Arclight Suzuki’s Jeff Wood took three pole positions, set two new class lap records and broke the overall track record during Formula USA qualifying Sunday at Summit Point Raceway, in West Virginia. Riding his GSX-R600 shod with DOT-labeled Dunlop Sportmax GP tires, Wood took the Sportbike (600cc) pole position with a new class lap record of 1:14.814. Riding the same bike fitted with 16.5-inch wheels and Dunlop slicks, which upset his set-up slightly, Wood took the Superbike (600cc) pole position with 1:14.930. Wood saved his best for last, however, in the 15-minute Formula Sportbike (750cc) qualifying session. Riding his GSX-R750, Wood turned a lap at 1:14.317, which not only secured pole position for Monday’s race, but also broke Robert Jensen’s overall track record time of 1:14.401, set on a Yamaha YZF-R1 during a WERA National Challenge event in 2004. “I’m happy we got the lap record,” said Wood, whose on-board lap timer showed an even quicker lap time. “We’ve got the right spot to start the races from. Hopefully, we can get some holeshots, put some steady laps in and win tomorrow.” Wood currently leads the F-USA Sportbike, Superbike and Formula Sportbike Championship point standings after two rounds. In addition to earning front-row starts in Sportbike, Superbike and Formula Sportbike, Jensen took pole position for the Unlimited Grand Prix while using well-worn DOT-labeled Michelins on his Kneedraggers.com Suzuki GSX-R750. Harding Harley-Davidson/Buell’s Dave Estok topped Thunderbike qualifying with a lap of 1:19.460 on his Pirelli-equipped XB12R. Formula USA Qualifying Results: Sportbike (600cc): 1. Jeff Wood (Suz GSX-R600), 1:14.814; 2. Robert Jensen (Yam YZF-R6), 1:15.202; 3. Michael Himmelsbach (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.075; 4. Scott Greenwood (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:16.179; 5. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R600), 1:16.298; 6. Adam Dolney (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.694; 7. Hector Jimenez (Yam YZF-R6), 1:17.218; 8. Ryan Elleby (Suz GSX-R600), 1:17.341; 9. Trey Yonce (Yam YZF-R6), 1:18.510; 10. Chad Klock (Hon CBR600), 1:18.678. Superbike (600cc): 1. Jeff Wood (Suz GSX-R600), 1:14.930; 2. Michael Himmelsbach (Yam YZF-R6), 1:15.703; 3. Robert Jensen (Yam YZF-R6), 1:15.113; 4. Scott Greenwood (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:16.241; 5. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R600), 1:16.507; 6. Adam Dolney (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.727; 7. Donny Kelley (Suz GSX-R600), 1:18.028; 8. Tim Bemisderfer (Hon CBR600RR), 1:18.508; 9. Hector Jimenez (Yam YZF-R6), 1:18.832; 10. Chris Rockwell (Yam YZF-R6), 1:19.243. Formula Sportbike (750cc): 1. Jeff Wood (Suz GSX-R750), 1:14.317; 2. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R750), 1:14.778; 3. Robert Jensen (Suz GSX-R600), 1:15.657; 4. Ryan Elleby (Suz GSX-R750), 1:15.785; 5. Jesse Janisch (Suz GSX-R750), 1:15.860; 6. Joseph Spina (Suz GSX-R750), 1:16.075; 7. Brian Stokes (Suz GSX-R750), 1:16.150; 8. Michael Garofalo (Suz GSX-R750), 1:17.069; 9. Hector Jimenez (Yam YZF-R6), 1:17.153; 10. Brandon Parrish (Suz GSX-R750), 1:17.674. Thunderbike: 1.Dave Estok (Buell XB12R), 1:19.470; 2. David Yaakov (Suz SV650), 1:19.770; 3. Clint Brotz (Buell XB12R), 1:19.907; 4. Bryan Bemisderfer (Buell XB12R), 1:19.978; 5. Edward Repkoe (Suz SV650), 1:21.455; 6. Walt Sipp (Buell XB12R), 1:21.464; 7. Randy Rega (Buell XB12R), 1:21.469; 8. Nate Kern (BMW), 1:21.629; 9. Dan Bilansky (Buell XB12R), 1:21.642; 10. Sam Rozynski (Buell XB12R), 1:22.118. Unlimited Grand Prix: 1. Robert Jensen (Suz GSX-R750), 1:15.842; 2. Brian Stokes (Suz GSX-R750), 1:16.113; 3. Ryan Gordon (Suz GSX-R750), 1:16.582; 4. Michael Garofalo (Suz GSX-R750), 1:16.673; 5. Tim Bemisderfer (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:16.870; 6. Jesse Janisch (Suz GSX-R750), 1:17.024; 7. David Loikits (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:17.865; 8. Michael Swank (Yam YZF-R1), 1:19.073; 9. Joseph Riberio (Suz GSX-R750), 1:19.728; 10. Jonathan Lawrence (Yam YZF-R6), 1:20.260.

