Subscribe to the Team Alstare Newsletter. About Us Year By Year Alstare in Figures ABOUT US Francis and Patricia Batta first discovered world championship motorcycle racing in 1982. They started by providing the hospitality for the Kevin Schwantz Lucky Strike Suzuki squad and loved the experience so much that they then went on to work with several other teams. After a brief foray in powerboat racing in the early 90s, Francis Batta’s career took a decisive turn when he became General Manager of the Superbike World Championship, one of the world’s most exciting and spectacular forms of motor sport. This adventure reinforced Francis and Patricia’s desire to create their own team and in 1992, their stunning brainchild, Alstare Racing, was born. Following a successful three-year collaboration with Ducati, Alstare decided to take its ambitions to a higher level by teaming up with Japanese manufacturer Suzuki. While Francis liaised with Japan and managed the racing side of things, Patricia kept busy organising the corporate image of the team. Team Alstare Suzuki’s headquarters are situated in Alleur near Liege, in Eastern Belgium - ideally located in the heart of Europe. Team Alstare’s main area of focus has been the Superbike World Championship, but it has been a regular competitor in the World Supersport, the European Superstock 1000 Championship and has also been the organiser of the GSX-R European Cup, a one-make championship aimed at discovering the champions of tomorrow. In a totally revamped former marmalade factory, where technical expertise meets sheer motivation to create pure excitement and world-class entertainment, Alstare builds and prepares race bikes with one sole objective in mind: victory. Having won 8 world titles since the team was created, it can be said that this philosophy has paid off. Even after all these years, Team Alstare still has an unquenchable thirst for victory. Within Team Alstare's crew, technical skills and professionalism perfectly match creativity and ambition. This explosive mix culminated in Troy Corser’s Superbike World Championship title at the end of the 2005 season. Although Francis Batta’s squad was unable to regain the world title the year after, its harvest of podiums and wins increased year by year. In 2007 Alstare brought 4 times Moto Gp 250 World Champion and Italian star Max Biaggi into WSBK. Max battled for the world title until the very last race of the year but, in the end, he failed by the narrowest of margins. At the end of the year he left the team, as did Alstare’s historic sponsor : Mexican beer Corona Extra. 2008 was not an easy crossroads for the Belgian squad, after a decade of association with Corona Extra, but throughout the year Alstare's strength and determination were shown by several outstanding performances by its riders Fonsi Nieto and German champion Max Neukirchner. In 2009, Team Alstare Suzuki started with an ideal combination of experience (Yukio Kagayama) and youth (Max Neukirchner), but the season was marred by a number of crashes by both riders, including a possible career-threatening one by Neukirchner. The young German was unable to complete the season and concerns about his long-term health prompted Francis to think about 2010 with a completely fresh mind. 2013 World Superbike Championship Carlos Checa (ES-Ducati Panigale R SBK), finished 15th Ayrton Badovini (I-Ducati Panigale R SBK), finished 12th, (1 podium) 2011 World Superbike Championship Michel Fabrizio (I-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 12th, (1 podium) 2010 World Superbike Championship Leon Haslam (GB-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 2nd, (14 podiums including 3 wins) Sylvain Guintoli (F-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 7th 2009 World Superbike Championship Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 12th, (1 podium) Sylvain Guintoli (F-Suzuki GSX-R 1000) finished 33rd (took part in 1 race only) Superstock 1000 European Championship Claudio Corti (I-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 2nd, (5 podiums, including 2 wins) 2008 World Superbike Championship Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki GSX-R 1000), finished 11th ALSTARE IN FIGURES Superbike titles - 1 Superbike victories - 25 Superbike podiums - 105 Supersport titles - 3 Supersport victories - 23 Supersport podiums - 64 Superstock 1000 titles - 2 Superstock 1000 victories - 13 Superstock 1000 podiums - 22 Superstock 600 titles - 1 Superstock 600 victories - 4 Superstock 600 podiums - 7 Total titles - 7 Total victories - 67 Total podiums - 200 Manufacturer's title (Superbike) -1 (2005) Manufacturer's title (Supersport) - 2 (1998 and 2002) Manufacturer's title (Superstock 600) - 1 (2006)