WSS: Team Alstare Valencia race notes

2007 Superstock 1000 FIM Cup
Round 2, Valencia, Spain

XAVI TAKES SIXTH IN A TWO-PARTER IN VALENCIA.

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Xavi Simeon crashed six laps into the scheduled 13-lap race at Valencia today, but was lucky because the race was red-flagged due to a fallen bike in the middle of the track. Xavi got back on board his bike and rode back to the pits and was able to start the second race. He then put in a fiery performance in the five-lap second part to end sixth overall.

Aussie Mark Aitchison (Suzuki) took the victory, when the times of both races were aggregated. He had finished second in the first race and his performance in race two was enough to ensure the win, albeit by just over half a second. Second in the overall times was Michele Pirro (Yamaha), with Nicolo Canepa (Ducati) third.

XAVI - 6th
I guess I was a bit lucky today - when the race was stopped and that meant I had the chance to start again. I began the first part with tyres for rain, but the track started to dry up. Normally, it takes a long time for this track to become dry, so it was a bit of a surprise when it happened so soon. Two laps later, I had to go into the pits because it was becoming impossible to stay on those tyres. I came back out of the pits with a fresh tyre, more suited to dry conditions, and four or so corners later, I found a damp patch on the track and crashed! I got back on the bike and fortunately was able to take part in the restart. I wish the second part had been longer then just five laps, because I was catching the leaders up and I'm sure I could have finished higher up, maybe even on the podium!

Results
1 Aitchison (Aus-Suzuki), 2 Pirro (I-Yamaha), 3 Canepa (I-Ducati), 4 Baiocco (I-Yamaha), 5 Dionisi (I-Suzuki), 6 Xavi Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra),

Points: 1 Canepa 41, 2 Aitchison 38, 3 Corti 25, 4 Baiocco 24, 5 Dionisi 21, 6 Pirro 20, 7 Xavi Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 19,

-credit: tas