Arclight Suzuki’s Jeff Wood won two CCS races Sunday at Summit Point Raceway, in Summit Point, West Viriginia. Riding his Dunlop-shod GSX-R600, Wood grabbed the holeshot in the Middleweight Supersport sprint and steadily pulled away to win the seven-lap race by approximately nine seconds. Wood’s teammate Scott Harwell finished second, beating Champion Martin Moto Yamaha’s Michael Himmelsbach and Argo Cycles Kawasaki’s Scott Greenwood. Wood returned three races later in Heavyweight Supersport and, again, topped his teammate Harwell by two seconds, breaking the overall track record in the process. Harwell made a last-lap pass on World GSX-R Cup Champion Robert Jensen to secure second. Jensen, who is recovering from a big crash in wet conditions Saturday, finished third. Earlier in the day, Jensen rode his Michelin-fitted Kneedraggers.com Suzuki GSX-R750 to victory in GTO, and Himmelsbach bounced back to capture the Middleweight Superbike win. Other CCS race winners Sunday at Summit Point Raceway included: Harding H-D/Buell’s Dave Estok in Thunderbike, Stewart Aitken-Cade in 125cc Grand Prix, William Dietz in Ultra Light Superbike, Main Line BMW’s Nate Kern in Lightweight Supersport, Joey Thomas in Lightweight Superbike, Steve Keener in Lightweight Superbike, Tapeworks Graphics’ Russell Masecar in SuperTwins and Joseph Spina in Unlimited Superbike. Racers lucky to escape big crashes Sunday were Art Diaz and Ray Bowman, who both crashed at high speed in turn four. Diaz’s Buell tumbled down the track end-over-end, and Bowman’s 2005 Suzuki GSX-R1000 literally broke in half at the main frame spars when it hit a tire-fronted wall outside the turn. Both walked away from their respective crashes. Saturday’s CCS race winners included: Wood in Unlimited Supersport and GTU, Diaz in Formula 40 Lightweight, Randy Rega in Formula 40 and Kern in GT Lights. In addition, Team Performance Cycle’s Ray Bowman and Joe Romano won Saturday’s red-flag-shortened Formula USA Team Challenge, completing 54 laps on their Suzuki GSX-R1000. Team Yochum Motorsports (Shawn Conrad, Calvin Martinez, Kevin Gordon and Nate Kern) finished second overall and retained the F-USA Team Challenge Championship Point lead over Team Fast Lane Racing (Kevin Tate, Rick Beggs, David Hackenberry and Pete Moravek), which was third overall in the endurance event. More, from a press release issued by Main Line BMW: Main Line BMW Team Pro Motion Sportbike Club sponsored racer Nate Kern wins GTL and LWSS by 5 seconds at Summit Point Raceway on the a BMW Boxer Cup bike. Later in the day Kern was stripped of another 5 + second victory in LWGP when his bike went on track without a transponder!? In LWSB Kern lost his 3 second lead on fading 65 lap tires to finish 2nd. Later in the day Nate entered the big BMW in the MWSS race against 600’s and finished 16th out 40+ riders in the field. Nate’s BMWs are prepared by Michael Peter of Main Line BMW. The team has worked hard to get the dry weight down to 469lbs. and puts out 80RWHP on the former Boxer Cup machine. Kern and his sponsors are looking forward to a successful rest of the weekend. Main Line BMW Team Pro Motion Sportbike Club rider Nate Kern and team has had Vincent Haskovec in their thoughts and prayers all weekend. The talk of sympathy and support for Vincent over the PA system and in the paddock at Summit Point Raceway this weekend has been inspiring.

COATES GRABS SUZUKI GSX-R CUP WIN May 29, 2005. British ‘wild card’ rider Adrian Coates won the second round of the 2005 Suzuki GSX-R750 European Cup at Silverstone today, but it was runner-up, South African Hudson Kennaugh who scooped the maximum 25 points. Kennaugh made a superb start and led the 25-rider field away at the beginning of the 12-lap race. At the end of lap one, Coates – who wasn’t eligible for points – David Johnson, Carmelo Morales and Ismael Ortega led the charge behind with Coates pushing harder and harder as the race progressed. But although Coates turned on the pressure, Kennaugh led until the ninth lap when the British rider surged to the front. Kennaugh stayed with the Briton and waited for an opportunity: He closed in many times but was unable to make the decisive move back into the lead. In the end, Coates crossed the line nearly two seconds ahead of Kennaugh with Johnson third just a fraction of a second behind. Third place went to another ‘wild card’ Johnson with Spaniard Morales fourth ahead of fellow countrymen Ortega and first round winner David Salom, France’s David Fouloi, Italian Danilo Dell’omo, Briton Robert Barber and Italian ‘wild card’ Simone Castellani. Said Coates: “I got a good start but Kennaugh went past me off the start. I sat in behind and found a couple of places where I was faster and planned to use these at the end of the race but Morales passed me. I sat in behind him for few laps then passed him and Kennaugh, then banged in a couple of fast laps and then a steady last lap. “I’m very pleased and had a great weekend. This is a brilliant championship and we were treated like kings and thanks to Suzuki GB and Andy Parr for offering me the opportunity to ride.” Johnson said: “It was a tight race. I thought it was all over when Morales ran in to me into the ‘Esses’ on the first lap! Other than that it was a tidy race and I’m glad to get my first international podium.” Barber, who now holds eighth in the series said: “The race went well and I’ve got on really well with the tyre change. The last lap was one of the best I’ve ever done and there is loads more to come from me and the bike.” British Team Manager and Suzuki GB representative Andy Parr was delighted with his riders’ performances and said: “I’m obviously really pleased with how things have gone this weekend. The results couldn’t have been better: Kennaugh and Morales gave us one or two scares through the race but it just goes to show the amount of talent there is in the Suzuki European Cup. Many of these riders wouldn’t be out of place on the WSB grid!” The third round of the GSX-R European Cup takes place at the Misano World Superbike Championship round in Italy on June 26th. Silverstone Results: 1 Adrian Coates (GB), 2 Hudson Kennaugh (South Africa), 3 David Johnson (GB), 4 Carmelo Morales (Spain), 5 Ismael Ortega (Spain), 6 David Salom (Spain), 7 David Fouloi (France), 8 Danilo Dell’omo (Italy), 9 Robert Barber (GB), 10 Simone Castellani (Italy). Championship Points (after 2 of 5 rounds): 1 Hudson Kennaugh (South Africa) 45, 2 David Salom (Spain) 38, 3 Carmelo Morales (Spain) 33, 4 David Fouloi (France) 27, 5 Ismael Ortega (Spain) 25, 6 Joshua Noel Forster (Australia) 16, 7 Dominic Lammert (Germany) 14, 8 Robert Barber (GB) 13, 9 Mike Edwards (GB) 11, 10 Xavier Simeon (Belgium) 11.

