Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Dennis Noyes

All season long Pier Francesco Chili (PGS-1 Ducati) has been chasing a Superpole and on one memorable occasion in Oschsersleben he actually jumped over the pit wall on the main straight and gave Neil Hodgson the palms down signal jokingly trying to slow him down as the Englishman started his final lap of the “wet” Superpole.

It didn’t work. Hodgson took the pole and the Breil watch. A session is called “wet” if it is raining, obviously, or if it is deemed “likely to rain.” Race Director Roberto Nosetto, very experienced in running races at Assen, noted the threatening skies and opted for a “wet” session.

Today it was again a “wet” Superpole situation with the top 16 riders given 50 minutes and 12 laps to set a time. The quick lap was held briefly by John Reynolds (Rizla Suzuki), Troy Corser (Foggy Patronas) and Gregorio Lavilla (Alstare Coronas Suzuki) but for the final half hour the battle was between Chili and Hodgson with Lavilla and Xaus just off the searing pace.

The pole see-sawed between the two with Chili going first with a 2:01.965. Hodgson answered with a 2:01.512. Chili came back with a 2:01.451 before Hodgson brought the fans to their feet with a spectacular 2:01,226 and very nearly crashed coming out of the final chicane.

Chili, watching the proceedings from his chair, in the PGS-1 garage, cleaned his visor and went out for a final try.

Xaus meanwhile said that he went the wrong way on settings and made his bike worse for the Superpole. He was fourth. “Anyway, I can never get the Superpole, I think. Tomorrow if the warm-up is dry I can get a perfect set-up. Our set-up for the wet is so, so good.”

Lavilla, on his last lap of 12, encountered a slower rider and lost valuable time, taking third. “To be honest I think the slower rider cost me only a blink of time, maybe a tenth but maybe I could catch Neil but not Chili.”

Chili got a clean run and bettered Hodgson’s time by 0.4-second.

Hodgson still had three laps left, but had used up his last Michelin qualifying tire.

“I don’t think I could have beaten him anyway,” said the Englishman, who added, “I just have to say that it is amazing that Frankie on his old road bike, and he’s a bit old himself, has just done a lap within a second of Rossi’s best time on the V5.”

Chili, emotional as usual, said, “Today I was looking in the program at the riders’ birthdates and I see that some of them are 10 years younger than I am and I think, ‘Chili, what are you doing out there?’, but this is the sport I love. But there is a new tire rule that I don’t like. This year we are riding 1 second slower only than Rossi and I want to go faster next year, faster every year, but I think if they make this rule then we will go too slow and I am afraid that unless they change this rule I will not be here next year.”

The crowd shouted in anger, a shout that may easily have been heard in the nearby FGSport double-decker bus that serves as a track HQ.

Hodgson, who needs only 10 points to take the title, said, “I’m going to try and win the title and the races tomorrow. I have enough of a lead so that I can afford to do it. If it goes wrong tomorrow then I can just go to Italy and be conservative, but there are too many British fans here and I want to win the title by winning for them.”

One problem for Hodgson and teammate Xaus tomorrow will be the “big one” from Dunlop. The new tire, referred to as “the big’un” by the Dunlop technicians made its way over from the Kawasaki-MotoGP development program and was used today in both race and qualifying form by Lavilla, Chili, Laconi, Toseland and Walker. It is said to be “a lot better” and very good even after a dozen laps.

Chris Walker did not come out in the Superpole session on his HM Plant Ducati after a crash in the morning. He intended to go out, but after a trip to the clinic doctors, he pulled out for X-rays to his neck. He is in doubt for tomorrow as is Foggy Petronas rider James Haydon who crashed hard at the fastest corner on the circuit in the wet morning qualifying session. X-rays revealed no broken bones but his injured hands were too painful to allow him to ride in the afternoon.



Ducati: “Xaus’s place is in World Superbike.”

Responding to our posting just an hour ago that Rubén Xaus has been talking to Ducati about the possibility of racing in the AMA Superbike Championship, Ducati Press Officer Julian Thomas commented, “Of course at this time of year everyone talks about everything, but I think Rubén’s order of choice would be first MotoGP and second World Superbike. If an opportunity opened in MotoGP that is surely what he would choose, but only on a competitive bike. Nothing is decided yet, but Xaus’s place is World Superbike.”

