Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Misano World Superbike Race Two Results:

1. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, 25 laps, 44:29.370
2. Regis Laconi, Ducati 999F04, -1.484 seconds
3. Steve Martin, Ducati 999RS, -32.259 seconds
4. Noriyuki Haga, Ducati 999RS, -38.088 seconds
5. Leon Haslam, Ducati 999RS, -41.031 seconds
6. James Toseland, Ducati 999F04, -45.176 seconds
7. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, -48.557 seconds
8. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, -61.456 seconds
9. Luca Pini, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -64.891 seconds
10. Marco Borciani, Ducati 999RS, -77.110 seconds
11. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-10R, -97.339 seconds
12. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR1000RR, -97.760 seconds
13. Chris Walker, Foggy Petronas FP1, -104.683 seconds
14. Gianmaria Liverani, Ducati 998RS, -105.940 seconds
15. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap

17. Garry McCoy, Ducati 999RS, -1 lap
18. Sergio Fuertes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap

22. Warwick Nowland, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -11 laps, DNF
23. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-10R, -23 laps, DNF
24. Gianluca Nannelli, Ducati 998RS, -24 laps, DNF

27. Doriano Romboni, Yamaha YZF-R1, DNS

Fastest Lap of Race: Chili, 1:42.997


World Superbike Championship Point Standings:

1. Chili, 97 points
2. Toseland, 77 points
3. TIE, Laconi/Vermeulen, 70 points
5. Haga, 69 points
6. McCoy, 55 points
7. Martin, 54 points
8. Walker, 52 points
9. Borciani, 49 points
10. Corser, 48 points
11. Haslam, 40 points
12. Sanchini, 32 points
13. Nannelli, 26 points
14. Clementi, 18 points
15. Bontempi, 14 points


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

A WIN AND A SECOND PLACE FOR LACONI (DUCATI FILA) IN TWO EXCITING WSBK RACES AT MISANO – TENTH AND SIXTH FOR TOSELAND

Misano Adriatic (Italy), Sunday 18 April 2004: Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila) finally launched his World Superbike championship challenge in a big way at the Misano Adriatico circuit with two superb races in front of 45,000 spectators. The 28 year-old French rider won the first, which was stopped six laps from the end due to the rain, holding off Troy Corser (Petronas), before picking up more championship points in race 2 with second place.

But it was the second race that demonstrated Laconi’s extraordinary determination. After choosing ‘wets’ for the race, Regis led all the way on a drying track until the last lap, when he was passed by Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati). The Italian had opted for an intermediate rear tyre, which proved to last the pace better on a drying track in the 25-lap race.

“In race 1 I went slowly at the beginning because of the damp track. Then I realised that I was faster than the rest so I went to catch them one by one. The last lap was so dangerous and it was a good solution to stop the race” declared Laconi. “The second race was really difficult because I was in the lead for 24 laps and then Chili passed me on the back straight on the final lap. We went for full wets because we thought it was going to rain again. Chili went for an intermediate rear, and he caught me on the last lap. I am very happy because I couldn’t do much more today with the tyres I chose. I was sliding the rear around all over the track!. Finally I got the results I wanted to kick start my championship!”

Two cautious races from the fifth row of the grid for Ducati Fila team-mate James Toseland. A tenth and a second place in difficult conditions gave the British rider a boost for the next rounds of the championship.

“I couldn’t do much more from 20th place on the grid” he declared. “There is only one dry line and it’s difficult to pass because when you go offline it’s damp. I should have had eighth in race 1 but Pedercini fell off in front of me, I had to avoid him and then the other two guys came past. In race 2 I went from 20th to 6th but unless you rely on people’s misfortune you can’t do any better than that. It was just one of those weekends really, I had to get as many points as I can and keep in touch with the championship.”

RACE 1: 1. Laconi (Ducati Fila); 2. Corser (Petronas); 3. Chili (PSG-1 Ducati); 4. Haga (Renegade Ducati); 5. Vermeulen (Honda) ; 6. Walker (Petronas); … 10. Toseland (Ducati Fila). RACE 2: 1. Chili; 2. Laconi; 3. Martin (DFX Ducati); 4. Haga; 5. Haslam (Renegade Ducati); 6. Toseland ; etc.