1. James Toseland, Ducati, 40:55.190 2. Troy Corser, Suzuki, -0.473 second 3. Noriyuki Haga, Yamaha, -3.187 seconds 4. Chris Vermeulen, Honda, -6.691 seconds 5. Pierfrancesco Chili, Honda, -16.923 seconds 6. Chris Walker, Kawasaki, -17.057 seconds 7. Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki, -28.248 seconds 8. Norick Abe, Yamaha, -31.760 seconds 9. Andrew Pitt, Yamaha, -32.084 seconds 10. Karl Muggeridge, Honda, -36.492 seconds 14. Ben Bostrom, Honda, -46.096 seconds More, from a press release issued by Ten Kate Honda: 2005 World Superbike championship, round five Silverstone, GB Race two Sunday, 29 May 2005 WINSTON RIDERS REPEAT SILVERSTONE PERFORMANCES Winston Ten Kate Honda’s Chris Vermeulen finished fourth in the second race of the World Superbike championship fifth round at Silverstone, GB today, matching his performance in race one. The race was won by British rider James Toseland, with Vermeulen’s fellow Australian and team-mate, Karl Muggeridge, finishing in tenth place. Starting from fifth place on the grid, Vermeulen spent the early part of the 28-lapper around Silverstone’s International circuit avoiding trouble and trying to pass slower riders. He threatened to close on the three front runners but was unable to bridge the gap and took his second 13-point haul of the weekend, moving to within three points of second place in the championship. Ronald ten Kate team manager: “I have to admit that our results today have not met the expectations we had following Monza and after our qualifying performance yesterday. It looks like the handling of the bike in first few laps of the race is causing us some problems but hopefully we can look at that when we go testing at Magny Cours in France next week. We have a lot of new parts to test there and this will be our first real opportunity to try things outside a race weekend. We’re looking to improve the bike in a few areas and hopefully put the two riders into winning positions. We need to change some things quickly to get back to our winning ways but there are still 14 races left and a lot of points up for grabs.” Chris Vermeulen – fourth “I was behind James Toseland in the early part of the race but it just seemed to take me longer to get past the other riders than it did for him. I got hit by someone on the infield section on the first lap and then Laconi crashed right in front of me on the second lap. Both those incidents cost me a bit of time and let the others get away. I was pushing really hard though, right to the end of the race, but every time I put in a quick lap, it didn’t seem to close the gap at all. I scored one more point here than I did at Monza, where I won, so at least that’s a positive. We’re going testing next week and I’m sure that’ll put us back in the right direction.” Karl Muggeridge – tenth “We made some changes after race one and the bike was definitely feeling better. But around ten laps before the end, the grip at the rear just seemed to drop off especially at the hairpin and again coming out of the chicane. It made changing direction pretty difficult but the bike was holding a better line through the faster sections. For sure, the results are disappointing after the progress we made at Monza but there’s a long way to go, a lot still to learn and I’m looking forward to testing some new parts in Magny Cours.” World Superbike, Silverstone race two results (28 laps, 99.7kms): 1 James Toseland GBR (Ducati) 40m55.190s, 2 Troy Corser AUS (Suzuki) +0.473s, 3 Noriyuki Haga JPN (Yamaha) +3.187, 4 Chris Vermeulen AUS (Winston Ten Kate Honda) +6.691, 5 Pierfrancesco Chili ITA (Honda) +16.923, 6 Chris Walker GBR (Kawasaki) +17.057, 7 Yukio Kagayama JPN (Suzuki) +28.248, 8 Norick Abe JPN (Yamaha) +31.760, 9 Andrew Pitt AUS (Yamaha) +32.084, 10 Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda) +36.492. Championship points after five of 12 rounds: 1 Corser 222, 2 Kagayama 144, 3 Vermeulen 141, 4 Regis Laconi FRA (Ducati) 112, 5 Toseland 98, 6 Walker 74, 7 Pitt 70, 8 Haga 68, 9 Chili 66, 10 Abe, 12 Muggeridge 50. Next round: Misano, Italy 26 June More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki Press Office: CORSER EXTENDS WSB SERIES LEAD May 29, 2005. Team Suzuki’s World Superbike Championship leader Troy Corser raced to two close second places at today’s British fifth round at Silverstone and increased his series lead over team-mate Yukio Kagayama to 78 points. In the opening race, the Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider finished neck-and-neck with Regis Laconi (Ducati) and in the second, it went down to the wire with World Champion and local hero, James Toseland (Ducati). The first of the two 28-lappers featured a tremendous three-way dice between Corser, Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) and Regis Laconi (Ducati) until the 25th lap when Haga’s R1 suffered an engine problem. That left Corser chasing Laconi for the last three laps but, try as he could, he could not get past the Frenchman and so he settled for second place. Third place went to current world champion James Toseland (Ducati) – much to the delight of the home fans. Race two was equally thrilling and started with a five-rider battle involving fast-starting Haga, Corser, Kagayama, Laconi and Toseland. But Laconi’s dreams of taking a double vanished when he crashed out on lap two, leaving four to carry on the fight. Corser took the lead on lap four but after Kagayama started dropping back, it was Haga and Toseland who took up the challenge. Corser led at the half way point, but three laps later, Toseland stormed to the front and, despite a fierce fight back from Corser, he held on to take the chequered flag for his first ever World Superbike win on his home soil. Corser was a comfortable second, with Haga third and although Kagayama had problems, he kept going and finished seventh. Troy Corser – Race 1: 2nd, Race 2: 2nd: “Both races were hard ones today but I knew they were going to be that way before we started because I didn’t believe anybody would be able to make a big breakaway. “I got a good start in race one and led for half the distance but, although I opened up a bit of a gap on Haga and Laconi, I just couldn’t shake them. When Laconi came past, I thought I would keep close and see if I could pass at the end. But, my bike was spinning up a bit and I couldn’t get good drive exiting the final chicane. So although I could catch Laconi, I couldn’t get past him. “In race two, it was a bit of the same except this time it was Haga and Toseland who I was fighting with. Toseland was on a mission and I tried my best but in the end I decided that second would be good for championship points. Possibly I could’ve pushed harder but probably I would’ve crashed. At the end, I didn’t even know that Laconi hadn’t finished. Although I didn’t win today, I extended my Championship