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Unseasonably cold and windy weather greeted the World Superbike contenders yesterday as their teams started setting up shop for this weekend's twelfth round of the championship at the Nurburgring. With points leader Ducati Xerox Noriyuki Haga's flight delayed it was left to some of the chasing riders to explain to the national media their hopes and expectations for this weekend. This will be the second year in succession that World Superbike has raced at the revised Nurburgring circuit, but the fourth time in its history following the first two events in 1998 and 1999.

For most of the riders the 5.137 km circuit is a familiar one, but not for Yamaha World Superbike's Ben Spies, who comes to the Nurburgring for the first time. "I went out and walked around the track this morning and it seemed really nice with a great combination of curves. I'm looking forward to working hard here, getting off the mark well tomorrow and getting some good results. With the championship the way it is at the moment, it's going to be interesting this weekend."

Like the other riders Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing) has had a month's break since his Brno win but is raring to go again this weekend. "The last race was one month ago and we had a good feeling at Brno with the win. Now we're back here, I know this track, I raced here last year but it wasn't my best result. But I'm confident, hopefully the weather will stay fine here and we can work out how to get a good result again this weekend."

Kawasaki World Superbike's Broc Parkes became a father during the August break but was adamant that this happy event would not slow him down this weekend. "People say you go slower when you have children, but I think I'm going to have to go faster now to pay for him! It's been up and down this year for us, but we raced in England in the BSB during the break and scored three seconds so I think we improved the bike a lot and hopefully it'll show this weekend."

While Karl Muggeridge (Suzuki Alstare BRUX)was just happy to be back on a competitive machine again after parting company with the Suzuki Celani team recently. "I started the season with one of Suzuki's customer bikes so I know the mechanicals well. It's nice to know a lot of the crew who I'm going to work with this weekend. I'll play it day by day, learn my way around with the bike and the team and give it my best shot."

About the Nurburgring

The new Nürburgring was built to meet the highest safety standards and was completed in 1984, close to the 22.8 km Nordschleife circuit, with which it has nothing in common except for the pits area. World Superbike came to the Nurburgring in 1998 and 1999, but the more recent German Rounds have since been held at Oschersleben and the Lausitzring. For 2002, the track underwent modifications, extending the length from 4500m to its current 5.137km.