Updated Post: Toseland Beats Chili, Walker In World Superbike Season Opener At Valencia

Updated Post: Toseland Beats Chili, Walker In World Superbike Season Opener At Valencia

© 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Categories:

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

World Superbike
Valencia, Spain
Race One Results:

1. James Toseland, Ducati 999F04, 23 laps, 42:39.266
2. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, -4.698 seconds
3. Chris Walker, Foggy Petronas FP1, -22.109 seconds
4. Marco Borciani, Ducati 999RS, -33.304 seconds
5. Leon Haslam, Ducati 999RS, -42.286 seconds
6. Gianluca Nannelli, Ducati 998RS, -51.269 seconds
7. Garry McCoy, Ducati 999RS, -65.257 seconds
8. Sergio Fuertes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -66.590
9. Horst Saiger, Yamaha YZF-R1, -1 lap
10. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati 998RS, -1 lap
11. Warwick Nowland, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap
12. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR1000RR, -1 lap
13. Miguel Praia, Ducati 999RS, -1 lap
14. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-10R, -3 laps
15. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -3 laps
16. Steve Martin, Ducati 999RS, -2 laps, DNF
17. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-10R, -17 laps, DNF
18. Noriyuki Haga, Ducati 999RS, -18 laps, DNF
19. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, -19 laps, DNF
20. Alessio Velini, Yamaha YZF-R1, -20 laps, DNF
21. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, -21 laps, DNF
22. Regis Laconi, Ducati 999F04, -23 laps, DNF

Fastest Lap of Race: Garry McCoy, 1:43.323


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

First podium finish for FPR with Walker’s third in season opener

Chris Walker made racing history today by achieving the first podium finish on the Petronas FP1, the first Malaysian superbike.

In his first race for Carl Fogarty’s Foggy PETRONAS Racing team, the popular British rider finished third in a nerve-jangling first race of the World Superbike season at Valencia, Spain.

Lying fourth with two laps remaining, Chris moved into the rostrum positions when the Ducati of Steve Martin blew an engine. With oil coming out of the Ducati, Chris guided his FP1 home to rapturous celebrations his team.

FPR team-mate Troy Corser had earlier crashed out on the third lap of the day’s opening race while trying to challenge for second, but escaped injury.

Chris said: “I can’t believe it. This is a reflection on the incredible job that PETRONAS and our FPR team have done in such a short space of time. I never imagined I would get this result on my first race on the FP1. My mechanics have been stars this weekend. Half-way through the race I thought there was a chance of a podium so I tried to stay with Frankie Chili. Then, when I saw smoke coming out of Martin’s Ducati, I knew that all I had to do was to bring the bike home. I am not usually the luckiest rider in the world so for once my luck was in.”

Carl said: “I was getting all nervous and tense – and then I realised we had only done five laps! I am so pleased for Petronas and everyone connected with this project. I hope people realise that this bike was just a piece of paper two years ago! I had said that our aim was to get on the rostrum. Now that we have done that, we want to be there all the time. But we know there is still a long way to go and a lot more to come from the engine. And I am so proud of Chris, because he is the man who made this happen by bringing the bike home in those conditions.”

The changeable weather at Valencia had caused drama on the Valencia grid even before the start of the race, with pre-race favourite Regis Laconi crashing on his out-lap. Then, with drops of rain falling, the teams had to make a swift choice of tyres. Chief engineer Steve Thompson opted to spread the risk, with Troy choosing full Pirelli wets in both the front and rear, while Chris opted for an intermediate rear tyre – the choice of the first three riders.

Laconi crashed on the opening lap but, with Chris already up into the top four from a qualifying position of 10th, Troy crashed while trying to overtake eventual race winner James Toseland on the outside. Then, with a drying line developing after a brief shower, Chris was able to stay on the pace of the leading group positioned behind leader James Toseland before seizing his opportunity of glory.

First race times: 1 Toseland (Ducati Fila); 2 Chili (PSG-1) +4.698; 3 Walker (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) +22.109; 4 Borciani (DFX) +53.304; 5 Haslam (Renegade Ducati) +1:02.286; 6 Nannelli (Team Pedercini) +1:11.269; 7 McCoy (Xerox Ducati) +1:25.257; 8 Fuertes (MIR Racing) +1:26.590; 9 Saiger (Lifehouse RT) one lap; 10 Mrkyvka (JM SBK) one lap; 11 Nowland (Zongshen) one lap; 12 Vermeulen (Ten Kate) one lap; 13 Praia (Xerox Ducati) one lap; 14 Sanchini (Kawasaki Bertocchi) three laps; 15 Bontempi (Zongshen) three laps

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