In this paddock, more than most, a rider is as good as his most recent results. There is no question that after the German World Superbike round in Oschersleben, Ducati had no plans for Xaus beyond the end of the year. Now, however, Xaus is beginning to show consistency and against a confusing backdrop when the advantage of factory bikes has been reduced by new technical regulations and with no tire advantage for anyone, the two most valuable elements in the racing equation are now clearly the suspension and the rider…meaning Ducati 999 + Ohlins + Xaus looks like a very valuable combination for 2004 and Ducati officials, who left Xaus out in the cold last year until Colin Edwards turned them down, would probably be wise to sign Xaus quickly because if he runs the table over the last six races there will be other offers and some may come from “the other paddock.”

Hodgson, however, seems now certain to ride a Ducati Desmosedici in MotoGP.


No Changes to the Supersport Grid

Although it started to dry in the final minutes of the final Supersport qualifying session, the track remained wet in places right to the end, preventing any changes on the Supersport grid.

Three Honda riders (Chris Vermuelen, Karl Muggeride and Sebastien Charpenteir) will start on the front row along with fourth-fastest qualifier Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha).


World Superbike Superpole Results:

1. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, 2:00.874
2. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 999F03, 2:01.226
3. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 2:02.042
4. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 999F03, 2:02.150
5. John Reynolds, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 2:02.269
6. Regis Laconi, Ducati 998RS, 2:02.531
7. James Toseland, Ducati 998F02, 2:02.587
8. Chris Walker, Ducati 998F02, 2:02.736
9. Leon Haslam, Ducati 998RS, 2:03.277
10. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 2:03.281
11. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, 2:03.524
12. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, 2:04.209
13. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, 2:04.668
14. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, 2:04.880
15. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 2:05.507
16. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, 2:05.591


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

CHILI EDGES OUT HODGSON (DUCATI FILA) IN EXCITING SUPERPOLE – FRONT ROW START FOR XAUS

Assen (Netherlands), Saturday 6 September:

Neil Hodgson (Ducati Fila) and Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati) produced an extraordinary battle for Superpole in view of Sunday’s Dutch Round of the World Superbike Championship at Assen.

The championship leader and the talian ‘veteran’ traded the top slot throughout the session (declared ‘wet’ although run in the dry) and after an exciting 50 minutes the pole went to Chili after both riders had used up their supply of qualifying tyres. Chili and Hodgson both smashed the existing lap record, and the Italian’s time of 2:00.874 was just one second slower than Capirossi’s pole mark with the Ducati Desmosedici in this year’s MotoGP race.

Hodgson, whose time of 2:01.226 puts him in second place for tomorrow’s races, needs just ten points to become this year’s champion.

“That was really good fun, it’s great battling with Frankie” declared Neil. “I’d go out, give my best, then I’d come in and he’d gone faster again. When I came in, I was shaking with adrenalin because I’d nearly crashed, but in the end I ran out of qualifiers! I’ve had a fantastic weekend so far and have found the enjoyment again after two tense rounds in America and Britain. Everything is going so well, I don’t want to tempt fate, but I’m looking forward to tomorrow. I know I’ve got one hand on the trophy but I’m going to give 100% as always”.

Ruben Xaus also had a positive Superpole session, lapping in 2:02.150 on the second Ducati 999 to line up on the outside of the front row for tomorrow’s two races.

“I’m always happy to be on the front row but we went a bit in the wrong direction at the end of yesterday” said Ruben. “Today we tried the same thing with a different set-up and it worked so now I don’t think I’m that far from the other guys. I’m pretty happy with the work my mechanics did because we got a good set-up for dry conditions and a perfect one for the wet. For me if tomorrow the warm-up is dry it will be better because I can do some more laps and get the bike to perfection”.

