Lanzi Takes Eurospeedway World Superbike Superpole 1. Lorenzo LANZI, Ducati 999F05, 1:39.019 2. Troy CORSER, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:39.092 3. Chris VERMEULEN, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:39.275 4. James TOSELAND, Ducati 999F05, 1:39.665 5. Andrew PITT, Yamaha YZF-R!, 1:39.899 6. Karl MUGGERIDGE, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:39.924 7. Noriyuki HAGA, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:40.109 8. Max NEUKIRCHNER, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:40.187 9. Yukio KAGAYAMA, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:40.191 10. Steve MARTIN, Petronas FP-1, 1:40.282 11. Pier Fancesco CHILI, Honda CBR1000RR,1:40.494 12. Ivan CLEMENTI, Ducati 999RS, 1:40.564 13. Ben BOSTROM, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:40.825 14. Michael SCHULTEN, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:40.875 15. Norick ABE, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:41.448 16. Marco BORCIANI, Ducati 999RS, 1:41.600 17. Garry MCCOY, Petronas FP-1, 1:41.127 18. Giovanni BUSSEI, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:41.128 19. Sebastian GIMBERT, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:41.224 20. Jose Luis CARDOSO, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:41.268 More, from a press release issued by Xerox Ducati: SENSATIONAL LANZI STORMS TO POLE POSITION FOR DUCATI XEROX TEAM – TOSELAND COMPLETES THE FRONT ROW Lausitz (Germany), Saturday 10 September: Italian Lorenzo Lanzi caused a major sensation in World Superbike this afternoon as he stormed to pole position on the Xerox-backed Ducati 999F05. 23-year-old Lanzi, who was called in this week by Ducati Corse from Scuderia Caracchi to sub for the injured Régis Laconi, has been in terrific form ever since he sat on the bike for the first time on Friday morning. Lanzi’s time of 1m39.019s was the quickest lap ever recorded around the 4.265 km Eurospeedway Lausitz circuit and his pole position was the first by an Italian in factory Ducati colours since Pierfrancesco Chili at Assen in 1998. “To be honest I really didn’t expect to set pole, but seeing as how well I began the weekend on Friday, I was really hoping to be able to do it. After all that’s what I’m here for and today I demonstrated that I can stay with the best of them” declared Lorenzo. “Getting on a new bike, one of the best in the world championship and immediately setting pole position with the riders that there are around today is not an easy task, but I succeeded, and in particular it gives me great pleasure to beat Corser, who is a real Superpole specialist. Today I couldn’t ask for more and I am so happy! This morning I crashed but it helped me to find the limits of this bike, I only slid off and it wasn’t serious. I’ve got a fantastic feeling with this bike, hopefully tomorrow I’ll get a good start and then we’ll see in the races!”. James Toseland was not far behind on the #1 Ducati 999 and the British rider lines up on the outside of the front row for tomorrow’s races, alongside Lanzi and the other two front row men, Troy Corser (Suzuki) and Chris Vermeulen (Honda). “I’m happy to be on the front row, it’s been a bit difficult this weekend. Friday morning was good but then we hit a bit of a brick wall and we just need to take that one little step further” commented James. “I had a tumble this morning and bruised my arm but it was only a slow crash and I’m all right. We’re going to try something tomorrow morning but I’m quietly confident for the races. We’re just losing a bit of time in one section but it’s mainly me really and we need to sort it out. I need to be on the front row here, it’s very important to get a good start and stay with these boys and I’m looking forward to tomorrow. But big congratulations to the other guy in the Ducati Xerox Team, Lorenzo Lanzi, who really deserved it today, first time in the team and first pole position!”. More, from a press release issued by Team Klaffi Honda: Frankie Chili finished 9th in qualifying but lost two places in Superpole. So Frankie starts from position 11 in the third row tomorrow. Team Max Neukirchner took position 8 in the second qualifying session. In the free practices before Superpole Max crashed cause there was dirt on the track. But only some minutes later Max proved his performance in Superpole again. He did a 1’40.187 lap time. So he will start from 8th position tomorrow. Max Neukirchner roguish as he is: “žIt was like popping down to the shops! ” Tatu Lauslehto/Supersport achieved starting position 14, guest rider Steve Mizera 28. More, from a press release issued by World Superbike Press Office: LANZI TAKES SUPERPOLE WIN IN XEROX DUCATI DEBUT – ESTABLISHED ORDER REARRANGED BY FASTEST LAP OF THE WEEKEND Lorenzo Lanzi’s first chance to ride factory equipment in his rookie SBK season may have only come due the absence through injury of Xerox Ducati regular Regis Laconi, but the talented privateer snatched at his opportunity with both hands and a cool head, backing up his great form in regular qualifying with his first ever Superpole win. His time of 1’39.019 was the fastest of the weekend, and a new track record in qualifying. It improved his personal best at