Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Saturday Morning 125cc GP Practice Times:

1. Casey STONER, KTM, 1:28.181
2. Hector BARBERA, Aprilia, 1:28.195
3. Mirko GIANSANTI, Aprilia, 1:28.209
4. Jorge LORENZO, Derbi, 1:28.289
5. Pablo NIETO, Aprilia, 1:28.300
6. Julian SIMON, Honda, 1:28.315
7. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Honda, 1:28.353
8. Steve JENKNER, Aprilia, 1:28.464
9. Alvaro BAUTISTA, Aprilia, 1:28.469
10. Youichi UI, Aprilia, 1:28.629
11. Mike DI MEGLIO, Aprilia, 1:28.648
12. Gino BORSOI, Aprilia, 1:28.717
13. Marco SIMONCELLI, Aprilia, 1:28.745
14. Fabrizio LAI, Gilera, 1:28.867
15. Imre TOTH, Aprilia, 1:29.051

From a press release issued by Ducati Motor Holding, S.p.A.:

DUCATI MOTOR HOLDING AND APRILIA REACH AGREEMENT DUCATI RECEIVES EXCLUSIVITY IN NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE APRILIA GROUP

Bologna July 17th 2004, Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (NYSE: DMH, Borsa Italiana S.p.A.: DMH), the high performance motorcycle manufacturer has reached an agreement today with Aprilia shareholders, for the exclusive negotiation in the acquisition of the group.

The agreement foresees a due diligence period on certain legal, fiscal and accounting matters. The decision is a clear step forward in the negotiation process, which is essential for the future of Aprilia and the Italian motorcycle industry. This agreement marks the beginning of a new and important negotiation phase with all the parties involved in the Group restructuring in order to ensure the continuity of the Aprilia business.

“We are fully satisfied with the progress of the negotiation,” comments Federico Minoli, President and CEO of Ducati Motor Holding. “We are close to the end of a complex process. We have a sound industrial plan and we are confident of the support that we will receive from banks, suppliers, other creditors, management and unions.

Since 1996, with the help of all the constituents we have transformed Ducati from a struggling company to a worldwide success. Today Ducati is traded in the stock exchanges of Milan and New York, it is healthy, financially secure and ready to invest financial resources and knowledge to recreate the Ducati success story with Aprilia. Our plan is simple: maintain the identity of each brand which is defined by their rich history and territory, while capitalizing on the synergies of critical mass in distribution, especially in foreign markets, research, development and purchasing.”

Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. The Company produces motorcycles in five market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Supersport; Monster, Sport Touring and Multistrada. The Company’s motorcycles are sold in more than 60 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European, Japan and North American markets. Ducati has won twelve of the last fourteen World Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together. For more information about the Company, please visit our web site at http://www.ducati.com

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, as described in documents previously filed by the Company with CONSOB and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Saturday Morning MotoGP Practice Times:

1. Max BIAGGI, Honda, 1:24.040
2. Alex BARROS, Honda, 1:24.062
3. Colin EDWARDS, Honda, 1:24.104
4. Sete GIBERNAU, Honda, 1:24.129
5. Makoto TAMADA, Honda, 1:24.131
6. Valentino ROSSI, Yamaha, 1:24.145
7. Kenny ROBERTS, Suzuki, 1:24.160
8. Nicky HAYDEN, Honda, 1:24.335
9. Carlos CHECA, Yamaha, 1:24.344
10. Norick ABE, Yamaha, 1:24.512
11. Marco MELANDRI, Yamaha, 1:24.542
12. Troy BAYLISS, Ducati, 1:24.621
13. Loris CAPIROSSI, Ducati, 1:24.742
14. Shinya NAKANO, Kawasaki, 1:24.814
15. John HOPKINS, Suzuki, 1:24.882
16. Alex HOFMANN, Kawasaki, 1:25.092
17. Jeremy McWILLIAMS, Aprilia, 1:25.159
18. Neil HODGSON, Ducati, 1:25.308
19. Shane BYRNE, Aprilia, 1:25.550
20. Ruben XAUS, Ducati, 1:25.605
21. Michel FABRIZIO, Harris WCM, 1:25.856
22. Kurtis ROBERTS, Proton, 1:26.160
23. Nobuatsu AOKI, Proton, 1:26.626
24. Chris BURNS, Harris WCM, 1:27.694

From a press release issued by series organizers:

BOWMANVILLE, ON Rain or shine, Pascal Picotte is the man to beat in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship this season.