STARTING-GRID: 1. Chili (PSG-1 Ducati) 2:00.874; 2. Hodgson (Ducati Fila) 2:01.226; 3. Lavilla (Suzuki) 2:02.042; 4. Xaus (Ducati Fila) 2:02.150; 5. Reynolds (Suzuki) 2:02.269; 6. Laconi (NCR Ducati) 2:02.531; 7. Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) 2:02.587; 8. Walker (HM Plant Ducati) 2:02.736


More, from a press release issued by HM Plant Ducati:

Second row start for Toseland

Today’s wet Superpole session at Assen circuit in the Netherlands was dominated by Ducati. Pier-Francesco Chili took the honours with a best lap time of 2:00.874, while former HM Plant Ducati rider Neil Hodgson was second fastest, with a best time of 2:01.226.

HM Plant Ducati’s James Toseland qualified on the second row in seventh position but unfortunately for his team-mate Chris Walker, an accident in the morning left him unable to take part in this afternoon’s Superpole session. A decision on whether he races will be taken tomorrow morning.

Twenty-two year-old Toseland, who was on the podium for HM Plant Ducati last year at Assen, was pleased with his performance but believes that there is much more to come from him in tomorrow’s two races.

“We had a good practice session yesterday and the hard work that I put in during the dry conditions should stand me in good stead if it is a dry race. I’m happy overall with the setting I’ve got for the HM Plant Ducati and I’ve also found a good race tyre for these conditions.

“I was ninth fastest in this morning’s wet practice but after Chris’s accident, I didn’t want to push things too hard. My main focus is to finish ahead of Ruben Xaus in each race and concentrate on achieving second place in the Superbike World Championship for the team. I love the track and am really looking forward to mixing it out there tomorrow. There are loads of British fans here to cheer us on and the atmosphere is electric – I can’t wait.”

It wasn’t such good news for HM Plant Ducati’s Chris Walker. The popular Nottinghamshire rider crashed heavily during the wet morning session, yet still managed to go sixth fastest despite only completing eleven laps. In the afternoon practice session, the gutsy rider was only able to complete three laps before feeling too unwell to continue. After being examined at the medical centre, the circuit doctors advised Walker not to participate in this afternoon’s wet Superpole session. If he races tomorrow, he will start from eighth on the grid.


More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist:

TROY JUST MISSES OUT ON THE SECOND ROW.

At the end of a difficult day, with varying weather conditions, Troy was happy to get into the 2:03s and a place on the third row of the grid. But for a small mistake in the Strubben hairpin, Troy would’ve been on the second row. Toady’s Superpole session was deemed a ‘Wet Superpole’, with the top sixteen riders having a maximum of twelve laps and fifty minutes to set the fastest time. But most of the session was held in the dry and the lead changed hand several times. In the end, Italian Frankie Chili (Ducati) posted the weekend’s quickest lap with a time of 2:00.874 – only a second slower then Valentino Rossi’s best lap in the MotoGP earlier in the year. Series leader Neil Hodgson (Ducati) finished the day second, ahead of Gregorio Lavilla (Suzuki), with Ruben Xaus (Ducati) completing the front row of the grid.

TROY – 11th, 2:03.524
I’m pretty happy with my best time of the day, though maybe it could’ve been a bit better if I had not made a small mistake in the (Strubben) hairpin. That cost me a little time and probably a place on the second row. But getting a 2:03 was good and it’s a sign of the improvements we made to each day. We worked quite a bit on the gearing, rear shock and front forks today and there’s still room for more improvement. I know which front Michelin I’m going to use, but I’ve got a choice of two different rears to make. If the track temperature is higher, I’ll probably go for a harder compound, though the softer tyre has more side grip. I’d be happy to finish in the top ten tomorrow, but there a few people ahead of me that I think I can beat, so we’ll have to see how it all works out.


More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Haydon race doubt in Assen for Foggy PETRONAS Racing

Troy Corser qualified in 11th place for tomorrow’s tenth round of the World Superbike championship in Holland on a day marred by injury to team-mate James Haydon.

The Englishman crashed at the fastest corner on the Assen circuit, Meeuwenmeer, during a wet morning qualifying session. X-rays revealed no fractures to his injured hands but, after attempting to ride in the afternoon free practice, he was forced to pull out of the session.

James said: “There was a small dry line starting to develop, about 1.5 feet wide, and I was hitting it in fifth at about 140mph. The white line was right on the edge of the dry line. I think I must have misjudged my line it by a couple of centimetres, touched the white line and went down.

