From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

LACONI (DUCATI FILA) UPS THE PACE ON DAY 2 OF VALENCIA TESTING

Valencia (Spain), 12 February 2004: Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila) again heads the field as official World Superbike pre-season testing continued in Valencia. The Frenchman, who has been quickest so far in two of the three days of testing, took half-a-second off his best time to end the day with 1:36.01. Ducati Fila team-mate James Toseland was not far behind Laconi, the British rider shaving a further two-tenths of a second off his personal best to record 1:36.63, but he was again edged into third place, this time by Steve Martin (DFX Ducati).

After reaching a satisfactory setting in the morning, Laconi (62 laps today) concentrated on his race simulation in the afternoon but this was interrupted when he went wide. “We did a good job today” declared Regis. “All the laps I recorded during my long-run were in the low thirty-sixes, so I am much happier with my performance now. I’m happy with the feeling I have reached with the 999 and I know we’re going in the right direction. We mustn’t forget the other guys who are close behind, but for the moment I’m pleased with the way the tests are going.”

Toseland (70 laps today), who completed his ‘long-run’ in the morning and then concentrated on general set-up work in the afternoon, was convinced there was more to come once he gets the balance of his 999 right. “I’m pretty happy with the way things have gone so far, but I just need that little bit extra feeling before I can say I’m 100% comfortable with the bike” declared James. “I’m sure there’s more to come at Valencia and I’m just trying to figure out how to get the balance right with the new front forks. This track is really frustrating because the harder you try to go quicker, the slower you go, so you mustn’t be in a hurry to improve.”

TIMES: 1. Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila) 1:36.01; 2. Steve Martin (DFX Ducati) 1:36.28; 3. James Toseland (Ducati Fila) 1:36.63; 4. Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati) 1:36.67; 5. Troy Corser (Petronas) 1:36.76; 6. Leon Haslam (Renegade Ducati) 1:36.88; 7. Chris Vermeulen (Honda) 1:37.20; 8. Mauro Sanchini (Kawasaki) 1:37.28; etc.

LANZI AND GUARESCHI MAKE PROGRESS FOR DUCATI BREIL

Lorenzo Lanzi improved his time by more than half-a-second on the second day of World Supersport testing at the Valencia circuit. Despite a crash in the morning, the 22-year-old Italian finished the day with twelfth quickest time of 1:39.31 in his 43 laps.

The Ducati Breil team were able to note that the direction taken yesterday was the right one and that Lanzi was able to improve his times relatively easily. The brand-new Ducati 749R is a bike that will be making its Supersport debut this year against tough opposition in one of the most hotly-contested championships in world racing.

Ducati Corse tester Vittoriano Guareschi is also contributing to the 749R’s development curve at Valencia, the Italian putting in 36 laps, with a best time of 1:40.47, three-tenths quicker than yesterday. ‘Vitto’ was able to test various suspension settings throughout the day as he tried to gauge the reactions of the 749R to the Valencia circuit.