A Preview Of The Misano World Superbike Event From The Series Promoters

A Preview Of The Misano World Superbike Event From The Series Promoters

© 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

World Superbike Championship 2004
Round 3 Misano Adriatico 16-18 June 2004

The Eastern coast of Italy plays host to the third round of what is proving to be a fascinating and unpredictable 2004 World Superbike Championship, after two previous race weekends of alternating fortunes for the top contenders.

Round one in Valencia saw Ducati riders James Toseland (Ducati Fila 999F04) and Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati 999 RS) secure the first laurels of the year, with the second round in Australia providing wins for Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila 999 F04) and Garry McCoy (Xerox NCR Ducati 999RS).

The 2004 SBK regulations allow for a wide variety of roadbike-based machines, of many differing engine configurations, to be truly competitive. The upper engine capacity of 1000cc, for all models and types, plus the adoption of a control tyre for all classes supplied by technical partner Pirelli, have evened out the possibilities for all of the participants. Hence four different winners in four races so far, and widely differing fortunes for the top contenders as each race progresses.

King of Superpole, the specialised form of one-lap competition determining the final grid positions for the top 16 starters, is undoubtedly Regis Laconi, who has secured both Superpole starts quite magnificently so far. Only once has his practice prowess been converted into race finishes – albeit a win – and thus one of the pre-season favourites will be looking to Misano simply as a chance to claw his way up the championship table from tenth.

The top of the table is headed by the more consistent points scorer James Toseland, but the following pack of riders (Chili, McCoy and Vermeulen) are bunched up in a competitive manner, with only six points separating the top four.

In overall second place, despite some pronounced set-up issues with his new 999 Ducati, Pierfrancesco Chili has used both his 2004 and 2003 spec machines in races this year. Chili may find that Misano, his home round and a circuit where he has won a World Superbike race in the past, is the very place to take his first win of the year.

The fact that only one man in the present championship line up, Troy Corser, has won a race at Misano in past seasons makes pre-race predictions something of a lottery, rather than a calculated gamble. Of the other top entrants, two stand out as having been unfortunate so far this season, Steve Martin (DFX Sterilgarda Ducati 99RS) has taken only one podium, despite some impressive front-running rides, while the upsurge of young Briton Leon Haslam (Renegade Ducati 999RS) has yet to be translated into the high finish his talents deserve.

As well as the aforementioned Ducati entries, the field also comprises top-flight riders on competitive multi-cylinder machines. Having taken the World Supersport Championship with an unheard of level of dominance in 2003, Chris Vermeulen has swapped his 600cc machine for a full 1000cc Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade. The lone Ten Kate rider and his new machine have been the revelations of the season so far, taking podiums with what is a rapidly developing (yet still surprisingly standard) motorcycle, proving the ethos of the new SBK Championship is well founded.

Marco Borciani (DFX Ducati Sterilgarda 999RS) has proved his abilities with an overall championship sixth place, while the top Kawasaki rider is his countryman Mauro Sanchini (Bertocchi Ducati ZX-10) in ninth place overall.

The unique three-cylinder Petronas FP-1, operated by the Foggy Petronas Team, has propelled one of its two factory pilots to the podium places, as Chris Walker secured a third at Valencia. His team-mate, Troy Corser, the 1996 Champion on Ducati, will be desperate to equal or better that result, and is the only top rider in the current field to have taken wins at Misano in SBK.

The SBK wildcards for the Misano race include big name rider Doriano Romboni (Yamaha) plus another healthy entry of five ‘one-off’ competitors.

In the World Supersport Championship, also entering round three, the leader is the former GP rider and now Supersport supremo, Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Italia). The winner of the opening round in Valencia also took third at Phillip Island, giving him an 11 point advantage.

Second overall in the series is his team-mate, Fabien Foret, and a Yamaha 1-2-3 at this stage is completed by Phillip Island runner-up Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany).

Top regular Suzuki rider is Katsuaki Fujiwara (Alstare Team), in fifth place, with new Ducati entry Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Breil) sixth.

Some superb qualifying performances from the Ten Kate Honda riders Broc Parkes and Karl Muggeridge have yet to be turned into big points scores. With Parkes on the Misano podium in 2003, he may be the best bet of the two.

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