Baz fitting in well to SBK grid

Teenage racer Loris Baz has made a confident jump across classes in the eni FIM Superbike World Championship paddock this season, as he joined the official Kawasaki Racing Team after the serious injuries suffered by team regular Joan Lascorz.

Starting the season in the Team MRS Kawasaki Superstock 1000 FIM Cup squad, Baz was promoted to the full Superbike machine at Donington, and then again at Miller. The Misano round was the first in which he was a confirmed rider for the team and he made a good job in qualifying, despite being slightly concerned about the stop-go nature of the circuit layout. He need not have worried, as he qualified for Superpole for the first time and then went on to line up 11th on the grid.

A small problem with big consequences for his chances in race one at Misano saw Loris finally forced to retire, when looking good for a strong points score. Said Loris, "I had a problem in race one, with the electronics in the gear shifter, after five laps. I tried to ride without it for ten laps but it became a bit risky, so I came in. I knew I had a good race pace so I think in race one I could have finished between tenth and 12th, something like that."

In race two he battled hard after a less than perfect start and finished an impressive eighth, equalling his best result from the Donington round, and finishing just behind fellow KRT rider Tom Sykes. "I tried to start a bit better, which I did not do!," said Loris. "Then I tried to go faster in the first few laps and then our race pace was really good, so I could come back to Laverty, Tom Sykes and some other riders. I was comfortable where I was so I did not want to make a stupid mistake trying to overtake Tom. For me eighth is really good. I would have like to try and pass Tom but I did not want to take any risks."

A curiosity: 19 year-old Baz is now 19th in the championship, on 19 points, one place or one point for each birthday.