THE POOR WEATHER HINDERS APRILIA RACING TEAM'S PLANS AND CUTS THE SHOW SHORT IN MONZA.
RACE 1 CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN AND RACE 2 STOPPED AFTER 8 LAPS.
MAX BIAGGI HOLDS ONTO THE LEADERSHIP BUT IS FORCED TO SETTLE FOR FIFTH PLACE, EUGENE LAVERTY MAKES IT TO THE PODIUM AGAIN.
Monza, 6 May 2012 – As predicted, the poor weather had a negative impact on the Superbike Sunday at the Monza circuit. After a warm up that confirmed impossible racing conditions in heavy rain, the riders prepared for the first start, casting glances toward the sky. In fact, after a few laps a sudden storm led to the suspension and subsequent cancellation of Race 1.
Everything was postponed until the second race, abbreviated to 16 laps and with a late start after the warm up lap in order to allow the wet spots on the track to dry off. Max Biaggi got off to a good start from the second row which took him into the lead pack straight away. The ranking leader engaged in battle at the last braking zone, increasing pace as the track conditions improved. But once again, the rain ruined Max's and Team Aprilia's plans, forcing the rider to cut short the hostilities after eight laps. Placings were decreed based on the laps ridden, with half points awarded. Max is still the leader in the rider standings, earning a point over Carlos Checa.
This is an outcome which naturally disappointed Max: “It's hard to even know what to say after a Sunday like this one. Without the rain everyone would have had a lot more fun - the riders first and foremost, as well as the fans. Among other things, while coming back in after Race 1 had been suspended I also had a mechanical problem which would very likely have conditioned any restart. Race 2, on the other hand, was looking good for us. As the track improved I was able to push and I would definitely have made a play for the lead pack. It's true that we're ahead in points, but not with the margin that we could have been on a track that is so favourable to four cylinders”.
Eugene Laverty experienced the same disappointment, but he sees the glass as half full after taking his second consecutive podium with and for Aprilia. The rider from Northern Ireland was confident in his chances at battling for a top placement, which would have earned him valuable points. The halved scores deprives Eugene of an excellent chance to improve his position in the rankings. In any case, the third place at Monza, after the same result in the last race at Assen, confirms Eugene's positive trend.
“We were really fast here in Monza in the dry and I expected to do well today. Unfortunately, after Race 1 was rightly cancelled, we started out for Race 2 without the certainty of being able to finish, and that's exactly what happened. After a good start and overtaking a few positions, I was happy to have Leon Haslam in front of me, an expert rider who interprets difficult conditions well. I'm pleased with the third place - my second podium in a row - and now we'll head for Donington where I hope to continue my positive trend”.
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SUPERPOLE AT MONZA.
THE BACK AND FORTH WEATHER CONDITIONS EFFECTED SUPERPOLE FOR MAX BIAGGI, WHO PUSHED HIS RSV4 TO THE MAXIMUM AND ENDED THE DAY IN SIXTH PLACE.
AFTER GOOD QUALIFYING SESSIONS, EUGENE LAVERTY RAN INTO A DIFFICULT POLE: HE'LL START FROM THE THIRD ROW TOMORROW.
Monza, 5 May 2012 – The Monza Superpole was held today in truly critical conditions. The asphalt was only partially wet, so it wasn't suitable for slicks, but in any case it didn't allow the rain tyres to work perfectly, leaving the riders and teams with the honour of choosing the most satisfactory solution.
The weather, which has played a key role in this first part of the championship, conditioned the Monza Superpole too. Max Biaggi, ranking leader of the championship, came through the first pole session, coming off of strong times in the practice sessions. In the battle of the top eight Max chose an intermediate tyre solution allowing him to take sixth place in the end, which means the second row of the starting grid for him.
“Superpole was difficult today – confirmed Max – First there was a small technical problem, possibly stemming from the crash in the last free practice session, and then the asphalt conditions made life difficult. We got into the top eight using rain tyres, but they deteriorated quickly on these long straight stretches. We tried with the intermediates but it was very difficult. In spite of everything we're on the second row. Tomorrow is still a dilemma, I only hope that the conditions remain consistent and that they let us ride without apprehension”.
Eugene Laverty started out his Superpole in good conditions, despite the crash in the last free practice session. The bike which the Aprilia mechanics put back together in record time did not, however, guarantee the same confidence in the Northern Irish rider, who ended the first session in tenth place. In any case, his performance in the practice sessions encourages Eugene to look forward to the races tomorrow with relative confidence.
