Vallelunga: Team Alstare Suzuki Saturday notes

FRONT ROW FOR MAX.

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Max Biaggi set the fourth quickest time in Superpole at Vallelunga circuit today and will start tomorrow's pair of 24-lap races from the front row of the grid. His team mate Yukio Kagayama failed to make the 16-rider Superpole shoot-out, due to pain in his right hand and knee - a legacy of his crash just two weeks ago at the Eurospeedway Lausitz. Tomorrow morning he will try and ride in the warm-up and see if it is possible to race. Superpole was full of drama, with series leader James Toseland (Honda) crashing out when he was on course for the fastest lap. In the end, reigning champion Troy Bayliss (Ducati) just managed to beat his fellow countryman Troy Corser (Yamaha) to take Superpole. Third fastest was Spaniard Ruben Xaus (Ducati), with Max fourth.

Max - 4th, 1:36.925
Being on the front row is always important at any racetrack and I'm happy that I will be starting in a good position tomorrow. For me, it's a great pleasure to race here so close to Rome - the headquarters of FGSport and also my home town. Today I wore some special leathers, with the design of the Italian flag and the logo of Roma football club - my favourite team. I hope that I can make two good results tomorrow and give a lot of pleasure to all the fans who will be here.

Yukio - 20th, 1:39.190
My problem today is my right hand and right knee. Yesterday my knee did not feel so bad, but today it was much worse. I went to the Clinica Mobile and had a painkilling injection in my knee and that was OK for a while. But then I lost feeling in my knee and I couldn't move around on the bike properly. My hand was also very sore and I wasn't able to do many laps or get into Superpole. At the moment, it would be very difficult to race tomorrow, but I will see how I feel in the morning warm-up, before I make any decision.

-credit: tas