Yamaha World Superbike Preview

Round 1: Losail, Qatar
Track length: 5400m
Opened: 2004
Fastest superbike lap: 1:58.402 (Troy Corser, Yamaha)
Lap record: 2:00.061 (Noriyuki Haga, Yamaha)
Last year's winners: Max Biaggi (Suzuki) and James Toseland (Honda)

After visiting the Losail International Circuit twice during pre-season tests, Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser (both Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) appear to be all set for the 2008 World Superbike season. Both riders have shown their speed on the 2008 spec YZF-R1, being top runners in all three pre-season tests at Qatar and Phillip Island. Having worked through various new and updated components and making sure all parts have been properly checked, the team is confident and ready to race.

As track conditions at the Losail track are not optimal at present - and heavy winds are predicted for the first days of the upcoming race weekend - the team is in the fortunate situation of having gathered lots of data from the previous outings.

Shinichi Nakatomi (Team YZF Yamaha) was also out testing recently in Qatar in preparation for the start of the year, running his 2008 spec Yamaha YZF-R1 machine in his one-man team.

Troy Corser: "During the winter tests we tried a few new parts, with the variable intake settings for example, and we found a lot of positive results over the past tests. We have put in enough laps in order to be confident. Hopefully the track will clean up a bit as the grip conditions can be quite treacherous out here, especially if the wind is blowing this hard. Whatever conditions we are facing, I am eager to get started, that's for sure."

Parkes & Foret set for season opener Broc Parkes and Fabien Foret (both Yamaha World Supersport Team) declared themselves ready to take the 2008-specification Yamaha YZF-R6 into competitive action this weekend after their final pre-season test was completed last week in Qatar.

Although the ever-changing Losail track is looking set to be a handful in the next few days, in terms of a lack of grip from the asphalt, the time spent on this same venue during the winter tests could prove to be a real advantage come raceday, Saturday 23 February.

Broc Parkes: "We are lucky to have tested here recently and that we were able to find a good base set-up. Overall I am very happy with the new YZF-R6. The aerodynamics work better for me as I am now more tucked into the bike compared to the previous one and for sure the YCC-I system make a big difference. If weather conditions remain the same, I will try to keep my head down tomorrow and not put anything on the line."

Source: Yamaha-racing.com