Updated Post: Lavilla On World Superbike Provisional Pole At Assen

Updated Post: Lavilla On World Superbike Provisional Pole At Assen

© 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Lavilla Takes Provisional Pole at Assen

A crash by wild card Austrian Karl Truchsess (Yamaha YZR-R1) in the final minutes of the first Superbike qualifying practice caused a red flag with just over three minutes left in the hour. This created a mad-dash last lap when qualifying was resumed, and produced a quickest lap of 2:02.603 by Spain’s Gregorio Lavilla (Alstare Corona Suzuki GSX-R1000) with Chris Walker (HM Plant Ducati), Neil Hodgson (Ducati Fila) and Pier Francesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati) completing the Friday provisional front row.

“The times were so slow this morning that I wondered if it was the track,” said Lavilla, “but then I made some suspension changes and put in a section time that was 0.6 of a second quicker. The lap time was poor because I was balked, but I knew which way to go. The quick lap on qualifying tires was good, but I am happier about the good feeling from the bike when the track temperature got up to 24 degrees. If it stays dry I think we can improve.”

Fifth was Ruben Xaus (Fila Ducati) with Ivan Clementi on the Bertocchi Kawasaki ZX-7RR a surprising sixth in front of Regis Laconi (NCR Ducati) and James Toseland (HM Plant Ducati.)

Toseland sat out the final last-minute sprint.

In Supersport qualifying Championship leader Chris Vermeulen and Karl Muggeridge were first and second on their Ten Kate Hondas clocking times of 2:05.736 and 2:05.921, with Stephane Charpentier third on his Flaffi Honda. Then came the three men who still have an outside of taking the title from Vermuelen (who leads by 37 points): Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Belgrada Yamaha) and the two Alstare Coronas Suzukis of Katsuaki Fujiwara and Stephane Chambon.

Both Vermuelen and Muggeridge were under the lap record of 2:06.077 set last year by Vermuelen.

Forecast for tomorrow is dry and sunny but there is a threat of rain for Sunday.



More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

HODGSON AND XAUS (DUCATI FILA) THIRD AND FIFTH IN ASSEN FRIDAY QUALIFYING

Assen (Netherlands), Friday 5 September: Neil Hodgson (Ducati Fila) started off this weekend’s crucial Dutch round of the World Superbike championship in fine style with provisional third place in Friday qualifying at the Assen TT Circuit.

The 29-year-old British rider, who needs just 10 points to clinch this year’s title, was quickest throughout the morning’s free practice session on his Ducati 999 F03 and topped the timesheets on race tyres until three minutes from the end of first qualifying, which was interrupted when a slower rider crashed. With all riders then on qualifying tyres, Neil was edged out of the top two places by Lavilla and Walker.

“Everything felt good, it was great to be back on the bike after such a long break” declared Neil. “The bike feels hard round here because it’s a physical track, but luckily I’ve done a lot of training recently. My 999 is quite smooth through the corners but there is certainly a bit more to come. It probably won’t improve the lap times much, because the bike just feels harder to move around than last year. I didn’t really ride too well in the last couple of minutes because I had spent most of the time on race tyres. The plan tomorrow is to try more tyres and do race distance as always. Obviously I’ve had a lot on my mind recently but now it feels fantastic to be back on the bike again, and I know I’ve got a job to do this weekend”.

Team-mate Ruben Xaus said he felt a little rusty after the five-week break but was convinced that there was more to come on the second Fila Ducati 999.

“It wasn’t easy because I felt a bit rusty after the holidays and not riding the bike” said Ruben. “It’s more a question of set-up and reaction to fast corners, because I spent the summer riding supermoto bikes and it’s not easy to get back into the swing, with the Assen corners coming at you one after another. I find the rear a bit stiff and not reacting, but I’m sure we can solve that problem and then we can be good. If we can find a tenth everywhere I know we can be up at the front because last year I did 2:01 easily. It’ll come tomorrow, I feel sure”.

TIMES: 1. Lavilla (Suzuki) 2:02.603; 2. Walker (HM Plant Ducati) 2:02.736; 3. Hodgson (Ducati Fila) 2:02.834; 4. Chili (PSG-1 Ducati) 2:03.112; 5. Xaus (Ducati Fila) 2:03.137; 6. Clementi (Kawasaki) 2:03.370; 7. Laconi (NCR Ducati) 2:03.539; 8. Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) 2:03.553


More, from a press release issued by FGSport:

RED FLAG CHANGES QUALIFYING FORTUNES

A high speed crash for Austrian privateer Karl Truchsess, in the final minutes of the first one hour qualifying session at Assen, caused the red flag to be brought out with just three minutes remaining – just enough time for the field to fit qualifying rubber and go for one final flying lap.

