HANNspree Ten Kate Honda's Carlos Checa (Photo: Honda Pro Images) » More Photos

HONDA RIDERS READY TO PUSH ON AT POPULAR VENUE

Few riders in the World Superbike series have anything but praise for Brno, the next venue on the championship trail, including Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) who only has to look at last year’s best Honda result for inspiration this weekend.

2007 World Champion James Toseland took a win and a second place at Brno last season, and Checa has further reason to be confident in his approach to this weekend after conduction two days of positive tests at Vallelunga on 8 and 9 July. During that period the team addressed some of the small issues that have prevented Checa from adding to his double race-winning tally at Miller Motorsports Park in early June. Checa now approaches a circuit he knows as well as any other, after racing there many times in his MotoGP career.

Checa is currently third in the championship standings, 52 points behind the leader with six rounds and 12 races to go. He is only three points from regaining the second place he lost at Misano in late June.

Ryuichi Kiyonari (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) was the fastest Honda rider in the recent Vallelunga official tests, and is now firmly ensconced in the championship top ten. He has scored a podium this year, but is still looking for his first race win before he heads off to race in the Suzuka 8-Hour race, just like his teammate Checa.

The Brno circuit, relatively long for a modern track at 5.403km, has recently been resurfaced and that will place particular emphasis on tire wear, as the track has already gained a new reputation of being aggressive in terms of grip.

Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR Jr) was another beneficiary of the time he spent in Vallelunga last week, making confidence-boosting improvements in his machine set-up, as he rebuilds from recent disappointments.

Roberto Rolfo (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR1000RR) made great strides with his electronics package at the Vallelunga tests, and hopes to turn that knowledge into season best results, to drive him on from his current placing of 20th overall.

Gregorio Lavilla (Vent-Axia VK Honda CBR1000RR) continues to be the best placed Honda privateer in the championship, in 13th, with Karl Muggeridge (DFX Corse Honda CBR1000RR) 15th. Muggeridge was also in action at Vallelunga, working his way through his new electronics and data-gathering package.

Shuhei Aoyama (Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR) benefited from new equipment sent direct from Japan to the tests in Vallelunga, and the former 250cc GP star is well acquainted with Brno. He was joined in testing by his teammate, Jason Pridmore (Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR).

Checa said: “The Brno track will be difficult for us, especially when it comes to the handling of the bike in the slower sections. However, we gathered some important data during the Vallelunga test and will put some new ideas into practice this weekend. I am confident we can straighten out the issues we have been dealing with and improve our pace.”

Kiyonari said: “I need to get a good result this weekend. My progression has gone down after the race in Monza but my motivation is stronger then ever. I made some mistakes in my tire choices in the last races, but after we tested a better front tire in Vallelunga, my feeling with the machine has definitely improved. I hope I can continue this progress at the Brno track. We haven’t made big changes to the bike, but my lap times have improved and I have taken my mind off thinking about the set up. Now I can concentrate on riding and gain some results.”

Sofuoglu said: “I am looking forward to the next round in Brno. I like the track a lot, but it will be a big challenge for me to ride the Superbike there. After the test in Vallelunga I feel like I have gained some ground and am closer to my teammates’ lap times. I hope I can continue this progression and improve my results, starting this weekend.”

Rolfo said: “We are glad to have been able to test in Vallelunga for two days because the tests were a good preparation for the following races of the season. We significantly improved the base set-up of our bike and we found some good solutions to be used in Brno. I like this track, it’s technical and fast and it also suits my riding style. I’m very motivated and I want to work very hard with my team starting from Friday morning.”

Lavilla said: “Brno is a place that I like but it would have been good to have gone there after testing in Italy. The Vallelunga test would have been our first real test of the new bike away from a race weekend. We will give it everything we have in Brno, and I am very committed to the job. You have to be because this is World Championship racing and that is what it takes to be competitive.”

Muggeridge said: “We did a lot of work at the tests recently and made some progress but now it’s time to get into race mode again. The bike has been getting better all the time, even though everyone else has found improvements as well. We want two good races on Sunday and the track could be good for us.”

Aoyama said: “I liked Brno when I rode there on a 250, but I must work hard again because we took a lot of important data away from the Vallelunga test, and we have use that to help us in Brno. There are some slower corners at the Brno track, but it is mainly fast, with lots of changes of direction. It is difficult, but I like faster tracks. I am not sure how our Superbike will be there, but I really want to race it there.”

Pridmore said: “I have been to Brno, it is probably one of my favorite tracks, so I am looking forward to going there for sure, it’s a great track I’ve never been there for the World Superbike, but I’ve been there for the World Endurance race. I’m looking forward to getting there because I love the place. It is a wide and flowing track and there are a lot of ups and downs that I like. This should be fun.”

The World Superbike Championship reaches its tenth round at the iconic circuit of Brands Hatch, 1-3 August.