5 reasons to watch Aragon stage
Eni FIM Superbike World Championship comes back to Europe this weekend. Four months marathon begins over the Old Country from Aragon: Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Great Britain, Portugal and again Italy and at last Russia. Every two weeks till August Yakhnich Motorsport riders would stand up honor of the Russian flag.
In Australia Sam Lowes and Vladimir Leonov had shown that their volition and physical preparation are in perfect fit to beat for the top line on the grid. That’s why Sam and Vladimir come with such a responsibility to the second round.
Last week Yakhnich Motorsport team came to Aragon for unofficial tests of the WSBK. During three days they worked with bikes. Lowes and Leonov refreshed memories about Motorland Aragon circuit, their technical teams made sure that bikes are ready for the race on such в speedy track.
Motorland has been designed by well-known German architect Hermann Tilke in 2006. It was built in less than two years, and in Autumn 2009 one of the rounds of Moto GP was already conducted in Aragon. On May 2010 it was announced that the circuit would hold a round of the World Superbike Championship from 2011. The length of the circuit in GP configuration is 5.344 m, start – anticlockwise, level difference is 50 m. The main remarkable sight of Aragon is 1726 m back straight - the longest in the world. It leads the peloton down the hill and ends with the almost 180 degrees hairpin.
A lot of tough moments happened in this sector last year especially in Supersport class: unexplicable manouvres of Kenan Sofouglu, Fabien Foret’s faults, break-in of Lowes, penalties… Sam became the winner in that hot battle and wants to repeat his result this year on Yamaha R6. In 2012 Vladimir Leonov had the debut in WSS after the injury, but he already had 2’04 on the qualification.
During tests in April 2013 both riders showed good results and significantly improved speed. Lowes even reached 2’01’’7 and beated the record of circuit in WSS class (not officially yet), Leonov showed constant laps - 2'03 with the prospect 2'02. All this encourages the team to champion for TOP-5.
Last year it was too hot in Aragon, around 40 degree. But this year the weather conditions are much more comfortable. According to the forecast the temperature will be +25, the strength of wind will slow down.
Vladimir Leonov: “I'm completely ready for the round. We assured in our technical and physical readiness during the tests. Health and good spirits are also excellent! We are waiting for a good weather, but I’m ready to work in any conditions, as I like Motorland! I’m looking forward to official trainings and race.”
Claudio Corsetti, General manager of the Yakhnich Motorsport team: «We are waiting for a technical breakthrough as in Australia. Bikes were updated and we made several important settings for the round which would help riders to end up with better speed. Both riders could strive for the first line on the grid starting with qualification!”