YRC News
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WSB : Haga ends R1's debut season in third
Round: 12 - France
Circuit: MagnyCours
Date: 9 October 2005
Crowd: 56000
Temp: 20ēC
Weather: Sunny
Yamaha Motor Italia star Noriyuki Haga ended his 2005 season on a high with a
rostrum finish at Magny Cours today.
The Japanese star finished third in race two to end the season third in the
world championship standings in the Yamaha YZF-R1's first season in the
Superbike World Championship.
Earlier in the day Haga missed the chance to increase his run of eight
consecutive podium finishes when he crashed out of the opening race, an innocent
victim of some frantic opening laps that saw him fall after colliding with
another rider. Nitro Nori hit back in race two with a race-long thrilling battle
with fellow Japanese Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki). Kagayama got the better of the
personal battle, but Haga's third place gave him the points needed to secure his
bronze medal championship finish.
Team-mate Andrew Pitt had a tough race day after showing so much promise in
practice. The Australian was involved in the battle for third place in race one,
eventually finishing sixth, before being part of a huge five rider pile-up at
the first turn of the second heat. With the accident causing the race to be
stopped, Pitt was able to join the restart on his spare machine but was
understandably detuned after the accident. Despite this, the Australian gave a
typically gritty performance to work his way through to seventh place and retain
his eighth place in the final championship table.
Yamaha Motor France teamsters Norick Abe and Sebastien Gimbert had mixed
fortunes at their team's home race. Abe overcame a troubled qualifying session
to take two top 10 finishes, although Gimbert was unable to replicate his
impressive performances of 12 months ago and scored just one point for 15th in
race one.
Today's races were won by Chris Vermeulen (Honda) and Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati).
Troy Corser (Suzuki) ended the year as world champion with Vermeulen second and
Haga third. Magny Cours marked the end of Yamaha's first season since returning
to the Superbike World Championship. Before the season Yamaha set a target of
using the opening part of the season for development, with the goal of achieving
podium finishes and race wins in the second half of the season. With Haga at the
controls, the YZF-R1 was able to take 10 podium finishes from 23 races,
including two wins - at Brno and Brands Hatch.
Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia)
"The first race was disappointing, especially because the crash was not my fault
and I lost my run of podiums. The second was fun and I enjoyed making big
fighting with Yukio. Almost every lap we touched each other - I think both of us
are crazy! I am happy to finish third in the championship in the R1's first year
in world superbikes. We have been strong in the second half of the season and we
know what is needed to improve the bike so that it can be fighting for wins at
every race next year."
Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia)
"It was a big crash at the start of race two and I can say that we don't think
any bones are broken, but that's about it. Muggeridge and I clashed - I got a
good start and he got a bad start and we both drifted over to the right to get a
better line for the first corner. The bikes were wheelying and then I felt him
touch the back of my bike and then it felt like something touched my brake
lever. For the first couple of laps I was in a bit of a daze and going
backwards. My head was pounding and my hands were hurting but after a few laps I
was able to focus and work my way through to seventh. I thought I could have got
on the podium in the first one, but we just didn't get there. "
Massimo Meregalli (Team Coordinator - Yamaha Motor Italia)
"Andrew did incredibly well after such a big crash in the first start of race
two. Fortunately he just took skin off his hands but I think that he did a good
job in the circumstances. I am very happy that Noriyuki was able to finish third
in our first year of the championship. We reached a target we set and I am
satisfied - and proud of everybody involved. I would like to thank all of the
team. We only started this project in October last year and everyone involved
worked so hard to get us ready to race. These results are a reward for our hard
work. Now we must look to next year. This will not be easy, but we know where we
must improve and everyone is looking forward to the challenge."
Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France)
"Yesterday everything went wrong and I could not ride smoothly. We had a lot of
problems this weekend, but today everything went well, especially in the second
race, the start went very well. We could do the same lap times as qualifying, so
that was a good indication."
Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha Motor France)
"In race one we scored a point but it was very difficult. We had many problems
with the fork, the clutch and under braking, not a good weekend."
Martial Garcia (Team Manager - Yamaha Motor France)
"A bad end for us. Two times the clutch went on Sebastien's bike. I think he was
very nervous to get good starts at his home race, so maybe he burned the clutch.
The more he tried the worse it got. Norick was not so bad. He followed Pitt and
made a good race so it was a good race day for him."
