Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

MotoGP Practice Session #1
Friday, October 15
Phillip Island, Australia
Conditions: Wet
1. Sete Gibernau, Honda, 1:34.676
2. Carlos Checa, Yamaha, 1:34.900
3. Marco Melandri, Yamaha, 1:35.322
4. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 1:35.418
5. Alex Barros, Honda, 1:35.434
6. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, 1:35.494
7. Alex Hofmann, Kawasaki, 1:35.851
8. Troy Bayliss, Ducati, 1:36.210
9. Colin Edwards, Honda, 1:36.249
10. Makoto Tamada, Honda, 1:36.276
11. Shinya Nakano, Kawasaki, 1:36.329
12. Loris Capirossi, Ducati, 1:36.828
13. John Hopkins, Suzuki, 1:37.272
14. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, 1:37.482
15. Garry McCoy, Aprilia, 1:37.887
16. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, 1:38.075
17. Max Biaggi, Honda, 1:38.783
18. Norick Abe, Yamaha, 1:38.874
19. James Ellison, Harris WCM, 1:38.994
20. Nobuatsu Aoki, Proton KR, 1:39.005
21. James Haydon, Proton KR, 1:39.570
22. Jeremy McWilliams, Aprilia, 1:40.000
23. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki, 1:41.185
24. Youichi Ui, Harris WCM, 1:41.383



More, from a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

GOOD SEASIDE MEMORIES FOR PROTON TEAM KR

Proton Team KR approach Phillip Island on an upward trend. Over a gruelling end-of-season routine – four flyaway GPs in four far-flung countries – the V5 machines have shown a new level of maturity that bodes well for future development.

The Mk2 version of the England-made and Malaysian backed motorcycle has shown impressive reliability during the season’s second half, and has finished in the points at four out of the last five races. All these races were gruelling in their own ways – the punishingly hot Qatar GP, for instance, saw seven machines retire with sundry mechanical problems. The Protons didn’t skip a beat all weekend.

The machine is fighting only for the lower points-scoring positions. “We’re still short of our target horsepower and top speed, and we’re also still looking for the right combination of tyre to give us more mid-corner speed,” said the team’s principal, legendary triple champion Kenny Roberts.

“But the machines are running good out in the field, and at the same time, we’re also working hard back in England on developments for the future,” he continued.

Team regular Nobuatsu Aoki will be joined for a third race by British Superbike rider James Haydon, taking the place of the recuperating Kurtis Roberts. Both riders love the sweeping seaside circuit, where fast corners give them a chance to make up for a lack of top speed.

Aoki had a tough race last year, suffering neck injuries when he crashed avoiding another rider in practice, and finishing the race physically exhausted. It’s still a favourite track, and observers recall with awe his extraordinary angles of lean as he rode his lightweight two-stroke Proton KR to seventh among the faster four-strokes in 2002.

Haydon knows the circuit as a 500 GP racer and a Superbike rider. For his third race on the V5 MotoGP machine, he can add accumulated experience on “the fastest bike I have ever ridden” to his chances in the quest to repeat his points-scoring debut at Qatar three weekends ago.

Haydon’s open-minded approach and machine development experience, in addition to that of Aoki’s have added fresh impetus to the team’s morale; while two races have given him the chance to get the machine settings tailored to his personal preferences.

Phillip Island has been a friendly circuit to Proton Team KR over the past two years.

In 2002, the lightweight two-stroke Proton KR triple was fighting a rearguard action against the much more powerful new four-stroke MotoGP machines. McWilliams qualified on pole position, with Aoki also on the front row, finishing tenth and seventh respectively on the outpaced but nimble lightweights.

Last year, riding the new V5 four-stroke, McWilliams qualified tenth and finished 11th. This was the Mk1 machine’s best race, after just half-a-season of shake-down runs that took place out on the GP racetracks.

The Australian GP is the 15th of 16 World Championship rounds, and the last of four flyaway GPs in five weekends: Japan, followed in short order by Qatar, Malaysia and Australia. The last round is at Valencia in Spain on October 31.

NOBUATSU AOKI – PUSH HARD AGAIN
For our team, we have good memories at Phillip Island. I like riding the track. It’s quite unique. Until now, our project has been moving slowly forward. I hope we can show some better results in Australia, as a reward for all the hard work of everybody. I’ll push hard again.

JAMES HAYDON – AT LEAST I KNOW THE WAY ROUND
I’ve been to Australia before so I know the way round, which makes a change from the last two tracks. But over two weekends on the trot, thanks to the good work of the guys in my team, we’ve made a big improvement feel-wise. When I arrived in Malaysia, the front end and I weren’t talking the same language, but by the end of the weekend I felt able to race the bike, rather than just ride it round. I’m looking forward to this one.



125cc Grand Prix Practice Session #1
Friday, October 15
Phillip Island, Australia
Conditions: Wet
1. Casey Stoner, KTM, 1:48.498
2. Gabor Talmacsi, Malaguti, 1:51.298
3. Jorge Lorenzo, Derbi, 1:51.304
4. Lorenzo Zanetti, Aprilia, 1:52.047
5. Roberto Locatelli, Aprilia, 1:53.479
6. Andrea Dovizioso, Honda, 1:53.543
7. Simone Corsi, Honda, 1:53.620
8. Sergio Gadea, Aprilia, 1:53.670
9. Mika Kallio, KTM, 1:53.834
10. Mattia Pasini, Aprilia, 1:53.845



250cc Grand Prix Practice Session #1
Friday, October 15
Phillip Island, Australia
Conditions: Dry
1. Sebastian Porto, Aprilia, 1:34.228
2. Alex De Angelis, Aprilia, 1:34.570
3. Fonsi Nieto, Aprilia, 1:34.928
4. Manuel Poggiali, Aprilia, 1:34.985
5. Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, 1:35.574
6. Franco Battaini, Aprilia, 1:35.644
7. Randy De Puniet, Aprilia, 1:36.283
8. Hiroshi Aoyama, Honda, 1:36.777
9. Johan Stigefelt, Aprilia, 1:36.939
10. Anthony West, Aprilia, 1:37.074