“This morning the bike was really going well, as the fourth place qualifying time showed. In the afternoon free practice session everything seemed OK as well, until the Parabolica braking zone where an unexpected downpour took me, Max and a couple other riders down. My mechanics repaired the bike in time for Superpole, but the feeling wasn't that good, especially in the left-hand curves. I struggled a lot, but we're tenth and that's an acceptable result, all things considered, so tomorrow we'll definitely make a play for it”.
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FIRST PRACTICE SESSIONS AT MONZA.
FRIDAY ENDS WITH TWO GOOD PLACINGS FOR MAX BIAGGI, FOCUSED AS ALWAYS ON THE SETUP OF HIS RSV4.
EUGENE LAVERTY, SATISFIED WITH THE WORK DONE TODAY, PUTS THE FOURTH TIME ON THE BOARD IN THE QUALIFIERS.
Monza, 4 May 2012 – First sessions and first time verdicts for Aprilia Racing Team in anticipation of the Monza races. The two Friday sessions showed very close standings, the result of a continuous back and forth of positions among the top ten riders. The first day of practice is usually dedicated to the search for a good base which is then refined over the rest of the weekend in order to take on the two races on Sunday in the best possible conditions.,
Max Biaggi focused meticulously on adapting his RSV4 to the characteristics of the extremely fast Brianza track. A lot of laps and a lot of changes to the set up, suspension and electronics, so without aiming for the best time.
The eighth and seventh places in the two sessions do not worry Max: “I wasn't particularly fast today, but I wasn't so slow that it should create and alarm. The bike is beginning to work the way I like it. We definitely have good margin for improvement in order to catch up with the front runners. We're talking about little tweaks, nothing radical. My mechanics and I will think about it and decide what the best strategy is now. Only having one bike certainly doesn't simplify things. If I start pushing too hard and it starts raining, we'll have to adapt as best we can”.
Eugene Laverty, who demonstrated a good feeling with the Monza track right away, is also satisfied with the first day of sessions. Sixth in free practice and fourth in the qualifiers, the rider from Northern Ireland, despite some troubles in the first session, lived up to the expectations. Both the synergy with the Aprilia RSV4 and the pace that Eugene showed were excellent.
“In the first session we had some small problems which slowed us down, but the qualifiers were just about perfect. I took a lot of laps, almost a full race's worth, with good times even in the last laps. We still have room for improvement, but the foundation is definitely promising. I already have a better pace than the one that gave me a double win last year, so I'm satisfied with our work today”.
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MAX BIAGGI ARRIVES IN MONZA AS RANKING CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER AND IS READY TO ENTERTAIN FANS IN THE TEMPLE OF SPEED.
EUGENE LAVERTY, WHO ENJOYED A DOUBLE WIN AT MONZA IN 2011, IS ANXIOUS TO CONFIRM HIMSELF AFTER HIS FIRST PODIUM WITH APRILIA.
Monza, 2 May 2012 – The Aprilia Racing Team arrives in Monza in excellent condition. The Brianza track, historically favourable to the characteristics of the RSV4, is also the ideal hunting ground for Max Biaggi and Eugene Laverty.
The Corsair is coming off of a weekend in Assen which, although fraught with difficulties, delivered the rider leadership position to him. Monza, with its treacherous braking zones and mind boggling accelerations, is a much loved track by the five time world champion, who took a double win in 2010, as well as being favourable to all the four cylinder bikes.
The uncertain weather that hovers over the weekend is contrasted by Max's absolute determination to redeem the tarnished performances at Imola and Assen.
In any case it will be no easy task, as Max Biaggi confirms: “I'll make no secret of the fact that Monza is a track that both I and the RSV4 like. We can definitely fight for victory, but we also must consider the performances we've been seeing in the first few rounds. Various riders have made a qualitative leap forward, so the battle for first place has gotten very tight and there could be a surprise around every corner. Assen put us back into the leadership position, but we suffered quite a bit both during practice and in the races. Doing well here in Monza, in front of our fans, would be very important for the season”.
Eugene Laverty also has good reason to look forward to Monza optimistically. The memory of his troubles early on in the season has faded now, replaced by much fresher images of the Northern Irish rider's first podium with Aprilia in Assen. The fastest track in the championship has already seen him win.
“I was happy with my debut podium on the Aprilia at Assen following a tough start to the season. The team were very supportive and never lost faith in my ability so it was nice to reward them with a podium finish. I'm really looking forward to Monza as the Aprilia is very fast in a straight line. I had a double victory at the circuit last year so I'd love nothing more than to do the same again this time around”.
