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 Max Biaggi celebrates his 2012 World Superbike title on the podium with his new Suomy replica helmet.
2012 FIM Eni World Superbike Championship, Round 14 of 14, Magny-Cours, France
Biaggi, Melandri and Sykes take it down to the wire
2012 Superbike Season Finale Showndown at Magny-Cours
Magny-Cours, France, October 8-10th 2012 - The 2012 Eni SBK World Superbike Championship went down to the Final Lap, of the Final Race of the Final Round in the most exciting and dramatic way possible for the history books and fans of the world's premier production bike based roadracing series. Going into the Final Round, Aprilia's Max Biaggi had a seemingly insurmountable 33-points lead to garner his 2nd world title for the Italian marquee, and only had to finish in the top 10 of both races where 25 points were up for grabs in each of the two Races. While his two remaining challengers, Tom Sykes on the factory Kawasaki and Marco Melandi on the factory BMW would pretty much have to finish on the podium of both races while their challengers did poorly. At the end of the day Max Biaggi would win his 2nd World Title for Aprilia with a 1.5 point margin at the finish. The Italians, Japanese and British were ecstatic with the 2012 SBK season results, while back in Munich another World War had begun with encouraging victories, but ended in humiliating defeat.
 Featured on the FastDates.com Home Page this month, our offical SBK World Superbike Calendar Kittrn Chrissy Blair warms up Championship points leader Max Biaggi's Aprilia RSV4.
The 2012 SBK Championship Showdown
Magny-Cours, France, October 1st, 2012,– Three riders and three different manufacturers will be facing off on Sunday in the final showdown at Magny-Cours for the 2012 eni FIM Superbike World Championship titles. Not for the first time will the French circuit play host to the championship’s grand finale, which this time sees two Italians, Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) and Marco Melandri (BMW Motorad Motorsport) and a British rider, Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), currently second in the standings, mathematically still in with a chance of winning.
The last round in Portugal, which produced a number of surprises and upsets, saw Max Biaggi gain ground on his rivals and the 41-year-old from Rome now has 347 points, against 316.5 for Sykes and 308.5 for Melandri. The 30 year-old from Ravenna was involved in a crash that eliminated him from race 1 and he cracked a couple of ribs in the process, but since then he has embarked on an intensive recovery programme in order not to miss out on the final encounter.
The current standings show that Biaggi can easily win the sixth world title in his career, his second in Superbike, with just two sixth places. Even if Sykes takes a double win (50 points), Biaggi just needs 20 to take the title. Judging from his previous form there, the title is within easy reach: he has raced eight times at Magny-Cours and has always finished in the top 6, with four podiums to his name and a win in 2010 when he got the better of Cal Crutchlow in a ferocious duel after he had already clinched the title.
Tom Sykes on the other hand has never finished higher than eighth, with three crashes to his name. The Kawasaki has improved massively throughout the season however and Sykes has taken three of his four race victories in 2012. Marco Melandri only raced at Magny-Cours last season, twice finishing runner-up after two terrific recoveries.
In twenty-five editions of the Superbike World Championship this will be the 15th time the title is assigned at the final round. Magny-Cours has been decisive on three occasions: in 1991 Texan Doug Polen took his first title with three rounds remaining, while in both 2004 and 2007 the championship went right down to the wire, with Britain’s James Toseland getting the nod on both occasions – the first when he beat home favourite Règis Laconi, the second against Noriyuki Haga.
The Manufacturers’ battle is also at stake: Aprilia lead the way with 422.5 points, against BMW on 394 and reigning champions Ducati on 375. As well as Max Biaggi the Italian manufacturer can count on excellent support from Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) and Chaz Davies (ParkinGo MTC Racing Aprilia), two youngsters who have already celebrated their first win on the RSV4 in the last two rounds this year, respectively at Portimao and Nurburgring. If they manage to win this title, for Aprilia it would mean a 50th title conquered in Superbike, Grand Prix Road Racing and Off-Road.
At the final round of the 25th edition of the FIM Superbike World Championship, numerous other riders will be aiming to finish off the season with a podium place or a result that may modify the outcome of the title. These will undoubtedly include the outgoing champion Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) who began testing with Ducati’s new 1199, which will be fielded in 2013, after the Portimao round. Team-mate Davide Giugliano, at 22 years of age one of the revelations of this year, also took part in the testing.
All eyes will also be on Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) following his double experience in MotoGP with Honda HRC. The 25-year-old from Northern Ireland has never really had much luck at Magny-Cours but one year ago he did manage to score the Tissot-Superpole.
Expectations are high for the FIXI Crescent Suzuki team following some great recent performances. The Japanese manufacturer has never won on this track, but it does have six second places to its name, so maybe Leon Camier, who went well at Portimao, will manage to buck this trend.
The final round will define the remaining top positions with Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Racing Ducati) currently holding onto the eighth place he has conquered with two wins and some other great races, while another Frenchman Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) is also looking to finish his debut season, with one win and three podiums to his name, on a high note: the 19-year-old is currently 12th overall and will be racing in front of his home fans. Two last-minute changes see the Effenbert Liberty team declare themselves absent from the final round completely, while one of the team’s former riders Maxime Berger lines up for Red Devils Roma in place of the injured Niccolò Canepa.
Points (after 13 of 14 rounds): 1. Biaggi 347; 2. Sykes 316,5; 3. Melandri 308.5; 4. Checa 278.5; 5. Rea 255.5; 6. Laverty 241.5; 7. Haslam 189; 8. Guintoli 172.5; 9. Davies 156.5; 10. Fabrizio 133.5; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Aprilia 422.5; 2. BMW 394; 3. Ducati 375; 4. Kawasaki 356.5; 5. Honda 270.5; 6. Suzuki 130.5.
