Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

[PRESS RELEASE]

Valencia 22/04/2006

PSG-1 KAWASAKI CORSE RIDERS PAINT SECOND ROW GREEN
A fantastically effective team effort in the Superpole qualifying session at Valencia saw all three of PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse’s riders qualify on consecutive grid positions, blocking out all the top places on the second row. Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) looked on course for a front row start to his home race, after his intense lap pushed him to the head of the rankings for a period. He was only displaced from an eventual front row start by the very last rider out in Superpole, eventual pole man Troy Corser. Immediately behind Nieto was the aggressive figure of Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) who secured sixth best time, while the team’s English rider, Chris Walker could have qualified even higher than seventh of his rear traction had stayed constant to the end of his Superpole lap. All three riders beat their previous best times from regulation qualifying in Superpole.

FONSI NIETO: 5th – 1’35.351: “So close to the front row, I almost had it. The only small problem we have now is that we will start one row back at the start. I have to practice my start during the warm- up tomorrow, so that I get away well in each of the two races. I think I have a good rhythm, maybe not to win but I am sure I can do well. If I make a good start, I think I can run up front.”

REGIS LACONI: 6th – 1’35.410: “I am very happy because we have had quite a lot of chattering this weekend but with new tyres or qualifying tyres I can give my best and make good results. We have started to get good with the Kawasaki but the race will be hard tomorrow. We will still work on getting rid of the chatter in warm up but to be on the second row in only my third race on a Kawasaki is good.”

CHRIS WALKER: 7th – 1’35.452: “The qualifying tyre got used up a bit quick and that cost me some time in Superpole. I had a good first section, OK in the middle, but the last sector the tyre was just finished. So that last left cost me a bit of time. It’s the highest I’ve qualified this year, so I’m happy, especially as we have all qualified together on the second row. We did two race runs and it was the best the bike’s been over long distance, so I’m happy. We’re on it!”

NIETO GOES TOP SIX FOR PSG-1 KAWASAKI CORSE
On home tarmac Fonsi Nieto scored the PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse Team’s best single result of the season so far, finishing sixth in the second 23-lap Valencia race. The team’s effectiveness, after an unlucky first race, was ably demonstrated when Nieto was followed home in race two by Chris Walker (7th) and Regis Laconi (8th). In the first race of the day Regis Laconi scored the only points for his luckless squad, taking a fine eighth after a race-long battle to maintain his placing. Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) was firmly in the top group before his alternator failed, and Chris Walker (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) lost a large amount of time after running off track, having hit a painted line that was still damp after this morning’s rain. He rejoined to finish 23rd.

FONSI NIETO: DNF & 6th – 29 Points, 12th Overall: “It was strange to get so many cheers today. I don’t think more than ten people have cheered me at the same time for about three years! It was good to get a top six finish but incredibly frustrating to go out of race one just because of a small part in the alternator. I got hit by a green bike at the start of the second race and that lost me some places so I had to fight back. The only problem we have is when we are flat on the side of the tyres, we have to pick the bike up to get the throttle on.”

REGIS LACONI: 8th & 8th – 22 Points, 14th Overall: “I had a quite a lot of chatter in the first race but we made very good progress. We improved that in the second one; better but not perfect. I had some slides from the front so I kept pushing, but not too much. I had to concentrate a lot to control the corner speed. Two eighth places are quite good today. Thanks to the team as they worked very well.”

CHRIS WALKER: 23rd & 7th – 21 Points, 15th Overall: “We are struggling for grip generally from the rear. The bike was good all the second race and I could put it where I wanted while the tyre was new. But the rear started spinning and that’s the reason why my lap times got worse. But it’s quite a good result compared to race one, when I just hit a damp patch on the track. Fonsi rode a good race to come from where he did and he just had more rear grip than me.”