Racing: Corser looming as the danger man

Even though his own title-winning aspirations are long gone, a
resurgent Troy Corser looms as a danger man in the final four rounds of
the 2009 Superbike World Championship, starting at Nurburgring on
Sunday.

After a stunning return to form in the last round at
Brno, another performance of that ilk could see the BMW-backed Corser
pose a real threat to the shortlist of riders battling for the
championship: Yamaha's Ben Spies and Ducati pair Noriyuki Haga and
Michel Fabrizio.

The spectacular Nurburgring is also a home race for BMW, so this weekend has even more significance for Corser.

"I
like the Nurburgring and it has been a good circuit for me in the past
and, after a recent tests and the race in Brno in the last round, I am
really looking forward to this coming weekend," said Corser.

"There
is going to be a lot of interest and attention on us this weekend… and
all of us want to do well for our fans and our sponsors."

Corser will have a new teammate this weekend, with Briton Richard Cooper filling in for the injured Ruben Xaus.

"It is a shame that Ruben cannot race this weekend, but I'm sure that the right decision has been made," said Corser.

"It's
far better for him to return when he is stronger and fitter. I'm happy
that Richard is stepping in this weekend for Ruben. I have met him a
few times, especially at Brands Hatch recently. He's young, fast and
good prospect for the future and I'm sure he'll do a good job for the
team.

"I'll give him whatever helps he needs and although he's
young (and looks even younger!), he's pretty experienced already, so
maybe he won't need it!"

Corser won at Nurburgring way back in
1999 on a Ducati before it underwent some modifications, and the iconic
circuit didn't resurface on the world superbike calendar until last
year, with his former Yamaha teammate Haga winning both races.

Haga
will be hoping it's a case of déjà vu in 2009, especially as the
unflappable Spies is only 7pts (319 to 326) behind with four rounds
remaining. Fabrizio is third on 273pts.

Spies has won six of the
past eight races, while Haga was riding under duress at Brno after a
big crash in the preceding round at Donington.

The six-week
break couldn't have come at a better time for Haga, who spent some time
back home in Japan recharging his batteries for what promises to be a
relentless finish to the championship.

"I got a great result at
Nurburgring last year and hope to be able to do the same again this
time around," said Haga. "It's a really nice track though last year was
pretty wet for race day which made things interesting!

"Anyway
I'm feeling much stronger than I was at Brno and, after a relaxing
holiday back home in Japan, I'm totally ready to continue the fight for
the world title."

Like Corser, Max Biaggi (Aprilia) and Jonathan
Rea (Honda) could also have major roles to play in the final four
rounds, with the veteran Biaggi winning his first race for the year at
Brno - and Aprilia's first since 2001.

Meanwhile, Newcastle's
Broc Parkes is confident of an improved performance on the factory
Kawasaki after recently scoring two podium finishes in a round of the
British superbike title at Brands Hatch.

"After racing at the
British superbikes… we found some really good things on the bike and
came away with some great results which gave me and the team some
confidence on our direction for the last four world superbike rounds,"
said Parkes.

"It will be great to apply the team's development
to the Nurburgring race this weekend.  I really enjoy racing at this
circuit and I've had some successful results in the past.

"Last
year I was unlucky not to win on the world supersport bike, as we had a
problem end of race. I've also won a race a few years back on the short
circuit for the German Superbike Championship.

"Overall I'm
really looking forward to some good results this weekend. I'm also over
the moon at becoming a father this week to my newborn son, young Jesse
John Parkes."

And after being let go by his privateer Suzuki
team mid-season, Australian Karl Muggeridge will make a cameo return to
the championship deputising for the injured Max Neukirchner in the
factory Suzuki squad.

It will be the first time Muggeridge, 35,
has ridden leading world superbike machinery since leaving Ten Kate
Honda at the end of 2006.

In world supersport, Cal Crutchlow
(Yamaha) and Eugene Laverty (Honda) will continue jousting for the
championship lead, while Anthony West (Honda) and Garry McCoy (Triumph)
are the Aussies most likely to sneak through for a win.

Reigning
world champion Andrew Pitt, Mark Aitchison and Jason O'Halloran are the
other Australians in action, all on Hondas. Pitt's title defence has
been in freefall since mid-season, and he will be looking to at least
finish the campaign on a high note.

There will be live coverage from 7.30pm Sunday on FUEL TV, and a one-hour highlights package on SBS at 12.30pm on September 13.

Superbike standings (after round 10 of 14):
1  Noriyuki Haga, Japan, Ducati 326
2  Ben Spies, America, Yamaha 319
3  Michel Fabrizio, Italy, Ducati 273
4  Jonathan Rea, UK, Honda 206
5  Max Biaggi, Italy, Aprilia 200
6  Leon Haslam, UK, Honda 180
7  Tom Sykes, UK, Yamaha 150
8  Carlos Checa, Spain, Honda 145
9  Shane Byrne, UK, Ducati 134
10 Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic, Ducati 132
16  Troy Corser, Australia, BMW 53
18  Broc Parkes, Australia, Suzuki 31

Current supersport standings (after round 10 of 13)
1 Cal Crutchlow, UK, Yamaha 185
2  Eugene Laverty, Ireland, Honda 168
3  Kenan Sofuoglu, Turkey, Honda 128
4  Joan Lascorz, Spain, Kawasaki 122
5 Anthony West, Australia, Honda 95
6 Fabien Foret, France, Yamaha 88
7  Andrew Pitt, Australia, Honda 85
8 Garry McCoy, Australia, Triumph 63
9  Mark Aitchison, Australia, Honda 61
10 Katsuaki Fujiwara, Japan, Kawasaki 52