From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
Phillip Island (Australia)
15 January

LACONI AND TOSELAND (DUCATI FILA) CONCLUDE SUPERBIKE TESTING IN AUSTRALIA

Regis Laconi completed Ducati Fila’s World Superbike pre-season test session at Phillip Island today on a positive note, the Frenchman knocking half a second off yesterday’s best to end with a time of 1:33.55, which he set during the better morning conditions. Britain’s James Toseland was still feeling the effects of yesterday’s spill and his best mark over the three days remained the time of 1:34.50 he posted on Wednesday.

Laconi, who exclusively used race tyres today, added more than 450 kms to the Ducati 999’s development curve, completing a massive total of 106 laps during the final day. The 28-year-old Frenchman said: “I am quite tired but very happy! Yesterday I said I could improve my time but I didn’t think I could get down to 1:33.5. Step by step we’re working well in the team to find the settings that are helping me to ride more easier and now that I’ve reached a good feeling with the 999, I’m a lot more confident. My long-run in the afternoon went well and I was almost one second a lap quicker than my race time here last year”.

Toseland, who completed 78 laps with a best time of 1:34.80, continued the tyre testing programme, which was cut short yesterday when he highsided in the morning, and the 23-year-old was able to make a good choice of front tyre. “Unfortunately I was suffering a bit from the effects of yesterday’s crash” said Toseland, “and as a result was unable to push as hard as I would have liked. For the moment the times are not important, it’s what I’ve done here that counts and I’m pretty pleased with the progress we’ve made”.


LANZI UPS THE PACE WITH THE 749R SUPERSPORT

Lorenzo Lanzi wrapped up three days’ testing work on the 2004-spec Ducati 749R he will campaign in this year’s World Supersport championship with a total of 78 laps today. The 22-year-old Italian shaved a further four-tenths off his time to end up with 1:37.08.

“I recorded some good times in the morning but then my 749R started to feel the effects of the wind in the afternoon and I was unable to repeat that performance” commented Lanzi. “The general set-up of the bike is good, we’re just searching for that little bit of extra grip at the back. Hopefully at Valencia, we’ll find it!”.

All three Ducati Corse riders will be back in action from February 11-13 at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, Valencia for the final pre-season test session organised by exclusive tyre supplier Pirelli and championship promoters FGSport.

Editorial Note: The quickest race lap during the 2003 World Superbike race at Phillip Island was a 1:33.813 by Ruben Xaus on a Michelin-equipped Ducati 999F03.