Valencia (Spain), Sunday 5th April 2009: a very strong start for the Ducati Xerox Junior Team thanks to the second place finish scored today by young Belgian rider Xavier Simeon. Team-mate Daniele Beretta also gave a promising performance to finish a hard-fought race in sixth place.

Xavier Simeon has opened the 2009 championship with a significant result. Despite a difficult start he was able to remain with the frontrunners and catch up quickly, reaching second place by mid-race, just behind Corti. Unfortunately the tyre-wear that Simeon suffered as a result of making up the lost places meant that he had to play it safe and not risk making any errors. Realising therefore that it was impossible to catch the leader, Simeon closed in second, taking twenty important championship points in the process.

XAVIER SIMEON – “I didn’t make a great start and to not lose ground against the frontrunners I had to really push during the first laps. By mid-race I was up with Corti but I could begin to feel that the rear tyre was causing me to slide. To fight for the win I would have had to take big risks and seeing as it is only the first race of a long season I decided to settle for second and take my first important points. I would like to thank my technical guys who have worked hard all weekend; I hope I have repaid them and I promise to do my best at Assen!”

A great demonstration of character from Daniele Beretta who, after suffering difficulties in the practice sessions, made up for lost time by completing a very fast and hard-fought race. Determined from the start, the young Italian rider battled against both Magnoni and Jezek and beat both to take a sixth place finish.

DANIELE BERETTA – “In the warm-up we made some final changes to the set-up of my 1198. The bike was fantastic and I was able, after a good start, to stay with the leaders. I had to concentrate hard to win the fight against Magnoni and Jezek.. I’m sorry I couldn’t take Burrell too, but to finish sixth in my first race is a good result I think. I am very happy and I thank the whole team.”

Race results:

1.C.Corti (Suzuki) in 21m18.839s in an average of 146,566 km/h;
2.Xavier Simeon (Ducati 1198 Ducati Xerox Junior Team) 4.939s;
3.M.Berger (Honda) 7.339s;
4.J.Fores (Kawasaki) 11.388s;
5.B.Burrell (Honda) a 15.167s;
6.Daniele Beretta (Ducati 1198 Ducati Xerox Junior Team) a 16.927s…

Classification:

1.C.Corti 25 points;
2.Xavier Simeon 20;
3.M.Berger 16;
4.J.Fores 13; 5.B.Burrell 11;
6.Daniele Beretta 10…