World Supersport 600cc
Magny-Cours will see celebrations all the way for Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Lorenzini), who took the title at the previous round in Portugal, the 27-year-old from Turkey clinching a third crown after the ones he won in 2007 and 2010. It was great satisfaction also for the team run by Vanni Lorenzini, who won his first world title despite the repercussions of the earthquake in Emilia that seriously damaged the Mantova base of the Italian outfit, which was forced to work for some time in its trucks.
Sofuoglu’s toughest rival throughout the season has been Jules Cluzel (PTR Honda), the 23-year-old Frenchman who came from GP racing and who in his debut Supersport season has already scored three wins. On his home track he will have a chance of increasing his success rate and consolidate second place in the championship. The battle is also on for third, with another Frenchman, Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Intermoto Step) now ahead of his British rival Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda).
Points (after 12 of 13 rounds): 1. Sofuoglu 218; 2. Cluzel 185; 3. Foret 160; 4. Lowes 152; 5. Parkes 135; 6. Morais 94; 7. Baldolini 86; 8. Quarmby 84; 9. Iannuzzo 60; 10. Leonov 52; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Honda 262; 2. Kawasaki 257; 3. Triumph 115; 4. Yamaha 102; 5. Suzuki 6.
European Superstock 1000cc
Magny-Cours will be the decider for the entry-level categories which are reserved for tomorrow’s champions. In the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup Frenchman Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) grabbed the lead back from Eddi La Marra (Barni Racing Team Italia Ducati) but they are separated by just three points. There is still a small mathematical chance for Australian Bryan Staring (Kawasaki Pedercini) who has to hope for a win with the other two riders picking up DNFs. In the previous nine rounds Barrier has won four times, Staring three and La Marra once. The under-26 Cup is also a technical challenge between BMW, Ducati and Kawasaki. Barrier will have the advantage of racing in front of his home crowd, but La Marra and Staring still have their last remaining cards to play.
Points (after 9 of 10 rounds): 1. Barrier 133; 2. La Marra 130; 3. Staring 111; 4. Guarnoni 98; 5. Savadori 91; 6. Reiterberger 85; 7. Bergman 78; 8. Massei 71; 9. Coghlan 68; 10. Baroni 56; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Kawasaki 168; 2. Ducati 165; 3. BMW 161; 4. Honda 71; 5. Aprilia 17.
Season finale starts best of all for Sykes
Magny-Cours, Friday 5 Oct 2012 – After first qualifying of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship season finale one of the potential champions, Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), leads the field, with a lap time of 1 minute 38.200 seconds. He was 0.448 seconds ahead of the next best qualifier at this early stage of proceedings.
The English rider heads the outgoing champion Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati), with another of this year’s potential champions, Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) third quickest. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Ducati) was the second fastest Ducati rider in the official session this afternoon, fourth overall.
This morning’s quickest man, Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) was fifth after first qualifying. Michel Fabrizio (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) was one place up on seventh place rider – and clear championship leader – Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing). Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) completes the top eight riders on day one, in a field of 21.
Sylvain Guintoli (PATA Racing Team Ducati) was ninth and therefore the top local rider at Magny-Cours, his French compatriots Maxime Berger (Red Evils Roma Ducati) and Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) fourteenth and fifteenth respectively. Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) went tenth in first qualifying, after a strong showing in the morning free session.
Results: 1. Sykes (Kawasaki) 1'38.200 average 161.707 kph; 2. Checa (Ducati) 1'38.648; 3. Melandri (BMW) 1'38.742; 4. Giugliano (Ducati) 1'38.962; 5. Rea (Honda) 1'39.014; 6. Fabrizio (BMW) 1'39.139; 7. Biaggi (Aprilia) 1'39.144; 8. Haslam (BMW) 1'39.149; 9. Guintoli (Ducati) 1'39.186; 10. Camier (Suzuki) 1'39.285; 11. Laverty (Aprilia) 1'39.382; 12. Badovini (BMW) 1'39.530; 13. Zanetti (Ducati) 1'39.709; 14. Berger (Ducati) 1'39.842; 15. Baz (Kawasaki) 1'39.945; 16. Davies (Aprilia) 1'40.084; etc.
Sykes makes it Nine Poles in 2012
Magny-Cours, Saturday 6 October 2012 – Tissot-Superpole was won for the ninth time in 2012 by Kawasaki Racing Team rider Tom Sykes, after a he set a new track best of 1 minute 36.950 seconds in Superpole 3 at Magny-Cours. Sykes now has nine Tissot-Superpole successes to his credit this year, and 11 in his relatively short SBK career. Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) posted second quickest time, over half a second away from Sykes, while Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) held off the attentions of Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport), who will line up on the front row in fourth place. Championship leader Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) is only tenth on the grid after failing to get out of Superpole 2. This puts him on the third row of the grid for Sunday’s races.
Tom Sykes: “It’s nice for me to start in pole position, I’m not a big fan of this place, but the ZX-10R is working very nice and I’m able to do what is needed with the bike. We’ve been consistent, our dry race setting is very good and when we put in the Pirelli qualifying tyres the Kawasaki seems to accept these very well. It makes my life easier and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Carlos Checa: “I have great memories from last year when I won here, and arriving here for our last race this year, it’s a great satisfaction to bring the Ducati 1198 to the front row in its last race. Hopefully tomorrow we can have some great races and finish as best as we can.”
