Having picked up his maiden World Superbike Championship win in the season opener at Losail last weekend,
Fonsi Nieto says he is looking to keep the momentum going as he heads to Phillip Island for the second of back-to-back events that start the 2008 campaign.
After a solid seventh place in the first race of the weekend in Qatar, Nieto emerged as a somewhat surprising winner of race two after managing to break away from Sterilgarda Ducati pairing
Ruben Xaus and Max Biaggi in the closing stages – securing his first WSBK victory in the process.
That win has boosted confidence going into the second meeting at the picturesque Australian venue and Nieto said he was aiming to keep the momentum running as he chases further success.
"Last week was a fantastic weekend and it was so good to take my first SBK win," he said. "Now it's time to think about this weekend and try and keep up the momentum. I like Phillip Island; it is a real circuit for racers and it's also a very demanding track. To put in a good lap here you have to be perfect on every part of the track. But when you do that, it is a wonderful feeling."
Team Max Neukirchner also enjoyed a solid start to the season in Qatar, running in the lead for much of the opening race and securing a double top ten finish despite feeling under the weather.
Now feeling better after a few days break, the young German will aim to secure the podium finish he felt he could have secured at Losail on a circuit he admits is one of his favourites.
"Since last weekend my condition has improved a lot and I'm feeling much better," he said. "The ‘flu, or whatever I had in Qatar, made me lose concentration in the latter part of the race. Otherwise maybe I could've taken a podium. But I'm OK now and looking forward to racing at one of my favourite tracks."
