Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Morning 125cc GP Practice:

1. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Honda, 1:38.175
2. Julian SIMON, Honda, 1:38.548
3. Pablo NIETO, Aprilia, 1:39.305
4. Steve JENKNER, Aprilia, 1:39.306
5. Simone CORSI, Honda, 1:39.442
6. Mirko GIANSANTI, Aprilia, 1:39.543
7. Thomas LUTHI, Honda, 1:39.629
8. Jorge LORENZO, Derbi, 1:39.646
9. Marco SIMONCELLI, Aprilia, 1:39.662
10. Alvaro BAUTISTA, Aprilia, 1:39.745
11. Roberto LOCATELLI, Aprilia, 1:39.775
12. Youichi UI, Aprilia, 1:39.860
13. Stefano PERUGINI, Gilera, 1:39.910
14. Gabor TALMACSI, Malaguti, 1:39.977
15. Gino BORSOI, Aprilia, 1:40.104

From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

Shinichi Itoh took provisional pole position on his FCC TSR Honda Fireblade just three minutes before the end of his final session, with a lap time of 2:10.895. Atsushi Watanabe on the Yoshimura Suzuki had dominated proceedings up to that point, having put in a 2:11.036 during the morning’s cooler sessions. Third fastest today was the No. 7 Seven Stars Honda of Toru Ukawa, fourth place went to the Harc Pro Honda, and fifth to the Kenz Motul Suzuki. Honda have taken seven of the top ten provisional grid positions.

Suzuki Castrol are the fastest of the permanent championship teams. Vincent Philippe is satisfied with the set-up the team has found: “The bike is okay for the race; we have just been making small adjustments. All I can do now is drink plenty of water and energy drinks.” Yamaha GMT94 are the second fastest permanent team. William Costes is not too concerned about the team’s qualifying performance: “We are half a second slower than Suzuki Castrol at the moment, but qualifying is not the race. This place is difficult; the heat, the tyres, the track.”

Yamaha Austria’s Mandy Kainz has not had an easy time in qualifying: “The Pirelli tyres don’t work as well when we use them again after they have been hot and then cooled down. This is a big problem for us; we need nine sets of tyres for the race so that only leaves one pair for qualifying.” Adding to the team’s worries, rider Igor Jerman needed to be taken to hospital to have a small particle of metal rinsed out of his eye; luckily there was no permanent damage. He returned to the circuit in the afternoon and improved his time by over 2.5 seconds, moving Yamaha Austria ahead of Yamaha Phase One.

Phase One also had problems during the first qualifying sessions, with an out-of-round tyre upsetting Sebastien Scarnato’s final run at a fast lap. The team chose to sit out the second qualifying sessions for Ellison and Rohtlaan, to save tyres. Scarnato went out in the final session of the day as the extra tyres he had been granted as third rider could not be used in the race. He was able to go 1.2 seconds a lap faster but could not match Jerman’s time.

Provisional Top Six Qualifying Postions

1st 778 – FCC TSR Zip-FM Racing Team – Honda CBR1000RR – Shi’chi Ito 2:10.895

2nd 12 – Yoshimura Suzuki – Suzuki GSX-R1000 – Atsushi Watanabe 2:11.036

3rd 7 – Seven Stars Honda – Honda CBR1000RRW – Toru Ukawa 2:11.179

4th 73 – Team Harc-Pro – Honda CBR1000RR – Yoshiteru Konishi 2:11.205

5th 8 – Kenz Motul Suzuki – Suzuki GSX-R1000 – Katsuaki Fujiwara 2:11.280

6th 21 – YSP Presto Racing – Yamaha YZF-R1 – Shinichi Nakatomi 2:11.292

The full provisional grid has yet to be confirmed…

Permanent World Endurance Championship Teams

3 – Suzuki Castrol – Suzuki GSX-R1000 – Vincent Philippe – 2:13.748

94 – Yamaha GMT94 – Yamaha YZF-R1 – David Checa – 2:14.389

07 – Yamaha Austria – Yamaha YZF-R1 – Igor Jerman – 2:15.161

1 – Yamaha Phase One Endurance –Yamaha YZF-R1 – Sebastien Scarnato – 2:16.637

From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

Free Practice

The number 12 Yoshimura Suzuki of Yukio Kagayama and Atsushi Watanabe posted the fastest time during the first free practice sessions, with a lap time of 2:10.888. The circuit has been modified since last year (changes to the Degner curve and the chicane) so lap times cannot be compared with previous years.

Second fastest was the No.778 FCC-TSR Honda Fireblade of Takeshi Tsujimura and Shinichi Itoh (2:11.203) and third fastest was the No.7 Seven Stars Honda of Toru Ukawa and Hitoyasu Izutsu (2:11.230).

Fastest of the permanent teams was Suzuki Castrol of Phillipe, Four and Giles in 26th place with a time of 2:14.941. Costes, Gimbert and Checa for Yamaha GMT94 were just 0.842 seconds behind in 27th place; a real battle looks set to begin between these two teams during qualifying. Yamaha Phase One Endurance and Yamaha Austria were even closer in 39th and 40th place, with just 0.028 seconds separating the two.