POINTS (after 3 of 11 rounds): (Riders) 1. Chili 97; 2. Toseland 77; 3. Laconi & Vermeulen 70; 5. Haga 69; 6. McCoy 55; etc. (Manufacturers) 1. Ducati 150; 2. Petronas 71; 3. Honda 70; 4. Kawasaki 36; 5. Suzuki 32; 6. Yamaha 16.


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

Chris Vermeulen 5th and 12th at Misano

Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR rider Chris Vermeulen fought against the peculiarities of the weather the unique Misano race surface to secure a fifth and a 12th place finish at Misano.

Continuing the impressive progress of the CBR1000RR and the steep learning curve of Vermeulen and the team, the race results came as a consequence of the ever-changing weather. Race two started wet and as it was raining the team chose a full wet, soft compound rear. It only lasted a few laps as the rain stopped and the track dried, making for an impromptu tyre chance to a slick, allowing Vermeulen to finish 12th and score valuable points.

Vermeulen’s latest results place him fourth in the championship, on the same points as Regis Laconi but Laconi has a higher wins score. Pierfrancesco Chili (Ducati) is the new leader on 97, with James Toseland (Ducati) on 77 and Laconi and Vermeulen on 70.

For the lone Ten Kate Superbike rider, Misano offered up another new set of experiences. “Race one was good, after I got a bad start,” said Vermeulen. “Because there was just one dry line it took a long time to get through as I could only pass one rider a lap. Top five was my aim in both races so we did OK in race one. It seems that the four-cylinder machines use the rear wet tyres a little worse than the twins do. I had a soft rain tyre because we didn’t think it would dry up as it did. The rear wasn’t going to last as it was so we changed it in race two.”

Team Manager Ronald Ten Kate explained the complications of race day. “It was raining when we were on the grid for race two so without even arguing about it we thought to use a wet. But it dried way quicker than we thought and saw Chris sliding backwards, so we called him in for a tyre change to a slick and we made some points in the end. We are really equal third in the championship and after the strange experiences we’ve had I think we are doing as well as we could. Hopefully we will give them a run for their money at Monza.”

The next round for the Ten Kate Honda Superbike squad is the classic Monza, on May 14-16.


More, from a press release issued by Xerox Ducati Nortel Networks – Scuderia Caracchi:

Bad day at Misano for Xerox Ducati Nortel Networks Team

Rain and cold have been the right frame of a poor day for Team Xerox Ducati Nortel Networks today at Misano, where the riders of Bologna based team scored no points for the championship.

In Race-1, stopped by red flag for a suddenly rain shower, Garry McCoy crashed pushed out by another rider at Misano corner, while in Race-2 the Aussie rider finished in a poor 17th position after a not brilliant race.

“Nothing to do for all the week end, with such track conditions I get no feeling and I was not able to push as I’m used to.” – said Garry McCoy at the end of the day – “That’s not because the bike which performed well, it was just because I was not comfortable on this wet and cold surface, while the other riders look to fly. I’m sorry for the team, I know how they would expecting a good result on this track near home, but actually everything was very difficult. During Race-1 the conditions were a little bit firmer and I feel better, but Clementi did hurt my bike on the rear and sended me out of the track after a few laps, then in Race-2 the track was changing lap by lap and only a rider who know the track very well in every condition could push hardly.”

No result for Giancarlo De Matteis too, 16th in Race-1 and out of race at the first lap in Race-2 after a crash: “The stop of Race-1 didn’t allow me to contest for enter into the points in the final laps; in Race-2 on the contrary I pushed too hard just after the start and I crashed in a water puddle in the first corners.”