The Granby, QC rider scored his third straight victory of 2004 at Mosport International Raceway Saturday, leading every lap of the two-part race on his Team Yamaha / Picotte Performance Yamaha YZF-R1.

The fourth round of the series, originally scheduled for 16 laps, started on a very wet track and Picotte mastered the conditions, opening up a lead of over 10 seconds before a crash brought out the red flag on lap 6.

By the time action resumed the track had dried completely. Picotte again jumped into the lead and after an early challenge from Craig Connell opened up an advantage of just over two seconds before another accident ended the race for good after 11 total laps.

Connell finished second on his Coors Light Racing / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Granby, QC’s Kevin Lacombe completed the podium in third on the Lacombe Racing Yamaha YZF-R1.

The race was the first of two scheduled for this weekend at Mosport.

“I think everyone knew I was good in the wet,” said Picotte, the defending Parts Canada Superbike champion. “But I think I proved that I can win in the dry too.”

Connell ran second throughout the second part of the race but after his early challenge was unable to match Picotte’s pace.

“I tried in the first few laps but I made a few mistakes,” said the Tingalpa, Australia rider. “I had a five-second lead back to third place and it seemed silly to risk it.”

Lacombe finished just ahead of Brantford, ON’s Jordan Szoke on the Honda Canada / Fast Company Honda CBR1000RR and the DXS / Diablo Performance Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 of Maple Ridge, BC rider Steve Crevier.

The two racers who caused the red flags, Corey Sherman of Corbyville, ON and Harrowsmith, ON’s Jeff Williams both escaped serious injury in their incidents. Sherman suffered a leg injury while Williams walked away from a dramatic crash on the backstraight.

In other action at Mosport, Picotte extended his lead in the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike class by winning Saturday’s race on his Yamaha YZF-R6. Picotte edged the Suzuki GSX-R600 of Connell by just 0.403 secs. in the 14-lap event, while early race leader Szoke placed third on his Honda CBR600RR.

The Pro 600 Sport Bike competitors will also be in action again on Sunday.

Poor weather and schedule delays forced the cancellation of qualifying for Sunday’s International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike race at Mosport.

This weekend’s events will be televised on TSN on Aug. 7 and Sept. 11 at 11:30 a.m. EDT and on Quebec’s RDS on Sept. 12 at 12:00 p.m. and Sept. 25 at 11:30 a.m. The action will also appear in one-hour format later this summer on TORONTO1 and A-Channel stations in Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton.

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

‘JR’ ON MALLORY PARK FRONT ROW
Rizla Suzuki’s John Reynolds has secured third place on the grid for tomorrow’s ninth round British Superbike Championship at Mallory Park in the most fiercely-contested qualifying session of the year.

Championship leader ‘JR’ was just a quarter of a second off pole position and is delighted with his front row start after spending most of today concentrating on the race set-up of his Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Team mate Yukio Kagayama heads up the third row of the grid in ninth and is just over half-a-second away from the fastest lap time – a fantastic showing as this is his first visit to the venue.

The top 16 on the grid all finished within one second of pole-setter Scott Smart.

John Reynolds:

“We worked hard on my Rizla Suzuki today and made some critical changes. Between sessions, we changed the rear suspension spring and I now have a bike that will run fast lap times for full race distance and that is encouraging.

“Third place on the grid is a decent front row position and should allow me to get away with the leaders in the races. That is very important as this isn’t the easiest place in the world to overtake. It’s good to be back at Mallory Park after a year’s absence and I’m expecting a big contingent of fans from Nottingham so will be doing my best to deliver a couple of top results for them all!”

Yukio Kagayama:

“Mallory Park is very British circuit. I look at the diagram on paper and think maybe this is okay and easy to get good result. I arrive here and find this is not so easy to learn and has many British features -tight hairpins and chicane and also big radius corner, all on a very short lap. This makes learning difficult, but I am within small time from pole and this is not so bad.

“I need to put on my British head to learn such a circuit. Tonight I eat more potatoes and increase my ‘Britishness’ and tomorrow, I fight like bulldog to get up to the front and podium places.”

