Alstare Suzuki pair
Fonsi Nieto and Max Neurkirchner will have their sights focused firmly on the podium as the World Superbike Championship heads to Monza, with both riders looking to bounce back from recent injuries at the Italian circuit.
Nieto, who secured his maiden WSBK win in the opening meeting of the year at Qatar back in February, picked up a knee injury in the last round in Assen after a fall in the opening race with prevented him from training until the start of the week but will now aim to get his challenge back on track at the high-speed Italian venue.
"Last year at Monza, I was on a different bike, so the first thing I will have to do is learn the circuit on my GSX-R1000 Suzuki," he said. "It is a not a difficult circuit but it is a circuit where you have to have a good bike set-up and also know when to use slipstreaming.
"Our bike has got good top speed and I hope to be able to use this advantage to good effect in the races, but first I have to qualify well. This has been a bit of a problem and has meant that I've had to work extra hard in the opening laps, so I'm hoping to do better in qualifying and Superpole this weekend."
Team-mate Neukirchner secured a fine podium finish at Assen despite continuing his recovery from a broken collarbone sustained in Valencia after he was hit by
Carlos Checa at the final corner in race one.
Having fought through the pain barrier in the Netherlands, the German is now fighting fit going into the weekend and admitted tactics would be key in his quest for victory.
"My body was destroyed after the second race in Assen, but now I have had time to recover and I am looking forward to Monza," he said. "I think the track should suit our bike and I am looking for at least one podium.
"Slipstreaming is crucial at Monza and it's easy to get caught out at the end of the race. It's possible to be fifth going into the Ascari chicane and still win the race, so tactics are very important and you have to have a good plan if you want the podium."