Eugene Laverty: “I went for a second lap in qualifying, took a bit of a breather then went for it again, but I’ve been struggling all weekend in the last sector and I lost the front and the rear came around as well. It was all action I didn’t really need, that but what’s important is the front row after a tough weekend.”
PATA Ducati rider Sylvain Guintoli was a popular top five rider in Superpole at his home round, while Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) put himself into the top six. Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) pushed to seventh despite a badly injured right index finger. Chaz Davies (ParkinGO MTC Racing Aprilia) completed the top eight after making a great improvement on his early qualifying places. Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) finished up ninth on the grid one place ahead of Max Biaggi.
Tissot-Superpole Times: 1. Sykes (Kawasaki) 1'36.950 average 163.792 kph; 2. Checa (Ducati) 1'37.422; 3. Laverty (Aprilia) 1'37.516; 4. Melandri (BMW) 1'37.658; 5. Guintoli (Ducati) 1'37.901; 6. Rea (Honda) 1'38.252; 7. Haslam (BMW) 1'38.280; 8. Davies (Aprilia) 1'38.425; 9. Camier (Suzuki) 1'38.072; 10. Biaggi (Aprilia) 1'38.095; 11. Fabrizio (BMW) 1'38.318; 12. Corti (Kawasaki) 1'38.516; 13. Baz (Kawasaki) 1'38.548; 14. Berger (Ducati) 1'38.727; 15. Giugliano (Ducati) 1'38.807; 16. Zanetti (Ducati) 1'39.354; etc.
World Supersport
Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Racing Products Honda) posted the pole position time at Magny-Cours today, making this the third race he will start off the front of the grid this year. The Aussie rider is a big fan of Magny-Cours and he is closely followed in the pre-race rankings by a rider with an even closer connection to the track, Frenchman Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Intermoto Step). Another local man, Jules Cluzel (PTR Honda) could not improve his best time today and thus dropped to third on the grid, with the new class champion, Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Lorenzini) fourth. The second row is headed by a British rider, Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda), while Gabor Talmacsi (PRORACE Honda) is sixth and Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki Lorenzini) seventh.
Results: 1. Parkes (Honda) 1'41.545 average 156.380 kph; 2. Foret (Kawasaki) 1'41.742; 3. Cluzel (Honda) 1'41.886; 4. Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) 1'41.937; 5. Lowes (Honda) 1'41.943; 6. Talmacsi (Honda) 1'42.108; 7. Morais (Kawasaki) 1'42.265; 8. Iannuzzo (Triumph) 1'42.440; 9. Roccoli (Yamaha) 1'42.454; 10. Baldolini (Triumph) 1'42.499; etc.
Superstock 1000
Championship points leader Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) set a new track best of 1 minute 41.079 seconds on his way to pole for the final race of the year in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup race. Eddi La Marra (Barni Racing Team Italia Ducati) went second quickest, with the top four riders in the points rankings all on the front row for Sunday’s championship decider. Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Kawasaki) starts from third spot on the grid, Bryan Staring (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) is fourth, just over half a second from pole man Barrier. Any one of three riders can win the title, Barrier, La Marra and Staring.
Results: 1. Barrier (BMW) 1'41.079 average 157.101 kph; 2. La Marra (Ducati) 1'41.316; 3. Guarnoni (Kawasaki) 1'41.481; 4. Staring (Kawasaki) 1'41.643; 5. Gildenhuys (BMW) 1'41.849; 6. Savadori (Ducati) 1'41.866; 7. Reiterberger (BMW) 1'41.994; 8. Bergman (Kawasaki) 1'42.076; 9. Mercado (Kawasaki) 1'42.097; 10. Massei (Honda) 1'42.337; etc.
 Sykes took Superpole on Saturday, and dominates in the two Races on Sunday wearing this special Yellow #17 helmet dedicated to paralized team mate Jason Lascorz. The helmet goes on Ebay.com this week with the proceeds to help Jason.
Sykes and Biaggi take the Championship Battle down to the Final Lap and 1/2 a Point!
Magny-Cours, France, Sunday October 8th 2012 - The 2012 Eni SBK World Superbike Championship went down to the Final Lap, of the Final Race of the Final Round in the most exciting and dramatic way possible for the history book and fans of the world's premier production bike based roadracing series. Going into the Final Round, Aprilia's Max Biaggi had a seemingly insurmountable 33-points lead to garner his 2nd world title for the Italian marquee, and only had to finish in the top 10 of both races where 25 points were up for grabs in each of the two Races. While his two remaining challengers, Tom Sykes on the factory Kawasaki and Marco Melandi on the factory BMW would pretty much have to finish on the podium of both races while their challengers did poorly.
In a rain soaked Race One, Tom Sykes did what he needed to do grabbing the lead and holding it to near the final laps of the race, only to have Frenchman Sylvain Guintolli slip past on the Pata Ducat to take a unbelievable race win in front of his highly appreciative home crowd, and in the process allowing the beautiful 4th generation Ducati 1098/1198 Superbike to bow out of it's final race meet on the world stage as a winner, just as it had come onto the stage a winner 5 years earlier with Troy Bayliss. Meanwhile, Biaggi had crashed out midway through the Race, and Melandri finessed a strop 4th, giving the two a much easier.