“My right hand has been bent fully forward and back and, while there is nothing broken, I have obviously torn and strained ligaments and tendons. I went out for a lap, trying to grin and bear it, but I couldn’t even turn the bike through the fast sections. I want to ride tomorrow as I want to finish the season on a high note, but I will have to see how it feels.”

Troy finished both qualifying sessions tenth fastest and, in a Superpole declared wet, he bettered his fastest lap of the weekend by more than a second with a time of 2.03.524 while Frankie Chili claimed pole with a time of 2:00.874.

Troy said: “I am pretty happy with 11th although I made a small mistake at the hairpin on my fastest lap, when I went in a little bit deep and wide, which might have cost me a second row start tomorrow. But we have made improvements each day and I’m happy to be in the 2:03s.

“We have been working on gearing, the rear shock and the front fork all day and can still make more improvements. I am happy with my front tyre but still have to choose between two rears. If the track temperature is higher I will probably go with the harder compound, although the softer tyre has more side grip. I will be happy if I finish in the top ten, although there are a couple ahead of me on the grid who I would expect to beat.”


More, from a press release issued by Scuderia Caracchi NCR Nortel Networks:

Laconi will start from the second row at Assen

Wake up under the rain this morning in Assen for the Superbike riders; all the strategies have been so twisted. After a Wet Superpole session Regis Laconi will start on his 998RS Ducati Caracchi NCR Nortel Networks for the two 16 lap races, 96,432 kilometres, from the second row for the tenth round of World Superbike.

Actually Regis has been not lucky today in Superpole: twice he has seen his possibility for a fast lap throw away due the presence of parked riders in the middle of the track, holding the fastest line in the narrow Dutch track.

“The race is tomorrow and we must stay calm.” – concluded a bit disappointed Laconi after the Superpole session – “I spoiled a couple of occasions due slow riders in the middle of the track that were returning the pits after their fast lap, so I throw away two occasions, a couple of soft tyres and a lot of the twelve laps allowed by the Wet Superpole procedure. I must know that I couldn’t be able to contest for the pole position, but to grab the front row could be possible without those troubles. However, as I told, the race is tomorrow and I’m confident to be ready for a good result, also if today our set up is not perfect due the continuous changing between wet and dry conditions.”

Bad fall for David Garcia in the second free practice session: the young Spanish rider hardly knocked against the asphalt with his helmet, remaining a bit confused, and only tomorrow morning he’ll know if he’ll be fit to race or not.

“Another crash, actually that’s a bad season! ” – said Garcia back in the box after the medical control – “I was riding quite well, despite some pain in my left arm, and I found myself on the asphalt. It has been a bad crash and I’ve been lucky that my helmet worked well, remaining damaged in the crash. My arm was looking to be able to resist for a 16 lap race and we found a good set up. I hope to stay better after a night sleeping tomorrow.”


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

FRONT ROW FOR GREGORIO

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Gregorio Lavilla will start tomorrow’s pair of 16-lap races from the front row of the grid after an eventful ‘Wet Superpole” today at Assen. The morning timed session was wet and no rider improved on Gregorio’s time from yesterday. Because of the threat of rain in Superpole this afternoon, the session was deemed a “Wet Superpole” with the top sixteen riders able to do a maximum of twelve laps in fifty minutes and set the best time. The session then took place almost entirely in dry conditions and the lead changed hands many times before veteran Frankie Chili (Ducati) put in an absolute flyer of a lap to take Superpole. His time of 2:00.874 was just one second slower then Valentino Rossi’s best time in the MotoGP earlier in the year! Second quickest today is series leader Neil Hodgson (Ducati), with Lavilla third and Ruben Xaus (Ducati) fourth.

GREGORIO LAVILLA ­ 3rd, 2:02.042
That was a very busy Superpole and I’m happy to be on the front row. On my last go, I was going very well and on course for the second quickest time, but another rider got in the way and held me up just a little. I don’t think I could’ve won Superpole, but maybe I would’ve managed second. But in the end, it doesn’t really matter because I am on the front row and that’s all that counts. What happens tomorrow is more important. We’ve still a few things to try in the morning warm-up tomorrow and maybe it’s possible to improve a bit more for the two races. Assen is a very demanding circuit and it’s going to be a long hard day tomorrow, but I’m optimistic of a good result (or two!) and hoping for a couple of podiums.

