From a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Foggy sets FPR sights on podium positions Foggy PETRONAS Racing embark on their second season of World Superbike championship competition this weekend aiming to turn the experience gained in their debut season into podium-challenging performances for 2004.

Australian former world champion Troy Corser is joined by British favourite Chris Walker when qualifying action starts tomorrow at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, Spain, in the build-up to Sunday’s opening two races.

And team owner Carl Fogarty, the four-times World Superbike champion, has set realistic targets in just the second year of development of the FP1 – the Malaysian superbike.

He said: “Our aim is to improve on last year as, to some extent, this is another year of development. It’s hard for me to convince people of that, as expectations of my team are always going to be high. And it’s difficult for me to tell myself that we have to learn to walk before we can run. But it’s important to remember we have 40-50 years less history than the likes of Honda and Ducati!

“I think this year’s championship will be more competitive but, with the engine developments that are planned for later in the season, the aim is to get on the rostrum and to make sure that PETRONAS finish higher than last season in the manufacturers’ standings. I have now got two riders who, in my opinion, are as good as any in this championship. Chris has been close to Troy during winter testing and the competition will push each other along.”

Troy, who achieved his best qualifying position of last year at Valencia when he put the FP1 on the front row in its very first outing, said: “I am confident that our engine will become stronger and more consistent as the season progresses and it will be nice to get out there and racing for positions a lot further towards the front of the field. When things are going well for us I am sure we can be in the top five and the aim has to be to get on the podium. Last year the aim was to finish in the points, this year it will to be to finish every race with as many points as possible.”

Chris, who achieved one of his six podium finishes at Valencia last year, said: “I know that the bike is going to improve over the year. But, with the help of the new tyre manufacturers Pirelli, and the great team that I have, I am hoping that we will soon be right on the button. We need to make sure that we are at the sharp end by the time of the British races and, from there, put in a very strong finish to the season.”

Chief engineer Steve Thompson and his technical team have been working closely throughout the winter with the team’s engine developers in order to address reliability issues which contributed to a number of race retirements throughout 2003. It is planned to have this next phase of engine development ready before the middle of the season. The aim is then to improve performance of the engine in time for the round at Laguna Seca. The focus of this phase of development has been to produce more torque, providing the riders with better drive out of the slower corners and, consequently, higher top speeds on the straights.

Until then, increased performance will be achieved through continual improvements in tyre development with Pirelli, along with use of a new cooling system from MB Motorsport. This is not only a lighter package, but has already produced a beneficial effect on oil cooling in testing. Lower temperatures throughout race distance are expected to aid engine performance in the latter stages of races. Added to this are new Ohlins gas forks and new Brembo brake discs, so that Troy and Chris maintain their advantage through the corners.

Steve said: “We were still around a second away from our lap times of the races last year at Valencia. That is being lost in the corners, which used to be our advantage. So we do need to make further improvements in stability at the rear over the first couple of days this weekend.”