Combined World Superbike Qualifying Results (heading into Superpole): 1. Chris WALKER, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 2:03.064 2. Troy CORSER, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 2:03.083 3. Max NEUKIRCHNER, Honda CBR1000RR, 2:03.398 4. Chris VERMEULEN, Honda CBR1000RR, 2:03.669 5. Andrew PITT, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2:03.776 6. Karl MUGGERIDGE, Honda CBR1000RR, 2:03.808 7. Yukio KAGAYAMA, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 2:03.837 8. Jose Luis CARDOSO, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2:03.917 9. James TOSELAND, Ducati 999F05, 2:03.941 10. David CHECA, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2:04.168 11. Lorenzo LANZI, Ducati 999RS, 2:04.174 12. Regis LACONI, Ducati 999F05, 2:04.184 13. Mauro SANCHINI, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 2:04.330 14. Ivan CLEMENTI, Ducati 999RS, 2:04.336 15. Norick ABE, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2:04.393 16. Garry MCCOY, Foggy Petronas FP1, 2:04.472 17. Pierfrancesco CHILI, Honda CBR1000RR, 2:04.483 18. Noriyuki HAGA, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2:04.729 19. Steve MARTIN, Foggy Petronas FP1, 2:04.765 20. Fonsi NIETO, Ducati 999RS, 2:04.839 21. Giovanni BUSSEI, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 2:05.240 22. Sebastien GIMBERT, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2:05.269 23. Gianluca VIZZIELLO, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2:05.446 24. Marco BORCIANI, Ducati 999RS, 2:05.458 25. Lorenzo ALFONSI, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2:05.518 26. Alessio VELINI, Ducati 999RS, 2:05.532 27. Ben BOSTROM, Honda CBR1000RR, 2:06.059 28. Lucio PEDERCINI, Ducati 999RS, 2:06.858 29. Miguel PRAIA, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2:07.599 30. Adam BADZIAK, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 2:08.514

CHARPENTIER FLIES TO BRNO POLE POSITION A fly embedded in Sébastien Charpentier’s eye did not prevent the Winston Ten Kate Honda rider from setting the fastest time in today’s World Supersport championship final qualifying session at Brno in the Czech Republic. The Frenchman was almost half a second faster than second-placed Kevin Curtain with Michel Fabrizio and Broc Parkes taking the remaining front row slots. Charpentier’s replacement team-mate for the Brno event, Craig Jones, battled back from a crash early on in the session to post the thirteenth fastest time. Ronald ten Kate team manager: “That was very, very impressive. We started today’s session with a longer run on used tyres to simulate tomorrow’s race but Kevin (Curtain) went quick very early on and later set a time that seemed unbeatable. Sébastien came in with a fly deeply embedded in his eye and we couldn’t get it out but he then went and put in a time that, frankly, I thought was impossible. Craig has continued to make progress today but unfortunately found a bump that he wasn’t expecting and crashed out early in the session. Going out on the spare CBR upset his rhythm and development with the bike but he is used to fairly intense racing battles in the British championship so I’m sure he’ll get his head down for tomorrow’s encounter. Sébastien Charpentier fastest, 2m06.283s “I think that a 2:06.2 on a supersport machine here at Brno is a very high level and this is surely my best qualifying session from my six pole positions this year. Misano was very difficult and I had a similar fight with Kevin (Curtain) at Silverstone. You could say it’s not necessary for me to go so hard for pole position because of the championship but it is something that I enjoy especially today! I thought Kevin’s 2:06.7 was a good time but I came in with the fly in my eye and put on some new tyres. I spent a lap concentrating before the quick one because you have to be aggressive in some places here and smooth in others. I’m looking forward to a good fight again tomorrow and we’re ready for the race.” Craig Jones thirteenth fastest, 2m08.423s “I’ve just tried to keep making progress since yesterday and I think we were going in the right direction after this morning. I was on an out lap and not pushing that hard but found a bump on the last corner and the front just washed out. I guess that’s part of learning a new circuit. I still need some more time to make the bike my own but I’m happy enough to keep on making the little improvements we have been doing. We’ve got a little more time in warm-up tomorrow and then I just plan to go out and enjoy the race.” World Supersport, Brno final qualifying times: 1 Sébastien Charpentier FRA (Winston Ten Kate Honda) 2:06.283, 2 Kevin Curtain AUS (Yamaha) 2:06.703, 3 Michel Fabrizio ITA (Honda) 2:07.153, 4 Broc Parkes AUS (Yamaha) 2:07.188, 5 Fabien Foret FRA (Honda) 2:07.266, 6 Robin Harms DEN (Honda) 2:07.752, 7 Javier Fores ESP (Suzuki) 2:07.876, 8 Gianluca Nannelli ITA (Ducati), 9 Werner Daemen BEL (Honda) 2:08.016, 10 Alessandro Corradi ITA (Ducati) 2:08.164, 13 Craig Jones GBR (Winston Ten Kate Honda) 2:08.423.

