World Superbike Superpole Results: 1. Chris Vermeulen, Honda, 2:04.179 2. James Toseland, Ducati, 2:04.899 3. Troy Corser, Suzuki, 2:05.005 4. Noriyuki Haga, Yamaha, 2:05.078 5. Karl Muggeridge, Honda, 2:05.256 6. Andrew Pitt, Yamaha, 2:05.304 7. Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki, 2:05.434 8. Steve Martin, Foggy Petronas, 2:05.560 9. Pierfrancesco Chili, Honda, 2:05.691 10. Lorenzo Lanzi, Ducati, 2:05.936 11. Ivan Clementi, Ducati, 2:06.036 12. Max Neukirchner, Honda, no time 13. Chris Walker, Kawasaki, 2:06.401 14. Gianluca Vizziello, Yamaha, 2:06.454 15. Norick Abe, Yamaha, 2:06.532 16. Ben Bostrom, Honda, 2:07.624 More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: Noriyuki Haga rode a sensational superpole lap to grab front row starts for tomorrow’s two-race round nine of the Superbike World Championship at Assen, in the Netherlands. The Yamaha Motor Italia ace rode a determined lap to set a weekend’s best time of 2:05.078, improving his position from 11th in regular qualifying to fourth on the final grid, despite losing time through several big slides. The Japanese rider will now work with his team technicians to refine the machine’s suspension settings for the 16 lap races. Team-mate Andrew Pitt retained his sixth position from regular qualifying with a 2:05.304. The smooth lap was marginally quicker than his previous best of the weekend, although the Australian was a little disappointed to miss out on a front row start. Yamaha Motor France rider Norick Abe climbed into the top 16 to make superpole, ending the session in 15th place. Team-mate Sebastien Gimbert was on the superpole bubble and will start 17th. Pitt’s fellow Australian Chris Vermeulen (Honda) set pole position with a stunning 2:04.179 lap time. Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) “We improved the bike this afternoon but I still had many big slides and we have not yet found the perfect suspension setting for tomorrow’s race. Tonight we will make some more changes and I hope this can make the feeling with the bike better. But it is good to be on the front row. I like the Assen circuit and I will be trying as hard as I can to take the win tomorrow.” Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia) “Superpole was ok but I am a little disappointed not to improve my position. I’d have liked to have got into the high 2:04s but I didn’t and I’d have liked to have got onto the front row, but I didn’t. But overall it’s ok. We’re consistently up there on race tyres and I think that we can get some good results in the races.” Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France) “A so-so day. We made the grip a little better but still we need more improvement. I’m happy to make superpole but I hope we can find a solution tomorrow.” Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha Motor France) “I am a bit disappointed not to make superpole but the race setting is not so bad, so I am looking forward to tomorrow.” Massimo Meregalli (Yamaha Motor Italia – Team Coordinator) “With our riders on the front two rows we are quite happy. Both riders have been very consistent this weekend and we are optimistic for the race. We’re also happy that the new parts we’ve tried out seem to be working well and it looks like the performance on the track confirms what the dyno told us. We now wait to see what tomorrow’s race will bring.” More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse: TOSELAND CONTINUES POSITIVE WEEKEND FORM FOR DUCATI XEROX TEAM TO LINE UP SECOND ON GRID AT ASSEN – LACONI OUT DUE TO INJURY Assen (Netherlands), Saturday 3 September: James Toseland continued his positive run of form this weekend at Assen as the 24-year-old Ducati Xerox Team rider clinched second place in Superpole for round 9 of the World Superbike Championship. Toseland will line up on a stellar front row of the grid, made up of four different manufacturers, behind poleman Chris Vermeulen (Honda), seven-tenths quicker than the rest of the field, but ahead of Troy Corser (Suzuki) and Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha). Team-mate Régis Laconi saw his hopes of challenging for the runner-up slot in the championship take a dive as he misses this weekend’s race due to injury after crashing in Friday first qualifying. “It’s been a great weekend so far for us” declared Toseland. “We got a good setting when we first went out on Friday morning and we’ve just kept it going. We had a good warm-up before Superpole and then I saw the time that Chris did and thought that it was going to be a tough one to beat. I took a few risks in the first few corners but I knew that if I kept everything smooth, the main thing was to be on the front row and so I’m happy to be second. Fair play to Chris for winning the watch for pole and commiserations to Régis who had a crash yesterday that put him out of this race”. 