this track by over half a second, and a total of six riders set their quickest laps of Lausitz in Superpole. The weather conditions proved to be every bit as favourable as those experienced on the first hot and dry day, and the track conditions appeared to improve all the more with use. Thanks to the continuing high pace of 2004 World Champion James Toseland, each of the Xerox Ducatis earned front row starts, after Toseland posted fourth fastest time, his personal best of the weekend at 1’40.053. CORSER MISSES OUT DESPITE FASTEST REGULATION QUALIFYING TIME Troy Corser (Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki) looked to be on course for yet another pole position place, but a slow middle sector and a small problem downshifting on two occasions stopped him from capitalising on his good early pace, and he had to settle for second on the grid. His team-mate Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki) went ninth (only good enough for a third row start) experiencing two lurid rear wheel slides in Superpole as he exited the slowest corners on the track. VERMEULEN FRONT ROW AS MUGGERIDGE GOES SIXTH Assen double race winner Chris Vermeulen (Winston Ten Kate Honda) earned himself a useful start from the front row with his third fastest Superpole time, relieved to have a good chance of being one of the leading riders into the tortuous first section of the circuit, where overtaking is almost impossible and rider-to-rider contact probable. His team-mate Karl Muggeridge was third last away, thanks to qualifying third in regulation, but ended up on the second row, battling to the sixth fastest time of the Superpole session. PITT THE LEADING YAMAHA RIDER ON THE GRID Yamaha Motor Italia rider Andrew Pitt joined the top five elite after Superpole, outdoing his team-mate Noriyuki Haga by two positions, even if each still starts from the second row. Both riders are now on the same riding packages they have used for most of the season, after a temporary new engine spec appeared at Assen for Haga, and testing of a new rear swingarm took place earlier in Lausitz qualifying. MAX ON SECOND ROW AT HIS HOME RACE IN GERMANY Max Neukirchner (Klaffi Honda) was the top placed German rider on show, taking his CBR to eighth place and a start from the second row for Sunday’s Superbike races. Looking fast and smooth, he has most of the hopes of an expectant home nation riding on his shoulders, after wild card entry Michael Schulten (Alpha Technik van Zon Honda) slipped down from his regulation qualifying eighth place to 14th. He thus starts from the fourth row. SBK regulars Ben Bostrom (Renegade Honda Koji) and Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France IPONE) were 13th and 15th fastest, with Marco Borciani’s Ducati 16th and last in Superpole. Star of the privateer challengers in Superpole was Ivan Clementi (Pedercini Ducati) took a third row start in 12th, one place behind Pierfrancesco Chili (Klaffi Honda). PETRONAS REPEATS FAMILIAR PATTER Not for the first time in 2005 the Petronas pairing of Steve Martin and Garry McCoy experienced different qualifying fortunes. After finishing 11th after the regulation session, Martin battered his way to an untidy but highly rewarding start from tenth on the grid. His team-mate McCoy missed out on Superpole by a place, and starts from the front of row five, in 17th place from 29 qualifiers. More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki: CORSER JUST MISSES SUPERBIKE POLE Team Suzuki Press Office – September 10, 2005. Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Troy Corser made a small mistake on his Superpole lap and missed out on pole position for tomorrow’s German World Superbike round at Lausitzring by just 73/100ths of a second. He had been up on his first split but then a small error on the back straight lost him time and another Superpole win. Team mate Yukio Kagayama finished with the ninth fastest lap and was disappointed because his time was very close to a second-row grid place. Lorenzo Lanzi – standing in for injured Regis Laconi – surprised everybody by taking Superpole on the factory Ducati. Third quickest is Chris Vermeulen (Honda), with James Toseland (Ducati) fourth. Troy Corser – 2nd, 1:39.092: “I could have had Superpole but I didn’t and it was my fault. My first sector was good, but on the back straight I went from fifth to third gear instead of going into second. I ran wide and lost some time and that was enough to push me down to second place. But I’m on the front row and that’s what counts. “I normally make good starts so I’m pretty confident of getting away pretty well. Today we ran a race distance as a test of the tyres and I’m very happy with how the front behaved. I hope the rear works as well, but the races are long tomorrow and a lot will depend on the last eight or so laps. Lausitzring is not a particularly good place for overtaking so I’ll want to be in the lead or the top three or so right from the start. There are a lot of bumps on the track, so 24 laps round here times two is going to be pretty physical. Tomorrow is going to be tough, for sure.” Yukio Kagayama – 9th 1:40.191: “I am disappointed to be on the third row because my times were so close to Haga and he’s on row two. It is going to make life