News - 2007' WSBK French round : the report
10/11/2007

Hannibal Smith said : "I love it when a plan comes together”. I totally agree this catch phrase. Unfortunately, it's not always the case... For once, I had to go to the circuit on the Saturday instead of the Thursday. I knew it would be harder to meet the riders because of the qualifying sessions. But, anyway, that would be "spicier"... My departure was delayed in the morning, it didn't begin very well. Beware of radar traps on the way. 11:30 AM, I'm at the media accreditation centre, looking after my pass. Problem : no envelope for me. AAARRRRGGGGHHHH !
Impossible to get in touch with my contact. Four messages left on his vocal box, nothing happens ! 1:00 PM : the media shuttle come and take me to make another pass. In fact, my pass was in the envelope of another guest who already took it ! As the organisation printed another pass for me, one more hour and a half passed. While I was waiting (it's been very long and stressing), I started to write this article without knowing the conclusion of this episode. My chances to meet all the riders got more and more reduiced, all the more that the best of them were on the track from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM for the Superpole session.

2:30 PM : At last, I've got it, the hunt was open. I didn't have much time and I had to stay at the right place. The first 30 minutes were very successful : Giancarlo Falappa, Yukio Kagayama (who couldn't ride because of an injury), Katsuaki Fujiwara, Peter Goddard, Chris Walker (hoping to come back to WSBK next year)... Then, nothing. I watched the free practise and superpole sessions on different screens in the pits.

At the end of these sessions, the paddock got immediately very animed. Some riders left their pits very quickly, others took much time to work on the setups... Troy Bayliss was overwhelmed by his fans, I met him later near his motorhome. Same thing for Ruben Xaus. In the village, Troy Corser and Noriyuki Haga signed autographs et posed beside thier numerous fans. Good mood...

I was about to leave. I had given up the idea of meeting Max Biaggi, too expected and especially too invisible. I decided to leave. Too bad for my watercolours about Régis Laconi. Suddenly, I saw him on his scooter. I called him and he stopped very nicely (as usual). He wanted to be quiet to sign and we went towards one of the Suzuki GSX-R Cup pits. He began to sign but many fans joined us very quickly.

Eventually, the balance of this day at Magny-Cours was positive. My 2007' WSBK period is now over, the 2007' year a little bit too. The "winter tests" will start very soon. Four months spent on a single subject is pretty long. I'm happy to change and dedicate some time to new projects that I've got on my mind since last winter.

Awaiting for next spring, the last MotoGP profiles will be online on October, 16th. The WSBK riders will follow according to the calendar below :
52 - James Toseland (Ten Kate Honda) - WSBK
10/25/2007
3 - Max Biaggi (Alstare Suzuki) - WSBK
10/25/2007
55 - Régis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki) - WSBK
10/25/2007
11 - Troy Corser (Yamaha Factory) - WSBK
21 - Troy Bayliss (Xerox Ducati) - WSBK
31 - Karl Muggeridge (Alto Evolution Honda) - WSBK
11/12/2007
21 - Katsuaki Fujiwara (Megabike Honda) - WSS
41 - Noriuyki Haga (Yamaha Factory) - WSBK
71 - Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki) - WSBK
11/22/2007
10 - Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki) - WSBK
(1)11 - Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Ducati) - WSBK
12/10/2007


Eventually, James Toseland collected the title ahead of Noriyuki Haga. In spite of a double-win at Magny-Cours, the Japanese rider failed again in his chase, only 2 points behind the Englishman/ James Toseland will join the Tech 3 team next year in MotoGP. Max Biaggi ends his first WSBK championship in 3rd position and could come back in MotoGP (???). Régis Laconi will stay with his actual team, more and more supported by the Kawasaki factory.
2007 final standings :

1 - James Toseland (GBR, Honda)
2 - Noriyuki Haga (JAP, Yamaha)
3 - Max Biaggi (ITA, Suzuki)
4 - Troy Bayliss (AUS, Yamaha)
5 - Troy Corser (AUS, Yamaha)
...
10 - Régis Laconi (FRA, Kawasaki)		 Pts

415
413
397
372
296
...
137		 Podiums

14
15
17
13
9
...
0		 Wins

8
6
3
7
0
...
0



[ ©  Mon petit atelier 2007]
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