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM IN POSITIVE MOOD AS MotoGP RETURNS TO EUROPE Ducati Marlboro Team riders Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa return to Europe for the British GP after their Wild West adventure at Laguna Seca. The pair had a tough time at the American track but are looking forward to returning to a venue they know much better. Donington Park is MotoGP’s split-personality circuit, with two highly contrasting sections flowing across gently undulating countryside in the former grounds of an aristocratic mansion. This is the 19th consecutive year that the Leicestershire venue has hosted the British motorcycle Grand Prix. “Our riders and the whole team are very motivated as we go into the British GP and the second half of the season,” says Ducati MotoGP project manager Livio Suppo. “We know Bridgestone are working very hard, so we’re feeling quite positive about the future. Laguna wasn’t that good in terms of results but our actual performance was much better than it had been at the previous two races where we really struggled, so we’re hoping we can have a good weekend at Donington.” Ducati Marlboro Team technical director Corrado Cecchinelli understands the challenge of Donington better than most. “It is a two-character track, with a very fast section and a very slow section, with maybe the slowest corners in MotoGP,” he says. “This contrast is what makes Donington so unusual, plus the particularly heavy braking demands which require a peculiar front-end set-up. You need to choose a hard front tyre and stiff front springs, which can obviously compromise performance in other parts of the circuit. Plus there’s so little time for the brakes to cool between the slow corners that things could get difficult if the weather is hot.” After Sunday’s racing the MotoGP circus hastens to the Sachsenring for the German GP on July 31 before commencing its four-week summer recess. CAPIROSSI: ‘YOU NEED TO BE BRAVE’ Ducati Marlboro Team man Loris Capirossi is looking forward to a weekend of trouble-free action at Donington after coming down with gastroenteritis at the US GP earlier this month. The Italian always looks forward to the British GP because he scored his first world-class victory at Donington in August 1990, winning the 125 GP at the age of just 17. “I love this track so much, it’s one of my favourites,” says Capirossi, who qualified on the front row at Donington last year. “The fast part of the circuit is the best, from Redgate, all the way round to the back straight, though my favourite is down the hill through Craner. You need to be brave to be fast through there! I don’t like the last section so much, where it’s all slow, tight corners with hard braking and low-gear acceleration. This kind of layout is okay for 125s and 250s but it’s not so easy when you have so much horsepower.” CHECA ‘COMES HOME’ Carlos Checa may be Spanish but he is a British resident. The Ducati Marlboro Team rider currently resides in Westminster, London, close enough to the Houses of Parliament to get woken by the bells of Big Ben. “I like London a lot, especially the restaurants and the parks,” says Checa. “If it’s not raining I prefer to train outside, so I go running in Green Park, St James Park or Hyde Park. I also enjoy racing in the UK, the place has got so much racing history and the people have a lot of passion for motorsport. It’s great that MotoGP is finally becoming so popular in Britain. Donington is quite a strange circuit, with two very different parts. The first, from Redgate to the back straight, is fast and flowing, but the last part is stop and go, which isn’t so much fun. I’d like them to change that section and I’d also like them to build a new pits complex and new toilets!” THE TRACK Donington Park is very much a rider’s circuit, dominated by fast, sweeping corners that crucially interlink with each other. Through these sections a fluid riding style and high corner speed are much more important than brute horsepower. But just to complicate matters, the Melbourne loop section (added in 1986 to bring the venue up to minimum GP length) features three dead-stop turns where last-gasp braking and vicious acceleration are all-important. Getting a MotoGP machine to work through these two contrasting segments requires engineers to find a compromise in chassis settings. Donington has been hosting GPs since 1987, taking over from Silverstone, which became Britain’s World Championship venue after the notorious Isle of Man TT circuit was deemed too dangerous. Donington’s history as a racetrack goes back to 1931 when the owners of the nearby Donington mansion allowed the estate roads to be used for racing. The circuit was shut down during the Second World War and only re-opened in 1977 after extensive redevelopment by local businessman Tom Wheatcroft. The track was resurfaced for last year’s race. Lap record: Colin Edwards (Honda), 1m29.973s (160.968kmh/100.021mph) Pole position 2004: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha), 1m28.720s DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM RIDER DATA LOGS LORIS CAPIROSSI Age: 32 (born April 4, 1973) Lives: Monaco Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP5 GP victories: 23 (1xMotoGP, 2×500, 12×250, 8×125) First GP victory: Britain, 1990 (125) First GP: Japan, 1990 (125) GP starts: 224 (54xMotoGP, 59×500, 84×250, 27×125) Pole positions: 36 (3xMotoGP, 5×500, 23×250, 5×125) First pole: Australia, 1991 (125) World Championships: 3 (125: 1990, 1991, 250: 1998) Donington 2004 results: Grid: 3rd. Race: 7th CARLOS CHECA Age: 32 (born October 15, 1972) Lives: London, England Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP5 GP victories: 2 (500) First GP victory: Catalunya, 1996 (500) First GP: Europe, 1993 (125) GP starts: 176 (56xMotoGP, 92×500, 27×250, 1×125) Pole positions: 3 (2xMotoGP, 1×500) First pole: Spain, 1998 (500) Donington 2004 results: Grid: 7th. Race: 6th.