It all came down to Race Two on a much drier track with Sykes doing want he needed to do to for him take the title, putting the Kawasaki into the lead off the starting grid and never looked back. Malandri was back in 5th and found he had a difficult time trying to better, and his fate in the Championship would be decided by the other two rivals. Championship leader Biaggi, meanwhile, got another poor start back in 10th and had a difficult time with Guintolli and other just to move up to 8th place by mid-race. If things stayed as they were Max's and Aprilia's fate in the Championship looked to be decided by the team's 2nd rider Eugene Laverty who was running a strong 4th position. If Laverty received them orders to drop back behind Max, and Max moved up to finish 6th, Max and Aprilia would win the 2012 World Championship by the smallest of margins ever, just 0.5 points over Sykes and Kawasaki. Then in the closing laps Melandri made it all the easier for Biaggi as the Italian crashed out his BMW, robbing the German manufacturer of what had seemed an assured first World Title earlier in the summer before Melandri began crashing more than finishing. With Marco now out in from front of him and herding him 2 more points as a gift, despite Sykes taking the final race win.
In the final championship rankings in 2012, Biaggi has 358 points, Sykes 357.5 and Melandri 328.5. Aprilia also won the Manufacturers’ Championship today, by 23.5 points from BMW. Reigning Champiob Checa finises overall fourth place with 287.5 points. Ducati closes the manufacturer’s championship in third place with 416 points, behind BMW (421) and Aprilia (444.5). The Ducati 1198 raced for the last time today and after five years of competition in the SBK series will now go into retirement, to be replaced by the new 1199 Panigale that will make its debut in the 2013 Superbike Championship.
France's Guintoli atop the Podium after Race One. Could there be a place for him on the Ducati Althea team in 2013?
Race One to Sylvain Guintoli as Championship Leader Biaggi and Reigning Champ Checa Crash Out
An amazing penultimate race, held in wet conditions, saw early contender Biaggi fall on lap two and his two remaining championship rivals, Melandri and Sykes score podiums for second and third respectively. Guintoli continued his amazing form in privateer guise with a clear win, by over six seconds from Melandri and by over 16 seconds from Sykes. This was Guintoli’s third win of the year.
Reigning Champion Carlos Checa made a fast start and was in third position at the end of the first lap, behind Rea and Sykes. Althea team mate Giugliano lost a couple of positions at the start and was down in 17th place but immediately fought back, passing a couple of riders with the passing of each lap to place himself tenth by lap three. Unfortunately the wet conditions conditioned Carlos’ race and a crash on lap seven put a premature end to his fight; he was unable to return to the track. Davide’s impressive pace allowed him to pass several more riders and he was in fifth place by lap eight. A couple of small errors meant that he lost valuable time, and positions, but he continued to battle hard all the way to the line, closing Race One in final eighth position.
Sylvian Guintoli: “What a race, It’s been a great weekend for me, obviously with a wet race I knew I had a big chance, then got into my rhythm. When Marco came past it woke me up and I found some extra pace and then managed to pass Tom. I’m really happy to win in France after this crazy season with lots of ups and downs.”
SUPERBIKE RACE ONE: (Laps 23 = 101,453 Km)
POS / RIDER / NAT. / TEAM / MOTORCYCLE / GAP
1 / S. GUINTOLI / FRA / PATA Racing Team / Ducati 1098R / 44'06.299
2 / M. MELANDRI / ITA / BMW Motorrad Motorsport / BMW S1000 RR / 6.127
3 / T. SYKES / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 16.595
4 / M. BERGER / FRA / Red Devils Roma / Ducati 1098R / 21.857
5 / L. HASLAM / GBR / BMW Motorrad Motorsport / BMW S1000 RR / 25.149
6 / A. BADOVINI / ITA / BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet / BMW S1000 RR / 32.778
7 / E. LAVERTY / IRL / Aprilia Racing Team / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 34.311
8 / D. GIUGLIANO / ITA / Althea Racing / Ducati 1098R / 47.269
9 / C. CORTI / ITA / Team Pedercini / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 49.72
10 / L. BAZ / FRA / Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 50.192
11 / N. BRIGNOLA / ITA / Grillini Progea Superbike Team / BMW S1000 RR / 1 Lap
12 / M. FABRIZIO / ITA / BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet / BMW S1000 RR / 2 Laps
13 / J. REA / GBR / Honda World Superbike Team / Honda CBR1000RR / 5 Laps
Fastest Lap: 17° Sylvain Guintoli 1'53.143 140,350 Km/h
Lap Record: 2009 N. Haga 1'38.619 161,020 Km/h
Best Lap: 2012 T. Sykes 1'36.950 163,790 Km/h
Race Two - Sykes Wins the Race and almost the Title until Mealndi Crashes Out, which hands the Title to Biaggi
Sykes did all he could in winning race two, impressively by 1.354 seconds despite pressure from behind for the whole race distance on a largely dry track. Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) was second in the 23-lap race, with Guintoli third. Biaggi’s team-mate, Laverty was fourth in the race. Biaggi, meanwhile, got another poor start back in 10th and had a difficult time just to move up to 8th place by mid-race.
 Sykes holds of Guintolli and Rea in Race Two.
For the Althea Ducati team Davide was lying eighth, followed by Carlos in ninth. Lap five saw Giugliano record the fastest lap of the race (1m39.237), which gave him the Pirelli fast lap award for the first time. Both Ducati riders were lapping with a strong pace during the first half of the race, and were up in fifth (Carlos) and sixth (Davide) position by lap ten. In the final phase the gap between the leaders and the chasing group, composed of Biaggi, Checa and Giugliano, increased. Despite the best efforts of both riders they were unable to reach the rivals immediately ahead of them and crossed the finish line in final sixth (Davide) and seventh (Carlos) position.