difficult for sure but I usually make good starts so I am hoping to be in touch with the leaders straight from the start. A lot depends on the rhythm of the leaders in the early laps: If they go off very fast, they may open out a gap and then it will be very hard to catch them again. I want good starts, good fights and good results.” Final Superbike Qualifying: Lanzi (I-Ducati) 1:39.019, 2 Troy Corser (Aus-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:39.092, 3 Vermeulen (Aus-Honda) 1:39.275, 4 Toseland (GB-Ducati) 1:39.665, 5 Pitt (Aus-Yamaha) 1:39.899, 6 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda) 1:39.924, 7 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:40.109, 8 Neukirchner (D-Honda) 1:40.187, 9 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:40.191, 10 Martin (Aus-Petronas) 1:40.282. SUPERSTOCK 600 RACE: Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Xavi Simeon finished in a podium third position in the eight round of the Superstock 600 European Championship race at Lausitzring. He made a good start, then a small mistake on the brakes on the first lap let three riders pass him. He kept up a good rhythm and chased the leaders for the rest of the race. On the last lap, leader Corti (Yamaha) crashed in the final chicane and was hit by second place Tiberio (Honda) allowing third placed Berger (Honda) through to take the flag. Tiberio remounted immediately and managed to takes second with Xavi third. Xavi Simeon – 3rd: “I saw a cloud of dust on the last lap and thought it was the winner celebrating so it was a surprise to see Corti and his bike down in the gravel. But, I am very happy with my podium because my bike worked very well and I enjoyed my race a lot.” Superstock 600 Results: 1 Berger (F-Honda), 2 Tiberio (F-Honda), 3 Xavi Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), 4 Antonelli (I-Kawasaki), 5 Jezek (CZ-Kawasaki), 6 Ten Napel (NL-Honda). Superstock Points: 1 Corti 168, 2 Tiberio 130, 3 Berger 85, 4 Canepa 85, 5 Xavi Simeon 69. SUPERSTOCK 1000 QUALIFYING: Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Riccardo Chiarello finished qualifying with the seventh fastest time and will start tomorrow’s 14-lap race from the second row. Chiarello was still in pain from his injuries sustained in the last round but managed to stay in touch with the leading group today. Sofuoglu (Yamaha) took pole position ahead of Vankeymeulen (Yamaha) and Scassa (Yamaha). Riccardo Chiarello – 7th: “My right arm and left shoulder still hurt so I don’t think row two is too bad. I had a little carburation problem and then ran into a lot of traffic when I was trying to make my quick laps so maybe I could have got onto the second row if I had been more lucky. This track is very physical so I need to find a good, comfortable rhythm and then maybe I can chase a good result.” Final Superstock 1000 Qualifying: 1 Sofuoglu 1:42.226, 2 Vankeymeulen 1:42.867, 3 Scassa 1:43.283, 4 Roccoli 1:43.365, 5 Coxhell 1:43.451, 6 Martinez 1:43.708, 7 Riccardo Chiarello (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:43.773. MORALES ON SUZUKI GSX-R CUP POLE Carmelo Morales left it until the dying minutes of qualifying for the Suzuki GSX-R European Cup to set pole position for tomorrow’s 12-lap race at Lausitzring in Germany. The young Spaniard beat fellow countryman David Salom by less than 200ths-of-a-second in this afternoon’s 40-minute session run in hot, dry conditions. Third overall went to Championship leader Hudson Kennaugh who changed his gearing, pitted for new tyres and shaved two seconds off his previous best time from yesterday. Said Morales: “It was very hard today and I had a good battle with David. This track is so physical and the many changes of direction make you work very hard. There are not many chances to rest at all so the race tomorrow is going to be a very big fight. I think any one of about three or four riders can win, but I hope it is going to be me!” Top British rider was Mike Edwards in 12th position with a time of 1.47’966 with Rob Barber 21st (1.50’542) and Magnus Houston 23rd (1.50’646). Said Edwards: “I had a pain-killing injection to my injured thumb but I couldn’t feel it as it was totally numb. I tried to get in a quick lap as soon as possible but I couldn’t push hard. I really want to try and finish tomorrow and get a good result.” Barber said: “I was faster today well off the pace. I’ve done more laps than anyone trying to learn the circuit and I’m confident I can go faster in the race.” Houston said: “I was feeling good before qualifying but as soon as I exited the pitlane, the front end didn’t feel right. Just as I got on my first flying lap I dropped it at the hairpin. I just couldn’t get it together after that. I’m disappointed and I just want to get on and race tomorrow.” GSX-R Cup Qualifying: 1 Carmelo Morales (Spain) 1.45’398, 2 David Salom (Spain) 1.45’543, 3 Hudson Kennaugh (South Africa) 1.46’432, 4 Dominic Lammert (Germany) 1.46’527, 5 Xavier Simeon (Belgium) 1.46’887, 6 Ismael Ortega (Spain) 1.46’897, 7 David Fouloi (France) 1.47’018, 8 Enrico Pasini (Italy) 1.47’090, 9 Max Weymann (Germany) 1.47’096, 10 Frank Heidger (Germany) 1.47’151. 12 Mike Edwards (GB) 1.47’966, 21 Rob Barber (GB) 1.50’542, 23 Magnus Houston (GB) 1.50’646.