Well all of the bikes are on trailers, and the roadies are taking down the tents…. looks like the Carolina GP Jam is wrapped up for this year. All of the riders, pit crews, and spectators that attended the event on July 10th at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw SC. had a great time. The day of the event, which was organized by BMW-Ducati Motorcycles of Charlotte, started out a little foggy, but after registration and the rider’s meeting, the fog burned off and the track was ready to ride. They started the combination track day/MotoGP viewing party with a full grid of 105 riders. They then ran two morning sessions then stopped for lunch. Whitleys BBQ of Lexington, NC catered a very tasty buffet of the South’s best BBQ. After lunch they awarded door prizes, and then announced that they had a special bonus presentation. Larry Haber, sales manager of BMW-Ducati of Charlotte then presented the “Roadracing World Action Fund” with a check for $3000 so that they can purchase Airfence for safety walls at area racetracks. After the lunch festivities, everyone went back to the track for more action around Carolina Motorsorts Parks’ fourteen-turn layout. The day was hot, but we were able to duck into the huge air-conditioned tent between sessions to cool off and enjoy a cold Red Bull. In anticipation of the upcoming live showing of the MotoGP race, most riders stopped riding a little earlier than usual, cleaned up, and prepared for the big race. The trackside tent was full of race fans (225+), and the cheering started as soon as American Nicky Hayden charged off into turn one. All eyes were fixed on the 6 widescreen TV’s that were in the tent and the cheering didn’t stop until way after the checkered flag fell. Everyone left the track with a big smile, some sore muscles, and the memory of an adrenaline packed event. Can’t wait ’til next year…

TORONTO, ON Two-time defending Parts Canada Superbike champion Pascal Picotte regained his form in qualifying for this weekend’s series doubleheader at Mosport International Raceway Friday. After struggling with injuries suffered at the season opener in May, Picotte put his Picotte Performance Yamaha YZF-R1 on pole for both Superbike races at Mosport, breaking his own track record with a lap of one minute, 21.215 seconds around the 3.9km (2.459-mile) Mosport track. Current series points leader Clint McBain of Calgary qualified second with a time of 1:21.403 on the Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Steve Crevier of Maple Ridge, BC was third with a time of 1:21.840 riding the Diablo Performance Honda CBR1000RR. Chardon, OH’s Tom Kipp will complete the front row for both Superbike races after recording a 1:21.944 on the Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R. “My condition is definitely better,” said Picotte, who broke some ribs and his wrist when he crashed at Shannonville Motorsport Park. “My ribs are still bothering me a little. I’ve just got to be patient and smooth.” The Parts Canada Superbike competitors will run a 16-lap feature on Saturday afternoon and a second race, also 16 laps, on Sunday. This weekend’s races are the fourth and fifth rounds of the eight-race series. Picotte won both races in the Mosport doubleheader last year and has three Mosport Superbike wins overall. “We did really well here last year so we’re using a similar set-up,” Picotte said. “We did some work on the engine. The mid range is definitely better.” Picotte earned four points toward the Parts Canada Superbike Championship and the $500 MPM Array Pole Award. McBain extended his championship lead over Francis Martin by qualifying second and adding three points to his total. He now has 142 points while Martin, who set the fifth fastest time on the Snobgirls / Laval Moto Suzuki GSX-R1000 has 134. “We were pretty close,” said McBain, who won the two most recent rounds of the series at Race City Motorsport Park. “We have a couple of little issues. We’ll work on it tomorrow.” Martin will be joined on the second row of the Superbike grid by the Fast Company Honda CBR1000RR of Brantford, ON’s Jordan Szoke and Frank Trombino from Kleinburg, ON aboard the Trombino Yamaha Racing Yamaha YZF-R1. Szoke actually set the third fastest qualifying time but was penalized for exceeding the class horsepower limit. Calgary’s Chris Peris grabbed the pole for both Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike races at Mosport with a time of 1:23.978 on his Topline Yamaha YZF-R6. Kipp placed second on his Kawasaki ZX-6RR at 1:24.176. Points leader Crevier of Maple Ridge, BC qualified third at 1:24.221 riding his Honda CBR600RR. In other action at Mosport Stephen Chabot of nearby Oshawa, ON led practice for the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike competitors with a time of 1:28.359 on his Yamaha YZF-R6. Alain Lefebvre of Rouyn-Noranda, QC paced practice for the Suzuki SV650 National Cup at Mosport with a lap time of 1:35.931. The Amateur 600 Sport Bike and SV650 National Cup competitors will qualify Saturday afternoon for their Sunday feature. This weekend’s racing also includes a doubleheader for the Canadian Thunder National Championship. The Canadian Thunder class will run a qualifying heat Saturday morning to set the grid for its two races this weekend. Action from this weekend will be shown later this summer in a one-hour show on TSN. For more series information, visit www.cdnsuperbike.com Qualifying results for this weekend’s fourth and fifth rounds of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Mosport International Raceway, showing qualifying position, rider name, hometown, type of motorcycle and qualifying time: 1.Pascal Picotte, Granby, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:21.215; 2. Clint McBain, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:21.403; 3. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:21.721*; 4. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, BC, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:21.840; 5. Tom Kipp, Chardon, ON, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:21.944; 6. Francis Martin, Rock Forest, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:22.199; 7. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:22.223; 8. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:23.416; 9. Chris Peris, Calgary, AB, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:24.284; 10. Matthew McBride, Mississauga, ON, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:24.338; 11. Brian Nielsen, Edmonton, AB, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:25.205; 12. Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON, Honda CBR600RR, 1:25.654; 13. Dave Young, Woodstock, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:25.771; 14. Rudy Raposo, Mississauga, ON, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:25.984; 15. Jeff Williams, Harrowsmith, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:26.571; 16. Erick Beausejour, Val Senneville, QC, Honda CBR600RR, 1:26.765; 17. Larry Orde, Peterborough, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:27.106; 18. Jean-Paul Tache, North Bay, ON, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:27.111; 19. Elie Daccache, Ottawa, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:27.373; 20. Zenon Nelson, Bowmanville, ON, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:28.004; 21. Steve Scott, Manchester, NH, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:28.680; 22. Trevor MacDonald, St-Zotique, QC, Honda CBR600RR, 1:31.700; 23. Jean Paquet, Chambly, QC, Honda CBR600RR, 1:32.269; 24. Jeremy French, Erin, ON, Honda CBR600RR, 1:32.279; 25. Sean Heydorn, Aurora, ON, Honda CBR600RR, 1:27.969** * — Will start from second row of grid due to exceeding class horsepower limit ** — Penalized due to black flag infraction

Missouri man wins Honda CBR1000RR Repsol Edition in PBTF promotion The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) is pleased to announce the winner of a brand-new Honda CBR1000RR Repsol Edition motorcycle, generously donated by the Honda Rider’s Club of America. The lucky winner is Joseph Murdick of Imperial, Mo., who participated in a PBTF charity promotion during the Laguna Seca Moto GP, July 8-10, 2005. The motorcycle is inspired by the Honda RC211V Gran Prix racer that Nicky Hayden rode in his stunning victory in the USGP. The promotion raised more than $13,600 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s medical research and family support programs. PBTF is grateful for the generosity of motorcycling enthusiasts and the HRCA, which has been the presenting sponsor of the PBTF’s national Ride for Kids® program since 1991. About the PBTF The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation funds medical research grants to help find the cause and cure of childhood brain tumors. It is the largest source of non-governmental funding for pediatric brain tumor research in the world. The PBTF also offers family support programs for families with a child who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Programs include free literature about brain tumors, the Helping Hand and Caring Hand national newsletters, the Informed Parent Internet Conference series and college scholarships for young brain tumor survivors. For more information about Ride for Kids® or the PBTF, please call 800-253-6530 or visit their websites, rideforkids.org or pbtfus.org.

Friday World Superbike Qualifying Results: 1. Chris Walker, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 2:03.064 2. Troy Corser, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 2:03.487 3. Max Neukirchner, Honda CBR1000RR, 2:03.912 4. Jose Luis Cardoso, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2:03.917 5. Regis Laconi, Ducati 999F05, 2:04.184 6. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 2:04.330 7. Ivan Clementi, Ducati 999RS, 2:04.336 8. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR1000RR, 2:04.436 9. James Toseland, Ducati 999F05, 2:04.613 10. Noriyuki Haga, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2:04.729 11. Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 2:04.782 12. Norick Abe, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2:04.824 13. Pierfrancesco Chili, Honda CBR1000RR, 2:04.834 14. Karl Muggeridge, Honda CBR1000RR, 2:04.862 15. Andrew Pitt, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2:04.882 16. Lorenzo Lanzi, Ducati 999RS, 2:04.912 17. Garry McCoy, Foggy Petronas FP1, 2:05.155 18. David Checa, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2:05.399 19. Marco Borciani, Ducati 999RS, 2:05.503 20. Steve Martin, Foggy Petronas FP1, 2:05.606 21. Fonsi Nieto, Ducati 999RS, 2:05.691 22. Sebastien Gimbert, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2:05.882 23. Gianluca Vizziello, Yamaha YZF-R1, 2:05.943 24. Alessio Velini, Ducati 999RS, 2:06.075 25. Ben Bostrom, Honda CBR1000RR, 2:06.183 More, from a press release issued by Winston Ten Kate Honda: VERMEULEN ON PROVISIONAL SECOND ROW IN BRNO Chris Vermeulen set the eighth fastest time in this afternoon’s opening qualifying session for Sunday’s two seventh round World Superbike championship races at Brno in the Czech Republic. Provisional pole position was taken by Britain’s Chris Walker with Vermeulen’s Winston Ten Kate Honda team-mate, Karl Muggeridge, currently lying in 14th place. It is the first visit for both team and riders to the 5.4km Brno circuit, 220km south-east of Prague and today’s practice and qualifying sessions were used by Vermeulen and Muggeridge to increase their knowledge of circuit layout and search for the ideal set-up for their Honda CBR1000RRs. Ronald ten Kate team manager: “Karl has been making