 The competition is so deepand tight in the Superbike Class, Biaggi (3) was stuck in 10th place for much of Race Two, here between Loris Baz and Davide Giugliano, and came very close to loosing the Championship
If things stayed as they were up front, Max's and Aprilia's fate in the Championship looked to be decided by the team's 2nd rider Eugene Laverty who was running a strong 4th position. If Laverty received them orders to drop back behind Max, and Max moved up to finish 6th, Max and Aprilia would win the 2012 World Championship by the smallest of margins ever, just 0.5 points over Sykes and Kawasaki. Then in the closing laps Melandri made it all the easier for Biaggi as the Italian crashed out his BMW, robbing the German manufacturer of what had seemed an assured first World Title earlier in the summer before Melandri began crashing more than finishing. With Marco now out in from front of him and herding him 2 more points as a gift, despite Sykes taking the final race win, Biaggi was handed the 2012 World Championship by just 0.5 of a point! Maxime Berger made it a happy day for the French with fourth on his Red Devils Roma Ducati.
Tom Sykes: “It’s difficult to accept that half a point separates us in a full season, but that’s all credit to World Superbike and how close it is. Max did a great job, but for me and my season I’m very happy, everyone gave me a full package to do something with and this weekend I was very strong. Overall we had a pole position, circuit record, two podiums and I’d like to dedicate that to Joan Lascorz, I’ve had some help from him this weekend. To close 30 points on Biaggi was magical. Now we’re all signed and sealed for next year, hopefully we can deliver!”
Max Biaggi: “This is the fourth world championship out of six that I have won at the final race, I seem to like difficult challenges! The 2012 season went right down to the wire: we started well with a win at Phillip Island after totally renewing my team and we also had some difficult moments. We had to work hard to win the title, and maybe for this reason it’s even better. A big thanks to the Team, Aprilia and the Gruppo Piaggio, from President Colaninno to every factory worker, because my success is the result of the work of a great Italian company. Thanks also to my family, my fiancée and my two children, as well as Marino Laghi who is always present with me".
Carlos Checa: “It was a strange weekend. A pity for the crash in Raco One but conditions were difficult and the track was very slippery, these things happen. Then in the second I didn’t have the same feelings that I’d had yesterday, the bike seemed different and was moving a lot more. This made it hard and I couldn’t lap with the kind of times that I expected. Anyway the season is over, it was long and we had highs and lows along the way. I’m happy to close in fourth overall because considering the problems we’ve had I don’t think the final result is bad.”
A two-time World Superbike Championship title winner in 2008 and 2012 in the hands of Troy Bayliss and Carlos Checa (above), the Ducati 1098R
now retires from World Championship racing to be replaced by the new 5th Generation Ducati Superquadro Panigale Superbike in 2013. Checa has tested the new bike and likes it, but has yet to resign with Ducati and Althea for 2013.
SUPERBIKE RACE TWO: (Laps 23 = 101,453 Km)
POS / RIDER / NAT. / TEAM / MOTORCYCLE / GAP
1 / T. SYKES / GBR / Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 38'15.725
2 / J. REA / GBR / Honda World Superbike Team / Honda CBR1000RR / 1.354
3 / S. GUINTOLI / FRA / PATA Racing Team / Ducati 1098R / 2.393
4 / E. LAVERTY / IRL / Aprilia Racing Team / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 13.122
5 / M. BIAGGI / ITA / Aprilia Racing Team / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 13.955
6 / D. GIUGLIANO / ITA / Althea Racing / Ducati 1098R / 18.229
7 / C. CHECA / ESP / Althea Racing / Ducati 1098R / 18.43
8 / C. DAVIES / GBR / ParkinGO MTC Racing / Aprilia RSV4 Factory / 26.648
9 / A. BADOVINI / ITA / BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet / BMW S1000 RR / 33.809
10 / L. CAMIER / GBR / FIXI Crescent Suzuki / Suzuki GSX-R1000 / 37.217
11 / M. BERGER / FRA / Red Devils Roma / Ducati 1098R / 38.871
12 / C. CORTI / ITA / Team Pedercini / Kawasaki ZX-10R / 55.714
13 / L. ZANETTI / ITA / PATA Racing Team / Ducati 1098R / 57.621
14 / H. AOYAMA / JPN / Honda World Superbike Team / Honda CBR1000RR / 1'05.487
15 / N. BRIGNOLA / ITA / Grillini Progea Superbike Team / BMW S1000 RR / 1 Lap
Fastest Lap: 5° Davide Giugliano 1'39.237 160,017 Km/h
Lap Record: 2009 N. Haga 1'38.619 161,020 Km/h
Best Lap: 2012 T. Sykes 1'36.950 163,790 Km/h
Final 2012 World Superbike Championship Positions:
1 BIAGGI 358, 2 SYKES 357.5, 3 MELANDRI 328.5, 4 CHECA 287.5, 5 REA 278.5,
6 LAVERTY 263.5, 7 GUINTOLI 213.5, 8 HASLAM 200, 9 DAVIES 164.5, 10 GIUGLIANO 143,
11 FABRIZIO 137.5, 12 BADOVINI 133, 13 BAZ 122, 14 CAMIER 115.5, 15 SMRZ 92.5.
Final 2012 Manufacturers Standings:
1 APRILIA 444.5, 2 BMW 421, 3 DUCATI 416, 4 KAWASAKI 397.5, 5 HONDA 293.5,
6 SUZUKI 136.5.
 Above" The 3 new World Champions in Supersport, Superbke and Superstock. Click to go BIG
World Supersport 600cc
Jules Cluzel (PTR Honda) took his fourth win of the year today at Magny-Cours as he made the best of a wet track and then a drying line around the 4.411km circuit. The French rider underlined his second place in the championship with Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda) third overall in the points after finishing second today. Third place at Magny-Cours eventually went to Dan Linfoot (MSD R-N Team India Kawasaki) after he was knocked off by an attempted pass from new champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Lorenzini). Linfoot restarted to finish fourth but Sofuoglu was penalised 25 seconds and thus Linfoot was eventually third and Sofuoglu fourth. In the final championship table, Sofuoglu has 231 points, Cluzel 210, Lowes 172 and Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Intermoto Step) 171. Honda won the manufacturers’ Championship by 14 points from Kawasaki.