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

TREMENDOUS SECOND FOR TROY! BEST DAY IN PETRONAS COLOURS

Troy took a superb runner-up place in the first Superbike World Championship race at Misano today, behind Regis Laconi (Ducati). The race took place on a damp, but drying, track, with Troy making a good start from the second row of the grid. When the 27-rider field came round to complete the first lap Troy was in the lead! He then maintained the lead for the first thirteen laps before being overtaken by Laconi. The rain started to fall so heavily on lap sixteen that the race had to be red-flagged as most riders were not on wet tyres. Local favourite Frankie Chili (Ducati) took third, ahead of Haga (Ducati), Vermeulen (Honda) and Troy’s team mate Walker. In race two, also held in varying conditions, Troy and all the top contenders were on wet tyres, with only Chili on intermediates. Laconi led most of the race but, as the track dried out, Chili remorselessly charged up the field and then got closer and closer to Laconi. Then, on the very last lap, Chili overtook Laconi and the partisan crowd went wild. The Italian pulled away from Laconi and took the chequered flag one to record a truly emotional victory. Laconi was second, ahead of Martin (Ducati), Haslam (Ducati) and Toseland (Ducati). Troy had clutch problems on the warm-up lap, but carried on and finished seventh. Together with second in race one, it was Troy’s best day in Petronas colours and his first podium since Imola in 2001.

TROY Race 1: 2nd, Race 2: 7th

It’s hard to believe that I was back on the podium after such a long time. That’s was Imola in 2001 and it’s been so long, I nearly had to ask where the podium was! All weekend, we’ve pretty much been in the top four in every session and if I’d got off the line quicker in race two, I might have been able to get another good result there. This is my best result for the team so far and I’m so pleased for everybody involved. I was trying hard to stay with Regis (Laconi) after he passed me in the first race, but in the end I had to settle for second. Before race two started I had a problem with the clutch on the warm-up lap and that made entering corners difficult as the bike was oscillating. Then I got a bit tangled up with Sanchini and had to settle down again and go with what I had. Today is very positive for us and I’m looking forward to the next stage of the engine’s development at the next round at Monza.


More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Corser second in first Misano race for Foggy PETRONAS Racing

Troy Corser achieved Foggy PETRONAS Racing’s best result on the FP1 when he was second in a dramatic first race at Misano in the third round of the World Superbike championship.

Team-mate Chris Walker, who was sixth when the rain started and the race was stopped early, helped complete the team’s best ever points haul from a race.

Both riders made an excellent start to the race on dry tyres, although rain was a constant threat and last minute tyre choices were made on the grid, and Troy had already fought his way to the front by the end of the first lap.

From there he pulled a four second lead as championship favourite Regis Laconi was making his way through the pack on his factory Ducati. Troy was finally caught on the 15th lap of a race that was stopped early just three laps later, with the result standing as more than two thirds of the laps had been completed.

Troy said: “I am really pleased for PETRONAS, for the team and also for myself! It’s been a while since I was out there leading a race and I can’t help being frustrated that I didn’t get the win. I didn’t get my greatest start off the line but went round the outside of some riders at turn two as I knew I had to be in the top two or three early on to have any chance at all. Chris was in front of me but I got a draught off him and whipped out before then going round the outside of Chili. Then I just pushed as hard as I could before the performance of the rear tyre started to wear off, especially on the damp patches. So I had to try and keep the times as consistent as possible as I knew someone was catching me, although I didn’t know who it was. Laconi’s bike was much quicker down the straights so it was no wonder that he did go past me! But my bike worked well and, apart from in one corner, we had the gearing right and also a good set-up.”

Chris, who had achieved the first podium finish on the FP1, the Malaysian superbike, said: “I got a really good start but I was struggling to get into a rhythm. Every time I pushed I came out of my seat. The power was snappy low down as the gearing was set for the wet but the bike ran well and I was happy to get sixth, as I had been struggling during qualifying. I kept getting caught, which is frustrating, but I was just praying they would stop the race while Troy was in the lead.”


More, from another press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Foggy heaps praise on riders after second podium for FPR

Carl Fogarty heaped praise on his two Foggy PETRONAS Racing riders after the team’s best display at the third round of the World Superbike championship in Misano, Italy.

The four times World Superbike champion and FPR owner watched his former team-mate Troy Corser finish second in the day’s first race, with Chris Walker a creditable sixth. And, although the team did not fare as well in the second race when technical difficulties resulted in Troy finishing 7th and Chris 13th, the results were enough to move PETRONAS above Honda into second place in the manufacturers’ standings.

On a day of unpredictable weather conditions, Troy capitalised on the previous two day’s good set-up work on slick Pirelli tyres to pull a healthy lead before being caught on the 15th lap by factory Ducati rider Regis Laconi. A heavy shower brought an early end to the race to seal FPR’s second podium, following Chris Walker’s debut ride to finish third in Valencia.