good progress here and competing comfortably at the front on race tyres. He was lying in fourth place after this morning’s free practice but, unfortunately, we chose the wrong qualifying tyre from the two that Pirelli have brought here. It was a harder compound and Karl went no more quickly than he had been going on race tyres. Because Chris and Karl don’t know the circuit and we haven’t tested here like most of the other front runners, we knew we’d be playing a bit of catch-up today. But we’ll work through everything this evening and I’m confident that the crew can find some things to put the guys back up there tomorrow.” Chris Vermeulen eighth fastest, 2m04.436s “To be honest, I’m struggling a little with the track here but getting to know it better each time I go out. I like it a lot but it’s very bumpy in places and we’ve been working to get the bike better through those sections. I’ve also been running a bit wide here and there and looking for some more exit grip from certain corners. It all adds up to losing time in specific areas of the track but I’ll sit down with the team later and I’m sure we’ll be able to find ways to improve those areas tomorrow.” Karl Muggeridge fourteenth fastest, 2m04.862s “OK, so fourteenth doesn’t look great but I’m actually pretty happy with the steps we’ve made today. We tried a couple of new chassis components this afternoon and I felt we were making progress. Unfortunately, I ended up pushing the front a little too hard and slid off in the first sector during that session. The qualifier just didn’t work at all but I think we’re going OK on race tyres and during the day we’ve improved in certain areas of the track where we were struggling earlier. I’m happy with the rear of the bike so now we just have to concentrate on the front.” More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: Noriyuki Haga ended first qualifying at Brno in 10th place after an action packed session that saw the leader board change dramatically in the dying moments. With most teams and many riders making their first visit to the Czech circuit, Haga and his Yamaha Motor Italia team-mate Andrew Pitt were able to take advantage of their recent test at the venue. Arriving at the circuit with proven machine settings from the test, both men were able to lap consistently at the expected race pace, however both found themselves shuffled down the order when their rivals fitted super-sticky qualifying tyres. Haga too fitted a qualifier for his final run, but felt that the settings of his machine were unable to take full advantage of tyre’s characteristics in the warm conditions. Pitt ended the day in 15th place, vitally within the cut-off zone for tomorrow’s grid deciding superpole session. Despite his the relatively lowly grid position, the Australian remained upbeat after the session – declaring that an improvement in his own riding can find big improvements tomorrow. The 2001 Supersport World Champion said that he felt tense on the bike and needs to ‘slow down to go faster’. Yamaha Motor France rider Norick Abe was happy after setting the 12th fastest time of the day. Having found himself on unfamiliar territory in his last three outings, the Japanese ace was happy to be back on a circuit he knows well from his Grand Prix days. Like countryman Haga, Abe was able to post a succession of competitive times on race rubber. His 2’06.137 saw him in the top five until the final minutes. Team-mate Sebastien Gimbert made a return from injury in Brno and ended the day 22nd. British rider Chris Walker (Kawasaki) took provisional pole position, ahead of Troy Corser (Suzuki) and Max Neukirchner (Honda). Yamaha privateer Jose-Luis Cardoso completed the provisional front row, with Regis Laconi (Ducati) ensuring that the top five places were occupied by five brands. Tomorrow morning sees the final qualifying session ahead of the afternoon superpole session, but with thunderstorms forecast qualification for the one-lap shootout could be determined by today’s times. Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) “On race tyres our times are good and I am quite happy because we are competitive with the race settings. I set my best time on the race tyre. At the end I used a soft qualifier but I could not go faster and did not feel that it offered more grip. If we can improve traction then I think we can make some better times tomorrow.” Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia) “I need to relax a little and if I do that I know that I can improve the lap times. The bike’s alright, I’m quite happy with it actually, but there are places where I’m braking too hard and going into some of the corners too fast. If I work on that tomorrow then my lines should improve and the lap times will get much better.” Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France) “It’s good to be back on a circuit I know well from my MotoGP days and things were not so bad today. I’m quite happy with my qualifying lap but our biggest problem is the same as in Misano: we need more rear grip. Even with a qualifying tyre on the bike was sliding and we must work hard to improve this.” Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha Motor France) “I am happy to be back after missing Misano with a broken leg. Today I had to work at improving my feeling and in this way I am quite happy with how it went.” More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse: LACONI AND TOSELAND (DUCATI XEROX TEAM) FIFTH AND NINTH IN BRNO HEAT Brno (Czech Republic), Friday 15 July: Régis Laconi and James Toseland set fifth and ninth quickest times respectively in first WSBK qualifying at Brno as a last-minute scramble on qualifying tyres moved them away from the top positions. Both Ducati Xerox Team riders, who tested here in much cooler conditions one month ago, complained about a lack of grip on their qualifying runs, but were confident with their performance on race set-up. “I was passed by quite a few riders at the end of the session, because they ran an extra lap on their qualifying tyres and with this heat it was easy for them to get their time down” declared Laconi. “I tried the new tyre, it wasn’t the same one I normally use but I wasn’t happy with my qualifying performance on it. I thought it was a quick lap, but it was only one-tenth faster than my time on a race tyre so we’ll have to take a look at everything and see what happened because I’m not happy to be one full second off the pace even though we’re all on qualifying tyres. Walker tested with us last month so it’s no surprise to see him at the front but we will certainly have to sort things out for tomorrow’s session.” “We’re not a mile away, we’re in the top 3 on race tyres but the qualifier I had didn’t seem to work as well as we expected and I went from third to ninth at the end” commented Toseland. “We have a few problems here because of the temperature difference and it seems that every lap we do the tyres change so much that you need a different setting on the bike from the test when it was ten degrees less. This morning I did a 2m04.1s on my second lap out and now I’m doing 2m05s laps with the same setting so it’s a bit frustrating. We’ve just got to make sure we get the setting right for tomorrow because I am confident that I can get two good results here.” More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing: Superpole chances in balance at Brno Foggy PETRONAS Racing riders Garry McCoy and Steve Martin are both hoping for dry conditions for Saturday qualifying at the seventh round of the Superbike World Championship at Brno in the Czech Republic. Both riders narrowly missed out on the top 16 positions after Friday qualifying and, with mixed forecasts for tomorrow, wet weather could scupper their chances of making further progress with lap times in the morning. On their first visit to the circuit on the PETRONAS FP1, and for Steve his first ever visit to the fast and undulating track, both Australians were able to make consistent progress throughout the day. However, facing the rare choice of two Pirelli qualifying tyres, Steve opted for the newer compound and improved his best lap by half a second while Garry, despite three laps on the traditional qualifier, also missed out on the top 16 by just 0.2 seconds. Garry said: “I knew this circuit was going to be tough for the bike because there are a couple of uphill sections and the straights are fairly long. Coming to a place I know though, I thought I would be able to find that little bit extra. And, in race conditions, we are not looking too bad and could be in the top ten. Maybe the new qualifier will work better if the temperatures are lower tomorrow morning but, having hoped for wet weather this weekend, we need it to be dry tomorrow now. We shortened the gears after the morning session and we still have a few things to try with the suspension, front and rear.” Steve said: “We are getting quicker all the time and I am pretty happy with my first day here. The circuit is great, although it’s one of those wide open tracks where a lot of acceleration and horsepower is needed. We have to hope that it doesn’t raining tomorrow and, although I am disappointed not to be in Superpole at the moment, I will be happy as long as we keep improving. I wanted to do a lot of laps in the morning so only used one rear, and then only two in the afternoon. I also used the new qualifier, which is not thought to have as much grip.” Friday qualifying times, Superbike World Championship round 7, Brno, Czech Republic: 1 Walker 2:03.064; 2 Corser 2:03.487; 3 Neukirchner 2:03.912; 4 Cardoso 2:03.927; 5 Laconi 2:04.184; 6 Sanchini 2:04.330; 7 Clementi 2:04.336; 8 Vermeulen 2:04.436; 9 Toseland 2:04.613; 10 Haga 2:04.729; 17 McCoy 2:05.155; 20 Martin 2:05.606 Friday morning free practice times: 1 Toseland (Ducati Xerox) 2:04.103; 2 Laconi (Ducati Xerox) 2:04.208; 3 Walker (PSG-1 Kawasaki) 2:05.065; 4 Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda) 2:05.133; 5 Lanzi (Ducati SC Carrachi) 2:05.135; 6 Haga (Yamaha Italia) 2:05.200; 7 Corser (Alstare Suzuki Corona) 2:05.241; 8 Pitt (Yamaha Italia) 2:05.271; 9 Cardoso (DFX) 2:05.280; 10 Chili (Klaffi Honda) 2:05.580; 15 McCoy (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) 2:05.934; 23 Martin (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) 2:07.665 More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki: World Superbike Championship leader Troy Corser finished within four-tenths-of a-second off pole in today’s opening qualifying for Sunday’s Brno race in the Czech Republic. The Australian put his Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra GSX-R1000 into provisional second place on the grid behind Chris Walker as team-mate Yukio Kagayama recorded 11th on his first visit to the circuit. The morning Free Practice session was dominated by the Ducatis of reigning World Champion James Toseland and Regis Laconi with Walker third quickest: All three had tested at Brno just two weeks or so ago. In the afternoon, Walker surprised everybody by taking provisional pole with a time of 2:03.064 with Corser setting 2:03.487. Third quickest was Max Neukirchner (Honda) with Jose-Luis Cardoso (Yamaha) fourth. Kagayama spent the day learning the demanding 5.403 kilometre Brno track and was not concerned about his position at the end of the day, knowing that he will improve his time considerably tomorrow. Troy Corser – 2nd, 2:03.487: “I know I’ve been here before but that was some time ago. Today the track wasn’t giving me much feedback so I took it fairly steady. Interestingly, when I put my qualifying tyres on, I felt I had much better grip and was able to push much harder. When I returned to the race rubber I couldn’t go nearly