lead and that’s what it’s all about.” Yukio Kagayama – Race 1: 11th, Race 2: 7th: “I am disappointed today because I thought I could get maybe two podiums, but a crash in the first race ruined my plans. I got back on the bike as soon as I could, but I had dropped from sixth to 16th position in the process. I fought as hard as I could and managed to get 11th position. “In between the two races we changed the set-up of the bike because I didn’t have a good feeling in the first race. But the set-up we had for the second race did not give me a good feeling either and it was not possible for me to push as hard as I wanted. I tried my best, but I didn’t want to crash again so I made sure I brought the bike home. I am particularly disappointed because I have many British fans here and I wanted to do well in front of them.” Superbike Results: Race 1: 1 Laconi (I-Ducati), 2 Corser (Aus-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), 3 Toseland (GB-Ducati), 4 Vermeulen (Aus-Honda), 5 Chili (I-Honda), 6 Walker (GB-Kawasaki), 7 Neukirchner (D-Honda), 8 Bussei (I-Kawasaki), 9 Cardoso (E-Yamaha), 10 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda). 11 Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra). Race 2: 1 Toseland, 2 Corser (Aus-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), 3 Haga (J-Yamaha), 4 Vermeulen, 5 Chili, 6 Walker, 7 Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), 8 Abe (J-Yamaha), 9 Pitt (Aus-Yamaha), 10 Muggeridge, World Superbike Points: 1 Corser 222, 2 Kagayama 144, 3 Vermeulen 141, 4 Laconi 112, 5 Toseland 98, 6 Walker 74, 7 Pitt 70, 8 Haga 68, 9 Chili 66, 10 Abe 62. SUPERSTOCK 1000: Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Riccardo Chiarello was forced to retire from today’s third-round European Superstock 1000 Championship at Silverstone with a mystery clutch problem. He had been looking comfortable in fourth place at the time and was about to mount a charge for the podium on the 12th lap when the problem worsened. The 15-lap race featured a tremendous scrap between Roccoli (Yamaha), Sofuoglu (Yamaha) and Coxhell (Suzuki), with the result in doubt until the final lap. Roccoli led going into the final chicane, but Sofuoglu tried an ambitious move into the left-hander. For a moment he was ahead but he got in way too hot and he missed his line. Roccoli nipped through to take the lead and the win with Coxhell second and Sofuoglu third. Riccardo Chiarello – DNF (12 laps): “On the warm-up lap, I felt a small problem with the clutch but it was too late to do anything about it and I had no choice but to start the race like that. I made a good start and was second after the first lap, but that was probably the highlight of the race for me because after that the clutch started giving me more problems. I kept going as best I could, but had to pull in and retire. I hope that I have better luck in the next race at Misano.” Superstock 1000 Results: 1 Roccoli (I-Yamaha), 2 Coxhell (Aus-Suzuki), 3 Sofuoglu (Tur-Yamaha), 4 Van Keymeulen (NL-Yamaha), 5 De Angelis (I-Yamaha), 6 Rocamora (I-Suzuki), 7 Martinez (E-Yamaha), 8 Scassa (I-Yamaha), 9 Iannuzzo (I-MV Augusta), 10 Polita (I-Suzuki). Chiarello (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) DNF. Superstock 1000 Championship Points: 1 Sofuoglu 66, 2 Roccoli 61, 3 Coxhell 47, 4 Van Keymeulen 44, 5 De Angelis 24, 6 Martinez 19, 7 De Marco 18, 8 Sacchetti 17, 9 Polita 15. 10 Chiarello (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 13. SUPERSTOCK 600: Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Xavier Simeon crashed out of Saturday’s Superstock 600 European Championship race as he contested a podium position. The teenager made a good start and was sixth at the end of the first lap. He then moved up to fifth two laps later, but his dreams of taking a podium vanished when he crashed on lap eight, fortunately without any serious injury. Italian Corti (Yamaha) led the race from start-to-finish and ran out the winner four seconds ahead of his nearest rival, Frenchman Tiberio (Honda) with fellow countryman Berger (Honda) third. Xavier Simeon – DNF (8 laps): “I am disappointed because, when I was in fifth, I thought I had a good chance of getting a good result. It’s a great shame because this is a hard championship and you need to take as many points as you can in every race. I intend making up for it in the next round at Misano.” Superstock 600 Results: 1 Corti (I-Yamaha), 2 Tiberio (F-Honda), 3 Berger (f-Honda), 4 Canepa (I-Kawasaki), 5 Napoleone (F-Kawasaki), 6 Antonelli (I-Kawasaki). Xavier Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), DNF. More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse: DUCATI XEROX DOUBLE-TEAM AT SILVERSTONE AS LACONI AND TOSELAND SHARE THE WINS Silverstone (UK), Sunday 29 May: Règis Laconi and James Toseland took a win apiece for the Ducati Xerox Team in the fifth round of the World Superbike championship in front of a 70,000 strong crowd at the Silverstone circuit. Frenchman Laconi scored his ninth career triumph and Ducati’s first win of the year when he took the chequered flag in race 1, but it was Toseland who really set the home fans alight with a controlled but aggressive display of riding in race 2 to seal the reigning champion’s first win of the year. “Its always nice to win especially with the tough start to this season, but as I said after the first race, I never give up” declared James. “The team has worked fantastically well, thanks to Davide Tardozzi and Paolo Ciabatti for all the work they’ve done with me. We made a slight change from first race to second race and it was worth half a second a lap faster, the difference between finishing third and first, but it was a long race and seeing L18 after about 45 minutes is really tough! “I did it the hard way again, letting them get away at the start and having to chip away but once I’d got on the tail, it was difficult with Nori and Troy and it took me quite a few laps to get by. I’ve never won before at Silverstone and that was one of my goals in life. It feels as good as I thought it would!”