Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

World Supersport Qualifying
Phillip Island, Australia
March 26, 2004

1. Karl Muggeridge, Honda CBR600RR, 1:35.994
2. Kevin Curtain, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:36.164
3. Broc Parkes, Honda CBR600RR, 1:36.585
4. Sebastien Charpentier, Honda CBR600RR, 1:36.798
5. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:36.943
6. Lorenzo Lanzi, Ducati 749R, 1:37.300
7. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:37.589
8. Joshua Brookes, Honda CBR600RR, 1:37.610
9. Christian Kellner, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:37.685
10. Jurgen Vd Goorbergh, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:37.784
11. Fabien Foret, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:37.844
12. Max Neukirchner, Honda CBR600RR, 1:37.875
13. Alessio Corradi, Honda CBR600RR, 1:37.998
14. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati 749R, 1:38.074
15. Vittorio Iannuzzo, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:38.396
16. Walter Tortoroglio, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:38.457
17. Matthieu Lagrive, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:39.007
18. Stefano Cruciani, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:39.086
19. Denis Sacchetti, Honda CBR600RR, 1:39.658
20. Matteo Baiocco, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:39.930
21. Steve Brogan, Honda CBR600RR, 1:40.582
22. Mark Stanley, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:40.896
23. Brendan Clarke, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:41.008
24. Yaniv Peleg, Honda CBR600RR, 1:42.096


More, from a press release issued by FGSport Group:

SUPERSPORT: Muggeridge Fastest After Day One – In the Supersport World Championship, local rider Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) secured the provisional pole position, leaving it late to record a session best of 1:35.994. An Aussie clean sweep of the top three positions had Yamaha Motor Germany rider Kevin Curtain second, on his return to familiar territory, while Muggeridge’s team-mate Broc Parkes took the third quickest lap, 0.591 seconds down on provisional pole. Honda’s good early showing continued with Sebastien Charpentier (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) also on the overnight front row, ahead of fastest Suzuki lapper, Katsuaki Fujiwara (Alstare Suzuki GSX-R600).

Lorenzo Lanzi, the lone Breil Ducati factory entrant on the 749 vee-twin, went fifth fastest, having used his experience of the track from a previous winter test outing. Stephane Chambon (Alstare Suzuki GSX-R600), the 1999 World Champion, was sixth quickest, ahead of top wildcard rider, Josh Brookes on a Castrol Honda.


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

Muggeridge Heads Provisional Front Row

A keenly contested first qualifying session at Phillip Island, held in blustery but dry conditions, saw Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) secure the provisional pole as the 45-minute session drew to a close. With the Ten Kate Hondas proving to be the fastest machines on the track once more – recording top speeds of 283 kph (175 mph) – Muggeridge’s team-mate Broc Parkes went third in the Supersport classification, despite running a set-up which can still be improved on.

The Ten Kate pairing, happy to be so competitive on home soil during the first day of testing, were nonetheless affected by the usual Phillip Island winds, which get under the machines on some key corners, preventing any immediate improvement in the qualifying lap record of 1:35.291.

Muggeridge proved the only rider capable of cracking the 1:35 barrier at the classic Australian circuit, posting a best of 1:35.994 with Parkes just behind with a 1:36.585. Another Aussie rider, Kevin Curtain, split the Ten Kate pilots by going second quickest overall on his Yamaha.

Muggeridge, who is looking for his first win on home soil, explained why he made such a late move into provisional pole, having been deposed from the top of the times with over ten minutes to go. “We were just a bit slow off the mark this morning, and we needed every minute of the timed session to get the bike better.” He continued, “I wasn’t trying any harder than this morning, we just got the bike better. The time speaks for itself and the bike was much easier to ride and easier to get around. I didn’t do anything special. It’s a bit windy the gusts are coming from the landward side, not coming from the sea for a change. Coming round the fast left towards Honda Corner it gets right under the bodywork and pushes you wide. Tomorrow I want to be a bit more consistent with the times.”

“I was a little bit late to get the right direction to go in to get the bike to handle,” said Parkes. “I missed out on changing something at the end but that’s OK. The bike’s fast – I just need to get the set-up better. Right now I’m a bit shy in pushing a bit more – and I hope there is less wind tomorrow!”

Team Manager Ronald Ten Kate gave some background on the team’s preparations for the PI race. “We have the same spec of machines as Valencia, the next release of engine will be ready at Misano. The bike we have here is still fast because both riders went 283 kph – the next best is 270 something – so we’re pleased with that.”


