. This is why FGSport Group has partnered with Premium TV, who has a great track record in the sport digital rights space.“

Oliver Slipper, Commercial Director, Premium TV, comments: “The signing is a very welcome addition to our portfolio, and underlines our strength in managing digital rights for sports organisations. We’re working with the SBK Superbike World Championship® to turn its redundant digital footage in to a tangible revenue stream while at the same time protecting its relationships with broadcasters of its TV rights.”