Race classification WSB
Round: 12 - France
Circuit: MagnyCours
Circuit Length: 4411m
Lap Record: 1' 40.601 (Lorenzo Lanzi, 2005)
Fastest Lap Ever: 1' 39.836 (Chris Vermeulen, 2005)
Race 1: 23 Laps
Pos.Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 C. Vermeulen Honda AUS 39' 3.405
2 Y. Kagayama Suzuki JPN +8.200
3 J. Toseland Ducati GBR +13.336
4 K. Muggeridge Honda AUS +13.887
5 T. Corser Suzuki AUS +14.299
6 A. Pitt Yamaha AUS +15.270
7 C. Walker Kawasaki GBR +16.136
8 M. Neukirchner Honda GER +16.616
9 L. Lanzi Ducati ITA +18.201
10 N. Abe Yamaha JPN +31.100
11 D. Checa Yamaha ESP +34.310
12 B. Bostrom Honda USA +34.493
13 J. Cardoso Yamaha ESP +38.601
14 F. Nieto Kawasaki ESP +38.914
15 S. Gimbert Yamaha FRA +40.508
Race 2: 23 Laps
Pos.Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 L. Lanzi Ducati ITA 39' 1.858
2 Y. Kagayama Suzuki JPN +6.662
3 N. Haga Yamaha JPN +10.722
4 T. Corser Suzuki AUS +13.457
5 C. Walker Kawasaki GBR +16.651
6 J. Toseland Ducati GBR +17.005
7 A. Pitt Yamaha AUS +20.863
8 M. Neukirchner Honda GER +22.280
9 N. Abe Yamaha JPN +22.713
10 P. Chili Honda ITA +31.108
11 B. Bostrom Honda USA +31.271
12 D. Checa Yamaha ESP +38.195
13 F. Nieto Kawasaki ESP +45.314
14 J. Da Costa Yamaha FRA +46.922
15 G. Vizziello Yamaha ITA +50.604
Fastest Race Lap:
Pos.Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 L. Lanzi Ducati ITA 1'40.601
Championship standings WSB
Pos.Rider Manufacturer Nat. Points
1 Troy Corser Suzuki AUS 433
2 Chris Vermeulen Honda AUS 379
3 Noriyuki Haga Yamaha JPN 271
4 James Toseland Ducati GBR 254
5 Yukio Kagayama Suzuki JPN 252
6 Regis Laconi Ducati FRA 221
7 Chris Walker Kawasaki GBR 160
8 Andrew Pitt Yamaha AUS 156
9 Lorenzo Lanzi Ducati ITA 150
10 Pierfrancesco Chili Honda ITA 131
11 Karl Muggeridge Honda AUS 124
12 Max Neukirchner Honda GER 123
13 Norifumi Abe Yamaha JPN 123
14 Giovanni Bussei Kawasaki ITA 64
15 Ben Bostrom Honda USA 58
16 Sebastien Gimbert Yamaha FRA 46
Manufacturers standings WSB
Pos.Manufacturer Points
1 Suzuki 468
2 Honda 403
3 Ducati 385
4 Yamaha 322
5 Kawasaki 183
6 Petronas 48
WSS : Parkes leads home Yamaha one-two
Round: 12 - France
Circuit: MagnyCours
Date: 9 October 2005
Crowd: 56000
Temp: 20ēC
Weather: Sunny
Broc Parkes took his first world championship race victory at Magny Cours today,
with Yamaha Motor Germany team-mate Kevin Curtain coming home second to give the
outgoing Yamaha YZF-R6 the perfect send off from world supersport competition.
The young Australian was never headed after taking the lead on lap three of the
23-lap race while behind him a three-way battle raged between Curtain and Honda
team-mates Michel Fabrizio and Fabien Foret. Parkes built up a two second lead
over the following pack and although his lap times dropped off due to front tyre
degradation in closing laps, Parkes was able to take the chequered flag for his
first world supersport win and the venerable Yamaha's final victory before being
replaced by an all-new YZF-R6 for 2006.
Curtain was able to move into second on lap four and, although Fabrizio and
Foret kept on the pressure he was able to keep a steady pace hold off Fabrizio
for second place, taking his seventh podium finish of the 12 race series. The
supersport one-two, Yamaha Motor Germany's second in three races, ended the
perfect day for the squad, who saw all three of their superstock riders make the
podium earlier in the day.
Today's results had no significant outcome on the final championship standings.
Curtain ends the year as runner-up, 23 points behind champion Sebastien
Charpentier (Honda) while Parkes remains sixth in the championship despite his
win. Yamaha ended the manufacturer's championship in second place.
