From a press release issued by series organizers FGSport:

2004 FIM WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

10th round Imola, 23-26 September 2004

LACONI SCORES A HANDFUL OF SUPERPOLE WINS

This year’s King of Superpole was ordained once more at Imola, as Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila 999F04) took his fifth such success of the 2004 season. Starting last away after finishing the regulation qualifying sessions fastest of all, Laconi swept around one of his favourite tracks to record a time of 1:49.818. Laconi is one of four riders going for a realistic shot at their first World Superbike Championship title, and the two 21-lap races on Sunday are sure to be hotly contested, with the top five Superpole qualifying places containing all four would-be champions.

HONDA HEADS UP: Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR rider Chris Vermeulen felt that he was about to take his first ever Superpole win of his short ten round Superbike career, but Laconi’s late challenge deposed him from his position of pre-eminence. The 22-year-old Australian was the only rider to join Laconi inside the 1:49 second mark, finding his four-cylinder Honda a willing partner in his attacks on the sweeps and hills of Imola.

MCCOY COMEBACK: Having struggled in some of the more recent SBK events, the most experienced rookie in World Superbike found his feet in superb style at Imola, as Garry McCoy (Scuderia Caracchi Xerox Ducati 999RS) spun and hustled his big vee-twin to a fine third place. A winner at Phillip Island this season already, McCoy professes not to be a fan of the Imola track, but his uniquely dramatic riding style appears to suit the 4.933km circuit down to the ground.

HAGA HANGS IT OUT: The aggression and control shown by Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati 999RS) was enough to put him fourth in Superpole, after finishing second quickest in regular qualifying. The Japanese rider is one of the famous four championship challengers, and one of the most experienced Superbike riders on the grid. Haga’s team-mate Leon Haslam experienced several technical problems in regulation qualifying, which conspired to make him miss Superpole, finishing 19th fastest for a fifth row start.

JAMES THE FIFTH: Working his factory Ducati Fila 999F04 hard around the undulations and bumps of Imola, James Toseland, the current championship leader, missed out on the front row, but only by one place as he went fifth in Superpole, a two place improvement on his regulation qualifying best.

THE BUSSEI THUNDERBOLT: Giovanni Bussei (De Cecco Ducati 998RS) set the Superpole competition alight with a blistering lap of 1:50.895, by far his personal best of the weekend. Until James Toseland took his place at the head of the table, albeit temporarily, Bussei was the leading rider, finishing his Superpole session in an impressive sixth place. He was the best 998 Ducati rider on show, finishing his Superpole competition just in front of Lucio Pedercini (Pedercini Ducati 998RS). Having left the Pedercini team to join the Scuderia Caracchi Xerox Ducati squad shortly before Imola, Gianluca Nannelli took his 999RS machine to eighth place, ousting regular DFX Extreme Sterilgarda 999RS Ducati rider Steve Martin in the process.

CORSER TOP TEN: Troy Corser (Foggy Petronas FP-1) took his somewhat outgunned three cylinder, 900cc triple to a top ten finish, an impressive result on such a power-sapping track. His team-mate Chris Walker took 18th fastest time, putting him on an unhappy fifth row starting position. Best of the local riders making a wildcard appearance was former GP and Superbike star Doriano Romboni, taking 12th place in Superpole, one behind regular rider Marco Borciani (DFX Ducati Extreme Sterilgarda 999RS).

UNLUCKY 7: Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati 998) experienced two separate major technical problems in the final untimed qualifying session at Imola, missing out on Superpole and starting 16th on the grid. Having qualified eighth in regulation, he was expecting a far different end to his Saturday of toil on home ground.

WORLD SUPERSPORT: Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) once more brought all the pre-race elements together under his command to secure his eighth pole position of the 2004 season, a remarkable achievement with no peer in WSS history. Heading up an all Australian front row, Muggeridge’s best was a 1:52.131, a mark he could have improved on still further had the track been entirely dry after Friday evening’s monsoon rainfalls. Broc Parkes, Muggeridge’s team-mate, starts the 21-lap race on Sunday from the front row, qualifying second fastest, some 0.722 seconds from Muggeridge. Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Italia) secured third place, Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) starting fourth, the last rider on row one. Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Italia) was fifth fastest rider, ahead of Klaffi Honda pilot Sebastien Charpentier. Lone Briton Iain MacPherson, secured 17th starting spot on his SL Ducati 749R.

EUROPEAN SUPERSTOCK: Lorenzo Alfonsi (Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha R1) had to give best in qualifying to the charging Alstare Suzuki rider Riccardo Chiarello, and Yamaha Motor Germany rider Kenan Sofuoglu, but his championship challenge remains firmly on track after a strong showing in the only dry Superstock session. Third fastest, Alfonsi is now the only rider who can overhaul injured championship leader Gianluca Vizziello, who will miss the Imola races, and the subsequent season finale at Magny Cours next week.