Superbike racing starts at 1:15pm on Sunday, July 18th. This is the last opportunity for fans to catch the racing as it enters a mid-summer mini-break for the following month before convening again at Croft on August 15th.

Final Qualifying:

1: Scott Smart (Kawasaki) 51.283
2: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +0.227
3: JOHN REYNOLDS (RIZLA SUZUKI) +0.276
4: Michael Rutter (Honda) +0.298
5: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.386
6: James Haydon (Yamaha) +0.470
7: Dean Thomas (Ducati) +0.493
8: John McGuinness (Kawasaki) +0.512
9: YUKIO KAGAYAMA (RIZLA SUZUKI) +0.638
10: Dennis Hobbs (Suzuki) +0.692

From a press release issued by MSS Discovery Kawasaki:

MSS DISCOVERY’S RIBA TAKES THIRD ON GRID WHILE ALLAN FALLS IN SUPERSTOCK BATTLE

The MSS Discovery Team’s Pere Riba grabbed his fifth front row start of the year as the Spaniard put his Kawasaki ZX-6RR in third place for Sunday’s ninth round of the British Supersport championship at Mallory Park, Leics.

Riba ­on his first visit to the unique 1.39-mile venue­ is happy with the progress he has made in two days of practice and qualifying – and to qualify on the front row after Saturday’s final qualifying session.

“I’m pleased with my first visit to Mallory Park,” said Riba. “It’s an easy track to learn but it’s that final 0.5s a lap which is difficult to find. And I was really pleased with the feeling from the machine and tyres in the wet session on Friday.

“We’ve tried a new rear suspension set-up and a new compound rear tyre and they’re a big improvement. Being on the front row here is very important so I’m pleased to achieve that, especially with a 28-lap race ahead tomorrow ­I hope I don’t go dizzy!”

MSS Discovery’s Steve Allan crashed out of round seven of the National Superstock Championship on Saturday at Mallory Park ­ twice!

Allan escaped injury in a crash at the hairpin on the fourth lap, while in sixth place, he explained: “I was doing OK then, going into the hairpin, I was hard on the brakes and I heard another bike in the inside. I ran a bit deeper into the corner but the front wheel tucked under as I turned.”

Allan remounted and was heading towards a top 20 finish until a last lap crash, again escaping injury. He continued: “There was a load of oil down at the chicane and I highsided, all on the last lap. I suppose I could have retired after the first crash but we’ve been struggling here and I wanted to get in more track time.”

Allan, who qualified in ninth place, returns to the Mallory Park track for Sunday’s eighth round of the championship.

British Supersport Championship final qualifying times:

1 Jay Vincent, Honda, 52.567s
2 Simon Andrews, Yamaha, 52.668s
3 Pere Riba, MSS Discovery Kawasaki, 52.750s
4 Karl Harris, Honda, 52.815s
5 Paul Young, Honda, 52.836s
6 Matt Llewellyn, Ducati, 52.915s
7 Michael Laverty, Ducati, 53.037s
8 Tom Sykes, Suzuki, 53.128s
9 Craig Jones, Triumph, 53.130s
10 Leon Camier, Honda, 53.199s


National Superstock Championship, round seven result (26 laps 36.14 miles):

1 Tristan Palmer, Suzuki, 23:32.092
2 Danny Beaumont, Yamaha, 23:32.394
3 Marshall Neill, Suzuki, 23:32.794
4 Ben Wilson, Suzuki, 23:33.386
5 Howie Mainwaring, Yamaha, 23:52.495
6 Doug Cowie, Kawasaki, 23:59.001
7 Kelvin Reilly, Ducati, 24:00.517
8 Les Shand, Yamaha, 24:01.535
9 Ian Hutchinson, Suzuki, 24:09.046
10 Aaron Zanotti, Suzuki, 24:09.381

Championship points after seven of 13 rounds: 1 Andy Tinsley (Suzuki) 123, 2 Palmer 122, 3 Beaumont 101, 4 Wilson 99, 5 Shand 76, 6 Steve Allan (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) 59, 7 Reilly 38, 8 Mark Heckles (Yamaha) 36, 9 Mainwaring 33, 10 Darren Mitchell (Suzuki) 31.

