Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Record lap by Muggeridge in Final Supersport Session

Australian Karl Muggeridge took his third pole of the year and set a new World Supersport lap record of 1:49.592 at Imola, using his Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR to better Alstare Suzuki’s Stephane Chambon by nearly seven-tenths of a second.

Muggeridge’s teammate Chris Vermuelen will start third just ahead of Sebatien Charpentier and his Honda. Vermuelen needs to only finish eighth tomorrow to clinch the title if Suzuki’s Katsuaki Fujiwara, sixth on the grid, wins, while a mere 14th place will do it for the 21-year-old Australian if Chambon wins.

It was a grim day for Kawasaki’s reigning World Champion Fabien Foret and Pere Riba. Both bikes suffered major mechanical failures, twice with Riba’s machine. These problems came just two days after the decision by the factory Kawasaki team to withdraw from the Supersport World Championship until 2005, when the team plans to return in both the Supersport and Superbike classes.


More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:

MUGGERIDGE BLITZES IMOLA WITH CBR600RR FLYING LAP

Honda CBR600RR rider Karl Muggeridge blitzed the lap record by 2.5s in Saturday’s final qualifying session as he took pole position for Sunday’s 10th round of the World Supersport championship at Imola in Italy.

The Australian clinched his third pole position of the year as he looks to add to his race victory of the last round at Assen, Holland three weeks ago.

“I had a little bit of a think about what I was doing and decided to look at some new lines on the circuit, especially in the first part of the lap,” Muggeridge explained. “And it was that section where I improved the most.”

Muggeridge’s lap ­ in the final minute of the 45-minute session – on his Ten Kate CBR600RR machine stunned the opposition. He heads the grid, 0.7s faster than second-placed Stephane Chambon.

Third place on the grid belongs to Chris Vermeulen, the championship leader and champion-elect, providing he can secure at least an eighth place finish in Sunday¹s race.

“I’m ready to race, no question,” said a determined Vermeulen. “We’ve got a good rear race tyre, the machine feels great and I just want to get on with it.”

Sebastien Charpentier, a late season revelation on his Klaffi team CBR600RR Honda, completes the front row of the grid, in fourth place ­ all on his first visit to Imola.

“It’s a very difficult track and takes time to learn but I’ve really enjoyed riding around here,” said Charpentier. “To qualify on the front row is a bonus and I must say thank you to my friend Regis Laconi. I did 10 laps with him on scooters on Thursday and he showed me the fast lines.”

Jurgen van den Goorbergh heads the second row after the Dutchman took fifth place while Katsuaki Fujiwara ­ Vermeulen’s closest challenger in the title chase ­ starts from sixth.

Japanese wild card rider Tekkyu Kayo put on a credible display to scoop seventh with Gianluca Nannelli, the first of the “local” Italian riders, in eighth. Defending world champion Fabien Foret and Australian wild card rider Kevin Curtain finished ninth and 10th respectively.

Robert Ulm bounced back from a fast crash in the morning’s free practice session to qualify in 11th place. Ulm said: “That was a massive crash this morning and I was down to one machine for that session so I played it a little cautious. I’m OK though, no injuries, just looking forward to the race.”

Iain MacPherson was disappointed with 18th place on the grid but the Van Zon Honda star believes a podium finish is possible in Sunday’s race, he commented: “I was simply trying too hard and out-braking myself all over the place. I’ve got a good race pace so I reckon I can be right up there tomorrow.”

MacPherson¹s team-mate Werner Daemen will start from 20th place, the Belgian reported: “With about 20 minutes to go in the session I got rid of a front end chatter problem I’ve had all weekend but it changed the machine and I made three mistakes on what should have been my fast lap.”

Final World Supersport championship qualifying times:

1 Karl Muggeridge, Australia (Honda) 1:51.592

2 Stephane Chambon, France (Suzuki) 1:52.253

3 Chris Vermeulen, Australia (Honda) 1:52.353

4 Sebastien Charpentier, France (Honda) 1:52.751

5 Jurgen van den Goorbergh, Holland (Yamaha) 1:52.835

6 Katsuaki Fujiwara, Japan (Suzuki) 1:52.934

7 Tekkyu Kayo, Japan (Yamaha) 1:53.015

8 Gianluca Nannelli, Italy (Yamaha) 1:53.210

9 Fabien Foret, France (Kawasaki) 1:53.229

10 Kevin Curtain, Australia (Yamaha) 1″53.293

11 Robert Ulm, Austria (Honda) 1:53.302

18 Iain MacPherson, GB (Honda) 1:54.037

20 Werner Daemen, Belgium (Honda) 1:54.195


More, from a press release issued by Team Yamaha Belgarda:

JURGEN MISSES FRONT ROW BY A WHISKER. SANNA SICK. KAYO’S SURPRISE.

Team Yamaha Belgarda rider Jurgen van den Goorbergh just missed out on a front row grid position by less then a tenth of a second in final qualifying at Imola today. A couple of tiny errors on his quick laps cost him a tenth of second and that was just enough to push him off the front row of the grid. Jurgen’s left elbow was much better today and although it wasn’t 100%, once he was on the bike he just put his head down and tried attack the top four. His team mate Simone Sanna had other problems to contend with after spending a large part of last evening vomiting and feeling poorly. In the morning he was still feeling dizzy and had to go to the Clinica Mobile and get some medication before he felt well enough to get on the bike. At the end of the day, fifteenth quickest was probably about as much as expected and he now faces an uphill struggle tomorrow. Yamaha Belgarda guest rider Tekkyu Kayo surprised the Supersport paddock by posting the seventh quickest time of qualifying. It was a tremendous performance by the young Japanese rider – considering it is only his second Supersport ride of the season and this is his first time at Imola. Aussie Karl Muggeridge (Honda) set the day’s quickest time, with a lap of 1:51.592 ­ a time that would’ve put him in the top fourteen of the Superbike class! Second fastest today is Stephane Chambon (Suzuki), with series leader Chris Vermeulen (Honda) third and Sebastien Charpentier (Honda) fourth.

JURGEN VD GOORBERGH ­ 5th, 1:52.835
Once I am on the bike, I’m concentrating hard and I don’t notice it really – off the bike though is another matter. But, it hasn’t really hindered me much today and the only reason that I didn’t get a front row grid place was because I made a couple of little mistakes. Imola is the kind of place that if you do that, it messes up the whole lap and that’s that. I’m reasonably happy with set-up for the race and I know which tyres I’ll use tomorrow, but it will be important for me to stay in touch with the leaders once the race starts so that I can chase second place in the championship.

SIMONE SANNA ­ 15th, 1:53.779
This morning I felt pretty rough after spending a lot of time being sick yesterday evening. I felt drained and a bit dizzy, but after visiting the Clinica Mobile and getting some medication, at least I was able to ride. Understandably, I couldn’t push as hard as I would’ve liked and so I ended up on the fourth row of the grid. I’m hoping to get a good night’s sleep tonight and wake up feeling much fresher. Then, I need a really good start in the race. But I am hoping that I can still get a good result because I want to put on a good show for my fans.

TEKKYU KAYO ­ 7th, 1:53.015
I like this track. It is a technical circuit and difficult because there are so many ups and downs and very hard parts like the Piratello. I haven’t ridden a 600 since Sugo, so it took me a little time to get used to it again, but the Yamaha Belgarda team is fantastic and they have taught me a lot this weekend. The R6 is working really well and I’m enjoying this experience a lot, though I am a bit surprised how high the level is in World Supersports. Tomorrow it’ll be important to get a good start and keep in touch, but if I can manage that then maybe a podium is a possibility ­ that’s what I’d like!