On a damp track for the afternoon race, both FPR riders went along with the majority of the grid and opted for wet weather tyres in the front and rear. However, local hero Frankie Chili chose an intermediate rear and, on a drying track, hauled in a massive deficit on Laconi to clinch a thrilling victory.

Troy, after an indifferent start, suffered clutch problems early in that race and was unable to improve on seventh place. Chris, on a softer compound, suffered problems with grip early in the race, as well as engine over-heating.

Carl said: “It has been a fantastic weekend, our best to date, with Troy getting an excellent second place – and almost a win! At the start of the year I thought we might be challenging for a rostrum at the end of the season so to have had two in the first three rounds is a credit to the riders and to PETRONAS. The weather was a bit cooler and the conditions damper, so that levels things out and then it is down to the riders. And I believe we have two of the best in the championship. If it had remained wet all day, who knows, we might even have had a win. It was also good to see the old guy Chili still winning races!”

Troy said: “It was hard to believe I was back on the podium after such a long time. The last time was at Imola in 2001! But we have been in the top four pretty much every session here and, if I had got off the line a bit better in the second race, I might have finished a bit further up. This is the best result we have had so far so I am obviously pleased for everyone involved in the project. I was trying so hard to stay in front but the track was getting slippery and I was losing the rear end when I was trying to stay with Laconi, so I had to settle for second. In the second race I had a problem with the clutch on the sighting lap and entry into the corners was difficult as it was oscillating. Then I got tangled up with Sanchini at the start and really just had to ride round and settle for what I had. But this is a positive note on which to move forwards to the next stage of our engine development at Monza.”

Chris said: “I am disappointed with the result in the second race as I think we deserved better. I got a great start and was desperate to lead the race but my tyre lost grip after three laps and I was suffering engine difficulties after five laps so there wasn’t much more that I could do. But I was happy with sixth place in the first race, although I was praying for it to start raining while Troy was still in the lead so that he could win.”


More, from a press release issued by FGSport Group:

Changeable Raceday: The fastest Superbike riders in the world had hoped for a dry day of race action, after the ever-changing track in qualifying, but it was another day of drifting parameters and conditions, and which delivered a win apiece to Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila) and Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati).

Race One: In the first of the two Superbike races, scheduled for 25 laps, the victor’s laurels went to French rider Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila), who hunted down and caught long term leader Troy Corser (Petronas FP-1) shortly before the morning rains returned and halted the race early. The lap count finally was 17, making for a full points score for all riders who finished in the top 15. In third place, the 998 Ducati of Pierfrancesco Chili was enough to take the 39-year-old rider to a popular podium finish. Just off the podium came the charging Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati) followed by the yellow Ten Kate Honda of Chris Vermeulen in fifth.

Race Two: With a fully wet track in front of them the field of riders chose mostly full wet tyre solutions. The exception proved to be Pierfrancesco Chili, on his latest spec of 998R, who made slow progress before charging through at up to two seconds per lap faster than his peers. He tracked Regis Laconi and on the final lap took the advantage over his championship rival, as his hard compound wet rear tyre became unsuitable for the drying track. In third place, Steve Martin (DFX Ducati) was fully 32 seconds behind Chili. In fourth, Noriyuki Haga was another charging force, while his team-mate in the Renegade Ducati squad, Leon Haslam, equally his best 2004 finish of firth.

The Pentagon: Chili’s win made him the fifth different race winner, the others being James Toseland, Noriyuki Haga, Garry McCoy and Regis Laconi (twice). That is as many race winners are there were in all of the races in 2003.

Kawasakis Come Of Age: The Bertocchi Kawasaki team witnessed Mauro Sanchini make some true headway in terms of the competitiveness, of the ZX-10. Sanchini led four of the second race laps, in the early wet laps, before sliding back to 11th due to tyre choice.

Points Standings: The points standings changed significantly in Superbike, with Chili’s dazzling rides making him the new clear leader with 97, from James Toseland, who had two tough rides eventually finishing tenth and sixth after an abysmal qualifying in 20th. Laconi and Vermeulen share the 70-point mark.