30-year-old Laconi was high-sided from his Ducati 999 in the final part of Friday’s first qualifying session. He suffered a deep gash in his right elbow, which had to have eight stitches put in by the Clinica Mobile, and a damaged tendon, both of which have severely hampered any arm movement. Laconi has already left the circuit for France, where doctors will verify the situation to see if he is in a position to race in next weekend’s WSBK round at Lausitzring, Germany. “Obviously I’m very disappointed but it was absolutely impossible for me to race here, and as soon as I move my arm the pain is terrible” declared Laconi on leaving the circuit. “I’m going to Marseilles to a specialist to see if it is possible to do something for the next race”. STARTING-GRID: 1. Vermeulen (Honda) 2m04.179s; 2. Toseland (Ducati Xerox) 2m04.899s; 2. Corser (Suzuki) 2m05.005s; 4. Haga (Yamaha) 2m05.078s; 5. Muggeridge (Honda) 2m05.256s; 6. Pitt (Yamaha) 2m05.304s; 7. Kagayama (Suzuki) 2m05.434s; 8. Martin (Petronas) 2m05.560s; etc. More, from a press release issued by Rizla Suzuki: Jurgen continues to cut his lap times at Assen RIZLA SUZUKI wild card racer Jurgen van den Goorbergh improved his best lap time during today’s final qualification for the ninth round of the World Superbike Championship at Assen despite an early crash. Jurgen walked away unhurt from a high side crash at the final chicane at the start of qualifying. He mounted his spare Rizla Suzuki and took more than six tenths of a second off his best lap time from yesterday, recording 2:06.997 to place him 23rd on the grid and out of contention for the afternoon’s Superpole that was open only to the fastest 16 riders. The 35-year-old Dutch fans favourite spent time testing race tyres in the afternoon’s final free practice session. Both Jurgen and the team have no prior data about the WSB control tyres but together they have agreed on a compound for tomorrow’s opening race. Suzuki WSB regular Troy Corser will start from third on the grid while his team mate Yukio Kagayama will be right behind him on the second row in seventh. Honda’s Chris Vermeulen is on pole. Racing starts at noon tomorrow (CET), September 4th, at the historic 3.726mile long Assen circuit in Holland. All the action will be broadcast live by British Eurosport. Robert Wicks, Rizla Suzuki Team Manager: “Jurgen tried very hard today to improve his qualifying position but lost valuable time when he crashed at the chicane early in the session. That crash ruled out his number one bike and he had to switch to his spare machine for the remainder of qualification. He showed determination to go back out, bite the bullet and record his fastest lap. “Jurgen is coming back to racing after a three month break and this is his debut World Superbike race meeting. On top of that, it’s his first event with the Rizla Suzuki team and we have all had to adapt to the control tyre rule that is in place in WSB. I’m hopeful that tomorrow’s first race will give him some additional confidence and understanding of the tyres and how they perform in race conditions.” Qualifying Times: 1: C Vermeulen (Honda) 2:04.179, 2: J Toseland (Ducati) 2:04.899, 3: T Corser (Suzuki) 2:05.005, 4: N Haga (Yamaha) 2:05.078, 5: K Muggeridge (Honda) 2:05.256, 6: A Pitt (Yamaha) 2:05.304, 7: Y Kagayama (Suzuki) 2:05.434, 8: S Martin (Petronas) 2:05.560, 9: P Chili (Honda) 2:05.691, 10: L Lanzi (Ducati) 2:05.936, 23: JURGEN VAN DEN GOORBERGH (RIZLA SUZUKI) 2:06.997. More, from a press release issued by Scuderia SC Caracchi POSITIVE DAY AT ASSEN FOR LANZI AND NANNELLI (Assen 2005, September) Positive results at Assen in the second and final practice day for the riders of Scuderia SC Caracchi, in a splendid weather condition, about 25°C. Fantastic has been Lorenzo Lanzi during the regular qualifying sessions, as the young rider clinched the fourth place overall, showing a very fast pace in race conditions. Unfortunately in Superpole session Lorenzo made some mistake that put him down in the tenth place of the starting grid, third row, but Lorenzo, also if a bit disappointed, is confident for a good result tomorrow. “I’m a bit disappointed, it’s true”. confessed in the pit Lorenzo Lanzi. “After two practice days always in the top five then in Superpole I’ve done some small mistake, taking a few risks in the first split and in the final corners. So I failed the second row which was my goal. I’m unhappy because here in Assen I was confident to start from a better position as always. I like this circuit and for the race we found a good set up. I hope in a good start tomorrow, that will be basic for a good result. More and more the team’s guys have been great, working in a perfect way. Sure after the forth fastest in qualifying I was confident in a better Superpole result, but looking at all I’m quite satisfied and tomorrow I’ll be able to send my challenge.” Gianluca Nannelli, after yesterday’s bad crash, finally has been able to practice this morning and, despite a not perfect set up, recorded a very good sixth fastest that allow him to start from the second row of the starting grid. “I had a couple of very bad days.” said at the end Gianluca Nannelli. “After my crash of yesterday morning also last night I’ve been not able to rest and this morning, at the end of free practice session, I didn’t feel well. The Clinica Mobile’s doctors helped me, but in the