From a press release issued by series organizers, FGSport:

2004 FIM WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

10th round Imola, 23-26 September 2004

HAGA STRIKES EARLY BLOW IN IMOLA QUALIFYING BATTLE

RISING SUN: Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati 999RS), one of four riders going for championship glory at Imola and the subsequent Magny Cours race, got his eye in early by setting the fastest time on the opening day of qualifying. The 29-year-old Japanese rider’s lap time of 1:50.969 was the only one inside the 1:51 barrier and, like all his peers, he was fortunate to set a quick lap before the rains fell with a vengeance at the very end of the first timed hour.

MARTIN MOVES ON UP: After a rollercoaster season so far, with soaring podium finishes counter pointed by some dreadful luck, Steve Martin (DFX Ducati 999RS) aims to finish on a high. Sitting second fastest after day one, Martin proved he still has speed in his armoury with his 1:51.118 lap time. The 35-year-old Italian based Australian is just one of many riders equipped with strong private Ducati 999s, while a generous smattering of four-cylinder machines are used by a diverse group of privateers and wildcards alike.

HONDA DREAM: Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR), his Ten Kate Team and the CBR1000RR Honda are all Superbike class rookies in 2004, but the 22-year-old rider has shown no fear of his current rivals. Once more he beat most of them to take a top three finish, only 0.171 seconds from Haga’s time.

MCCOY RESURGENT: One of six riders with an SBK race victory to his name in this most competitive of seasons, Garry McCoy (Ducati Scuderia Caracchi 999RS) has suffered a drought in results for some time. His knowledge of the Imola circuit helped him on day one, as he secured the fourth place starting spot. Fast tracks suit McCoy’s dramatic riding style and Imola is one of the quicker ones on the SBK calendar.

HOME TOWN HERO: Marco Borciani (DFX Ducati 999RS) secured fifth place, making it a happy homecoming for the DFX Ducati squad. The 28-year-old rider is clearly enjoying his latest visit to Emilia Romagna, and will be looking for his first SBK podium on Sunday.

FACTORY PAIRING: James Toseland (Ducati Fila 999F04) found Imola a tough nut to crack after a single day, but at least had the consolation of outpacing one of his main championship rivals, his own team-mate Regis Laconi. The Englishman and Frenchman have to contend with Haga and Vermeulen in the championship fight, but for the time being at least, each has to concentrate on his own performance, to find a competitive race set-up.

SEVEN TO EIGHT: Pierfrancesco Chili, famous wearer of the number seven, went eighth fastest at Imola, despite a morning crash on his 998RS, fitted with a 999 style engine. Fifth overall in the championship, Chili is desperate to get on the podium at least in front of his local crowd. Another local rider, Lucio Pedercini (Pedercini Ducati 999RS) went ninth fastest in the official afternoon session, having set the fastest time of the early session.

RAMBO ON THE RAMPAGE: Former GP and Superbike star, and current Italian Championship entry, Doriano Romboni (Giesse Racing Team Yamaha R1) was a welcome returnee to SBK for the weekend, and fitted in neatly to the last spot on offer in the top ten. He was thus the best wild card rider on show.

TRIPLE TREATS: The flat out sections on the dramatic Imola course were always likely to scupper any pole position ambitions of the Foggy Petronas duo, Chris Walker (Foggy Petronas FP-1) Troy Corser (Foggy Petronas FP-1). The 900cc triple gives away 100cc to its rivals, and it was a factor in Walker finishing his day 19th fastest, with Corser just behind. Walker survived a big morning highside crash, with nothing more than a severe bruising.

SUPERSPORT: Championship favourite Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) put in another slick first day performance to take provisional pole position, running 0.408 seconds clear of second fastest man Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany R6). Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) had an excellent opening day to go third, while the provisional front row was completed by Sebastien Charpentier (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR). Muggeridge’s only championship challenger Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Italia R6) rallied from what was originally diagnosed as acute appendicitis on the night before qualifying, making it to the grid on time after his symptoms quickly receded. He qualified an impressive fifth, with the first Suzuki on the grid, that of Katsuaki Fujiwara, in sixth.

SUPERSTOCK: Gianluca Vizziello played no part in the first qualifying session at Imola, the championship leader having broken his wrist on Thursday. This leaves his closest championship challenger, Team Italia team-mate Lorenzo Alfonsi, only 14 points to make up to become champion. He started his efforts in fine style, finishing second fastest in a drenched Superstock session, behind Alessandro Polita (Rox Ducati).


More, from a press release issued by Ten Kate Honda:

Muggeridge and Parkes on Provisional Front Row

Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) and Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) enjoyed their first day of action at Imola, taking provisional pole and third quickest times respectively.

