Corser primed for Monza high speed fest

The 2010 Superbike World Championship makes the first of its three Italian appointments at the high speed Monza circuit this weekend, as Australia's Troy Corser continues to close in on an elusive maiden podium for his factory BMW.

Monza is a shrine to horsepower, and has the highest average speed of the 13 circuits on this year's calendar, a quantum leap ahead of Phillip Island. In 2009, American Ben Spies averaged a whopping 196.614km/h en route to victory in race two at Monza, with race one winner Michel Fabrizio only marginally slower.

Corser's ever-improving BMW was fast in the last round at Assen, which has only increased his optimism ahead of Monza.

"At Monza there are two keys: good acceleration and good brakes," said Corser. The circuit is in effect a succession of long straights and tight corners.

"At Assen we were really quick on the straights. If we can build speed quickly out of the corners and look after our tyres over the full race distance, I'm very confident we can have a good race weekend."

Corser and his Spanish team-mate Ruben Xaus joined a number of other world superbike regulars in a two-day test session at Misano last week, with the Wollongong rider spending a lot of time to fine-tuning his brake set-up ahead of the punishment it will receive at Monza.

Corser is one of four Monza race winners in this year's field, with the select group also including fellow Aussie Chris Vermeulen.

Both riders won a race apiece in 2005, although Vermeulen will require a Herculean effort to double up in 2010 on the basis that he's still recovering from a knee injury - not to mention a Kawasaki that is struggling to keep pace with its Japanese and European opposition.

"I'm still not 100 percent, but I'm working hard on it and it's improving each day," said Vermeulen. "I still have some difficulties with movement, but it will be an improvement from Assen.

"I'm really looking forward to Monza, as it's an exciting race and a special circuit with it being so fast. It will be great to race there again, this time on the Kawasaki, as the last time was 2005 and I had a win so it's a positive circuit for me with good memories and results."

Briton Leon Haslam (Suzuki) has led this year's championship from the first race of the year at Phillip Island, although his opposition continues to gather momentum at every outing.

At Assen, it was Honda's Jonathan Rea's turn to shine as he claimed the first clean sweep of his career, and he is now third in the championship behind Haslam and Aprilia's Max Biaggi.

Other winners in 2010 have been Carlos Checa (Ducati) and reigning vice champion Noriyuki Haga (Ducati).

Haga is a three-time winner at Monza, but it's his team-mate Fabrizio who has the better recent form after first and second places in 2009. The Italian also holds the current lap record.

Fabrizio's victory in 2009 was the first time a local rider had won at Monza since way back in 2000 when Pierfranesco Chili prevailed on a Suzuki.

James Toseland (Yamaha), Leon Camier (Aprilia), Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha) and Shane Byrne (Ducati) complete a talented British line-up at Monza, while Port Macquarie's Andrew Pitt (BMW) continues to be grounded as his team looks to extricate itself from cash flow difficulties.

Newcastle's Broc Parkes (Honda) should be a little more race hardened at Monza after his comeback ride from injury at Assen, while this weekend will also witness the world superbike debut of the well regarded Japanese Yoshimura Suzuki team with Yukio Kagayama at the helm. The outfit will also compete in two other rounds this year.

In world supersport, Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki) and Honda duo Eugene Laverty and Kenan Sofuoglu should continue to strengthen their hold over the rest of the pack at Monza. Lascorz currently leads after a win and three seconds in the opening four rounds.

There will be live coverage from Monza on Fox Sports 2, starting at 7.30pm Sunday.

WORLD SUPERBIKE STANDINGS (AFTER ROUND FOUR OF 13):
1 Leon Haslam, Great Britain, Suzuki 148
2 Max Biaggi, Italy, Aprilia 128
3 Jonathan Rea, Great Britain, Honda 110
4 Carlos Checa, Spain, Ducati 103
5 James Toseland, Great Britain, Yamaha 86
6 Noriyuki Haga, Japan, Ducati 83
7 Troy Corser, Australia, BMW 68
8 Sylvain Guintoli, France, Suzuki 55
9 Michel Fabrizio, Italy, Ducati 53
10 Cal Crutchlow, Great Britain, Yamaha 49
20 Chris Vermeulen, Australia, Kawasaki 2