SUZUKI ALSTARE LOOKING FOR PODIUMS AT SALT LAKE CITY

2010-05-26 12:31
Team Suzuki Alstare riders Leon Haslam and Sylvain Guintoli have their own reasons for wanting to do well in the seventh round of this year's Superbike World Championship at the Miller Motorsports Park, near Salt Lake City in America.

After his superb performance in the last round in Kyalami, Haslam is fired up and ready to claim another pair of podiums and make up for last year's result at the circuit when he finished 10th in race one and DNF'd in race two.

Guintoli didn't race at Miller last year, so once again he will have to learn a new circuit and try and get down to competitive business right from day one. It's a task that has caused a few problems for the Frenchman this season, but Miller is a more straightforward track than Kyalami and he is looking for a big improvement in qualifying and on race day. Like Kyalami in the last round, the similarly high altitude will affect the performance of all the bikes, so a good set-up will be crucial.

The race in Miller on May 31st will be unique because it will be the first time in WSBK history that a race takes place on a Monday. Monday is Memorial Day in America and commemorates the United States men and women who died in military service.

Leon Haslam:

"Kyalami was a tough one and I'm looking forward to Miller because it is an easier circuit to deal with. Having said that, the altitude will make our bikes feel slow and we need to get them dialled-in as soon as we can for the track and then push hard. Last year Miller was not such a good event for me, so I am really looking forward to showing what I and the Suzuki can do and hopefully get another couple of podiums. Max Biaggi is a threat and I want to make sure I either beat him or at least leave USA still in the championship lead. May is a busy month for us, with three races on three different continents, so it will be good to end it on top of the standings - with a good lead maybe? - and have a good break before the next round."

Sylvain Guintoli:

"Obviously I need to improve, especially in practice and qualifying and be in a better position on race day. I have never been to Miller before, so it will be another new track for me to learn. But it looks less difficult than Kyalami in the last round, so I think I will be able to get on with it much better on the first two days of practice and qualifying and then be on the first two rows of the grid on race day. As I said before, this Championship is so competitive that the smallest of errors in qualifying can make a big difference to your grid position come. Starting from way down the gird is never easy, but with so many good riders and good bikes it is almost impossible to get a good result if you begin from the third or fourth row. Hopefully, this time I will not be in that position!"


2009 Miller Motorsport Park results:

Race 1: 1 Spies (USA-Yamaha), 2 Checa (ESP-Honda)), 3 Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati). 10 Leon Haslam (GBR-Honda). Sylvain Guintoli DNS.

Race 2: 1 Spies, 2 Fabrizio, 3 Rea (GBR-Honda). Leon Haslam DNF. Sylvain Guintoli DNS.

Source: Team Suzuki Press Office

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