Almost all of the top contenders took advantage of this situation, with many riding in groups to help their lap times, thanks to the use of slipstreaming improving their combined top speeds.

The biggest benefactor from this unexpected turn of events proved to be Gregorio Lavilla (Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000), who took provisional pole with a time of 2:02:603. With a good set-up already Lavilla has firmly installed himself into the position of one of the pre-race favourites.

A major re-shuffle of the order before the red flag incident saw Chris Walker jump up to second place on his HM Plant Ducati, with the Englishman the first of many Ducati runners.

Neil Hodgson (Fila Ducati 999 F03) lost out in the last minute blast around the 6.027km Assen track, after he was demoted from fastest to third fastest overall – all at a meeting he is expecting to leave with the status of World Champion.

One rider who has already beaten Hodgson in a race situation this season is Pierfrancesco Chili and he took his PSG-1 Ducati 998 RS to fourth place, the final position on the provisional front row. Hodgson’s team-mate Ruben Xaus, the only man with a mathematical chance of preventing Hodgson’s victory celebrations, was fifth fastest.

A surprise package, Ivan Clementi (Kawasaki Bertocchi ZX-7RR) took his four-cylinder 750ccc machine to an excellent sixth, running among the fast group on the last lap.

Sixth fastest man was Regis Laconi (Caracchi NCR Nortel Ducati 998RS) ahead of deposed second fastest qualifier James Toseland (HM Plant Ducati 998 F02) who did not manage to set a lap in the last portion of the session.

All the top eight riders finished within one second of provisional pole and the first man over that margin was young Brit wild card Leon Haslam, son of British star Ron. Another British Superbike regular John Reynolds (Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000) rode to tenth, despite suffering a crash. Twenty-nine of the 32 entrants are currently in a qualifying position. Truchsess, who suffered severe contusions on his back, continues to undergo medical checks but his conditions is not described as serious. Another faller, Vittorio Iannuzzo (Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000) was sent for a scan after suffering a concussion.

In the World Supersport Championship, the runaway leader Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) set a new track best Supersport time with his 2:05.736, enough to easily secure the provisional pole position. One day remains for the Supersport pack to set their best times in qualifying but already Vermeulen and his Ten Kate team-mate and Aussie countryman Karl Muggeridge have set an immaculate pace out front.

Next closest challenger at the fast Assen circuit is Sebastien Charpentier (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) with a best time of 2:06 630 – almost a second shy of Vermeulen. Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Belgarda R6), put one non-Honda on the overnight front row.

Katsuaki Fujiwara (Alstare Suzuki GSX-R600) went fifth fastest, closely followed by his team-mate Stephane Chambon. Local man Barry Veneman (Esha Kobutex Honda TKR) ripped his way to seventh with former Dutch Championship contender and multiple WSS race winner Iain Macpherson in eighth.


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

GREGORIO LEADS THE FIELD!

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Gregorio Lavilla ended the first day of qualifying on top of the world! His time of 2:02.603 was over a tenth of a second quicker then his nearest rival and good enough to put him on provisional pole position. Second fastest today was Briton Chris Walker (Ducati), with fellow countryman Neil Hodgson (Ducati), third. Italian Frankie Chili – also Ducati mounted -completes the provisional front row of the grid.

Gregorio’s team mate Vittorio Iannuzzo suffered two heavy falls and was taken to hospital for a precautionary check up. No bones appeared to have been broken, but Iannuzzo gave his head a bit of a bang in the second crash, so it was decided to go to hospital to make sure everything was OK. He only finished five laps in the afternoon timed session before his crash so ended the day nineteenth on the leaderboard.

GREGORIO LAVILLA – 1st, 2:02.603
Today was a good start and I’m very happy to be the fastest rider out there. Everything went very well today and although I was on the limit on my fast lap, it wasn’t anything crazy. I had a good tyre and I made a good lap. I’m happy for myself and also for my team, especially as it’s been a long time since the last race – it shows that I haven’t forgotten how to ride a bike! We have a few ideas to try out tomorrow – nothing major – just to see if we can make my job a bit easier. We knew Assen would probably suit my Alstare Suzuki and so far it’s gone well. Now let’s see what tomorrow (and Superpole) brings.

