Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

D.F.Xtreme Sterilgarda’s Marco Borciani led Friday morning World Superbike practice with a time of 1:27.868 on his Ducati 999RS.

Renegade Ducati’s Noriyuki Haga was second-fastest with a 1:28.123, in spite of crashing in turn six halfway through the session. Haga appeared to be uninjured in the crash and rode his bike away from the incident.

Armed with new engine parts and last year’s set-up information, Troy Corser was third-quick on the Foggy Petronas FP1 at 1:28.201 and only 3 kph down on the fastest top speed of 243 kph, which was obtained by four riders.

Making his return to action after sitting out with a broken wrist, Steve Martin, Borciani’s teammate, was fourth-fastest with a 1:28.216.

Fila Ducati’s Regis Laconi looked strong in the session until he developed a mechanical problem which appeared to leak fluid onto his rear tire, nearly causing him to highside in turn four. Laconi parked his factory Ducati 999 in the Corkscrew, returned to the pits, took his back-up bike out for the remainder of the session but could not improve on his time.

Kawasaki’s Bertocchi’s Ivan Clementi, sixth-fastest with a 1:28.845, looked like a contender during the first practice.

Laconi’s teammate James Toseland was slightly off the pace, eighth-fastest with a 1:28.907.

Pierfrancesco Chili rode his PSG-1 Corse Ducati 998RS to the ninth-fastest time, a 1:29.014.

Chris Vermeulen, who along with Leon Haslam, is seeing Laguna Seca for the first time, was 10th-quick on his Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR.

Borciani’s 1:27.868 was significantly slower than the fastest time from the first World Superbike practice in 2003, Laconi’s 1:26.429.

All riders in the 2004 World Superbike Championship use the same selection of Pirelli slicks.

There are no Americans entered in the World Superbike races as wild cards.

Friday Morning World Superbike Practice Times:

1. Marco Borciani, Ducati 999RS, 1:27.868
2. Noriyuki Haga, Ducati 999RS, 1:28.123
3. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, 1:28.201
4. Steve Martin, Ducati 999RS, 1:28.216
5. Regis Laconi, Ducati 999F04, 1:28.478
6. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:28.845
7. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, 1:28.882
8. James Toseland, Ducati 999F04, 1:28.907
9. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, 1:29.014
10. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:29.133
11. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:29.275
12. Chris Walker, Foggy Petronas FP1, 1:29.280
13. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:29.498
14. Garry McCoy, Ducati 999RS, 1:29.905
15. Leon Haslam, Ducati 999RS, 1:30.199
16. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati 998RS, 1:30.260
17. Gianluca Nannelli, Ducati 998RS, 1:31.029
18. Alessio Velini, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:31.825
19. Horst Saiger, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:32.809
20. Warwick Nowland, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.266
21. Miguel Praia, Ducati 999RS, 1:34.209