Muggeridge was close to breaking into the 1:52s mark, missing out by only 0.059 seconds with his last lap of the 45-minute session. Muggeridge, who could wrap up the championship at this race, was on the pace from the outset, despite the track taking some time to ‘bed-in’.

Parkes, a first time Supersport rider at Imola, more used to running a Superbike around the 4.933km circuit and had to make some adjustments to get into the Supersport frame of mind. His successful adaptation was reflected by a strong 1:53.593 lap, good enough for third fastest on the timesheets.

Said Muggeridge of his opening gambit, “We’re doing pretty good so far and everything with the bike is fine. There isn’t as much grip as there should be or the lap time would be even better. We’ve just worked hard from the start to get to the maximum as quickly as we could. It’s impossible to gear the bike for every corner here so we have to make compromises in the set up, to maintain the balance between the fast corners and the slower ones.”

Parkes rated day one at Imola as one of the best opening sessions of the year so far, “I was happy with that session, we got a lot of things worked out and to be on the provisional front row is exactly where we need to be. I’m not used to riding a Supersport bike here, I never got the chance last year, so I had to change all my usual braking markers and so on. The bike is working well and there is still more to come.”

Team Manager Ronald Ten Kate acknowledged that it was a very positive start to the weekend. “With both riders on the front row it was a very first day for us. Karl made his usual quick lap times from the start and was on the ball right away. There is still some work to do on the bike so I hope it will be dry tomorrow. The bikes have been fitted with the latest Arrow exhaust system and that has been working very well for us.”

Supersport Race 9 Imola,
Italië/ Resultaten Eerste Kwalificatie
1. K. Muggeridge, AUS, Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR, 1’53.059
2. K. Curtain, AUS, Yamaha YZF R6, 1’53.67
3. B. Parkes, AUS, Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR, 1’53.593
4. S. Charpentier, FRA, Honda CBR600RR, 1’53.688
5. J. Vd. Goorbergh, NED, Yamaha YZF R6 1’54.011
6. K. Fujiwara, JPN, Suzuki GSX-R 600, 1’54.358
7. L. Lanzi, ITA, Ducati 749 R, 1’54.400
8. F. Foret, Yamaha YZF R6, 1’54.542
9. M. Fabrizio, ITA, Honda CBR600RR, 1’54.822
10. M. Baiocco, ITA, Yamaha YZF R6, 154.883


Vermeulen Third Fastest On Imola Superbike Debut

Reigning World Supersport Champion Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) is no stranger to the undulations and curves of the classic Imola circuit, but in the first season of his World Superbike career, adapting his 1000c machine to suit the circuit’s contrasting nature could have proved difficult. Working hard to find a good set-up conjunction with his Ten Kate team Vermeulen found not only positive settings for race conditions, but also rode to the third fastest lap of the day with a 1:51.140.

Vermeulen affirmed that all the hard work was worth it after finishing inside the top three. “The bike felt good this morning and I was quite comfortable but the lap time was slow, just like everyone else. So we made some changes for the afternoon session but they didn’t turn out the way we wanted them too. We didn’t go backwards but we didn’t go forwards. I changed a lot in the tyre choice and suspension and we made a big step forward. I put a qualifier on and went out but the rain started, just a couple of spits, so I opted to pull in and not use it. The bike felt good on the race tyre and now with the rain we will have to see how it turns out tomorrow.”

Team Manager Ronald Ten Kate, was justifiably satisfied with his team’s best efforts. “The team had to work really hard throughout the sessions, altering suspension settings, changing shocks and they were really flat out for and hour. Chris did really well, especially as we are always starting from a little behind. We didn’t get to use the qualifying tyre but Chris did use the new 2005 version WP rear shock for the first time. It gives more feel and feedback for the rider, plus a wider range of adjustment, and seems to be working very well.”

Final qualifying and Superpole take place on Saturday 25th September.

WK Superbike Imola,
Italie 24 – 26 September 2004, Eerste Kwalificatie
1. N. Haga, JPN, Ducati 999 RS, 1’50.969
2. S. Martin, AUS, Ducati 999 RS, 1’52.118
3. C. Vermeulen, AUS, Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR, 1’51.140
4. G. Mccoy, AUS, Ducati 999 RS, 1’51.147
5. M. Borciani, ITA, Ducati 999 RS, 1’51.308
6. J. Toseland, GBR, Ducati 999 F04, 1’51.325
7. R. Laconi, FRA, Ducati 999 F04, 1’51.393
8. P. Chili, ITA, Ducati 998 RS, 1’51.549
9. L. Pedercini, ITA, Ducati 998 RS, 1’51.718
10. D.Romboni, ITA, Yamaha YZF R1, 1’52.294