Friday qualifying
1 GREGORIO LAVILLA (E-ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA) 2;02.603, 2 Walker (GB-Ducati) 2:02.736, 3 Hodgson (GB-Ducati) 2:02.834, 4 Chili (I-Ducati) 2:03.112, 5 Xaus (E-Ducati) 2:03.137, 6 Clementi (I-Kawasaki) 2:03.370, 19 VITTORIO IANNUZZO (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 2:06.677


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

TROY HAPPY

Troy spent the day learning the revised Assen circuit and was happy to get into the 2:04s at the end of the first day of qualifying. Despite only setting the day’s thirteenth quickest time, Troy and his Petronas FP1 team were satisfied with their work today and are looking forward to improving tomorrow. Troy is pleased with the new engine modifications and will be pushing a lot harder in tomorrow’s two sessions and in the Superpole shoot-out. Today’s fastest lap was posted by Spaniard Gregorio Lavilla (Suzuki) – the first time he has been on provisional pole this season. Second is Briton Chris Walker (Ducati), with fellow countryman Neil Hodgson (Ducati) third. Completing the front row of the grid is Italian Frankie Chili – also Ducati mounted.

TROY – 13th, 2:04.865
It’s a good job I’m not superstitious! But I’m not concerned about where I ended up today, I was just happy to break the 2:04 barrier. I haven’t raced here for a couple of years and since then the track has been revised a bit. I think I could’ve gone a bit quicker, but a slow rider held me up, otherwise it might have been a low 2:04 instead. I really only started remembering what Assen is all about towards the end of the second session, so I’m satisfied with what we achieved today. Tomorrow we’ll try a few things – different rear shock and gearing for a start. I’m in between gears in some corners and although we made some alterations today, I feel that we can improve a bit more. The engines mods have helped getting rid of a flat spot in the power curve and I think the bike has definitely improved a little. The front Michelin feels pretty good, but I’ve still got a few rears to try. We’ll see how it all pans out tomorrow.


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

Walker’s last minute dash

The huge buzz of expectation at the Dutch round of the Superbike World Championship at Assen centres on the crowning of Neil Hodgson as World Champion. However, while the runaway series leader was fastest for most of today’s free practice and first qualifying sessions, it looks likely that he will be under threat from his previous team – HM Plant Ducati – as he has been for most of this year.

Hodgson’s fellow Brits Chris Walker and James Toseland have finished second and eighth on the provisional grid for Sunday’s two Superbike races. The HM Plant Ducati riders may be out of the reckoning for the title but they are focussing on their personal goals in the remaining three rounds of the championship.

Toseland in particular has much to play for and is only 19 points behind Ruben Xaus in the battle for second place. The 22-year-old Sheffield star won his first World Superbike race this year and has come of age in his third year of racing in the series for GSE Racing/HM Plant Ducati.

However, the times at the end of the first day do him an injustice. He was second in the closing stages of the session, when the red flag was shown due to an incident involving one of the wild card riders. With only three minutes remaining, he opted to sit out the quick two-lap dash to the chequered flag.

“I’m really happy with how I’ve performed today,” said Toseland. “I was second for nearly all of the first qualifying session, having set my time on race tyres. There was no point in me wasting a qualifying tyre with dry weather forecast for tomorrow. We’ve got some more tyres to test but we’re looking at a good race set-up from the outset.”

Team-mate Chris Walker moved onto the provisional front row behind Gregorio Lavilla, relegating Hodgson to third. “I opted to use a qualifying tyre in the closing moments of qualifying and it paid off,” said the popular Nottingham rider.

“This is the first time that I have ridden a Ducati at Assen and so I’m having to put the work in to get the bike set up to my liking. It’s going well so far and I’m confident of making further progress tomorrow. Like all the British riders, I’m looking forward to the support we’re going to enjoy over the weekend – let’s hope that we can give them some results to cheer about.”


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

Progress for Foggy PETRONAS Racing on first day at Assen

Foggy PETRONAS Racing riders Troy Corser and James Haydon made progress throughout the first day of qualifying for the tenth round of the World Superbike championship at Assen, Holland. On the team’s first visit to the fast and flowing circuit, both riders had to learn the new back section of the circuit, in use for only the second year.

Troy shaved 1.5 seconds off his morning practice time to finish the afternoon session in 13th with a time of 2:04.865, 2.262 seconds off the pace set by Gregorio Lavilla. James also improved his morning time by more than three seconds with a best lap of 2:08.030.