SUPERSPORT RACE: (Laps 22 = 97,042 Km)
POS / RIDER / NAT. / TEAM / MOTORCYCLE / GAP
1 / J. CLUZEL / FRA / PTR Honda / Honda CBR600RR / 42'20.985
2 / S. LOWES / GBR / Bogdanka PTR Honda / Honda CBR600RR / 1.591
3 / D. LINFOOT / GBR / MSD R-N Racing Team India / Kawasaki ZX-6R / 27.615
4 / K. SOFUOGLU / TUR / Kawasaki Lorenzini / Kawasaki ZX-6R / 27.854
5 / F. FORET / FRA / Kawasaki Intermoto Step / Kawasaki ZX-6R / 31.601
6 / A. BALDOLINI / ITA / Power Team by Suriano / Triumph Daytona 675 / 46.745
7 / M. SCHOLTZ / RSA / Bogdanka PTR Honda / Honda CBR600RR / 50.82
8 / A. ANTONELLI / ITA / Bike Service R.T. / Yamaha YZF R6 / 50.934
9 / G. TALMACSI / HUN / PRORACE / Honda CBR600RR / 53.09
10 / J. METCHER / AUS / Rivamoto Junior Team / Yamaha YZF R6 / 55.664
11 / F. MARINO / FRA / MSD R-N Racing Team India / Kawasaki ZX-6R / 57.222
12 / B. NEMETH / HUN / Racing Team Toth / Honda CBR600RR / 58.375
13 / I. TOTH / HUN / Racing Team Toth / Honda CBR600RR / 1'00.363
14 / S. MORAIS / RSA / Kawasaki Lorenzini / Kawasaki ZX-6R / 1'16.824
15 / M. ROCCOLI / ITA / Team PATA by Martini / Yamaha YZF R6 / 1'17.175
Fastest Lap: 19° Kenan Sofuoglu 1'51.861 141,958 Km/h
Lap Record: 2009 C. Crutchlow 1'41.407 156,590 Km/h
Best Lap: 2009 C. Crutchlow 1'40.980 157,250 Km/h
FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS:
1 SOFUOGLU 231, 2 CLUZEL 210, 3 LOWES 172, 4 FORET 171, 5 PARKES 135,
6 MORAIS 96, 7 BALDOLINI 96, 8 QUARMBY 84, 9 IANNUZZO 60, 10 ANTONELLI 60,
11 LEONOV 52, 12 TAMBURINI 50, 13 TALMACSI 44, 14 METCHER 40, 15 ROCCOLI 30.
FINAL MANUFACTURER STANDINGS:
1 HONDA 287, 2 KAWASAKI 273, 3 TRIUMPH 125, 4 YAMAHA 110, 5 SUZUKI 6.
European Superstock 1000
Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) survived a wet track and the pressure of racing for the championship at his home round to finish second at Magny-Cours and give himself an eventual clear championship win. His French countryman Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Kawasaki) rode with confidence and pace in the wet to win the race, but main championship challenger Eddi La Marra (Barni Racing Team Italia Ducati) fell very early and lost his chance to get back into the race. Another potential champion Bryan Staring (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) fell early and rode hard to try and get back into contention. He finished fifth in the race and eventually fourth in the championship. The final points read Barrier 153, La Marra 130, Guarnoni 123, Staring 122.
Results: 1. Guarnoni (Kawasaki) 14 Laps/61.754 km in 28'12.230 average 131.374 kph; 2. Barrier (BMW) 9.862; 3. Savadori (Ducati) 20.703; 4. Lussiana (Kawasaki) 34.445; 5. Staring (Kawasaki) 37.916; 6. Bergman (Kawasaki) 39.886; 7. Jezek (Ducati) 43.775; 8. Millet (Kawasaki) 49.227; 9. Pagaud (Kawasaki) 49.678; 10. Reiterberger (BMW) 1'03.515; etc.
Points: 1. Barrier 153; 2. La Marra 130; 3. Guarnoni 123; 4. Staring 122; 5. Savadori 107; 6. Reiterberger 91; 7. Bergman 88; 8. Massei 71; 9. Coghlan 68; 10. Baroni 56; Manufacturers: 1. Kawasaki 193; 2. Ducati 181; 3. BMW 181; 4. Honda 71; 5. Aprilia 22.
KTM European Junior Cup
The final race of the year went to local rider Guillaume Raymond (Valliance Racing) but the championship win was still taken by Lukas Wimmer (MSC Schalchen), who crashed out and then remounted to finish third. Ilya Mikhalchik (Wind Racing) was second in the race, Gaston Garcia (KTM Espana) fourth. Wimmer took the title with 136 points to 111 for Garcia.
Results: 1. Raymond; 2. Mikhalchik; 3. Wimmer; 4. Garcia; 5. Demoulin; 6. Haquin; 7. Mettam; 8. Scarcella; etc.
Points: 1. Wimmer 136; 2. Garcia 111; 3. Orellana 81; 4. Vidal 73; 5. Wielebski 72; 6. Pasek 65; 7. Patterson 59; 8. Demoulin 59; etc.