Supersport: A seemingly certain Ten Kate Honda 1-2 ended up with a crash for long time leader Broc Parkes but a win for Karl Muggeridge in Misano, as he continued his high pace without major incident. The Supersport race started in wetter conditions than the second Superbike race, and was delayed by 40 minutes; such was the severity of the immediate pre-race weather. In second place, Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) is now in second place in the championship standings. Championship leader Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Italia) went third, ahead of Suzuki rider Katsuaki Fujiwara. A good ride by Kawasaki Bertocchi rider Stefano Cruciani, in a strong podium place for long periods, ended in a crash.


More, from a press release issued by Pirelli:

SUPERBIKE & SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
EUROPEAN SUPERSTOCK CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUND 3 – MISANO ADRIATICO 16-18 APRIL
Race Report

Misano, 18th April 2004 – LACONI AND CHILI SHARE MISANO SPOILS. The inclement and ever changing wet weather conditions of practice carried over into race day at Misano, as the first race was shortened to 17 laps due to rain and race two was started in wet conditions. The variety of tyres chosen by the teams made for an equally wide variety of fortunes, with two riders in particular shining bright during an overcast day on the Adriatic coast.

Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila 999) played the winning hand in the first race at Misano, which was delayed due to machine problems on the grid. The start saw the Petronas FP-1 three-cylinder machine of Troy Corser take the lead, and run away with what looked like a safe win at one stage. Corser was relentlessly hunted by the voracious Laconi, who took his second win of the year, with Corser eventually second and Pierfrancesco Chili a valiant third. In fourth place Noriyuki Haga boomed his Ducati through the field to fourth, with Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda) in fifth place, after some similar progress from a bad start.
Mauro Sanchini (Kawasaki) would have taken an almost certain podium finish had he not crashed, and in an incident packed race, the rains which came back at an inopportune time for most, bringing out the red flags and finishing the first contest on the 17 lap mark.

RACE 2
TRACK CONDITIONWETAIR HUMIDITY80%
TRACK TEMPERATURE 21°CAIR TEMPERATURE18°C

An outstanding charge through the field, from 15th position on lap one, allowed Pierfrancesco Chili the chance to show all his many years of experience to good effect. Making the best of his tyre choice – wet front and intermediate rear – on what became a drying track – the 998RS rider caught and passed Laconi, the virtually unopposed leader to that point. A truly classic fight of tactics and sheer skill proved to be exclusively a two-man battle, with the next nearest challenger being Steve Martin (DFX Ducati), 32 seconds down on the winner.
A team display by Noriyuki Haga and Leon Haslam put them fourth and fifth respectively, on their Renegade Ducati 999s.


Giorgio Barbier (Pirelli Racing Manager): “There are enough stories about today to fill a book. In Valencia we had the first leg run on a damp track, better suited to the slicks, but in race two today we had wet conditions in which it was possible to run with a wet tyre. We are quite happy about the final result because even as the track dried the riders could make it to the end of the race using wets. We were worried about the long left hand corners onto the back straight, because there is a risk that if the tyre overheats then it could explode. Laconi showed that he could make a good lap time, even at the end of the race, when his tyres were completely worn out. Some took the risk to choose the softest rain tyre, but the other proved to be better. The rear intermediate was really an intermediate and it allowed Chili the chance to have a fantastic race. The main thing today is that we have now tested the full range of our tyres, due to all the track and weather conditions in the first three circuits. Now we know what we have, and how to develop it.”

Supersport

Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda) finally delivered on his proven qualifying potential with a race win in the 23-lap Supersport event, but only after his team-mate Broc Parkes crashed out on lap 15. Leading by an impressive margin almost throughout, Parkes looked to be a surefire winner, but his front end fall, in slippery and unpredictable track conditions, leaves him outside the top ten overall. Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Germany) was second, with hard charging Jurgen van den Goorbergh taking third place for the second race in succession, reinforcing his championship lead. In fourth place Suzuki rider Katsuaki Fujiwara (Alstare Suzuki) managed to hold of a resurgent charge from Alessio Corradi (Team Italia Megabike Honda).

Giorgio Barbier: “The first two riders chose the softest wets, the third placed rider the hardest rain tyre we had. Considering they had a wetter track than in Superbike, the tyres proved what we thought – the right choice would decide who could win.”