More, from a press release issued by Belgarda Yamaha Racing:

STEADY START FOR JURGEN AND FABIEN

The opening day of the second round of the 2004 Supersport World championship saw Jurgen van den Goorbergh and Fabien Foret make a steady start to the weekend. Problems finding good settings for their YZF-R6 Yamahas caused them to finish in tenth and eleventh places respectively. But both riders are very optimistic about their chances of improvement tomorrow and of qualifying on the first two rows of the grid. Today’s qualifying was somewhat affected by the wind, but it didn’t stop Aussie ace Karl Muggeridge (Honda) claiming provisional pole position with a time of 1:35.994. Aussies Kevin Curtain (Yamaha) and Broc Parkes (Honda) finished second and third fastest, with Frenchman Sebastien Charpentier (Honda) fourth.

JURGEN VAN DEN GOORBERGH ­ 10th, 1:37.784

It has been a tough Friday almost as usual really and I just couldn’t find a good suspension setting in combination with the tyres. Right at the end of the qualifying session, we found a bit of an improvement, but we’d run out of time by then. We lost about twenty minutes this afternoon because of some problems with a brake lever and then with a red light that kept coming on in the dash display. As the session is only forty-five minutes, losing twenty of them is a lot. I like racing here and it’s one of my favourite tracks in the world, but at the moment I’m not happy with it because I’m not where I want to be in order.

FABIEN FORET ­ 11th, 1:37.844

My biggest problem today was finding a good setting for my bike. I spent all day trying to find a good feeling ­ especially the front end ­ but we still have some work to do. I did try pushing hard, but the lap times just didn’t come probably I wasn’t confident enough with the bike. I don’t know why, but I’m always slow here on the first day despite the fact that I like the circuit because it’s fast and has lots of high-speed corners. Tomorrow we’ll try some changes, but I’m sure we’ll improve a lot.

FOX ON THE BOX

Host broadcasters FOX TV (transmitters of the signal of the Supersport race this weekend to the European networks) made two long special interviews with Yamaha Motor Italy riders Jurgen van den Goorbergh and Fabien Foret at Phillip Island before the action began. Jurgen’s and Fabien’s interviews will be broadcasted just before the race start.

MATTEO BAIOCCO

Team Lorenzini by Leoni rider Matteo Baiocco finished the first day of qualifying in twentieth place on his YZF R6 Yamaha.


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

FUJIWARA AND CHAMBON ON FRONT ROWS

2004 Supersport World Championship, Round 2, Phillip Island, Australia. Friday qualifying, 26th March. Circuit: 4.445 kms.
Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra’s Katsuaki Fujiwara posted fifth fastest time in today’s opening qualifying session for Sunday’s World Supersport second round at Phillip Island in Australia, with team mates Stephane Chambon and Vittorio Iannuzzo seventh and 15th.

The day was a mixed one for the team; since the last race at Valencia, they have worked hard developing the new 2004 Suzuki GSX 600R and today was a small step in the continuing programme.

The bike has improved, but at the moment, top-end speed is a little bit down on the top bikes and that means that Phillip Island is going to be a difficult track for the team.

Aussie Karl Muggeridge (Honda) dominated the qualifying session and took provisional pole with a time of 1:35.994, ahead of fellow countrymen Kevin Curtain (Yamaha) and Broc Parkes (Honda).

KATSUAKI FUJIWARA 5th, 1:36.943:

“The team has worked hard on the new bike since the last round and there is definitely an improvement for sure. For me the chassis and the bike’s balance is a better, but obviously there is still a lot of work to be done. I think that we will improve further for the next race at Misano, but in the meantime we are struggling a little with top speed. Today the fastest rider’s top speed was almost seventeen kilometres per hour quicker then me, which is a lot! I’m having a few little problems with getting the bike stopping the way I’d like, but I hope that will be better tomorrow also. It’s going to be a hard weekend for sure, but first I want to qualify on the front row of the grid tomorrow. Then we’ll see what happens on race day.”

STEPHANE CHAMBON 7th, 1:37.589:

“Today I had some chassis problems and also some problems with the wind. Every time I come here, I feel that the winds are against me and because I am small, it can be difficult controlling the bike properly. I’m not sure exactly what my problem with the bike’s set-up was today, but we’ll change a few things and see how much we can improve. I like this circuit a lot, but I would like my bike to be a faster because at the moment I am nearly 19kph slower then Muggeridge!”

VITTORIO IANNUZZO 15th, 1:38.396:

“I’m not so happy because my times are so different to the leaders.I had some set-up problems today, but we’ll make changes for tomorrow and I hope I can improve a lot. I’d like to think that I can finish qualifying with a place on the second row of the grid and that’s what I’ll be aiming for tomorrow. Phillip Island is one of the best tracks in the world so I’d love to make a good race here.”