Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday World Supersport Qualifying Results From Misano:

1. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:51.189
2. Broc Parkes, Honda CBR600RR, 1:51.253
3. Karl Muggeridge, Honda CBR600RR, 1:51.266
4. Kevin Curtain, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:51.852
5. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:51.914
6. Alessio Corradi, Honda CBR600RR, 1:52.134
7. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati 749R, 1:52.386
8. Lorenzo Lanzi, Ducati 749R, 1:52.814
9. Christian Kellner, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:52.927 10. Walter Tortoroglio, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:53.113
11. Sebastien Charpentier, Honda CBR600RR, 1:53.142
12. Jurgen Vd Goorbergh, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:53.200
13. steve Brogan, Honda CBR600RR, 1:53.253
14. Vittorio Iannuzzo, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:53.262
15. Max Neukirchner, Honda CBR600RR, 1:53.327
16. Stefano Cruciani, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:53.495
17. Matteo Baiocco, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.111
18. Matthieu Lagrive, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:54.472
19. Massimo Roccoli, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.860
20. Eli Chen, Honda CBR600RR, 1:55.317
21. Fabien Foret, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:55.985

23. Nicky Wimbauer, USA, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:57.818


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

Parkes and Muggeridge On Provisional Front Row

A wet first qualifying session on the Adriatic circuit of Misano delivered two top flight performances from the Ten Kate Honda pairing of Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) and Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR). Muggeridge was on provisional pole for the majority of the session, but a late charge from Parkes, and an eventual fastest lap from Suzuki’s Katsuaki Fujiwara, put him third fastest.

The weather was the main talking point of the first session, starting out wet and with increasing rainfall, getting theoretically more difficult as time went on. The track conditions, as the late improvements in lap time proved, maintained its grip qualities, much to the surprise of most.

Said Parkes, with a time of 1:51.253s, “We lost a bit of time in the early part of the session, as we made gradual improvements to the set-up. It got a lot better and we were able to make improvements at the end. I’m happy with that.”

For Muggeridge, the day was a success, even if he didn’t have everything his own way with his time of 1:51.266s. “Things went pretty well early in the session but I think we got a bit complacent,” he stated. “The track was fully wet everywhere but the grip was good and wanted to push harder but thought better of it. I came into the pits because my visor fogged anyway, but then Broc and Katsuaki Fujiwara went ahead on times. I’m happy anyway, the front row was always my goal and I’ve sorted out why my visor steamed up. I aim more for the front row than pole now, because if we work on the bike set-up, and make it good, then we’ll get pole anyway. But the race is the main thing.”

Another excellent first day of qualifying for the Ten Kate team was of particular satisfaction to team manager Ronald Ten Kate. “After the first two races, now we know how to share knowledge better and faster and that’s very good,” he said. “I’m happy with the start of the weekend. Karl went off really well, very fast at the start, and at the end he did eight laps at a medium pace as a wet tyre endurance test almost and we were surprised how good the track conditions were.”

World Supersport Championship
Round Three – Misano Adriatico, Italy
16 – 18 April 2004
First Qualifying

1. K. Fujiwara, JPN, Suzuki GSX 600R, 1.51.189
2. B. Parkes, AUS, Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR, 1.51.253
3. K. Muggeridge, AUS, Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR, 1.51.266
4. K. Curtain, AUS, Honda CBR600RR, 1.51.852 5. S. Chambon, FRA, Suzuki GSX 600R, 1.51.914
6. A. Corradi, ITA, Honda CBR600RR, 1.52.134
7. G. Bussei, ITA, Ducati 749 R, 1.52.386
8. L. Lanzi, ITA, Ducati 749 R, 1.52.814
9. C. Kellner, GER, Yamaha YZF R6, 1.52.927
10. W. Tortoroglio, ITA, Suzuki GSX 600R, 1.53.113


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

LANZI (DUCATI BREIL) EIGHTH IN OPENING QUALIFYING FOR MISANO SUPERSPORT

Misano Adriatico (Italy), Friday 16 April 2004: Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Breil) set eighth quickest time in the opening qualifying session for the San Marino World Supersport Championship round at Misano Adriatico.

In rainy conditions, the 22 year-old Ducati Breil Supersport rider was placed fourth for much of the session but then slipped down four places in the final hectic few minutes.

“Eighth place means row 2 on the grid so I’m pretty pleased with today’s performance” commented Lanzi.

