Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn Le Santo

Katsuaki Fujiwara took pole position for Sunday’s World Supersport race in Sugo in a dry final qualifying session.

The Alstare Suzuki rider fought off a determined challenge from teammate and 2002 race winner Stephane Chambon. Christian Kellner and Pere Riba joined the pair for an all-Dunlop front row.

Fujiwara’s time of 1:32.044 is over one second faster than the first Pirelli rider on the grid, wild card Tekkyu Kayo on the Belgarda Yamaha this weekend. His best lap of 1:33.059 put him on the second row in front of fellow Pirelli riders Karl Muggeridge, Chris Vermeulen and Iain MacPherson. In typical Supersport fashion, only half-a-second separates the riders from 5th place down to 15th place!

World Supersport Championship
Round Three, Sugo
25-26-27 April 2003

Final Qualifying
Fastest Times

1. K. Fujiwara, JPN, Suzuki, 1:32.044
2. S. Chambon, FRA, Suzuki, 1:32.344
3. C. Kellner, GER, Yamaha, 1:32.823
4. P. Riba, Kawasaki, 1:32.995
5. T. Kayo, JPN, Yamaha, 1:33.059
6. K. Muggeridge, AUS, Honda, 1:33.078
7. C. Vermeulen, AUS, Honda, 1:33.089
8. I. MacPherson, GBR, Honda, 1:33.127
9. B. Parkes, AUS, Honda, 1:33.129
10. J. VD Goorbergh, NED, Yamaha, 1:33.132




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

Saturday brings a great improvement for the Ten Kate Honda team

After a disappointing Friday qualifying in terrible conditions, the Ten Kate Honda team worked hard to put both riders onto the second row for Sunday’s race.

Karl Muggeridge, who will start from sixth on the grid said: “I’m really happy we got some dry time today so we could get a proper race set up sorted. I’ve done so many laps in the last two days that I’m now the happiest on the new Honda CBR600RR that I’ve ever been. The bike is great in all areas, we have a good race tyre and I feel this is a perfect opportunity for me to be contesting for a win.”

His team mate Chris Vermeulen, fresh from his win in Phillip Island, will be right beside Muggeridge on the grid after qualifying seventh.

“Things were much better today,” said Vermeulen after qualifying. “And that wasn’t just because it was dry, but because we needed more time on the new bike at this circuit. Remember that Fujiwara and Chambon tested here after Phillip Island and as a result of that test they’re in another world so far this weekend and that’s making life hard for us. But I think on race tyres things are much closer and so I am confident of a good finish.”

Team Manager Ronald ten Kate confirmed his riders feelings, “The entire team has worked very hard with the riders to find a good race setting,” he explained. “We are very confident for Sunday because we know that on race tyres things will be different. We are all getting ready for a very big race on Sunday!”