Superpole
Imola, Italy
1. Régis Laconi, France, Ducati 999F04, 1:49.818
2. Chris Vermeulen, Holland, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:49.930
3. Garry McCoy, Australia, Ducati 999RS, 1:50.187
4. Noriyuki Haga, Japan, Ducati 999RS, 1:50.452
5. James Toseland, UK, Ducati 999F04, 1:50.691
6. Giovanni Bussei, Italy, Ducati 998RS, 1:50.895
7. Lucio Pedercini, Italy, Ducati 998RS, 1:51.063
8. Gianluca Nannelli, Italy, Ducati 999RS, 1:51.063
9. Steve Martin, Australia, Ducati 999RS, 1:51.476
10. Troy Corser, Australia, Petronas FP1, 1:51.685
11. Marco Borciano, Italy, Ducati 999 RS, 1:52.129
12. Doriano Romboni, Italy, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:52.192
13. Luca Pini, Italy, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:52.721
14. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Italy, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:53.092
15. Sergio Fuertes, Spain, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:53.547
16. Pierfrancesco Chili, Italy, Ducati 998 RS, no time



More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

LACONI HITS TOP FORM AT IMOLA, TAKES QUALIFYING AND SUPERPOLE – TOSELAND FIFTH, LINES UP ON ROW 2

Imola (Italy), 25 September 2004: Regis Laconi clinched his fifth Superpole of the year for Ducati Fila at Imola with a blistering pole time of 1’49.818, edging out Chris Vermeulen by one-tenth of a second. The 29-year-old Frenchman, who had also grabbed quickest time in the dying seconds of the morning qualifying session, and his Australian rival, were the only two riders to dip into the 1’49s and will line up on the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s penultimate round of the World Superbike championship together with Garry McCoy (Xerox Ducati) and Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati). Championship leader James Toseland could only manage fifth quickest time and lines up on the second row.

“It was not exactly a perfect Superpole lap, because before the finish I slid a little” explained Laconi. “I had to push harder on that lap because Chris’s time was a really tough one to beat. We have done a very good job all weekend and I am very happy with my race tyre.

“For me it’s very important to be on pole position because I am half-Italian and Ducati is very close to here so I’m sure there will be a lot of fans trying to help me win the race tomorrow. I like this Imola track for sure, there are a lot of corners like the Acque Minerali where you can make a big difference. It seems a very good track for me and the Ducati is working very well also” he concluded.

Toseland was not so happy with his Superpole lap but is confident he will be able to produce a good showing in tomorrow’s two races.

“That was a pretty average Superpole lap” commented Toseland, “I just wasn’t able to get round Imola the way I would have liked. We seem to have got a few niggling problems that need to be sorted out, it’s nothing major but if we sort them out the lap times would come easily, because I’m struggling in places where it shouldn’t be a problem.

“The technical things aren’t so much of a problem, I should just be able to find it easier around the track that’s all. I’ll probably change the gearing tomorrow morning which should help but I’m pretty sure that things will be OK for the race”.

TIMES: 1. Laconi (Ducati Fila) 1’49.818; 2. Vermeulen (Honda) 1’49.930 ; 3. McCoy (Xerox Ducati) 1’50.187 ; 4. Haga (Renegade Ducati) 1’50.452; 5. Toseland (Ducati Fila) 1’50.691; 6. Bussei (Ducati) 1’50.895; 7. Pedercini (Ducati) 1’51.063; 8. Nannelli (Xerox Ducati) 1’51.470; 9. Martin (Ducati DFX) 1’51.476; 10. Corser (Petronas) 1’51.685; etc.

SECOND ROW START FOR LANZI (DUCATI BREIL) AT HOME CIRCUIT OF IMOLA

Imola (Italy), 25 September 2004: Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Breil) will start tomorrow’s penultimate round of the World Supersport championship from the second row of the grid after a tense final few minutes.

The 22 year-old from Cesena, seventh after yesterday’s first qualifying session, improved his time by almost one second and despite a technical problem forcing him to switch to the other 749R at his disposal, Lorenzo managed to hold on to the eighth quickest time.

“I would say it went pretty well” declared Lanzi “even though I had a problem with my 749R in the last few minutes. We quickly changed the bike, which was the same but it was not the bike I prefer to use and I didn’t have a good feeling with it.

“It wasn’t a bad performance today because as always there are just the usual top riders ahead of me. We had to do a bit of improvisation in the last few minutes, but ours is a great team and we didn’t have any problems. I held on to my second row grid position and I can only be pleased with that performance because we lapped two seconds quicker than when I was here for the Italian championship race.