Broc Parkes
"Finally! It's a big relief to win one at last. It's been a tough season for me
adapting to the R6 and there was times at the middle of the season that I
thought I was going to have to go home and get a proper job because it just
wasn't happening for me. This result is a great reward for the team: they've
worked so hard to get the bike working as good as possible and it's a great way
to end the year. The race itself was quite tough. My plan was to make a gap and
when it got to about one-and-a-half to two seconds I was able to control the
lead. The front tyre was completely gone at the end but we were able to bring
her home. I'm glad that my parents were over to see me take this win and I think
we'll have a quiet celebration tonight. I can't wait to start testing our new R6
now and I hope that next year it's the Hondas that'll be chasing us."
Kevin Curtain
"That's one of the toughest races I've had in a long time. The front tyre was
completely used up at the end and I am really happy to take second. It's been a
great day for the team and I'm pleased that it's finally come good for Broc too.
We've made great progress in the last few races and it's a great reward for the
team. I've ridden so hard this year and I'm already looking forward to 2006 and
racing our new bike."
Terrell Thien (Team Manager)
"It doesn't get much better than this! To have five riders and five podiums is
the perfect result. I'm pleased for Broc taking his first win. The plan was
always to try and make a break and control the lead. I was so impressed at the
Race classification WSS
Round: 12 - France
Circuit: MagnyCours
Circuit Length: 4411
Lap Record: 1' 44.071 (Michel Fabrizio, 2005)
Fastest Lap Ever: 1' 43.548 (Chris Vermeulen, 2003)
Race: 23 Laps
Pos.Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 B. Parkes Yamaha AUS 40'12.350
2 K. Curtain Yamaha AUS +0.750
3 M. Fabrizio Honda ITA +1.215
4 F. Foret Honda FRA +4.098
5 X. Fores Suzuki ESP +21.623
6 J. Stigefelt Honda SWE +23.448
7 K. Fujiwara Honda JPN +30.108
8 S. Chambon Honda FRA +32.144
9 G. Nannelli Ducati ITA +32.408
10 M. Lagrive Suzuki FRA +44.378
11 A. Vos Honda NED +49.939
12 T. Lauslehto Honda FIN +50.269
13 I. Goi Yamaha ITA +1' 1.701
14 J. Jansen Suzuki NED +1'10.471
15 S. Penna Honda FIN +1'11.325
Fastest Race Lap:
Pos.Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 M. Fabrizio Honda ITA 1'44.071
Championship standings WSS
Pos.Rider Manufacturer Nat. Points
1 Sebastien Charpentier Honda FRA 210
2 Kevin Curtain Yamaha AUS 187
3 Katsuaki Fujiwara Honda JPN 149
4 Fabien Foret Honda FRA 144
5 Michel Fabrizio Honda ITA 138
6 Broc Parkes Yamaha AUS 125
7 Stephane Chambon Honda FRA 94
8 Gianluca Nannelli Ducati ITA 88
9 Xavi Fores Suzuki ESP 71
10 Tatu Lauslehto Honda FIN 60
11 Johan Stigefelt Honda SWE 58
12 Alessio Corradi Ducati ITA 50
13 Robbin Harms Honda DNK 34
14 Barry Veneman Suzuki NED 33
15 Mattieu Lagrive Suzuki FRA 26
Manufacturers standings WSS
Pos.Manufacturer Points
1 Honda 270
2 Yamaha 192
3 Ducati 117
4 Suzuki 90
5 Kawasaki 35
FIM Superstock 1000 Cup: Van Keymeulen wins superstock title with last gasp move
Round: 10 - France
Circuit: MagnyCours
Date: 9 October 2005
Crowd: 56000
Temp: 14ēC
Weather: Sunny
Yamaha Motor Germany rider Didier van Keymeulen won the 2005 FIM Superstock 1000
Cup after a sensational move on the final lap to deny his team-mate Kenan
Sofuoglu both the title and race win.
The Yamaha Motor Germany riders had gone into the race separated by just one
point at the top of the championship, setting up a winner-takes-all battle in
Magny Cours. Their only challenger ahead of the race, Craig Coxhell (Suzuki),
saw his slim title hopes extinguished at the end of the second lap when he was
the innocent victim of another rider's crash, leaving Van Keymeulen and Sofuoglu
out front to contest the race win and title. Sofuoglu took the lead on the third
lap, with the Belgian repaying the complement a few laps later. Sofuoglu
shadowed his fellow R1 rider, passing on lap 11, but Van Keymeulen stuck in his
team-mate's wheeltracks and made a brave pass at the penultimate corner to take
the win and the title by the narrowest of margins, leaving his Turkish team-mate
distraught.
Yamaha Motor Germany entered a third rider at Magny Cours. Recently crowned
German superbike champion Stefan Nebel started the race on pole but found
himself shuffled back as he took avoiding action to miss the carnage that
claimed Coxhell. The 23-year-old charged through from seventh to make it an all
Yamaha Motor Germany podium.
Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha rider Massimo Roccoli had a difficult race in Magny
Cours. Hopes were high after qualifying on the front row, but seventh place was
the best he could do in the race after suffering traction problems. The
19-year-old Rimini rider secured fifth in this first full season in the
championship and helped Yamaha secure the manufacturer's title, beating Suzuki
by 221 points to 192.
YZF-R6 rider Claudio Corti secured the European Superstock 600 Championship with
a safe seventh place on Saturday. The 18-year-old from Como needed just two
points to secure the title, assuming title rival Yoann Tibero (Honda) won the
race. Tibero duly won the race, but Corti's nine points gave him the title, with
188 points to Tiberio's 180. The Yamaha youngster was one of the revelations of
the year, winning five of the 10 rounds on his way to the title and proving
Yamaha's prowess in the superstock classes, where the machines are raced
practically 'out of the crate'.
Didier van Keymeulen (Yamaha Motor Germany)
"I felt strong throughout the race, especially on that last part of the track,
and although I could not tell if I would win for sure I knew that I had an
opportunity. I could see Kenan riding defensively and closing the door at every
corner on that last lap. I saw that as my chance and I was able to go underneath
him on the corner coming into the final chicane. It still feels a little strange
to be the champion and of course, I am very happy - also for my team and all my
supporters who have followed me all season."
Kenan Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motor Germany)
"It is difficult for me to explain how I feel: just very, very disappointed. I
was sure that I had done enough to win the race but I left enough of a gap for
Didier to pass. This weekend we have had some bad luck with some small things
going wrong. Now I must get over this disappointment and think about next year."
Stefan Nebel (Yamaha Motor Germany)
"I think that I could've won here today but I didn't make a good start and
didn't want to do anything that would put Didier or Kenan at risk in the first
corner. The crash with Coxhell cost me some time but I was able to fight my way
back through. It's been a great day for the team and for me personally I like to
come to these world championship events and show my speed. It's been a good few
weeks for me, with winning the German championship last weekend. Riding the
superstock bike on the control treaded tyres is quite different to riding a
superbike on slicks. There you have to work more on the set-up and tactics: this
is simply a sprint race where you go as fast as possible from the lights to the
flag!"
Massimo Roccoli (Lorenzini by Leoni)
"I had some problems with arm pump this weekend and also a lack of traction in
the race. I am disappointed to slip back to fifth in the championship but I have
learned a lot this year. It is my first year of international competition and my
first time on the 1000cc bike. I have had three races in the last three weekends
Race classification FIM Superstock 1000 Cup
Round: 10 - France
Circuit: MagnyCours
Circuit Length: 4411m
Lap Record: 1' 44.445 (Alessandro Polita, 2005)
Fastest Lap Ever: 1' 44.169 (Lorenzo Alfonsi, 2004)
Race: 14 Laps
Pos.Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 D. Van Keymeulen Yamaha BEL 24'36.343
2 K. Sofuoglu Yamaha TUR +0.453
3 S. Nebel Yamaha GER +0.877
4 I. Dionsi Suzuki ITA +2.171
5 A. Polita Suzuki ITA +4.182
6 L. Scassa Yamaha ITA +5.328
7 M. Roccoli Yamaha ITA +5.757
8 E. Rocamora Suzuki ESP +6.121
9 W. De Angelis Yamaha ITA +6.713
10 R. Chiarello Suzuki ITA +11.060
11 J. Laverty Suzuki IRL +11.222
12 P. Solli Yamaha NOR +19.128
13 A. Martinez Yamaha ESP +20.631
14 R. Cooper Honda GBR +20.934
15 D. Sacchetti Kawasaki ITA +26.391
Fastest Race Lap:
Pos.Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 A. Polita Suzuki ITA 1'44.445
Championship standings FIM Superstock 1000 Cup
Pos.Rider Manufacturer Nat. Points
1 Didier Van Keymeulen Yamaha BEL 163
2 Kenan Sofuoglu Yamaha TUR 157
3 Craig Coxhell Suzuki AUS 125
4 Alessandro Polita Suzuki ITA 121
5 Massimo Roccoli Yamaha ITA 119
6 Riccardo Chiarello Suzuki ITA 113
7 Luca Scassa Yamaha ITA 78
8 Ilario Dionsi Suzuki ITA 70
9 William De Angelis Yamaha ITA 57
10 Alex Martinez Yamaha ESP 55
11 Enrique Rocamora Suzuki ESP 51
12 Ayrton Badovini MV Agusta ITA 45
13 Richard Cooper Honda GBR 42
14 Vittorio Iannuzzo MV Agusta ITA 30
15 Denis Sacchetti Kawasaki ITA 23
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