as fast and I didn’t feel the bike had much grip. We’ll have a look at the telemetry and see what is going on and maybe even try the kind of set-up we had at Qatar.” Yukio Kagayama – 11th, 2:04.782: “The first time I saw the track properly was today so I am not unhappy with 11th position. This track is very long and it is a hard track to learn quickly because it is also very wide and it is difficult to find braking points. It is a technical track and a track where you have to get the sequence of corners right if you want to make a fast lap. “Because it is so long, it is not possible to put in many laps in a session, so that makes it more difficult to learn. Today, I spent the time learning the track and trying to find out where I could go fast. I made a little mistake going into turn one and went straight on and into the gravel. Then, I just tipped over at a very slow speed, but there was no damage to the bike – or me!” More, from a press release issued by Scuderia SC Caracchi: FIRST PRACTICE DAY IN BRNO, WELL THE RIDERS OF SCUDERIA SC CARACCHI The Superbike returns after nine years of missing on the Czech track of Brno and in the first qualifying day the riders of Scuderia SC Caracchi obtained positive results. In Superbike Lorenzo Lanzi showed an optimal pace for the race conditions and is rather satisfied, while in Supersport Gianluca Nannelli obtained the ninth fastest despite of various problems of order emerged in this first day. Analogous Fonsi Nieto, to the taken ones with a wrong set up, appears confident for tomorrow’s final qualifying. “I’m rather satisfied for my result today”. Lorenzo Lanzi has commented at the end of the session. “Not looking at the qualifying position, sixteenth, until everybody were turning with race tyres I have always been in quarter-sixth position. In order from the race I have an optimal pace, the motor pushes very strongly and my bike has been recorded as the fastest today. Therefore for the moment we are in the group allowed to Superpole, I still have two qualifying tyres to use tomorrow, I like the track appeals, I have a very good feeling with the bike. In little words I actually have to say that I am satisfied “. In spite of some difficulty Fonsi Nieto appears trusting, even if the Spanish pilot, that recorded the 21st fastest, has toiled to find the correct set up on this track that he knows well in order to have already competed several times. “This morning all has gone enough well, but in the afternoon we have had to try a different setting”. he said at the end Fonsi Nieto. “we have setted the bike as in Misano, where it had given good results, but what it went well in Misano does not work here to Brno, therefore we have lost much time. But it was a test that we had to do. Actually we have lost the afternoon’s session, but we did not use the qualifying tyres that therefore we saved in order to use tomorrow, when we will return to the original set up, and I’m sure we improve our performance”. Less satisfied is Gianluca Nannelli, however his ninth fastest today, than he is not successful to set the bike for the demanding Bohemian track, in spite of the top speed showed, as always, by the 749R Ducati tuned by Franco Farnè. “The bike is very fast, but it is sliding a lot and I’m not able outing the corners as I would want, despite of all the suspensions tuning, this most in the afternoon with the warmer temperature. Tomorrow we must work in order to find again a set up that allows me to ride taking advantage of my riding style “. More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: TROY SECOND! Troy finished the first day of qualifying at Brno with the second fastest time – just a whisker behind Briton Chris Walker (Kawasaki) despite having some problems with grip. Troy is one of the few riders who has ridden here before (he took a tremendous double here in 1996), but he started off relearning the technically difficult and demanding circuit just like the rest of his fellow competitors. In the morning session he was only seventh, but when he put on his qualifying tyres for the afternoon timed session, he suddenly found the grip he had been lacking and was able to put in a very fast lap. In the end, he was only beaten by Chris Walker (Kawasaki) who put in an absolute flyer in the hot afternoon sun. Third quickest was Max Neukirchner (Honda), with Jose Luis Cardoso (Yamaha) completing the provisional front row of the grid. Troy’s team mate Yukio Kagayama finished eleventh quickest today – not bad considering that it was his first time at the circuit. TROY – 2nd, 2:03.487 It has been a bit of a funny day really. In the morning, I couldn’t get any feedback from the tyres at all. The problem was both the front and the rear and it just felt like the track was dirty and a bit greasy or something. Normally, either the front or rear is better or worse then the other, but this morning, both felt equally as bad. But, in the afternoon, things were completely different when I put on the qualifiers. Straightaway I had grip! I had more feel and I was able to push harder. When I put my regular race rubber back on, it was back to the old lack of feel. This track is technical and it is fast and wide and you have to know it well to put in quick laps. It is also a track where it is important to keep up good corner speed and that was something I couldn’t do with my race rubber today. Walker, Toseland and Laconi tested here recently and they also had some new tyres to try and so they arrived here already a step or two ahead of us. It is one of their designated test tracks, so it is OK for them to test. What we are not so happy about is that Pirelli gave them some new tyres to try out and all the top designated teams should get these at the same time – not some before the others. But, we’ll keep at it and we’ll do our best to get the better of them whatever. C ya.

