Team Suzuki Alstare rider Yukio Kagayama will be back in action at this weekend’s eight-round World Superbike Championship race at Misano in Italy after breaking a bone in his left hand at the Nurburgring.
The Japanese rider lines up with Fonsi Nieto and Max Neukirchner aboard their GSX-R1000s at the 4.180 kilometre track which is situated only a short distance from the Adriatic coastline and has been a regular on the calendar since 1991.
Yukio Kagayama:
“I had the plaster taken off my hand last Friday and then had it X-rayed again to check that everything was OK. Then I started my physiotherapy and began to strengthen my hand. It was not as bad as I expected and I feel confident that it will be OK for Misano. I am looking forward to racing there because I like the track. I was on the podium last year and I want to do the same this year.”
Fonsi Nieto:
“The last round was not so good for me, so I have to do better in Misano. I prefer the old layout of Misano and think the circuit is not so good with this new direction. But it is the same for everybody and I will be doing my best to get a good set-up in practice and qualifying and make a good Superpole. When you start so far down the grid - like the last round - it is difficult to fight for the podium, so I hope to manage a good Superpole - at last!”
Max Neukirchner:
“I couldn’t get the win I wanted in front of my home fans last week so I will have to try and win in MIsano. For sure the factory Ducatis will be very strong there, so it would be very good to put one over them at their home track. Last year, I finished ninth and 10th in Misano but I know that I can do much better this year.”
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