afternoon I was very tired. However we clinched a good lap time and I’ll start from the second row, despite a set up “invented” because We couldn’t work correctly on the bike. The sixth fastest is a good result, I’m a bit worry for the race, because the bike is not perfect as I would and even I myself I don’t know if I’ll be able to ride at my best for all the 16 laps of a race that looks to be a hard fight with a lot of riders very close. But I have another night to recover, I hope to be in better physical conditions tomorrow.” More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: FRONT ROW FOR TROY Despite a small engine problem, Troy finished his Superpole lap today with the third quickest time and will start tomorrow’s 16-lap races from the front row of the grid. All weekend Troy’s bike has had a small problem with wheelspin, but in Superpole the problem was engine-related instead. Chris Vermeulen (Honda) surprised everybody in Superpole by posting a lap of 2:04.179 – over one and half seconds quicker then his best time in regular qualifying. Second fastest in Superpole is reigning champion James Toseland (Ducati), with Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) completing the front row of the grid alongside Troy. Troy’s team mate Yukio Kagayama ended with the seventh fastest time and will start just behind Troy on row two. TROY – 3rd, 2:05.005 Superpole is always nice, but the important thing is the front row of the grid and that’s what we did. It’s also great for the championship and all the fans to see four different manufacturers on the front row. We changed engines this afternoon and I guess the internals or something were slightly different because it just didn’t feel the same. It’s funny because in normal qualifying and practice we had a bit of a wheelspin problem, but that was OK in Superpole. I’d like to congratulate Chris (Vermeulen) for doing such a good job in Superpole – it was a tremendous lap and he deserves the watch. Assen is a tough track and I don’t think anybody is going to pull away and make a break. I aim to get a good start and then see how the race pans out before doing anything drastic. I’ve never won at Assen and you can be sure that I’ll be trying my best to take a win, but my goal is to leave Assen with my points lead intact at the very least. If I get the chance of a win, you can bet I’ll go for it. More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki: Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra riders Troy Corser and Yukio Kagayama finished third and seventh in the Assen World Superbike Superpole in Holland today and will start tomorrow’s pair of 16-lap races just behind each other on the grid. Chris Vermeulen (Honda) was the surprise of Superpole, posting a lap of 2:04.179, over half second ahead of his nearest rival – James Toseland (Ducati). Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) completes the front row of the grid, making it four different manufacturers across the front line. Troy Corser – 3rd, 2:05.005: “As long as I am on the front row, I’m happy – though winning Superpole is always nice! We used a new engine this afternoon and it felt a bit different and I think that is what prevented me from going any faster. Having said that, Chris Vermeulen did a fantastic lap and he fully deserved Superpole. “Assen is a very technical and hard track and I don’t think anybody is going to clear off at the start. It could end up a very tactical race and a lot will depend on how the tyres are at the end. I’ve never won here before, but my aim is to leave Assen with my points lead intact or increased whatever the situation.” Yukio Kagayama – 7th, 2:05.434: “Yesterday I made some predictions about today and they didn’t come true. Sorry, change of schedule! The qualifying tyres today did not work as well as yesterday and there were some places on my Superpole lap where the bike was sliding too much and so I lost time. We will try a little change to the bike in the warm-up tomorrow and see if we can improve it. The second row is not so bad and if I can get a good start then maybe one of my predictions will still come true.” Rizla Suzuki Wild Card racer Jurgen van den Goorbergh improved his best lap time after walking away unhurt from a high side crash at the final chicane at the start of qualifying. He mounted his spare Rizla Suzuki and took more than six-tenths-of-a-second off his best lap time from yesterday, recording 2:06.997 to place him 23rd on the grid and out of contention for the afternoon’s Superpole that was open to the fastest 16 riders. Final Superbike Qualifying: 1 Vermeulen (Aus-Honda) 2:04.179, 2 Toseland (GB-Ducati) 2:04.899, 3 Troy Corser (Aus-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 2:05.005, 4 Haga (J-Yamaha) 2:05.078, 5 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda) 2:05.256, 6 Pitt (Aus-Yamaha) 2:05.304, 7 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 2:05.434, 8 Martin (Aus-Petronas) 2:05.560, 9 Chili (I-Honda) 2:05.691, 10 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 2:05.936 23 Jurgen Van Den Goorbergh (NL-Rizla Suzuki) 2:06.997.