MOre, from a press release issued by Yamaha Italia:

Yamaha Racing
Yamaha Italia World Supersport Team
Date: Friday, 24 September 2004
Circuit: Imola, m. 4.933
Friday Qualifying
Weather: overcast Temperature: air 28° C track 41° C
Crowd: 5.000

JURGEN DEFIES PAIN TO TAKE FIFTH
Yamaha Racing Italia rider Jurgen van den Goorbergh defied the pain barrier to finish the first day of qualifying with the fifth quickest. The Dutchman was lucky to be riding because he spent yesterday in hospital! Originally it was thought that Jurgen was suffering from appendicitis, but it looks like the cause of the problem may be a kidney stone. This morning he had to have an intravenous drip, but still managed to put in some laps in the untimed session. This afternoon, in first timed qualifying, Jurgen just missed out on a front row grid place after encountering slower riders on his fast lap. Fabien Foret also had to fight the pain (from his recently broken right foot), but he too posted a good time – finishing with the eighth fastest lap. Once again, Aussie Andrew Pitt is riding for the team. Despite it being only his second outing on the R6 Yamaha, he managed to set the thirteenth quickest time of the day.

JURGEN VD GOORBERGH 5th, 1’54.011
I feel very happy and also very lucky to just be on the bike today. Yesterday I was bicycling around the track when I suddenly began to suffer a lot of pain in my stomach. I ended up in the local hospital, where I had some tests because they thought I might have a problem with my appendix. Fortunately that was OK, but maybe it is a kidney stone problem instead. This morning, I couldn’t go on the track at the start of practice because we were still waiting for the results of the test. When they arrived and I was given the go-ahead, I went out. This afternoon I was on course for a front row grid place, but some slow riders got in my way on my fast lap and I lost three or four tenths of a second. My bike set-up was pretty good today, but we can do a bit more fine-tuning and improve it tomorrow for sure.

FABIEN FORET – 8th, 1’54.542
I can certainly feel the pain in my right foot around here because the track is so bumpy. Assen was easier, because it is a much smoother surface, but Imola really gives my broken bones a hammering and it’s difficult to ride like this. Also, we didn’t have the right gearbox for my style today, so that made my work even harder. Tomorrow we’ll change the gearbox and I hope to be able to ride quite a bit faster.

ANDREW PITT – 13th, 1’55.104
I have fond memories of Imola because it was here that I won the Supersport World title in 2001. My first race on the R6 Yamaha was at Assen and that was an a excellent result for me and one that I’d like to repeat here. It’s very important to be able to change direction quickly here (because of the chicanes), but my bike hasn’t got the right set-up yet, so I’ve struggled a little. We’ll make some changes for tomorrow and I’m sure that I will be a lot further up the grid. Former European Champion Matteo Baiocco took advantage of his home circuit knowledge and put his Lorenzini by Leoni R6 Yamaha in the top ten at the end of the first day’s qualifying at Imola. The twenty year old Italian was fast throughout the day and is looking for an even faster lap time tomorrow.



More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

TOSELAND & LACONI SIXTH AND SEVENTH FOR DUCATI FILA IN TIGHT OPENING QUALIFYING SESSION AT IMOLA

Imola (Italy), 24 September 2004: Ducati Fila riders James Toseland and Regis Laconi were sixth and seventh quickest in today’s World Superbike opening qualifying session at Imola. Fellow title-chaser Noriyuki Haga set the pace for Renegade Ducati ahead of Steve Martin (Ducati DFX) and Chris Vermeulen (Honda), but both Toseland and Laconi were within four-tenths of a second of the provisional pole sitter’s time.

23-year-old Toseland was brimming with confidence after continuing with exactly the same set-up used on his 999 at Assen. “It was a good day” he declared. “I messed up on my first lap with a qualifier which put me in sixth but then I went for it on the second lap and the tyre was struggling a bit so I didn’t improve. We’re confident however, we’ve done some really good race times and the bike feels comfortable.

“We’re going to make some small changes for tomorrow but it’s just to try a few things out, because we’ve been consistently quick all day on race tyres It was the same as Assen really, a good start to Friday morning and we didn’t change the set-up one bit.”

Team-mate Laconi was also pleased with his first day performance despite complaining of traffic during his quick laps. “The problem was a lot of traffic around the track and all the session I did maybe 2 or 3 clear laps” he commented.

“When I put a qualifying tyre on, at the first chicane there was a slower rider and in the end I was faster with the race tyre than the qualifier, and that’s not normal. We worked very well with the team to find a good setting, changing the bike quite a lot but we made good improvement and now we just have to see how things go tomorrow”.