The Ducati Xerox Team looks forward to the first of three "home" races on the 2008 Superbike calendar, to take place this weekend at the Monza park circuit. A special track for both the Ducati Xerox riders, the weekend is sure to be as thrilling as ever, with Troy Bayliss and Michel Fabrizio both hopeful of being able to rely on the fantastic support that the Italian fans and Ducatisti always provide.

Bayliss cites Monza as one of his preferred tracks and his results here over the past years, which include six wins, speak for themselves. After his double win at Assen a fortnight ago, Troy hopes for another successful weekend here. Troy has an impeccable record at the Monza track, taking the double win in 2001, 2002 and 2006 and two podium place finishes last season too.

Team-mate Fabrizio underwent surgery ten days ago to resolve a painful case of forearm flexor muscle compartment syndrome, otherwise known as arm-pump, and has therefore spent the last days receiving further therapy in order to be fit to race at the Milanese track this weekend. In front of a home crowd, Michel hopes for two strong finishes, despite recent medical problems having affected his riding.

Closing in on Fogerty
Troy Bayliss needs only one more Superpole win to join Fogarty on a total of 21 career starts from the premier grid slot. Should Bayliss manage it, it would be the first of two Foggy-matching missions Bayliss can complete in 2008.

After an Assen double race win, however, Bayliss now has 20 more chances to score the 14 further race wins that would put him on a new all-time record total of 60, before he hangs up his titanium-capped boots for good at the end of the year.

Bayliss has been adamant that he will finish in SBK at the end of 2008, but after winning five of the first eight races this year already, the challenge of matching or passing Foggy's total of 59 before he does so has now gone from seemingly impossible to merely unlikely. However, should Bayliss beat Doug Polen's season long win total of 17 by only one he will equal Fogarty's overall record of 59 career wins.

All this seems unlikely given that many riders who should have won a race already in '08 have narrowly missed out, robbing Bayliss of chances each time. On the other hand, Bayliss has been explosively competitive so far and, as we know, the impossible happens with near regularity in World Superbike.

Troy Bayliss
Monza is one of my favourite circuits. This weekend I will take it as it comes really. I'm quietly confident about the races and although the 4-cylinders are undoubtedly going to go well, I don't think we'll be at a big disadvantage regarding speed. Monza is a very special track for me and the fans are amazing here too and always want to see me do well so I'd love to come away with another couple of great results.

Michel Fabrizio
My arm is feeling much better, I have no problems regarding movement and I can straighten my hand out completely, something I was unable to do before the surgery. It all went as planned and now I'm concentrating on training and getting further physiotherapy so as to be fit and ready to race. It'll will be great to be at Monza, riding in front of the Italian fans, my "home" crowd, as part of the Ducati Xerox Team.