The competition at this year’s World Superbike Championships is stiff. 8 riders have found themselves on the podium this year, and with Noriyuki Haga’s win at Valencia, four racers have come away with race wins.
Max Biaggi and Leon Haslam both have two race wins this year and Carlos Checa has one. Jonathan Rea, Michel Fabrizio, Cal Crutchlow, and James Toseland are the other four podium finishers.
But the competition extends beyond the podium at the WSBK. Troy Corser has continually improved his position on the leader board and had an impressive finish at Valencia. Corser gave BMW its best finish ever as he rode to a fourth place finish only 4.2 seconds behind the race winner, Leon Haslam, and only .16 seconds away from an historic podium finish.
“I got a good start and went into the lead and I must say I felt pretty comfortable there,” said Corser. “Even when Carlos came past, I knew I could just stay with him and watch what was going on. Everything was going good until I think I got a bit confused between the traction control and engine braking buttons and lost a little time and also third spot. But, it had been great to run at the front again and that's how it should be."
Sylvain Guintoli will also be vying for a podium spot at Assen. He continues to climb in the standings but has yet to break into the top three. The Suzuki rider has only 8 WSBK races to his name, but he gets better every time he hits the track. Guintoli currently sits in 7th behind Toseland.
Michel Fabrizio, who hasn’t finished on the podium since the first two races of the season at Phillip Island, will be looking to reestablish himself in the top three spots at Assen.
“It was a weekend to forget,” Fabrizio said after a dismal showing at Valencia.”But we'll turn the page and concentrate on the next race.”
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