“Without that small problem I am sure I could have been further up the grid. This gives me a lot of encouragement for tomorrow, I’ll try and get off to a good start and then give 100% as always” concluded Lanzi.

STARTING-GRID: 1. Muggeridge (Honda) 1’52.131; 2. Parkes (Honda) 1′ 52.853; 3. Curtain (Yamaha) 1’53.064; 4. Pitt (Yamaha) 1’53.091 ; 5. VD Goorbergh (Yamaha) 1’53.205; 6. Charpentier (Honda) 1’53.288; 7. Foret (Yamaha) 1’53.544 ; 8. Lanzi (Ducati Breil) 1’53.583; etc.



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

Muggeridge Pole Once More, Parkes Right Behind

Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) once more flirted with perfection to record his eighth pole position in nine attempts, an outstanding performance from the clear World Championship leader. Underlining the prowess of the entire Ten Kate thrust his team mate Broc Parkes ripped up the tarmac to finish second fastest, starting alongside Muggeridge once more. Muggeridge set a best time of 1:52.131 with Parkes just behind with a 1:52.853.

The front row for Sunday’s race was completed by two Yamaha riders, Kevin Curtain and Andrew Pitt, making the front row an all-Australian affair. Muggeridge’s only championship challenger, Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha) was fifth fastest. v Muggeridge’s eighth pole of the 2004 Supersport season ripped the record books apart once more, and more importantly for Muggeridge, puts him in the perfect spot to tackle the 21-lap race on Sunday. “Eight out of nine poles this year is pretty good,” said Muggeridge. “I don’t really know why we’ve been so good in qualifying. All I can say is that I enjoy it; it’s a chance to put all your work over two days of qualifying into practice on the track. You put the softest tyre in, and then you can be more aggressive on the throttle and push a little bit harder. I just enjoy going fast, want to go faster than everyone else. Pole position is to the left at this track and that’s where you want to be for the entry to the first corner. The track is in good condition, but it was still not quite dry out there. I want to be on the podium tomorrow, I’ll treat it like every other race and try to finish on the top step.”

Parkes, beaming at his improvement in lap time and solid practice performance, stated, “It was pretty good but Muggas was still quicker than everyone. I improved and got up to second place so that’s satisfying for us. I made a change in gearing to get more feedback and feeling in different places. It didn’t make the bike go much faster but it made it all feel much smoother. The track is a bit better than yesterday, even though there were a couple of wet patches. We could have gone faster if it weren’t for those. I have a good race set-up and chosen the race tyre already, so we’re ready to go.”

Team Manager Ronald Ten Kate stated, “I can’t wish for anything more. Always the riders and team find a way to impress me. Although we have worked together for a long time now and it is almost the end of the year they have impressed me again. Karl was particularly good, being so fast around the whole track. We can hear the fat lady singing in the distance but she needs to come closer to us before we can take anything for granted.”

World Supersport Championship
Round 9 Imola, Italy / 24 – 26 September 2004
1. K. Muggeridge, AUS, Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR, 1’52.131
2. B. Parkes, AUS, Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR, 1’52.853
3. K. Curtain, AUS, Yamaha YZF R6, 1’53.064
4. A. Pitt, AUS, Yamaha YZF R6, 1’53. 091
5. J. vd. Goorbergh, NED, Yamaha YZF R6, 1’53.205
6. S. Charpentier, FRA, Honda CBR600RR, 1’53. 288
7. F. Foret, FRA, Yamaha YZF R6, 1’53.544
8. L. Lanzi, ITA, Ducati 749 R, 1’53.583
9. M. Baiocco, ITA, Yamaha YZF R6, 1’53.819
10. M. Fabrizio, ITA, Honda CBR600RR, 1’54.152


Vermeulen Second Quickest in Imola Superpole

Another close flirtation with pole for Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) saw him finish second overall in the specialised single lap contest, which determines the final grid positions for the top 16 qualifiers. Fourth fastest in regulation, Vermeulen was the only rider other than pole winner Regis Laconi (Ducati) to go inside the 1:49, second mark this weekend. His lap of 1:49.930 was marginally improved on by Laconi, who set a 1:49.818 with the last Superpole lap of the session.

The post Superpole front row features three of the top contenders for the championship itself, with Laconi and Vermeulen in the vanguard, chased home today by the resurgent Garry McCoy (Ducati) and overall fourth place man in the series Noriyuki Haga (Ducati), who was fourth quickest in Superpole. The championship excitement is sure to continue into raceday, as series leader James Toseland was fifth fastest.

Vermeulen was disappointed to miss out on Superpole, but knows that the real work will be done on raceday. “I really thought I had that but then Regis just came along and beat me. I haven’t had a pole yet so I want to win one before the season is out. I’m happy because the bike is working well and we’ve made some changes since the first day, which have taken us even closer to a perfect race set-up. Sometimes we can go to tracks and it works well from the start and at others, probably because I haven’t ridden a big bike there before, it has been more difficult. But it’s been good so far here.”

