Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Dennis Noyes

Fila Ducati factory rider Regis Laconi did two race simulations on the Ducati 999F03 at Valencia today, lapping consistently in the low 1:36s, clocking a best time on a race tire of 1:35.9. His best time on a qualifier was 1:35.6. Conditions were dry and chilly.

Teammate James Toseland had a quick time of 1:36.4 on a race tire and did not use a qualifier.

Top Petronas rider was Troy Corser who lapped in 1:36.9 on a race tire and did not use a qualifier. New teammate Chris Walker’s best time in only his second day on the Malaysian Triple was 1:38.2. Corser was finding it hard to ride around chatter problems on the Triple. “We tried lots of different constructions and compounds but couldn’t get past the chattering. We gave Pirelli our input and now they will go back and try and build a tire that works for us.”

Considering that this was the first time Superbike riders have run on the new generation of Pirelli slicks, team managers, riders and Pirelli technicians were pleased, especially with the Ducati performance, but that might be expected since Ducati has worked with Pirelli in the past and since the D.F.X. Ducati team ran Pirellis last year.

Most promising was the 17-lap stint in the 36s put in by Laconi–a pace that would have secured him a podium position at the World Superbike opener run at Valencia this spring but was not quite on the pace to match factory riders Neil Hodgson and Rubén Xaus who finished one-two in both races. A Solo Moto journalist who observed the three days of testing from trackside reported by phone from the circuit, “Laconi seemed to be very comfortable in the 1:36 range. I timed all his laps and can verify that he did 17 consecutive laps in the 36s and broke into the high-35s twice. The times I got were confirmed by Pirelli. It looked like he was not having any trouble running those times.”

Giorgio Barbier of Pirelli said, “We are very happy with the way this test went because this is the first time we have had a major test of our mass productions. Until now our slicks have been made one at a time in a laborious process. This was a big step forward, but it is only the beginning.”

The Chinese ZongShen team of Warwick Noland and Piergiorgio Bontempi did 38.5 and 38.3 respectfully on their heavy (185 kilo) and under-powered (160 horsepower) endurance-spec Suzukis. The team will contest the SBK championship.

The Alstare Corona Suzuki team was present but only in Supersport. It looks increasingly as if Suzuki will not back the team in the Superbike Championship.

Best Supersport time was by Jurgen Van den Goorbergh on the Belgarda Yamaha R6 in 1:38.0. His new teammate, Fabien Foret, very pleased with the Yamaha and with the Pirellis, lapped in 1:38.3 but crashed at the end of the third day, slightly injuring his thumb. Both Ten Kate Honda riders, Broc Parkes and Karl Muggeridge were said by the team to have done 1:38.3, a full second faster than Lorenzo Lanzi on the new Ducati 749. Stephane Chambon was the quickest Suzuki Supersport rider in 1:38.9.

It is far too early to tell how the switch to Pirelli will go in the Superbike class, but the first tests showed that the huge gap in times that some pessimists feared did not materialize, at least not at Valencia.


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

LACONI AND TOSELAND MAKE 999 DEBUT FOR DUCATI AT VALENCIA

Valencia (Spain), 13 November 2003: The Ducati Fila 2004 World Superbike championship pairing of Regis Laconi and James Toseland made their first appearance for the team this week as they completed a three-day testing session at the Valencia circuit in Spain, organised by Pirelli. The Italian manufacturer will be official one-make tyre supplier for next season’s World Superbike, World Supersport and European Superstock championships.

The 28-year-old Frenchman, who finished fourth in this year’s championship, was quick right from the start of the test on Tuesday and ended up with a time of 1:35.6 on qualifying tyres, which was the quickest time recorded in the three days. During his total of 215 laps, Laconi also did several long-runs, setting a quickest time of 1:35.9.

“It’s the first time I have ridden the 999 after following them around all year so I’m very happy!” declared Regis. “Ducati have made the 999 fast, it’s so enjoyable to ride and I’m already working very well with the team. We have a good feeling with the bike and we did a lot of work in these days, testing a lot of tyres and changing the settings. The front tyre is already OK and good for my style of riding and it’s important to set a good lap time right at the start.”

Britain’s James Toseland also got to grips with the championship-winning Ducati 999 and Pirelli rubber for the first time and the 23 year-old from Sheffield was pleased with his time of 1:36.4, recorded during a total of 195 laps.

“It’s all new for me and the only thing familiar is the track!” joked Toseland. “The first three days have been difficult as I knew they would be, but we’ve just got to get into the massive learning curve. The chassis and the riding style of the 999 are very different so we’re working hard on that as well. It’s all just a confidence-building exercise really. I’m pleasantly surprised with the way everything went and we’re not far off the times I set earlier this year. If we improve like this, I know it’s going to be a good championship.”

Lorenzo Lanzi continued testing with the Ducati 749R the Italian will race in the 2004 World Supersport championship, setting a quickest time of 1:39.3 in his 180 laps.



More, from a press release issued by Belgarda Yamaha:

Team Yamaha Belgarda Newsletter

Date: Thursday 13th November 2003
Circuit: Communitat Valenciana- Day 3

SUCCESSFUL TEST FOR TEAM YAMAHA BELGARDA
Team Yamaha Belgarda concluded three days of tests at Valencia this afternoon and left the Ricardo Tormo circuit delighted with the progress they made. New signing Fabien Foret crashed and hurt his left hand almost at the end of proceedings, but even that didn’t deter from his satisfaction with his R6 and new team and he is already looking forward to the next test. Jurgen set the quickest Supersport time over the three days and was very happy at the end of the test.

JURGEN VD GOORBERGH
130 laps (3 day total), best lap – 1:38.00
Generally I’m very content with what we’ve done here. We’ve tried lots of things and I think it’s been a very productive test for us all. We’ve gained a lot of information and now we’ll take that back to our workshops and use it to get ready for our next tests. The good news is that we know which direction to go and now when the next season begins, I will be ready straightaway. I will not be learning a new bike and new circuits – like I had to this year.

FABIEN FORET
161 laps (3 day total), best lap – 1:38.30
That was a very good test and I am happy with everything so far. At the end I crashed and maybe it was my fault. The tyre was a new one and maybe it hadn’t got up to temperature and I highsided in turn one. I banged my left hand and maybe cracked a little bone in my thumb, but it’s nothing really and I’ll be OK for the next test for sure. I am particularly happy because I feel I made some good progress today and although my times really weren’t any better, I felt much more comfortable on the bike. I did a run of about 15 laps, all in the 1:38s, so that made me very happy. It’s a shame about the crash, but I’m glad it happened right at the end of three days instead of at the start! I’m looking forward to the next test and getting my leg over the R6 again. I think I’m going to enjoy myself next year!