Phillip Island WSB gossip

41 riders fined for speeding
A total of 41 riders were fined for breaking the 60kph pit lane speed limit during the Phillip Island meeting.

Pit lane speed is usually controlled by a marshal sitting at the end of pit lane with a radar gun to record speeds but a new ‘no tolerance’ ruling was in place this year.

The new system saw the length of the pit lane split into five sections with times and speed calculated in each part.

All the fines were for speeding in the final section as riders released their pit lane limiter and accelerated on to the track. The fine for pit lane speeding is $200 (£140) netting the FIM (Sports Goverming Body) $8200.

Laconi pleased with weekend
Regis Laconi marked a dramatic return to form in Australia onboard the DFX Corse Ducati to claim seventh and fourth.

The Frenchman who has had three years in the wilderness riding the PSG-1 Kawasaki said: “This is an unbelievable result. Riding this bike is so easy. I know it is only a customer bike but it is fast like the factory machines. 

“I am so happy, I feel fit and strong and for me it would be no problem to have another race now and two more races tomorrow.”

Xerox get top-spec Ohlins
Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio got an updated specification Ohlins front fork at Phillip Island. In 2008 the team used a lower customer spec front fork, but Haga wanted the higher ‘R’ spec fork he used during his career at Yamaha.

An Ohlins technician said: “It’s different technology and it provides the damping in a different way. The cost is higher but both riders are really happy with them.”

Qualifying session was closest in history
The opening WSB qualifying session of 2009 lived up to all expectations by becoming the closest ever in WSB history. After the hour long session the top 20 riders were separated by just one second.

Previously the closest qualifying session saw 19 riders within one second where Carl Fogarty topped the timesheets at Sugo, Japan in 1999.

Anthony West has leathers stolen
Stiggy Honda rider Anthony West had a set of his M-Tech race leathers stolen from out side of his pit box after the Saturday qualifying session.

The former Kawasaki MotoGP rider made a seriously impressive debut in the opening race after a tough winter testing schedule. The Australian finished on the podium for his home race in third.

Muggeridge races after four months out
Karl Muggeridge had a tough opening round of the WSB series having not ridden a bike for four months and being with a completely new bike and team.

The Australian got his first ever ride on the Alstare prepared Celani Suzuki as he rolled out of pit lane for Friday free practice. He failed to finish race one but claimed 21st in race two after qualifying 25th fastest.

Foret rides with dislocated shoulder
Frenchman Fabien Foret rode through the pain barrier to secure seventh in the World Supersport race.

The Yamaha Supersport rider dislocated his shoulder during the opening minutes of final qualifying, but still started the race from the second row of the grid after an impressive opening qualifying session.

Haga turns 34
Xerox Ducati man Noriyuki Haga had a week to remember. Not only did he win race one to lead the World Superbike standings, he celebrated his 34th birthday on Monday.