. Laconi won the first race from Corser but retired from the second on lap 2 when he lost the rear of his Ducati 999 and crashed out. “I have wanted to win since the beginning of the season” said Régis. “I almost did it in Monza, but I was a bit disappointed about losing out on the final lap. Now I am very happy to win this one because it is the first victory this year. It’s good because it means that Ducati are doing a great job together to get back to the front and with James on the podium it was a good result for all of us. In the last few laps I knew Troy was behind me so I tried my best not to make any mistake in all the corners. I think that if I am very clean in all the corners it becomes hard for Troy to pass. During the race I had to pass three guys to take the lead, so I rode hard and aggressive, but I am a very happy man today because we did a good job and won one more time for Ducati”. “In race 2 I was right behind Haga and Corser when I went into the last chicane and lost control of the rear of the bike and there was nothing more that I could do. It was a real pity but I will try and make up for it in front of the Italian fans at Misano”. RACE 1: 1. Laconi (Ducati Xerox) ; 2. Corser (Suzuki) ; 3. Toseland (Ducati Xerox) ; 4. Vermeulen (Honda) ; 5. Chili (Honda) ; 6. Walker (Kawasaki) ; RACE 2 : 1. Toseland; 2. Corser; 3. Haga (Yamaha); 4. Vermeulen; 5. Chili; 6. Walker; etc. POINTS (after 5 of 12 rounds): Riders – 1. Corser 222; 2. Kagayama 144; 3. Vermeulen 141; 4. Laconi 112; 5. Toseland 98; 6. Walker 74; etc. Manufacturers – 1. Suzuki 231; 2. Honda 154; 3. Ducati 150; 4. Yamaha 109; 5. Kawasaki 86; 6. Petronas 4. More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing: HONDA RACING INFORMATION World Supersport and Superbike Championships 2005 Round 5, Silverstone Great Britain, 27 29 MAY 2005 CHARPENTIER TAKES THIRD WIN FOR HONDA Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) roared to his third race win of the 2005 season after another of the front running displays he has specialised in since the start of the year. His team-mate, Katsuaki Fujiwara (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) was not his closest challenger this time around, fighting off the pain of injury in practice and gearchange issues to finish ninth, but retain his second place in the championship table nevertheless. Honda CBR600RR riders have now taken five wins from five starts, thanks to two victories for Fujiwara to add to Charpentier’s triple crowns. Charpentier also scored the fastest lap of the race on the new circuit, and thus the new lap record, with a 1’29.027. Charpentier was joined on the podium by his French compatriot Fabien Foret (Team Italia Megabike Honda CBR600RR) who finished third, some 20.4 seconds from the lead. Kevin Curtain (Yamaha) was second, pushing Charpentier until near the end. More Honda happiness came with a season best fourth place for former World Champion Stephane Chambon (Gil Motorsport Honda CBR600RR). Tatu Lauslehto (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) proved to be a late race problem for Fujiwara to overcome, as the Finnish rookie rider pushed him all the way, leading out of the last chicane but allowing Fujiwara to pass when he almost highsided trying to get the power on early. He finished tenth. Talented Italian rider, Michel Fabrizio, experienced clutch problems on his Team Italia Megabike Honda CBR600RR, and had to withdraw on lap 23. In the championship table the latest thrust of Charpentier extends his championship lead to 25 points, with his total of 115 comparing favourably with Fujiwara’s 90. Foret is fourth on 54 points, with Lauslehto ninth, on 30. Fabrizio’s no-score drops him to seventh place, with an unchanged total of 42. Charpentier was once more at his absolute zenith all weekend, dominating qualifying for long periods before a close fight with Curtain replicated somewhat on raceday saw him take his fifth straight pole. He was effusive in his post race comments. “What can I say except that everything was fantastic for me. It was the best weekend possible, with pole position, fastest lap and also another win. Kevin rode very well but I always felt comfortable and in control. Although it was a long, hard race, I am in good physical condition and the bike was also great. I am so happy with the atmosphere in the pit garage the whole team makes me laugh and I never feel any pressure from my team manager Ronald Ten Kate. On top of that the CBR is just perfect, so I really think this is the best situation I have ever raced in.” Foret, third despite a scare when he was excluded then re-instated in the post-race results for an underweight machine, knew a podium was a valuable finish for him and his team. “I’m happy today. I have taken the second podium of the season and I liked it so much when I arrived in front of my group. I tried to stay with Sebastien and Kevin but today they were fastest and so I made sure of the podium by defending against Fabrizio and Chambon with a good last few laps. We must work so hard from here to the Misano round, because we can arrive at the level of Winston Ten Kate. We are not so far but I hope that during the Italian round the situation will be better.” Fujiwara had a tough day at the short 3.561km International circuit at Silverstone; it’s busy nature and changes of direction not helping his cause when he experienced gearshifting problems. “I am very disappointed with that result, of course. I hurt my shoulder in the crash yesterday but after a good massage this morning it didn’t feel too bad until after the race. My start wasn’t so good from sixth on the grid, but I had a gear shifting problem and found it difficult to select the right gear which made it very hard.” Lauslehto’s latest top ten finish was another positive step on the ladder for the European Champion, despite a last corner hitch. “I had been having some difficulty exiting that corner all the race, and on the last lap I had to try hard to keep Fujiwara behind me. But I finished with some good points again, after yet another hard race.” Fabrizio’s disappointment was clear to see, as he trudged away from yet another possible podium finish in his full rookie WSS season. “This is an unlucky period for me. After the mistake of Monza the clutch broke four laps from the end. I tried to make adjustments during the race but on the finish line I could not continue. I hope to make a better result in Misano, without problems. I like Misano very much and know it very well.” World Superbike Round 5 of 12 ROUND FIVE PRESENTS ANOTHER NEW CHALLENGE TO HONDA QUINTET Chris Vermeulen (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) was the top finishing Honda rider on two occasions at Silverstone’s International circuit, taking fourth places after two tough and eventful races for all the Honda protagonists. Pierfrancesco Chili (Klaffi Honda CBR1000RR) was the next best Fireblade rider, securing a fine brace of fighting fifths. In the first race Regis Laconi took his first race win of the year on his Ducati, with Suzuki rider Troy Corser second and Laconi’s team-mate James Toseland third. In the second 28-lap outing the finishing order was Toseland from Corser, with Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) third. Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) slugged out two tenth places, on a day of symmetrical results for the highest placed Honda riders. Chili’s team-mate Max Neukirchner (Klaffi Honda CBR1000RR) had a day of contrasts, overcoming the pain of his recently broken wrist to secure seventh in race one, but knocked off his machine temporarily to finish 18th in the second leg. Ben Bostrom (Renegade Honda Koji CBR1000RR) had a new style seat sub frame break in race one, forcing him out, but ground out some points for 14th in race two. Vermeulen, the 2003 World Supersport Champion, could not get into a position to get away with the leaders in either race, and sits third in the championship. “I was behind James Toseland in the early parts of the race but it just seemed to take me longer to get past the other riders than it did for him. I got hit by someone in the infield section in the first lap of race two and then Laconi crashed right in front of me on the second lap, Both those incidents cost me time and let the others get away. I was pushing very hard though, right to the end of the race, but every time I put in a quick lap I didn’t seem to close the gap at all.” Chili was pleased with the progress of his bike, knowing that he could not seriously challenge for podiums in either race. “I think we were OK, we improved our positions and maybe the guys in front had different rear tyres. When I tested this tyre maybe I did not have the right suspension. It was not 100% but I was starting to have much more feeling for the bike and in the second race I pushed as much as I could to get the best result possible. I had cramp in my leg in the middle of the race, so I had to relax and breath. My battle was a personal one.” Muggeridge could not regain his Monza pace, but kept his concentration for two points scoring finishes. “We made some changes after race one and the bike definitely felt better. But around ten laps from the end the grip just seemed to drop off especially at the hairpin and again at the exit of the chicane. It made changing direction pretty difficult but the bike was holding a better line through the faster sections.” Neukirchner, who rode all weekend with his right wrist in a lightweight plastic cast, qualified tenth in Superpole, fifth after the regular session, and had to take painkillers to allow him to race to the level he did on Sunday. “For the races I only had a tablet from the doctor for the pain and yesterday I had a painkilling injection. Laconi crashed in front of me in race one, and also Cardoso. I went into Cardoso’s machine; my engine was still running so my bike was pushing his bike forward before I crashed. Then my engine died, so I had to bump start it. My position in race one was good, the second well, that’s racing!” Bostrom was disappointed at his luck, explaining his plight. “We did change the settings to take weight off the front in race two but it was worse. In the last laps I was waiting for the race to finish because the front just seemed to be tucking under all the time.” The sixth rounds of the WSS and SBK championships take place at Misano Adriatico, on 26th June. Results SUPERSPORT: RACE : (Laps 28 = 99,708 Km) Pos /Rider /Nat. /Team / Time /Gap 1 / S. CHARPENTIER / FRA / Winston Ten Kate Honda / 41’53.540 / 2 / K. CURTAIN / AUS / Yamaha Motor Germany / 41’56.383 / 2.843 3 / F. FORET / FRA / Team Megabike / 42’13.945 / 20.405 4 / S. CHAMBON / FRA / Gil Motor Sport / 42’15.903 / 22.363 5 / B. PARKES / AUS / Yamaha Motor Germany / 42’18.363 / 24.823 6 / B. VENEMAN / NED / Suzuki Nederland / 42’25.550 / 32.010 7 / G.NANNELLI / ITA / Ducati SC Caracchi / 42’27.182 / 33.642 8 / A. CORRADI / ITA / Ducati Selmat / 42’30.866 / 37.326 9 / K. FUJIWARA / JPN / Winston Ten Kate Honda / 42’31.329 / 37.789 10 / T. LAUSLEHTO / FIN / Klaffi Honda / 42’31.368 / 37.828 11 / S. LE GRELLE / BEL / Le Grelle Dholda in Action / 42’40.558 / 47.018 12 / J. FORES / ESP / Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra / 42’41.038 / 47.498 13 / J. DA COSTA / FRA / Lightspeed Kawasaki / 42’42.035 / 48.495 14 / T. TUNSTALL / GBR / Hardinge Bridgeport / 42’44.320 / 50.780 15 / J. JANSEN / NED / Suzuki Nederland / 42’46.512 / 52.972 Fastest Lap 2° Sébastien Charpentier 1’29.027 143,997 Km/h Lap Record: New Track Riders Championship Standings: 1 CHARPENTIER 115, 2 FUJIWARA 90, 3 CURTAIN 80, 4 FORET 54, 5 PARKES 49, 6 CHAMBON 45, 7 FABRIZIO 42, 8 NANNELLI 40, 9 LAUSLEHTO 30, 10 FORES 27, 11 VENEMAN 23, 12 STIGEFELT 19, 13 LE GRELLE 14, 14 VD GOORBERGH 11, 15 MIKSOVSKY 9. SUPERBIKE Race 1: (Laps 28 = 99,708 Km) Pos /Rider /Nat. /Team / Time /Gap 1 / R. LACONI / FRA / Ducati Xerox / 40’58.899 / 2 / T. CORSER / AUS / Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra / 40’58.995 / 0.096 3 / J. TOSELAND / GBR / Ducati Xerox / 41’00.035 / 1.136 4 / C. VERMEULEN / AUS / Winston Ten Kate Honda / 41’10.184 / 11.285 5 / P. CHILI / ITA / Klaffi Honda / 41’13.548 / 14.649 6 / C.WALKER / GBR / PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse / 41’15.360 / 16.461 7 / M.NEUKIRCHNER / GER / Klaffi Honda / 41’39.364 / 40.465 8 / G.BUSSEI / ITA / Kawasaki Bertocchi / 41’42.164 / 43.265 9 / J. CARDOSO / ESP / D.F.X. Treme / 41’45.310 / 46.411 10 / K. MUGGERIDGE / AUS / Winston Ten Kate Honda / 41’48.110 / 49.211 11 / Y. KAGAYAMA / JPN / Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra / 41’50.605 / 51.706 12 / M.SANCHINI / ITA / PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse / 41’55.273 / 56.374 13 / A. PITT / AUS / Yamaha Motor Italia WSB / 42’10.501 / 1’11.602 14 / A. VELINI / ITA / Team Pedercini / 42’24.085 / 1’25.186 15 / M.PRAIA / POR / DFXtreme Sterilgarda / 42’24.873 / 1’25.974 Fastest Lap Lap 9° Régis Laconi 1’27.130 147,132 Km/h Race 2 : (Laps 28 = 99,708 Km) Pos /Rider /Nat. /Team / Time / 1 / J. TOSELAND / GBR / Ducati Xerox / 40’55.190 / 2 / T. CORSER / AUS / Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra / 40’55.663 / 0.473 3 / N.HAGA / JPN / Yamaha Motor Italia WSB / 40’58.377 / 3.187 4 / C. VERMEULEN / AUS / Winston Ten Kate Honda / 41’01.881 / 6.691 5 / P. CHILI / ITA / Klaffi Honda / 41’12.113 / 16.923 6 / C.WALKER / GBR / PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse / 41’12.247 / 17.057 7 / Y. KAGAYAMA / JPN / Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra / 41’23.438 / 28.248 8 / N. ABE / JPN / Yamaha Motor France-Ipone / 41’26.950 / 31.760 9 / A. PITT / AUS / Yamaha Motor Italia WSB / 41’27.274 / 32.084 10 / K. MUGGERIDGE / AUS / Winston Ten Kate Honda / 41’31.682 / 36.492 11 / L. LANZI / ITA / Ducati SC Caracchi / 41’34.660 / 39.470 12 / I. CLEMENTI / ITA / Team Pedercini / 41’35.372 / 40.182 13 / G.MCCOY / AUS / Foggy Petronas Racing / 41’36.515 / 41.325 14 / B. BOSTROM / USA / Renegade Koji / 41’41.286 / 46.096 15 / M.ROCCOLI / ITA / Italia Lorenzini by Leoni / 41’51.441 / 56.251 Fastest Lap 5° Troy Corser 1’27.166 147,071 Km/h Lap Record: 2005 Régis Laconi 1’27.130 147,130Km/h Riders Championship Standings: 1 CORSER 222, 2 KAGAYAMA 144, 3 VERMEULEN 141, 4 LACONI 112, 5 TOSELAND 98, 6 WALKER 74, 7 PITT 70, 8 HAGA 68, 9 CHILI 66, 10 ABE 62, 11 NEUKIRCHNER 50, 12 MUGGERIDGE 50, 13 BUSSEI 39, 14 GIMBERT 26, 15 BOSTROM 21.

