Magny-Cours (France) Tuesday 28th September: it’s only two days since the penultimate round of the World Superbikes wrapped up on Ducati’s home turf at Imola, and now the Ducati Xerox team travels straight to Magny-Cours for the closing round of the 2010 championship.
Lo scorso domenica è stato un podio tutto Ducati quello della prima manche. Mentre Haga ha fatto rispettivamente terzo e secondo nelle due gare, Carlos Checa sulla 1198 del Team Althea Racing ha fatto una fantastica doppietta mentre Lorenzo Lanzi sulla Ducati preparata dal team DFX Corse ha terminato secondo nella seconda gara.
And now to France. Magny-Cours is a track where Noriyuki has had great success over the years, winning five races over the last six seasons and reaching the podium, in either first or second position, in all of the last six races held at the French circuit. Japanese rider Haga will aim to repeat his 2007 double win this coming weekend. Michel, though scoring a 4th place finish in Race 1 last year, is yet to reach the French podium and hopes to get there this weekend, in his last races with the Ducati Xerox team.
Heading into the final round of the 2010 season, Noriyuki lies in sixth place in the championship, just one point behind Cal Crutchlow on the Yamaha, while Michel is ninth; he too could improve on his championship position with two solid races on Sunday.
This coming weekend’s races are the last for the Ducati Xerox team given that, as already announced, there will be no factory participation for Ducati in SBK in 2011. Ducati would like to thank Xerox and all of its sponsors and partners for the incredible support, whether technical, financial or, most importantly, human. Having achieved 16 Manufacturer’s world titles and 13 Rider’s world titles, the Ducati factory team can be proud of its successes and of the contribution that it has made to motorcycle racing history.
Noriyuki Haga (6th in championship, 238 points)
Haga has reached the Magny-Cours podium 10 times in 12 races.
“I have always done well at Magny-Cours and hope that the coming weekend is the best yet. I would like to thank Ducati, the team and the sponsors for these last two years. I have had a wonderful experience with the Ducati Xerox team and hope to thank my technicians by scoring two great results on Sunday.”
Haga’s Superbike form at Magny-Cours:
2009: Race 1 – 2nd, Race 2 – winner
2008: Race 1 – winner, Race 2 – 2nd
2007: Race 1 – winner, Race 2 – winner
2006: Race 1 – 2nd, Race 2 – 4th
2005: Race 1 – DNF, Race 2 – 3rd
2004: Race 1 – 2nd, Race 2 winner
Michel Fabrizio (9th in championship, 169 points)
Fabrizio would like to take his first Magny-Cours podium finish this coming weekend.
“I want to collect as many points as possible this weekend, to see if I can improve my overall final result. I was sorry not to have done better at Imola and now I need to score two great results in France for my team. I still can’t believe that this will be the final weekend for the Ducati factory team. We’re all very emotional.”
Fabrizio’s Superbike form at Magny-Cours:
2009: Race 1 – 4th, Race 2 – 13th
2008: Race 1 – DNF, Race 2 – 14th
2007: Race 1 – 14th, Race 2 – 9th
2006: Race 1 – 11th, Race 2 – 13th
CIRCUIT:
Country: France
Name: Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
Circuit length: 4.411 km
Pole position: Right
Corners left: 9
Corners right: 6
Length of race: 23 laps = 101.453 km
Lap records: Fastest lap – Haga (Ducati Xerox) 1’38.619 (2009). Superpole – Spies (Yamaha) 1’37.709 (2009).
2009 RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Spies (Yamaha); 2. Haga (Ducati Xerox); 3. Biaggi (Aprilia) Race 2 – 1. Haga (Ducati Xerox); 2. Biaggi (Aprilia; 3. Rea (Honda)
