The World Superbike Championship’s next stop this coming weekend is the historic circuit of Monza in Italy for the sixth round in the 2007 series. The championship first came to the circuit in 1990 and this year will be its 14th visit.
The Monza circuit is located northeast of Milan and was built in 1922 by 3,500 workers with funding from the Milan Automobile Club. Monza is the fastest track to appear on the World Superbike calendar with riders often reaching speeds of over 300kph on the start/finish straight. As well as hosting the WSB Championship, the circuit features on the Formula 1 calendar.
The circuit actually consists of three tracks - GP, Junior and the Speed track which includes the oval banking for which the circuit is famous - though WSB uses the GP circuit. The track has been modified many times over the years to increase safety and provide better facilities for race teams and spectators. The last modification was in 2000 when amendments were made to the two chicanes to improve safety. Grandstand seating was also increased in 1997 to 51,000.
Monza is the home circuit for the Yamaha Motor Italia Team, who will be hoping for better luck than at Assen. In a weekend of mixed fortune at the last round Haga took second in race one but failed to finish race two. Corser had an equally turbulent time crashing out of third on the penultimate lap when fluid was sprayed on the rear tyre. Despite pain from the injuries he received in the accident Corser went on to finish fourth in race two and take away some much needed points.
Haga finished third and fourth last year at Monza. Though he is yet to win there Haga goes to Monza determined to provide the team with a win following his second place at Assen.
“Even though Monza is the team’s home circuit it is not my favourite track because it has a long start/finish straight but not many corners. This makes it more of a machine’s track than a rider’s track, ” says Haga of the circuit. “After the disappointment of Assen though, the show must go on. I need to win at Monza to keep my championship fight alive and to erase the bad memories of the last round. I am always looking to win and nowhere more so than at Monza. “
Monza was a good round for Corser in 2006 with second and third position finishes in addition to taking pole position and setting a new Superpole record. He also won there in 2005. For 2007 Corser goes to Monza with the opportunity to take his 40th pole of his Superbike career.
“I’ve been checked out by a sports therapist and nothing’s broken from the crash in Assen, there’s just a lot of deep bruising. I’ve had worse in a lot of other crashes so I’ll be fine for Monza, ” he says of his injuries. “Monza should be a good race. The circuit is all about speed and the bike has enough of it so I’m confident of what we can achieve there. I’ve got a good history at that place. As for my 40th pole, well I’d love to get it at Monza for the team but my focus is more on getting on the front row. Pole would be an added bonus. The race is the most important thing. “
| 
|