Alstare Suzuki ready for Monza

From Team Alstare Suzuki

Team Alstare Suzuki heads to Monza this weekend battered and bruised but eager to attack the podium at the famous Italian circuit in round 5 of the Superbike World Championship.

Fonsi Nieto injured his knee in the last round and was unable to train until Monday but is keen to put away his Assen disappointment and get back on the podium again.

"Our bike has got good top speed and I hope to be able to use this advantage to good effect in the races," the Spaniard said. "But first, I have to qualify well. This has been a bit of a problem and meant that I’ve had to work extra hard in the opening laps, so I’m hoping to do better in qualifying and Superpole this weekend."

Although Max Neukirchner did not fall in Assen, his superb podium in race one masked his ongoing recovery from the broken collarbone sustained in the previous round in Valencia.

"My body was destroyed after the second race in Assen, but now I have had time to recover and I am looking forward to Monza," Neukirchner said. "I think the track should suit our bike and I am looking for at least one podium. Slipstreaming is crucial at Monza and it’s easy to get caught out at the end of the race. It’s possible to be fifth going into the Ascari chicane and still win the race, so tactics are very important and you have to have a good plan if you want the podium."

Yukio Kagayama was the only one of the three not troubled by injury as the team left the Netherlands and the Japanese rider is really looking forward to Monza and its high-speed turns.