“We still have to improve the set-up of my 749R, because this afternoon I didn’t exactly have the right feeling in the wet and the rear of the bike was sliding around a lot.

“Maybe conditions won’t improve much tomorrow so it was important to set a good time in this session. At least we’ll start the race on row 2 if it’s pouring down” he concluded.

TIMES: 1. Fujiwara (Suzuki) 1:51.189; 2. Parkes (Honda) 1:51.253; 3. Muggeridge (Honda) 1:51.266; 4. Curtain (Yamaha) 1:51.852; 5. Chambon (Suzuki) 1:51.914; 6. Corradi (Honda) 1:52.134; 7. Bussei (Ducati 749R) 1:52.386; 8. Lanzi (Ducati Breil 749R) 1:52.814; etc.


More, from a press release issued by Belgrada Yamaha:

Yamaha Racing
Yamaha Italia World Supersport Team Newsletter
Date: April 16th 2004
Circuit: Misano, m. 4.060
Friday Qualifying
Weather: Mostly wet
Temperature: air 13°
Crowd: 1.000

DAMP START FOR JURGEN AND FABIEN
Overnight rain made conditions at Misano very difficult in the morning session and then the afternoon timed qualifying saw a completely wet track. Yamaha Motor Italia riders Jurgen van den Goorbergh and Fabien Foret took no risks today and ended 12th and 21st respectively, but are not worried about their prospects for the rest of the weekend. Both are confident that they can improve hugely and do not mind if the conditions are wet or dry. Japanese rider Katsuaki Fujiwara (Suzuki) topped the leaderboard today, with the Hondas of Broc Parkes and Karl Muggeridge second and third. Completing the provisional front row of the grid is Kevin Curtain (Yamaha).

JURGEN VAN DEN GOORBERGH – 12th, 1:53.200
Normally the track here is quite difficult in these kind of conditions, but today the grip was actually quite good. Coming from the Netherlands I never worry about riding in the rain, but as today was the first day I decided not to take any chances or do anything silly. I need more time to get used to riding this bike in the wet and making the right adjustments. The rear end felt really good, but we need to work on the front for tomorrow. The Yamaha’s power delivery felt very good today, so I am not at all worried about my present position. That will change tomorrow!

FABIEN FORET – 21st, 1:55.985
I hate the wet and that’s reflected in my position today! I didn’t try and push very hard at all, because I didn’t want to make any mistakes, but I’ll be going a lot harder tomorrow – whatever the conditions! I’m not worried at all at the moment, but I guess I would prefer it to be dry tomorrow and for the race on Sunday.

FRIDAY QUALIFYING
1 Fujiwara (J-Suzuki) 1:51.189, 2 Parkes (AUS-Honda) 1:51.253, 3 Muggeridge (AUS-Honda) 1:51.266, 4 Curtain (AUS-Yamaha) 1:51.852, 5 Chambon (F-Suzuki) 1:51.914, 6 Corradi (I-Honda) 1:52.134, 7 Bussei (I-Ducati) 1:52.386, 8 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 1:52.814, 9 Kellner (D-Yamaha) 1:52.927, 10 Tortoroglio (I-Suzuki) 1:53.113, 12 VD GOORBERGH (NL-YAMAHA MOTOR ITALIA) 1:53.200, 21 FORET (F-YAMAHA MOTOR ITALIA) 1:55.985

EUROPEAN SUPERSTOCK CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 2, San Marino (at Misano) – Friday 16th April

Yamaha R1 rider Gianluca Vizziello mastered difficult conditions at Misano today and took provisional pole position with a time of 1:57.819. Riding his Team Lorenzini by Leoni R1, Vizziello used his head in the rain, but was still over a second clear of his nearest rival – Riccardo Chiarello (Suzuki). Vizziello won the first round at Valencia and is determined to carry on with a win at Misano, to follow his victory here on the R1 Yamaha last year.

SOCCER STAR WITH YAMAHA
Former national and international soccer star, Danielle Massaro was a guest of Yamaha Motor Italia at Misano today. The Italian won numerous championships with AC Milan in his illustrious career and is a keen motorsport fan. He has competed in a couple of car rallies and has always been interested in bikes – though has never wanted to race. After today’s qualifying he said “In the dry, they are crazy, in the wet -they are unbelievable.”