Xavier in good position
May 2008
The Autodromo Nazionale [National Autodrome] at Monza is one of the oldest circuits in Europe. Nestled in the greenery of the Parco Reale [Royal Park], it is also the quickest. The long flat-out straights linked by high-speed corners allow exceptional speeds to be reached. With a few chicanes requiring intense braking, it is not a track for the faint-hearted.
The third round of the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup continues in this woodland area. Xavier Simeon, the Belgian hope in the Suzuki Alstare team, has confidence in his GSX-R1000 which he knows is very quick. He also knows he is facing a pack of Italian riders bent on putting on a brilliant display in front of their home crowd. But that has only strengthened the resolve of Francis Batta’s protégé. Xavier is a fighter and difficult challenges only spur him on.
Xavier has approached this challenge by occupying second place in the provisional placings for the Cup. He lies only 2 points behind the leader, Maxime Berger. But he is also being chased by Pirro who is 2 points behind him, with Giugliano 4 points behind, Polita 6 points and Roberts 7 points behind. It has all the makings of a close fight.
Xavier knows it won’t be easy: “It will be hard. Last weekend the Italians were racing in their own championship. That was very quick. So this one will be very difficult. We’ll do our best. A podium finish is the secondary aim, but the primary one is to win.”
The schedule keeps to tradition, as follows:
Friday 9
0900 to 0925 free practice
1530 to 1615 qualifying trials
Saturday 10
0915 to 0945 free practice
1650 to 1715 qualifying trials
Sundary 11
0900 to 0910 warm-up
1040 Race 11 laps
For more information on te GSX-R1000, click here.