2005 World Supersport championship, round five Silverstone, GB – Sunday, 29 May 2005 CHARPENTIER TAKES SILVERSTONE SPOILS Winston rider Sébastien Charpentier scorched to his third victory of the season in this afternoon’s fifth round World Supersport championship race at Silverstone, GB. The Frenchman finished almost three seconds ahead of Australian Kevin Curtain after 28 laps of the 3.56km International circuit. Charpentier’s weekend was complete after starting from pole position, setting the fastest lap of the race to establish a new lap record and taking the win. His team-mate, Katsuaki Fujiwara, was left feeling the effects of a practice crash yesterday, however; the Japanese finishing in ninth place. Ronald ten Kate team manager: “I’m really happy for Sébastien after this win. He rode consistently fast laps after taking the lead on the first lap and was able to up the pace enough later in the race to open a gap between him and Kevin Curtain. The win puts him in a very strong championship position. Of course, it’s slightly mixed emotions today because Katsuaki’s result was not what we had hoped. After yesterday and this morning’s warm-up, he was in a good position to challenge but the race was very physically demanding.” Sébastien Charpentier first “What can I say, except that everything is fantastic for me? It was the best weekend possible, with pole position, fastest lap and another win. Kevin rode very well but I always felt very comfortable and in control. Although it was a long, hard race, I am in good physical condition and the bike was also great. I am so happy with the atmosphere in the garage the whole team makes me laugh and I never feel any pressure from Ronald. On top of that the CBR is just perfect so I think this really is the best situation I have ever raced in.” Katsuaki Fujiwara ninth “I am very disappointed with that result, of course. I hurt my shoulder in the crash yesterday but after a good massage this morning it I didn’t feel too bad until later in the race. My start wasn’t so good from sixth on the grid but then I had a gear shifting problem and found it difficult to select the right gear, which made it very hard. Sébastien rode very well again so it’s another good result for the team just not so good for me.” World Supersport, Silverstone results (28 laps, 99.708km): 1 Sébastien Charpentier FRA (Winston Ten Kate Honda) 41m53.540s, 2 Kevin Curtain AUS (Yamaha) +2.843s, 3 Fabien Foret FRA (Honda) +20.405, 4 Stephane Chambon FRA (Honda) +22.363, 5 Broc Parkes AUS (Yamaha) +24.823, 6 Barry Veneman NED (Suzuki) +32.010, 7 Gianluca Nannelli ITA (Ducati) +33.642, 8 Alessandro Corradi ITA (Ducati) +37.326, 9 Katsuaki Fujiwara JPN (Winston Ten Kate Honda) +37.789, 10 Tauto Lauslehto FIN (Honda) +37.828. Championship points after five of 12 rounds: Charpentier 115, Fujiwara 91, Curtain 80, Parkes 51, Chambon 48, Michel Fabrizio ITA (Honda) 42, Nannelli 41, Foret 38, Lauslehto 31, Javier Fores ESP (Suzuki) 28. Next round: Misano, Italy 26 June

2005 World Superbike championship, round five Silverstone, GB Race one Sunday, 29 May 2005 VERMEULEN FOURTH IN SILVERSTONE OPENER Chris Vermeulen finished fourth in the opening race of the World Superbike championship fifth round at Silverstone, GB today. The race was won by French rider Regis Laconi, with Vermeulen’s Winston Ten Kate Honda team-mate Karl Muggeridge finishing in tenth place. Vermeulen spent much of the gruelling 28-lap race around Silverstone’s 3.56km International circuit trying to pass British rider Chris Walker but, by the time he had taken fourth place form his rival, the top three riders had opened a five second lead. Ronald ten Kate team manager: “That wasn’t what we were expecting after yesterday’s qualifying and the warm-up this morning. We have one or two problems that we need to solve before race two when I hope there will be some better results. Chris has closed the gap a little to second place in the championship but Troy Corser has still extended his lead.” Chris Vermeulen – fourth “My start was OK but I nearly lost the front going into the first turn. As we came out, Kagayama was spinning up right in front of me and I had to shut off a little. Then it took me ages to get by Chris Walker because it’s really hard to make a pass stick here. I tried in about four different places but every time I got by I ran wide. When I finally got there the others had gone and my tyres were pretty much done. It was really hard work doing 28 laps around here but I’m hoping for better in race two.” Karl Muggeridge – tenth “I had a pretty good start and made up a few places on the first lap. But after about two thirds of the race the bike developed an ignition problem which meant it didn’t rev as high as it should. I lost some top speed and couldn’t do anything about getting passed by a couple of other riders, which was pretty frustrating. The changes we made this morning improved things a little but we still need to find some more grip in the second race.” World Superbike, Silverstone race one results (28 laps, 99.7kms): 1 Regis Laconi FRA (Ducati) 40m59.899s, 2 Troy Corser AUS (Suzuki) +0.096s 3 James Toseland GBR (Ducati) +1.136, 4 Chris Vermeulen AUS (Winston Ten Kate Honda) +11.285, 5 Pierfrancesco Chili ITA (Honda) +14.469, 6 Chris Walker GBR (Kawasaki) +16.461, 7 Max Neukirchner GER (Honda) +40.465, 8 Giovanni Bussei ITA (Kawasaki) +43.265, 9 Jose Luis Cardoso ESP (Yamaha) +46.411, 10 Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda) +49.211.

WILD CARD COATES ON GSX-R POLE! May 28, 2005. Briton Adrian Coates dominated both qualifying sessions for the Suzuki GSX-R750 Cup round at Silverstone and will start tomorrow’s 12-lap race in pole position. Wild Card rider Coates had led day one’s charge by nearly three-quarters-of-a-second, but today things were much closer and he was pressed strongly by South African Hudson Kennaugh this afternoon. By the time today’s 40-minute qualifying session had finished, Coates has posted a time of 1:31.513, just over two-tenths-of-a-second ahead of Kennaugh. Third quickest was another ‘Wild Card’, David Johnson, with Spaniard Carmelo Morales fourth. All riders experienced problems with the strong winds that buffeted the 3.561 kilometre Northamptonshire circuit, but despite that, most improved on yesterday’s lap times. Adrian Coates – 1st: “I am really happy to have a Wild Card ride here at Silverstone. I really didn’t know what to expect, but I think it is a great series and I am having a lot of fun riding in it. The wind was a bit of a problem today – compared to yesterday – but as long as you were a bit cautious, it wasn’t too bad. “It’s going to be a hard 12 laps tomorrow but I’ve ridden this circuit layout before so I know what to expect. I hope to get a good start and get away from the rest of the field, but if I cannot do that, I think I can still pull off a good result.” Hudson Kennaugh – 2nd, 1:31.795: “I think this track is awesome and it is great fun as long as you have a fast bike and learn where to go quickly. It’s not a hard track to learn, but it’s a hard track to shave off those last fractions of a second. I know Coates is a ‘Wild Card’ and therefore will not be eligible for any points, but I still intend beating him.” Friday GSX-R Cup Qualifying: 1 Coates (GB) 1:31.513, 2 Kennaugh (RSA), 3 Johnson (GB), 4 Morales (E), 5 Ortega (E), 6 Salon (F), 7 Dell’Omo (E), 8 Fouloi (F), 9 Castellani (I), 10 Barber (GB). For more information and photos of the series, visit: www.gsxrcup.com.