Next round: Mallory Park ­ July 18.


More, from a press release issued by MonsterMob Ducati:

ROW TWO START FOR LAVERTY AT MALLORY PARK

MonsterMob Ducati Supersport rider Michael Laverty will start round nine of the British Supersport Championship from row two of the grid after posting seventh fastest time during qualifying at MalloryParktoday.

The 23 year old Ulsterman gradually got to grips with the tricky Leicestershire circuit to improve in the final stages of qualifying and in doing so kept his hopes of the title alive.

“I’m happy with that. I’ve been off the pace so I was glad to get a couple of decent laps in. We’re getting there with the bike and I’m getting more confident so we should be there tomorrow but it will be a close race” said Laverty.

But it wasn’t a similar story for MonsterMob Ducati Superbike rider Sean Emmett who could manage only thirteenth fastest aboard the 999 F04 after a traumatic day at a track he has never won at.

After setting second fastest time during free practice on Friday, Emmett was disappointed to end up on row four on the grid.

“It’s been a bit of a struggle but we’re only 0.3 seconds off row two. The plan tomorrow is to get a good start and see where we end up” said Emmett.

Team owner, Paul Bird said “I just hope both riders do better tomorrow. Mallory has traditionally been our bogey circuit which we have never really done well at but perhaps our luck will change tomorrow.”

Superbike Qualifying

1, Scott Smart (Kawasaki) 51.283s, 2, Tommy Hill (Yamaha) 51.510s, 3, John Reynolds (Suzuki) 51.559s, 4, Michael Rutter (Honda) 51.581s, 5, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 51.669s, 6, James Haydon (Yamaha) 51.753s, 7, Dean Thomas (Ducati) 51.776s, 8, John McGuinness (Kawasaki) 51.795s, 9, Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) 51.921s, 10, Dennis Hobbs (Suzuki) 51.975s, 13, Sean Emmett (MonsterMob Ducati) 52.081s.


Supersport Qualifying

1, Jay Vincent (Honda) 52.567s, 2, Simon Andrews (Yamaha) 52.668s, 3, Pere Riba (Kawasaki) 52.750s, 4, Karl Harris (Honda) 52.815s, 5, Paul Young (Honda) 52.836s, 6, Matt Llewellyn (Ducati) 52.915s, 7, Michael Laverty (MonsterMob Ducati) 53.037s, 8, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) 53.128s, 9, Craig Jones (Triumph) 53.130s, 10, Leon Camier (Honda) 53.199s.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Saturday Morning 250cc GP Practice Times:

1. Sebastian PORTO, Aprilia, 1:25.518
2. Daniel PEDROSA, Honda, 1:25.601
3. Alex DE ANGELIS, Aprilia, 1:25.808
4. Toni ELIAS, Honda, 1:25.901
5. Fonsi NIETO, Aprilia, 1:26.152
6. Manuel POGGIALI, Aprilia, 1:26.183
7. Randy DE PUNIET, Aprilia, 1:26.209
8. Franco BATTAINI, Aprilia, 1:26.328
9. Roberto ROLFO, Honda, 1:26.451
10. Chaz DAVIES, Aprilia, 1:26.473
11. Sylvain GUINTOLI, Aprilia, 1:26.484
12. Hiroshi AOYAMA, Honda, 1:26.532
13. Anthony WEST, Aprilia, 1:26.573
14. Alex DEBON, Honda, 1:26.719
15. Naoki MATSUDO, Yamaha, 1:26.729
16. Joan OLIVE, Aprilia, 1:26.991
17. Dirk HEIDOLF, Aprilia, 1:27.119
18. Eric BATAILLE, Honda, 1:27.163
19. Klaus NÖHLES, Honda, 1:27.334
20. Alex BALDOLINI, Aprilia, 1:27.651

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Morning 250cc GP Practice Times:

1. Fonsi NIETO, Aprilia, 1:26.016
2. Sebastian PORTO, Aprilia, 1:26.110
3. Roberto ROLFO, Honda, 1:26.224
4. Alex DE ANGELIS, Aprilia, 1:26.253
5. Daniel PEDROSA, Honda, 1:26.457
6. Randy DE PUNIET, Aprilia, 1:26.564
7. Toni ELIAS, Honda, 1:26.618
8. Manuel POGGIALI, Aprilia, 1:26.684
9. Franco BATTAINI, Aprilia, 1:26.972
10. Sylvain GUINTOLI, Aprilia, 1:27.127
11. Anthony WEST, Aprilia, 1:27.224
12. Alex BALDOLINI, Aprilia, 1:27.264
13. Alex DEBON, Honda, 1:27.361
14. Klaus NÖHLES, Honda, 1:27.446
15. Naoki MATSUDO, Yamaha, 1:27.802
16. Chaz DAVIES, Aprilia, 1:27.886
17. Jakub SMRZ, Honda, 1:27.911
18. Dirk HEIDOLF, Aprilia, 1:27.935
19. Hiroshi AOYAMA, Honda, 1:28.033
20. Joan OLIVE, Aprilia, 1:28.373

From a press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki:

THINK! BSB Championship, Round 9, July 16

Mallory Park, Leicestershire

Track length: 1.39 miles

Weather: overcast, humid, 24°C

Track: dry, 27°C



PRACTICE



McGUINNESS THIRD IN ULTRA-COMPETITIVE MALLORY PRACTICE



Hawk Kawasaki star John McGuinness ended the first day of practice for the ninth round of the THINK! British Superbike Championship, at Mallory Park, in an excellent third position. Just 0.87 of a second separated the top 15 riders in what proved to be one of the tightest timed practice sessions of the year, with McGuinness a mere tenth of a second off provisional pole.



“I’m really pleased with that because we made real progress when we fitted the 205 Dunlop rear, which I wasn’t too keen on at Brands Hatch,” said McGuinness, who was ninth in the morning’s wet session. “This session it upped my game and bumped me straight up to second. Towards the end I felt really comfortable running at those speeds so I’m happy.”



His BSB race-winning team-mate, Scott Smart, was close behind, just 0.58 off the fastest time, but felt he could have gone quicker had his ZX-10R not succumbed to technical problems in the afternoon’s dry session.



“We had a problem with the quick-shifter, so I came in to get it sorted but it never completely went away,” explained Smarty. “Then we had a misfire which was getting worse and worse and you can’t ride a 170bhp bike with it cutting out all the time. We’ve got a few things to do to the front suspension overnight and if we can get it right I can find 0.3 of a second around just one corner so it’ll be alright.”



Despite the potential pressure of racing at the team’s home track this weekend, Hawk Kawasaki Team Principal was encouraged by his riders’ performances.



“People expect a lot of us at Mallory because it’s our local circuit and the track is also one of our sponsors,” he said. “I try not to put any pressure on the lads because it’s not going to be easy at all. It’s going to be even closer than normal around here and it’s a matter of finding a tyre that will last the distance. If we’re on the first two rows in qualifying I’ll be very, very happy.”



Hawk Kawasaki National Superstock rider Peter Hickman put his disappointing Knockhill weekend behind him by posting third fastest time in practice today. Despite wet conditions, which compounded the 17 year-old’s problems in Scotland two weeks ago, Hickman ran consistently in the top four throughout the 25 minute session.



“Different tracks offer different levels of grip and Mallory is obviously a lot grippier than Knockhill,” he said. “We didn’t even run a tyre warmer on the rear today and I had grip right from the start. To be honest, I was just riding around out there and felt I had plenty in hand so I feel good going into qualifying and I’m confident of a front or second row start.”



BSB PRACTICE 2

Michael Rutter, Honda, 52.286. 2) Sean Emmett, Ducati, 52.361. 3) John McGuinness, Hawk Kawasaki, 52.441. 4) Tommy Hill, Yamaha, 52.538. 5) Gary Mason, Yamaha, 52.544. 6) Dean Thomas, Ducati, 52.617. 7) John Reynolds, Suzuki, 52.625. 8) James Haydon, Yamaha, 52.661. 9) Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki, 52.716. 10) Scott Smart, Hawk Kawasaki, 52.867. 11) Iain MacPherson, Ducati, 52.942. 12) Steve Plater, Yamaha, 52.970. 13) Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda, 52.999. 14) Craig Coxhell, Honda, 53.003. 15) Jon Kirkham, Suzuki (P), 53.156