FastDates.com Calendar Kittens and SBK Grid Girls Jitka and Petra strut the grid for Pirelli at Magny-Cours. Look for them in the next 2014 FastDates.com Calendars. Photo by Max Olina.
Alfa Romeo launches the Mito-SBK at the Paris Motor Show
A special Superbike version of the Alfa Romeo Mito – the Mito SBK – has received its official unveiling at the Paris Motor Show – which is currently being held in the French capital from 27 September to 14 October. This is the first time in the history of World Superbike that a company of such global importance and notoriety has chosen to activate such a close association with the product.
On display at the Paris Show are a Superbike Limited Edition 170 hp, a special 85hp Superbike 1.9 Turbo Twin Air, the “Safety Car” version used in the 2011 Superbike World Championship and a version with Sporting Pack. The Alfa Romeo stand also contains an Aprilia RSV4 Factory machine which Max Biaggi is racing in the championship, as well as highlights videos of the races and Alfa Romeo’s involvement.
This season is the sixth successive year of official collaboration between Alfa Romeo and the FIM Superbike World Championship: the Italian brand has in fact been Top Sponsor and Official Safety Car for the production-based series since 2007, sharing the same values of sport, technology and safety.
Order Now from Amazon.com USA: USD $69.95 • Amazon.com UK/Europe: UK £55.00 / EUR $55
Exclusive Autographed Collector's Package!
The all new Ducati Corse World Superbikes 224-pg book and the 2013 Fast Date World Superbike Calendar - World Release July 1st 2012
Personally autographed to you (or the name you request on the PayPal.com Order Form) by Jim Gianatsis and shipped direct to you.
For more information or to order the Book or the Calendar individually, unsigned, go to the Sportbike Books and Fast Dates Calendar order pages. $100 Collector's Package, plus $20 USPS Priority Mail Shipping & Handing in the USA.
Ducati Corse World Superbike Book Signings in Los Angeles!
Jim Gianatsis will be doing a signing of his new Ducati Corse World Superbikes Book and 2013 Fast Dates Calendar
in the LA area at these upcoming Ducati Dealer Open Houses:
• Nov 17th, 2012 - SoCal Motorcycles Open House, Brea, CA
Stop by, say hello, and get a personally autographed copy of the new book!
Edelweiss adds an exciting new Motorcycle Trip!
2-Weeks ADVENTURE COSTA RICA & NICARAGUA
Enjoy fascinating wildlife, exotic landscape and wonderful routes on this motorcycle tour in Costa Rica and Nicaragua! Travelling to Costa Rica and Nicaragua on a is a one of a kind experience. Active volcanoes, deep rainforests, unknown vegetation and much more are the main highlights of this tour as well as the most stunning beaches! At the very beginning of our tour we ride up to the volcano Irazu and on to Turrialba.
You better sleep well this night, because on the next day’s ride you will have to master the highest mountain pass of the Panamericana Highway called Cerro de la Muerte, at an altitude of 10,000 ft. Then we continue to the volcano Poas and La Fortuna where we will enjoy the convenience of a rest day, to take a swim in the hot springs, see the waterfalls or to do some horseback riding.
Another overnight in Canas Dulces and we finally cross over into Nicaragua where we first follow the shoreline of its lake before reaching the colonial town of Granada, where we soak in all the sights this wonderful town has to offer! After having had two overnights in this buzzling city we cross the border back to Costa Rica and spend some time along and at the coast. A visit of Monteverde cloud forest is a must, before we get to one of the most splendid beaches of Costa Rica – Esterillos. Here we will spend our last night to enjoy the local life before returning to San Jose.
The Costa Rica /Nicaragua Tours are schedued to take place in February/March of 2013 and 2104.
For more information about this and the other incredible Edelweiss Motorcycle Tours click here:
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Ducati Corse
World Superbikes
by Alan Cathcart
& Jim Gianatsis
The Official SBK
World Superbikes
1987-2012
25 Year History Book
The Official SBK
25th Anniversary
2011-2012 Yearbook
These SBK Yearbooks are the Best Books Ever about World Superbike
They feature awesome color photography of the riders, bike and racing action. The feature a detailed revue of the past season in pictures and statistics, with a detailed look at the bikes and riders.
Plus a technical look data all the bikes, a preview of the upcoming season's Championship!
We buy this every year ourselves and highly recommend it!
SBK World Superbike Video Game
2013 FIM Superbike, Supersport World Championships & FIM Superstock 1000cc Cup
Provisional Calendar, Released October 6th, 2012
DATE COUNTRY CIRCUIT
X= WSBK / WSS / STK
24 February Australia Phillip Island X X
10 Mar India Buddh Circuit X X
7 April Spain Aragon X X X
28 April Netherland Assen X X X
12 May Italy Monza X X X
26 May UK Donington X X
9 June Portugal Portimao (STC) X X X
23 June Tba Tba* X X X
30June Italy Imola X X X
21 July Russia Moscow Raceway X X
4 August UK Silverstone X X X
1 September Germany Nurburgring X X X
29 September USA Laguna Seca X
6 October France Magny Cours X X X
20 October Spain Jerez X X X
* Tba
The 2013 World Superbike Calendar looks to grow with one more race meeting next year at the new Buddh track in India. For the USA round Miller Motorsports Park no longer appears on the Calendar in May, with a new American round returning to Laguna Seca aftyer an 8 year absence there, in September. A yet to be confirmed race date venue is held on the Calendar for June 23rd, normally the weekend for Brno Czech Republic
Laguna Seca returns to the World Superbike calendar beginning in 2013
Rome (Italy), Friday 21 September 2012 – Following a three-year agreement between Infront Motor Sports and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the United States Round of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship will take place at the Californian circuit next season and in 2014 and 2015.