Team Manager Ronald Ten Kate was satisfied with the pre-race preparations, and recognised the importance of finishing on the leading grid line. “That was a pretty good lap Chris put in during Superpole – the most important thing to do was to get on the front row. Pole position would have been a very nice bonus for us. Unfortunately we didn’t quite get it, but we have got a good setup for the races. Chris has been quite consistent and fast on the race tyres so we are in for some good contests here tomorrow. From Friday when we started the bike has been pretty good. On a lot of weekends we have had to start from a little behind, but now we have been able to stay in the top group throughout.”

World Superbike Championship
Round 10 Imola – Italy
24 -26 September 2004
1. R. Laconi, FRA, Ducati 999 F04, 1’49.818
2. C. Vermeulen, AUS, Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR, 1’49.930
3. G. McCoy, AUS, Ducati 999 RS, 1’50.187
4. N. Haga, JPN, Ducati 999 RS, 1’50.452
5. J. Toseland, GBR, Ducati 999 F04, 1’50.691
6. G. Bussei, ITA, Ducati 998 RS, 1’50.895
7. L. Pedercini, ITA, Ducati 998 RS, 1’51.063
8. G. Nannelli, ITA, Ducati 999 RS, 1’51.470
9. S. Martin, AUS, Ducati 999 RS, 1’51.476
10. T. Corser, AUS, Petronas FP1, 1’51.685



More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Motor Italia Racing:

Date: Saturday, 25th September 2004
Circuit: Imola, m. 4.933
Final Qualifying
Weather: dry/sunny-cloudy Temperature: air 21° C
Crowd: 10.000

TRIO WELL PLACED AND LOOKING FOR PODIUMS.

Yamaha Racing Italia’s trio of riders had a successful final qualifying at Imola today with Andrew Pitt finishing the best of the three with the fourth fastest time of the day. He will line up on the front row of the grid, with Jurgen van den Goorbergh and Fabien Foret just behind on row two.

Series leader Karl Muggeridge (Honda) took his eighth pole of the year, with team mate Broc Parkes second and Kevin Curtain (Yamaha) third. Former European champion Matteo Baiocco put his Lorenzini by Leoni R6 in ninth place in final qualifying.

ANDREW PITT – 4th, 1’53.091
I set my fastest lap on a tyre which had already done six laps, so I am happy to get on the front row of the grid. This is only my second race with Yamaha and today I was happy because I kept improving lap by lap – and that’s a good sign for the race. Getting on the front row is very good indeed and I am looking forward to making a good start, staying with the front runners and hopefully taking my second podium in a row.

JURGEN VAN DEN GOORBERGH – 5th, 1’53.205
I can tell you how happy I am. On Thursday I was in hospital, today I set the fifth quickest lap and tomorrow I will start on the second row of the grid. I lost a couple of tenths when I was going for it today and that cost me a front row place. But it is not a problem because I like this track and my bike is so fast. Winning here will be very difficult, but I am going to try my hardest for sure. After the problems I have had this week, winning would be a dream.

FABIEN FORET – 7th, 1’53.544
I am not so happy because I made a mistake (with my gearshift) on my fast lap in the fastest part of the track and I lost a lot of time. If that had not happened, then I think I would have been on the front row.



More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist:

2004 World Superbike Championship
Round 10, Imola (Italy) , Saturday 25th September, Final Qualifying
Circuit: 4.933kms, Weather: dry, sunny/cloudy 21°C

TROY’S PROGRESS
After yesterday, it was a great relief for Troy to be able to push hard again and go for a higher grid place. A problem with his number one bike before Superpole meant that Troy had to use his number two bike, but he still managed to get into the top ten and so will start tomorrow’s races from the third row of the grid.

Regis Laconi (Ducati) took pole, with a time of 1:49.818, knocking Chris Vermeulen (Honda) off the top spot right at the end of the 16-rider shoot-out. Completing the front row of the grid is Garry McCoy (Ducati), with Noriyuki Haga (also Ducati-mounted) alongside.

TROY -10th, 1:51.685
I thought about the bike’s set-up a lot last night, as it was hard to think yesterday and ride the bike the way it was. I did a lot of laps in my head and went through the changes that we made. Those changes were at the rear end and did not seem to have any effect, so this morning we went back to our normal settings and also made a few changes to the front forks. Now the bike goes over the bumps and stops, whereas yesterday it was like a roller-coaster ride after hitting the bumps. Yesterday I was fighting the bike and did not want to do another lap.

Today I am a lot happier and the bike is doing almost what I want it to do. It was a shame that I had a problem with my number one bike before Superpole, but as the number two bike had a similar set up, it was OK.