Final qualifying
1 Chili (I-Ducati) 2:00.874, 2 Hodgson (GB-Ducati) 2:01.226, 3 GREGORIO LAVILLA (E-ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA) 2:02.042, 4 Xaus (E-Ducati) 2:02.150, 5 Reynolds (GB-Suzuki) 2:02.269, 6 Laconi (F-Ducati) 2:02.531

VITTORIO IANNUZZO ­ Update
Italian Vittorio Iannuzzo will not be taking any further part in this weekend’s proceedings. He crashed twice yesterday and after the second he was taken to hospital for a precautionary check-up. He has been kept in and is expected to remain in hospital until at least Monday when he will undergo a second TAC scan to make sure there is no damage to his head. Iannuzzo has not broken any bones but is suffering from an all-over battering after his 260 kph tumble at one of the fastest parts of the circuit.

SECOND ROW FOR KATS AND STEFF
The bad weather at Assen today meant there were no changes at the top of the leaderboard, so the grid positions were the same as yesterday. So, Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra riders Katsuaki Fujiwara and Stephane Chambon will start tomorrow’s 16-lapper from the second row of the grid in fifth and sixth places respectively. Although conditions improved in the afternoon, the track was still wet enough to prevent any rider improving their lap times and so most teams used the tow sessions today to try and find a good set-up in case of a wet race tomorrow. Series leader Chris Vermeulen (Honda) will start from pole position, with Karl Muggeridge (Honda), Sebastien Charpentier (Honda) and Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha) alongside on the front row.

KATSUAKI FUJIWARA ­ 5th, 2:06.932
Today was very difficult because of the conditions and it wasn’t possible to go any quicker. The new section of the track is difficult in the dry and I had to take it easy there in the wet. I hope tomorrow will be dry so that I have a chance to push hard. Whatever happens it’s going to be sixteen very hard laps.

STEPHANE CHAMBON ­ 6th, 2:07.131
Today was OK and I didn’t have any major problems ­ just the weather which meant we couldn’t improve our lap times. There is a bit too much movement on the bike for my liking at the moment despite us trying some different settings. I don’t think our changes made much difference today. I would prefer a dry race tomorrow and I know I need to make a good start and stay in touch with the leaders. But it’s not going to be easy and I think it’ll be difficult to get a podium ­ though that will not stop me from trying my best!


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

Date: Saturday 6th September 2003
Circuit: Assen, km 6.027- Final qualifying
Crowd: 15000; Weather: Mostly damp, 16 C

NO CHANGE DUE TO THE WEATHER. FRONT ROW FOR JURGEN.

Thanks to today’s poor weather, it wasn’t possible for any rider to go any faster and improve on their positions from yesterday. So, Jurgen will start from the front row of the grid and have a real chance of fighting for a podium right from the start of tomorrow’s 16-lap race. Simone will have to make a good start and be in touch with the lead group if he is to get a good result, but the Italian likes Assen and a good result is within his means. Series leader Chris Vermeulen (Honda) will start from pole position, with his team mate Karl Muggeridge alongside. Third is Frenchman Sebastien Charpentier (Honda) with Jurgen completing the front row.

JURGEN VD GOORBERGH ­ 4th, 2:06.669
I think today was wonderful and I’m pretty happy. The weather in the morning wasn’t too good and so it took me a little time to get confident with the bike in the damp. But later I was much happier and I feel we have a good set-up for a wet race. Our dry set-up is OK as well, though I would’ve preferred more dry track time. Front row is OK and I just have to stay with the fast Hondas. For a good result for me, I’d like a dry race and for the championship maybe a wet race would be better.

SIMONE SANNA ­ 10th, 2.07.508
I’m happy enough with today and we’ll see what the conditions are like tomorrow. I don’t mind if it’s wet or dry, but what is important is that I get a good start and not lose touch with the leaders. There are very few passing opportunities at Assen, so it’s vital to keep in touch. I hope to make a good start and then push hard throughout the race and see where I can finish up. I like Assen a lot, so I’m optimistic of my chances.