NIETO GRABS MAGNY COURS PODIUM	zurück

Team Suzuki Alstare rider Fonsi Nieto had his best weekend of the year since the opening round of the World Superbike Championship in Qatar, taking a runner-up spot in race one at Magny-Cours in France today. Nieto had started from the front row of the grid and spent most of the race fighting with Troy Bayliss (Ducati) and eventual race winner Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha). Because of a problem with the gear change on his number one bike, he used his spare bike in race two, but did not like the feel of it as much and could only manage eighth place.

Team mate Yukio Kagayama was disappointed to finish eighth in race one and seventh in race two while Max Neukirchner had grip problems in both races and ended fifth in the first race and ninth in the second.

Troy Bayliss (Ducati) finished third in race one and that was enough to give him the Superbike World Championship title with one round remaining.

Fonsi Nieto - Race 1: 2nd, Race 2: 8th:

"The first race was a good result for me. Everything worked very well and the only problem I had was at the start when my fuel tank was full and the bike was not so easy to handle. After some laps, the fuel was less and I was able to push harder.

"For race two I had to use my spare bike because the gear change was not working properly on my number one bike. My spare bike did not feel as good or as fast, so I just had to ride as hard as I could without doing anything stupid. Eighth is not wonderful, but this weekend I have scored more points than any other weekend except the first round in Qatar and that makes me happy."

Max Neukirchner - Race 1: 5th, Race 2: 9th:

"I don't want to say this weekend has been bad, but that's how it is. In the first race, I lost grip very soon and the rear was spinning a lot. I rode the bike as hard as I could and managed to finish the race, so perhaps eighth is not that bad. We changed to a softer rear spring for race two but the bike felt the same! The rear was spinning a bit more and it was difficult getting the bike to change direction. If we had not lost day one of practice because of the bad conditions, maybe we would've found a better set-up for the bike for today. But that's the way it is sometimes and it's better I forget about today and start thinking positively about the next round at Portimao."

Yukio Kagayama - Race 1: 8th, Race 2: 7th:

"I am disappointed and a bit frustrated this weekend because I feel that I have given 100 per cent, as usual, but my bike was not as good as it should've been. In the warm-up this morning we found a better set-up for my bike and the grip was better, so we used this set-up in the first race. But the bike felt different, did not give any better grip, and lost positions because I could not lap fast. But I never want to give up so I rode my best and finished the race.

"For race two we adjusted the rear shock in order to give more grip and the feeling was a bit better, but not enough to challenge the top positions. At the start of the season, our bike was fast and strong, but maybe the other bikes have caught us up and passed us and maybe now their package is better than ours. We have to work hard for the last round, but I want to show that I am a good rider and end the year with a good result."

WSB Results:

Race 1: Haga (J-Yamaha), 2 Fonsi Nieto (E-Suzuki Alstare), 3 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati), 4 Biaggi (I-Ducati), 5 Max Neukirchner (D-Alstare Suzuki), 6 Troy Corser (Aus-Yamaha Motor Italia), 7 C Checa (E-Honda), 8 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare), 9 Sofuoglu (Tur-Honda), 10 Lavilla (E-Honda).

Race 2: Bayliss, 2 Haga, 3 Corser, 4 C Checa, 5 Xaus (E-Ducati), 6 Biaggi, 7 Yukio Kagayama, 8 Fonsi Nieto, 9 Max Neukirchner, 10 Rolfo (I-Honda).

Points: 1 Bayliss 410, 2 Haga 325, 3 Corser 316, 4 Max Neukirchner 298, 5 C Checa 284, 6 Biaggi 235, 7 Fonsi Nieto 234, 8 Fabrizio 203, 9 Kiyonari 193, 10 Xaus 171, 11 Yukio Kagayama 153.