The confirmed date for the 2013 event will be 27-29 September, and it marks the return of the championship to the spectacular Monterey circuit for the first time after an eight-year absence. The last World Superbike round was held at Laguna Seca in 2004.
Paolo Flammini, CEO of Infront Motor Sports, declared: “We are absolutely delighted to be returning to Laguna Seca for the US Round for the first time since 2004. Over the ten-year period in which we were last there, we witnessed an extraordinary growth in interest and in overall attendance and we are sure that this event will once again become one of the most prestigious on the calendar. The return of Laguna Seca to the Superbike World Championship, with its six competing manufacturers, will definitely be a boost to the championship’s growth in the US market as California has a special tradition and offers significant opportunities for the motorcycle industry, sponsors and media.”
“We have a strong history with World Superbike and are thrilled to have them commit to a three-year race schedule,” says Gill Campbell, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca CEO/general manager. “Their return to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca solidifies our position as THE premier circuit in the U.S. for motorcycle racing.”
Meet 2013 Calendar Kitten
Shannon Baucom
The Devil Made Us Do It!
Testing the Ducati Diavel in Italy
New BMW HP4 Superbike
Sudco High Performance & OEM Replacement Parts
High Speed - the Movie
The best motorcycle racing movie ever made! Filmed on location at the World Superbike races , this an exciting romantic drama staring beautiful British actress Sienna Miller.
Camier Re-Signs with
Fixi Cresent Suzuki
for 2013 World Superbike
Team Suzuki Press Office, October 6th - FIXI Crescent Suzuki has announced that it has agreed terms to secure the services of Leon Camier for the 2013 Superbike World Championship.
Camier completed the deal shortly before this weekend's final round of the season at Magny-Cours in France and will sign a one-year extension to his current contract. The former British Superbike Champion joined the Crescent Suzuki squad for its first season in WSBK this year and has been influential in steering the Yoshimura-powered Suzuki GSX-R to its current position, not only because of his racing ability - which saw the FIXI Crescent Suzuki team takes its first podium in World Superbikes with Camier on board - but also from an engineering point of view with his valuable technical input.
The agreement with Camier follows hot-on-the-heels of the news that FIXI will remain as title sponsor for the team's attack on the World Superbike Championship in 2013 and that Team Principal Paul Denning will take over the day-to-day running of the team. News on Camier's team-mate will be announced soon, as the FIXI Crescent Suzuki squad finalises its plans for next year.
Leon Camier: - "I am so happy to continue working with FIXI Crescent Suzuki and the whole team. We had a tough start to 2012, but the guys have all worked so hard to turn things around and we are now more competitive and close to the podium. I really wanted to stay here and continue with what we have started and to win races on the Suzuki, which is still the target and will be our main focus for 2013. The whole team is totally focused on succeeding in WSBK and with everything that is happening at the moment we are heading in that direction - it feels good to be a part of it."
Paul Denning - Team Principal: "To secure the deal with Leon is a very important step in achieving the team's 2013 targets. He was at the forefront of our thoughts when we originally planned to bring Crescent Suzuki to World Superbikes and his input, positive attitude and hard work through the first season has helped push us to a more competitive level. He is now regularly challenging the front guys and we are sure the plans we have in place for 2013 will see him regularly fighting for the podium. He has been a great asset to the whole team and his professionalism is obvious to all. We are all looking forward to working with him again and making sure he is in a position to be pushing for victories in 2013."
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Pirelli Official Tyre Supplier of
SBK World Superbike Season Finale Statement
"With the Magny-Cours round Pirelli closes out an important season, the ninth in a row as sole supplier of all the World Superbike Championship classes. But today was above all a day for the participants to celebrate, that is, the riders and the teams. Pirelli congratulates first and foremost Max Biaggi and the Aprilia Racing team who have achieved a splendid double win in a 3 year period in confirmation of the excellent work done by the entire team in the Championship these past few years. It would be impossible, however, not to mention Biaggi’s two fiercest rivals, Tom Sykes on his Kawasaki and Marco Melandri on his BMW, who contributed to making this year an exciting championship down to the last race. This was a Superbike Championship which was marked by an extremely battle between riders from various teams throughout the season. In fact, riders from five different motorcycle manufacturers placed in the top five, demonstrating the excellent work Pirelli has done in developing solutions which work well on different brand bikes.
Our compliments also go once again to Kenan Sofuoglu and the Kawasaki Lorenzini team for their win in World Supersport, as well as to Sylvain Barrier and Michael VD Mark for their respective victories in Superstock1000 FIM Cup and Superstock600 UEM European Championship.
Also, this year (as in 2011), Pirelli decided to provide incentive for our rising stars in European motorcycling who participate in the national Superstock 600 championships: this is why the Pirelli Superstock 600 Series was established last year, a Pirelli initiative which once again provided the most talented riders from the various European STK600 Championships with the opportunity to take part as wild cards in the last European Superstock 600 Championship race held here in France. The 3 riders who placed the highest in the race standings were Italian Franco Morbidelli who races in CIV, Brit Lee Jackson who races in British Superbike and Austrian Marco Nekvasil from IDM. These riders were awarded a memorial tag and also received a monetary price as an incentive for their growth and careers.
In closing, we are very satisfied with the work done this year in the factory derivative Championship and we are ready to take on the next season where we will be faced with a new challenge: the new 17 inch tyres which will replace the 16.5” format which have been used until now in the World Superbike Championship.” - Giorgio Barbier, Racing Director Pirelli Moto
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