Doha • For Troy Corser, it is a fresh start in the new season. The Australian has switched from Suzuki to Yamaha this year in the World Superbike Championship. A new bike and a new team have thrown up a fresh challenge for Corser and he is ready for it.
“I am really looking forward to the new season starting here in Doha. I have a new bike (Yamaha YZF R1) and last month I did a bit of testing here (Losail Circuit). It worked really well. Though it took a while to adjust to Yamaha, I feel comfortable now,” the 35-year-old told The Peninsula yesterday at the Losail Circuit.
Corser ended the last season fourth in the Superbike World Championship with 254 points. The 1996 and 2005 World Superbike Champion feels that the new bike’s engine is ‘strong’ and he is expecting good results this year.
“The new bike’s engine is really strong. I am expecting good results this year,” Corser added.
Talking about the season opener here at the Losail Circuit, he said: “The Losail Circuit is good. However, with wind it gets a bit dusty. But once bikes get on the track, it becomes easy and you can enjoy the circuit.”
Reigning World Champion and compatriot Troy Bayliss of Team Ducati Xerox is one strong contender, who could pose a threat to Corser in Doha and some other five or six top riders.
“It is difficult to say who the real contenders are. But surely (Troy) Bayliss is strong and some other five or six riders, who are also very competitive. And then, there are rookie riders from Yamaha, Ducati and Honda. We haven’t tested together and most of the riders have had private testing. So it is tough to assess. There are different people with different machines,” he explained.
Corser feels with major events, like the one being staged in Doha, helps in making the sport grow in the region.
He said he has noticed a difference in the last few years.
“For sure, events like this have helped the sport to grow in Qatar. It was good to see some 20 to 25 bikes racing in the Qatar National Championship. This is a good sign. A few years ago, maybe there were only five or six riders,” he said.
After Doha, the Superbike Championship caravan moves to Phillip Island, Australia (March 4), one of Corser’s favourite tracks.
He has been on pole at Phillip Island and Valencia on four occasions. This is a championship-equaling record for a single track. Corser has also got 13 podium finishes from 18 starts in Misano.
He is two away from the record held by Carl Fogarty, who has 15.
His seven second-place finishes in Misano is a record in the history of World Superbike Championship.