Troy said: “I was happy to get down into the 4s by the end of the qualifying session. On my flying lap I was trying to get a tow from Chili but we came up behind a slower rider. Frankie got past him, I didn’t, and he was away. I’m only now really starting to remember where the track goes, and the new section is a little bit tricky. Its first chicane is easy but the long right and left section is very fast and I still need to find the right spot where to turn in.

“I have been playing with the rear shock and am still not 100 per cent happy with the setting yet. I have also changed the gearing and am still in between gears in some corners, although the changes have helped. The modifications to the engine seem to have got rid of a flat spot in the power curve. The front Michelin tyre feels pretty good but the track was a little bit dirty, so I still have a few rears to try.”

James said: “We have made steps forward and one particular rear made a big difference. It was a real shame that the session was stopped for a red flag with just three minutes remaining, as I was on a hot lap on a qualifier. When I went back out there was too much traffic. I still need to change where I am riding the track slightly. You can take 1.5 seconds off your time with just tiny improvements at each corner here.”


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

Assen opens the final stage of World Superbike

The 6027 meters of Assen circuit, in The Netherlands, guest the World Superbike riders for the tenth round, after stop for summer holidays longer as a month. Assen guested the Superbike Circus in a splendid weather, light sun and ideal temperature, also if weather forecast for tomorrow say that we’ll have sky partly cloudy and possibility of light rain in the late afternoon, just in time for the possibility of a wet Superpole.

Regis Laconi is arrived in Assen with the left hand thumb wrapped for an injury suffered in a small accident riding during a training on his enduro motorbike, but the French rider of 998RS Ducati Caracchi NCR Nortel Networks immediately reassured the team about his physical condition and started quick his work to reach the best set up for the two 16 laps races next Sunday.

“I’m rather satisfied.” – said Laconi at the end of practices – “I felt a bit rusty after the holidays pause in the first morning practice session this morning, but very quick ether myself as the team got the correct pace. As fastest lap we could be better, no doubts, because today we concentrate in a long job looking for the best set up: Assen is a fast bike and requests a good pace, with the corners coming at you very fast, one after another, left and right. The bike looks quite good, but it isn’t still perfect, but I’m confident to solve all the problems tomorrow and the we may be good. My thumb? It’s nothing serious and I have any pain. Physically I’m in a perfect shape.”

David Garcia, 25th birthday for him today and the Spanish rider has been celebrated by the team, is quite satisfied too, also if his left arm is not in a good shape.

“Well, this first day has not been too bad. ” – told Garcia at the end of the day – “For sure I could be faster: at the end of qualifying session I was fast in the split time, then I’ve done a mistake in a corner and I’ve lost a lot of time. My arm works better and better as in Laguna Seca, I feel stronger. Here in Assen therefore, in I’m better in braking, I have some difficult to move the bike in the corners series, so tomorrow we’ll try to find a set up less hard for riding and easier in the corners.”



Sidecar qualifying at Assen, from a press release:

WEBSTER QUICKEST AT ASSEN

Steve Webster and Paul Woodhead picked their moment to perfection to record provisional pole after Friday’s combined qualifying at Assen, Holland in rounds seven and eight of the 2003 Superside World championship.

Webster said: “There were a lot of guys out there. I waited two minutes for the track to clear and managed to put in a fast lap.”

The eight times world champion improved on his early morning time by almost two seconds but was pushed hard by Steve Abbott and Jamie Biggs. Jörg Steinhausen and Trevor Hopkinson posted the third quickest time.

“I am pleased. We ran a new engine this morning and it’s ok,” said reigning world champion Steve Abbott, who currently sits in fourth place in the championship standings with 62 points.

Tom Hanks and Phil Biggs were fourth with crowd favourites, Martien and Tonnie van Gils in fifth. Klaus Klaffenböck and Christian Parzer – second in the overall standings, six points adrift of Webster and Woodhouse – registered the sixth quickest time.


Superside World championship – Assen, Holland

1. Steve Webster, Suzuki, 2:10.976
2. Steve Abbott, Suzuki, 2:11.633
3. Jörg Steinhausen, Suzuki, 2:12.536
4. Tom Hanks, Yamaha, 2:13.783
5. Martien van Gils, Suzuki, 2:14.472
6. Klaus Klaffenböck, Yamaha, 2:16.149
7. Jock Skene, Suzuki, 2:16.377
8. Bill Philp, Yamaha, 2:16.978
9. Jean-Nöel Minguet, Suzuki, 2:17.790
10. Richard Gatt, Yamaha, 2:17.928



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