Haga, Corser go electronic at Donington.

Yamaha Motor Italia riders Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser will have the option of running full electronic suspension for the first time at this weekend's Donington Park round of the World Superbike Championship.

The new Ohlins units use electronic damping control and performed admirably during July's Vallelunga test.

Haga, Corser, Germany WSBK Race 2 2008
Haga, Corser, Germany WSBK Race 2 2008
© Gold and Goose

Yamaha Motor Italia riders Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser will have the option of running full electronic suspension for the first time at this weekend's Donington Park round of the World Superbike Championship.

The new Ohlins units use electronic damping control and performed admirably during July's Vallelunga test.

"We will have one important technical advance to try at Donington, because we will have ?hlins electronic suspension to use for the first time in a race scenario," confirmed team manager Massimo Meregalli. "The feeling we had with the suspension in Vallelunga during a summer test was very good, so we asked ?hlins for the possibility to get two sets for the last few races of this season.

"They have gone ahead and made it happen. In the end they have completed a great job to make us not only two sets but also some spares, so we can use them right through from Donington to the end of the season. We are expecting that we can do better with this suspension than the conventional set-up.

"They should assist Troy in particular, as he used this system at Vallelunga and he was very happy with it. It should be good at some braking points at Donington, where we should really find an improvement with this type of system. We will run one bike for each rider on normal suspension and one with the new electronic system," he added.

Corser will start the weekend just 10 points behind second place Max Neukirchner, and has his heart set on an overdue first R1 win.

"I'm looking forward to Donington because our results there last year were quite good, and it's a track that I like. I had my first European wildcard ride there back in 1994 and I got two podiums there last year. Right now I am looking to Donington to get my first win for Yamaha, that's my aim this weekend," declared Corser, who took a double Donington podium in 2007. "We will be using ?hlins electronic suspension and I think it will be most useful for bump absorption."

Despite winning four races so far this season, Haga sits 12 points behind the ultra-consistent Corser - but still has a realistic chance of defending his championship runner-up position from 2007, with title leader Troy Bayliss now all but unstoppable.

"I'm relaxed and my battery is fully charged, so I'm looking forward to racing at Donington Park," said Nori. "I always like to race at British circuits, like Brands Hatch, Silverstone and Donington and I always seem to have very supportive fans. I also usually have good results in British races.

"Last year at Donington race one was very strange because after the first few laps I did not seem to have any grip, and by the time I did I could only finish fourth. Race two was special because it was my first win of 2007 as the race was held in April last year. I had a very exciting battle with Max Biaggi and I have a good memory of the last corner of the final lap.

"This year I will try to get maximum points from each Donington race," he concluded.

Yamaha Italia will run a special livery on race day at Donington Park.

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