Friday World Supersport Qualifying Results: 1. Sebastien Charpentier, Honda CBR600RR, 2:07.489 2. Kevin Curtain, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:07.550 3. Broc Parkes, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:07.933 4. Fabien Foret, Honda CBR600RR, 2:08.148 5. Michel Fabrizio, Honda CBR600RR, 2:08.317 6. Craig Jones, Honda CBR600RR, 2:08.733 7. Javier Fores, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:08.789 8. Robbin Harms, Honda CBR600RR, 2:08.829 9. Gianluca Nannelli, Ducati 749R, 2:09.049 10. Tatu Lauslehto, Honda CBR600RR, 2:09.299 11. Alessio Corradi, Ducati 749R, 2:09.302 12. Johan Stigefelt, Honda CBR600RR, 2:09.379 13. Jarno Jansen, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:09.777 14. Barry Veneman, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:09.787 15. Stephane Chambon, Honda CBR600RR, 2:09.808 More, from a press release issued by Winston Ten Kate Honda: CHARPENTIER STUNS RIVALS WITH PROVISIONAL BRNO POLE Winston Ten Kate Honda rider, Sébastien Charpentier, set the fastest time in this afternoon’s first qualifying session for round seven of the World Supersport championship at Brno, Czech Republic on Sunday. The current series leader out-qualified his four main Supersport rivals despite never having visited the 5.4km undulating Brno circuit. Charpentier’s new team-mate this weekend, Craig Jones, was sixth fastest in today’s 45-minute qualifying session, impressing his team as he deputises for the injured Katsuaki Fujiwara. Like Charpentier, the young British rider, has never visited Brno before. Ronald ten Kate team manager: “That is almost like a dream, having Sébastien on provisional pole even though he is the only one of the top five riders that hasn’t tested here. It just shows what frame of mind he is in at the moment. He’s been focused and worked methodically with his team all day to find a base setting and learn what will work here. His bike is still not 100% so I’m sure there will be even more to come tomorrow. And what a great entry from Craig! He’s starting to find his own direction now and we’ll go through the data with him tonight to help that. He’s fitting into the team really well and it feels like he’s been here for a long time already. He is just a really nice young guy who knows how to ride a bike fast.” Sébastien Charpentier fastest, 2m07.489s “Yes, it’s been a good afternoon for us a good day. It’s the first time that any of us have been here so I’m very happy to be fastest after so little time on the track. I did maybe 15 laps on a scooter yesterday but riding a CBR600RR is very different to riding a scooter here! We very quickly got the gearing right for the circuit and then just small changes here and there to let us go faster. The bike is not yet perfect so there will be more to come tomorrow, for sure. I will try to go faster and get the right set-up for Sunday’s race.” Craig Jones sixth fastest, 2m08.733s “I got up quite early this morning, just really looking forward to the day. But I didn’t want to rush anything just take it steady and be organised. Ronald has been keeping my hand-brake on because I’ve been looking forward to this and I didn’t want to make any silly mistakes. I started to push a little harder towards the end of that session because the bike is beginning to feel more and more like it’s mine. There’ll definitely be more tomorrow after I’ve sat down with the team tonight and gone away from the track to think about it all.”

Current British Supersport leader, 18-year-old Leon Camier from Ashford, Kent has been offered a factory ride in the prestigious Suzuka 8-Hour race on the 31st July 2005, on board a Honda Fireblade with the Moriwaki Team. Camier who is a five times British Grasstrack Champion and the youngest ever British 125 Champion is eagerly awaiting his trip to Japan. The 5.8 km circuit owned by Honda, will run from 11:30am to 7pm on the 31st July and Camier and his team-mate, Naoki Matsudo will change over every 50 minutes in hope of running up there with the front runners. The historic race has been won by some huge names in the motorcycle fraternity including Wayne Gardner, Aaron Slight, Colin Edwards, the awesome Valentino Rossi and Camier’s racing hero Mick Doohan to name but a few. Camier who has now notched up four race wins in the British Supersport class this season. More than any other riders this year is excited about this opportunity saying ‘This is one race that I’ve always wanted to do and to get this chance so early in my career is fantastic. When I was offered the ride about a month ago I jumped at the chance knowing it would be too much of a fantastic opportunity to turn down. I am flying out to Japan a week before so that I can get myself acclimatised and also get a bit of testing under my belt on the Fireblade. It’s such an historic race that I will be proud to be a part of, I hope myself and Naoki can achieve some good results out there.’ Camier’s team-mate for the tough Endurance race is experienced GP 125, GP 250 and 250 Japanese Champion Naoki Matsudo. The Japanese star is an extremely talented rider and between the pairing they should expect a confident result. Matsudo who celebrates his 32nd birthday on the 25th of July will bring plenty of knowledge and wisdom into the team. For more information on Leon Camier and to keep up to speed with his progress at the Suzuka 8 Hour check out his website – www.leoncamier.com