Silverstone World Superbike Superpole Results: 1. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:26.679 2. Noriyuki HAGA (Yam YZF-R1), 1:26.985 3. Regis LACONI (Duc 999F05), 1:27.086 4. Troy CORSER (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:27.177 5. Chris VERMEULEN (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:27.261 6. Jose Luis CARDOSO (Yam YZF-R1), 1:27.399 7. James TOSELAND (Duc 999F05), 1:27.584 8. Chris WALKER (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:27.805 9. Andrew PITT (Yam YZF-R1), 1:27.861 10. Max NEUKIRCHNER (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:27.888 11. Karl MUGGERIDGE (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:28.014 12. Garry MCCOY (Petronas FP1), 1:28.085 13. Pierfrancesco CHILI (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:28.129 14. Norick ABE (Yam YZF-R1), 1:28.133 15. Ben BOSTROM (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:28.897 16. Massimo ROCCOLI (Yam YZF-R1), 1:28.908 More, from a press release issued by Ten Kate Honda: SECOND ROW FOR VERMEULEN AT SILVERSTONE Chris Vermeulen will start tomorrow’s two fifth round World Superbike championship races from the second row of the grid after setting the fifth fastest time in this afternoon’s Superpole event at Silverstone, GB. Japan’s Yukio Kagayama will start from pole position, with Vermeulen’s Winston Ten Kate Honda team-mate, Karl Muggeridge, eleventh fastest. Going last into Superpole after setting the fastest time in regulation qualifying, Vermeulen was able to improve his best time by three tenths of a second in the blustery conditions and was just one tenth of a second off a possible front row start. Ronald ten Kate team manager: “Dropping back from first to fifth place is, of course, disappointing for Chris and the team but that is how it goes in Superpole sometimes. It seems that the one-lap format is not suiting us so well this season. But Chris is ready for tomorrow’s two 28-lap races which will be long and red hot. We still have some work to do with Karl’s set-up tonight and we will try to improve things in warm-up tomorrow. He liked the setting changes we made this afternoon and simulated a race distance on one tyre.” Chris Vermeulen fifth fastest, 1m27.261s: “I don’t really like going last in Superpole sitting in the box watching everyone else go and waiting for my turn is difficult. When I finally got out there, I didn’t really push as hard as I might have anywhere even though everything felt pretty good. I was aiming for around a 1m26.9s lap and I could have been a bit quicker with another lap, I guess. It would have been nice to put a qualifier in during free practice to get a feel for it but we had some problems with the battery and then the brakes, so we ran out of time. A good start is going to be critical tomorrow because it’s going to be very hard to pass here, so I really need to be at the front in the first couple of laps.” Karl Muggeridge eleventh fastest, 1m28.014s: “We changed a lot for this afternoon’s free practice session which certainly improved things but there’s still some way to go. We need to absorb the bumps a lot more, get the bike to turn better and get the power down everything, really! The strong wind today made Superpole a bit of a lottery and I got a really strong gust just as I went on to the back straight that nearly had me off the track. I need a really good start tomorrow if I’m to continue the progress we made at Monza, so we’ll try a few things in warm-up and see how it goes.” More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki: Team Suzuki Press Office – May 28, 2005. Yukio Kagayama will start tomorrow’s British fifth round World Superbike Championship round at Silverstone from the front after winning this afternoon’s Superpole. The Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider set a best time of 1’26.679 on his GSX-R1000 Suzuki to beat Nori Haga by 300ths of a second. Alstare team mate and current World Championship leader Troy Corser finished Superpole in fourth position, 100ths of a second behind third-placed Regis Laconi. Yukio Kagayama – 1st, 1:26.679: “My Superpole lap was almost perfect – though I did make some small mistakes. When I was waiting in the garage and saw how quickly Nori had gone, my heart was beating so loudly, I thought everybody could hear it! I wanted to beat Nori, so I just went out and gave it everything I had. I am not sure why I was able to go so fast, but I give a lot of thanks to all my British fans – it was British power that helped me for sure. “This circuit is very tough and two 28-lap races will be very hard. Today the conditions were not so easy because the wind was very strong in the morning and it was trying to push me off the track at the end of the front straight. Fortunately it was not so bad in the afternoon and maybe I was a little lucky with it on my Superpole lap. Winning Superpole was on my schedule this weekend so I am hoping to follow this schedule tomorrow as well!” Troy Corser – 4th, 1:27.177: “Everybody expects me to take Superpole every time out, but there are lots of fast riders out there and it’s never easy. The conditions today were very tricky and there were a few places on the track where it would have been dead easy to crash if you didn’t take good care of what you were doing. But I’m happy enough to be on the front and as long as I get a good start I’m sure I’m going to be there or thereabouts at the end. It would be good if I could get an early lead because that would mean that the rest would be spending their time and energy fighting each other and slowing each other up.” More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse: LACONI LINES UP THIRD, TOSELAND SEVENTH FOR DUCATI XEROX TEAM AFTER SILVERSTONE SUPERPOLE Silverstone (UK), Saturday 28 May: After impressive performances in practice and qualifying, Régis Laconi and James Toseland set third and seventh quickest times respectively for the Ducati Xerox Team at a wind-swept Silverstone circuit in the final World Superbike qualifying session today. But both the 29-year-old Frenchman, who will start from the front row of the grid, and his British team-mate, one row behind, are confident of scoring good results in the two 28-lap races tomorrow. “We have been working well with the team and Ducati to find a good setting on this new track. It’s actually a very small, physical but fun to ride track because you have to fight all the time and there is no time for a rest” said Régis. “My 999 is perfect, the engine is going well and the chassis is doing a good job, we have made a good improvement for this race. I didn’t do a perfect lap in Superpole and these two Japanese guys ahead were very fast but third position is fine for me today. The wind tends to affect the bike in the first part of the lap because it pushes a lot and you have to be very careful. However I just wanted to be on the first row today, which we did, and I have a good setting for the race”. “Seventh after being one of the quickest guys all weekend is not exactly ideal, while my time in Superpole was good but not amazing” declared James. “Superpole is always half-a-second quicker than all the other sessions, but we got a little bit caught out this time. The second row will be fine, I am as fast as anyone else on race pace so I’ve just got to get to the front as quick as possible. We’ve still got a few things to try in the morning, the front is sorted out, but the balance at the rear still needs a bit of tweaking and once we get that sorted out, I know we’ll have a bike that’s capable of winning tomorrow. It’s going to be tough to pass but you just have to be aggressive on the first couple of laps and get stuck in”. TIMES: 1. Kagayama (Suzuki) 1m26.679s; 2. Haga (Yamaha) 1m26.985s; 3. Laconi (Ducati Xerox) 1m27.086s; 4. Corser (Suzuki) 1m27.177s; 5. Vermeulen (Honda) 1m27.261s; 6. Cardoso (Yamaha) 1m27.399s; 7. Toseland (Ducati Xerox) 1m27.584s; 8. Walker (Kawasaki) 1m27.805s; 9. Pitt (Yamaha) 1m27.861s; 10. Neukirchner (Honda) 1m27.888s; etc. TV COVERAGE: British Eurosport (UK) – Sunday 29 May, 1130 BST race 1 (live), 2200 race 2 (delayed). Eurosport (Pan European) – Sunday 29 May, 2245 race 1 + 2 (delayed).