Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Storms in Germany ruin WSB qualifying

Thunderstorms engulfed Motopark Oschersleben in Germany this morning, soaking the circuit and providing difficult on track conditions for all the riders. Frankie Chili remained in provisional pole position based on yesterday’s times.

The session started in full wet conditions, allowing riders to fine tune their wet setup around the technical circuit.

But halfway through the session, Neil Hodgson crashed his Ducati Fila when the front end tucked under braking going into the Esses. Toseland also crashed but was lucky enough to get a scooter ride back to pit lane to continue the session.

Chris Walker was fastest, from Regis Laconi and Ruben Xaus, while Chili was consistent in fourth place in the session.

The bad news for the Foggy Petronas team is that James Haydon failed to qualify by 0.097 of a second. The team would have been looking forward to a dry track to allow him to improve on his time of 1:33.726 from yesterday, but the wet session sealed his fate.

With the weather uncertain, Superpole could again be classified as wet, with the best time from a maximum of 12laps in the 50 minutes available specifying the starting grid for tomorrow’s two races.

World Superbike Championship
Round Five, Oschersleben, Germany
30-31 May – 1 June 2003
Final Qualifying Friday Times (Saturday wet lap times in brackets)

1. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati, 1:27.503 (1:43.335)
2. James Toseland, Ducati, 1:27.814 (1:44.658)
3. Chris Walker, Ducati, 1:27.984 (1:41.194)
4. Regis Laconi, Ducati, 1:28.004 (1:41.621)
5. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki, 1:28.030 (1:43.629)
6. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, 1:28.099 (1:42.251)
7. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, 1:28.213 (1:45.641)
8. Steve Martin, Ducati, 1:28.235 (1:47.818)
9. Vittorrio Iannuzzo, Suzuki, 1:28.699 (1:48.630)
10. Juan Borja, Ducati, 1:29.928 (did not ride in wet session)
11. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati, 1:28.994 (did not ride)
12. Marco Borciani, Ducati, 1:29.179 (1:51.092)
13. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki, 1:29.386 (1:45.148)
14. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki, 1:29.500 (did not ride)
15. Giovanni Bussei, Yamaha, 1:29.760 (1:45.745)
16. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas, 1:29.778 (1:46.379)
17. Nello Russo, Ducati, 1:29.881 (did not ride)
18. Serafino Foti, Ducati, 1:30.580 (did not ride)
19. Walter Tortoroglio, Honda, 1:31.428 (1:51.399)
20. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati, 1:31.837 (1:47.351)
21. Sergio Fuertes, Suzuki, 1:31.950 (1:46.891)
22. Steinar Sundby Dag, Yamaha, 1:32.388 (1:50.708)
DNQ. James Haydon, Foggy Petronas, 1:33.726 (1:45.826)