03/02/03 Best ever weekend for Steve Martin and Pirelli !
By Pirelli Press Release (translation)
The Ducati 999 scored a double win in the opening round of the season, with the factory Ducati riders and the various privateers on the ‘client’ 998 bikes not encountering much in the way of opposition at the Valencia circuit. Neil Hodgson dominated race 1 and 2, and was rarely troubled by team-mate Ruben Xaus. Steve Martin had a superb day on the DFX Ducati 998 on Pirelli tires (Dragon slick 16.5"), finishing an excellent fifth place in race 2, one place higher than his morning race result. His team-mate, Spain’s Juan Borja, finished eighth in race 2, after overshooting his braking point in race 1. The other DFX rider Mauro Borciani finished ninth and tenth in the two races.
More details on Steve Martin's performance…
Australian Superbike racer Steve Martin showed the world he’s one of the top WSB riders in the series after scoring his best ever WSB grid position and equalling his best WSB race finish. In a great weekend of racing in very difficult conditions at the Ricardo Tormo circuit near Valencia, Spain, Martin took his DFX Racing Ducati to a best ever Superpole result and a fifth and sixth in the races. In both races Martin had to battle hard with other riders to earn his championship points. In race one a titanic battle was going on between Pirelli-shod Steve Martin and Dunlop rider Regis Laconi. The two Ducatis exchanged sponsor stickers for a few laps before Laconi finally got the advantage in the closing stages, leaving Martin forced to settle for sixth.
"Conditions were so different here this weekend compared to when we tested here just a week ago," explained Steve, "this meant many riders struggled to get their tire choice right and that included me. By the end of race one I’d used up my front tire and had to back off and let Laconi go and settle for sixth." It was a shame to have to let the Frenchman go because Steve had recorded a faster lap time than Laconi during the race. In race two the battle for fifth was a three-man affair. This time Steve Martin won an aggressive race-long duel with Gregorio Lavilla and Troy Corser to take a well-deserved fifth.
Pirelli's Borciani in action at the opening round of the World Superbike Championship.
For more information visit the website
[ http://www.pirellimoto.com ]
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