World Supersport
When the 2011 World Supersport lineup was released, the last-minute surprise was that the BE1 ParkinGO Team of Chaz Davies and Luca Scassa will be switching from Triumph Daytona 675 motorcycles to a pair of Yamaha YZF-R6 machines.
With Yamaha, Cal Crutchlow took the 2009 World Supersport Championship before the Brit moved to World Superbike. And for 2011, Yamaha returns to World Supersport with six riders, including Scassa, former Italian CIV Superbike Champion.
WorldSBK.com spoke to the Italian rider about the coming season.
Q. Luca, you were going to compete in the world championship with a Triumph, what brought about this change?
Luca Scassa says: "In 2010 I had a good season in Superbike and I agreed to race in Supersport because I was attracted by the offer from Giuliano Rovelli’s team. I love difficult challenges and taking the glorious British brand Triumph to a win would have been fantastic. I had already tested the Daytona 675 at Aragon and I managed to set some good lap times."
Q. But now you’re on a Yamaha…
Luca Scassa says: "There were a few problems between Triumph and my team and just before Christmas we found ourselves without any bikes. Giuliano Rovelli knocked on Yamaha’s door and managed to obtain the 2009 factory machines. Now we are more combative than before."
Q. What is the feeling like with the R6?
Luca Scassa says: "It’s a very small bike and I’m pretty tall, I needed a whole day’s testing at Portimao to modify the footpegs so I could be comfortable with it. And it was the only dry day. My impression is that the Yamaha is a quick bike and very powerful. For sure more than the Triumph, but I’d already found an optimal set-up with that. With the R6 we’re still in the early stages."
Q. What are your aims?
Luca Scassa says: "I only did one day in the dry so I’ll be making my debut in the world championship with three days of testing behind me, that is if we get good weather in the two testing days at Phillip Island. But I’m not beating about the bush: I’ve got a great team, a great bike and great ambitions."