Tyre Control

Teams racing at Suzuka are limited to a maximum of ten front and ten rear tyres for the timed qualifying sessions and the race. The permanent championship teams are all using three riders so they have been granted an allowance of an additional two pairs of tyres, but these can only be used by the third rider during qualifying. Finally, the teams who make it through to Superpole on Saturday will be allowed two more tyre pairs just for the special stage laps.

All of this means that teams must carefully manage their tyre use and strategy – they will not have enough tyres to use special “qualifiers”, and there is very little scope for experimentation with different tyre compounds during qualifying; of the ten tyres available, at least eight or nine pairs will be needed for the race itself.

Championship Points

Only teams entered in the Superbike, SuperProduction and Stocksport classes will score World Endurance Championship points at Suzuka. Many of the local ‘wildcard’ entries are running in the Japanese Superbike class or one of the two Formula Xtreme classes which are not eligible for points.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Morning MotoGP Practice Times:

1. Valentino ROSSI, Yamaha, 1:30.483
2. Nicky HAYDEN, Honda, 1:30.620
3. Colin EDWARDS, Honda, 1:30.761
4. Troy BAYLISS, Ducati, 1:30.861
5. Sete GIBERNAU, Honda, 1:31.002
6. Marco MELANDRI, Yamaha, 1:31.130
7. Alex BARROS, Honda, 1:31.148
8. Loris CAPIROSSI, Ducati, 1:31.347
9. Neil HODGSON, Ducati, 1:31.354
10. Carlos CHECA, Yamaha, 1:31.402
11. John HOPKINS, Suzuki, 1:31.417
12. Shane BYRNE, Aprilia, 1:31.648
13. Kenny ROBERTS, Suzuki, 1:31.678
14. Norick ABE, Yamaha, 1:31.833
15. Ruben XAUS, Ducati, 1:31.888
16. Max BIAGGI, Honda, 1:32.183
17. Makoto TAMADA, Honda, 1:32.434
18. Shinya NAKANO, Kawasaki, 1:32.514
19. Jeremy McWILLIAMS, Aprilia, 1:33.205
20. Michel FABRIZIO, Harris WCM, 1:33.542
21. Alex HOFMANN, Kawasaki, 1:33.582
22. Kurtis ROBERTS, Proton, 1:33.660
23. Nobuatsu AOKI, Proton, 1:33.821
24. Chris BURNS, Harris WCM, 1:35.013

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional 250cc Grand Prix Qualifying Results:

1. Alex DE ANGELIS, Aprilia, 1:33.336
2. Toni ELIAS, Honda, 1:33.490
3. Randy DE PUNIET, Aprilia, 1:33.498
4. Daniel PEDROSA, Honda, 1:33.558
5. Sebastian PORTO, Aprilia, 1:33.670
6. Manuel POGGIALI, Aprilia, 1:34.022
7. Alex DEBON, Honda, 1:34.022
8. Hiroshi AOYAMA, Honda, 1:34.174
9. Anthony WEST, Aprilia, 1:34.239
10. Fonsi NIETO, Aprilia, 1:34.318
11. Chaz DAVIES, Aprilia, 1:34.830
12. Sylvain GUINTOLI, Aprilia, 1:34.872
13. Franco BATTAINI, Aprilia, 1:34.969
14. Joan OLIVE, Aprilia, 1:34.987
15. Roberto ROLFO, Honda, 1:35.090
16. Jakub SMRZ, Honda, 1:35.185
17. Naoki MATSUDO, Yamaha, 1:35.235
18. Johan STIGEFELT, Aprilia, 1:35.748
19. Klaus NÖHLES, Honda, 1:35.823
20. David DE GEA, Honda, 1:36.326

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional AMA Superbike Qualifying Results:

1. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:26.516
2. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, 1:26.753
3. Jake Zemke, Honda, 1:26.932
4. Ben Bostrom, Honda, 1:26.984
5. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki, 1:27.792
6. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:27.936
7. Eric Bostrom, Ducati, 1:28.923
8. Larry Pegram, Yamaha, 1:30.081
9. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 1:30.185
10. Geoff May, Suzuki, 1:30.398
11. Jake Holden, Suzuki, 1:30.405
12. Eric Wood, Suzuki, 1:30.611
13. John Haner, Suzuki, 1:30.866
14. Marty Craggill, Suzuki, 1:30.988
15. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki, 1:31.001
16. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:31.218
17. Chris Caylor, Suzuki, 1:31.288
18. David Weber, Suzuki, 1:31.632
19. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki, 1:32.455
20. Andy Deatherage, Suzuki, 1:32.643
21. Chuck Sorensen, Yamaha, 1:32.813
22. Jesse Janisch, Suzuki, 1:33.002
23. Cory West, Suzuki, 1:33.048
24. Jason Curtis, Suzuki, 1:33.171
25. C.R. Gittere, Suzuki, 1:33.334
26. Fritz Kling, Yamaha, 1:33.371
27. Scott Jensen, Honda, 1:33.505
28. Paul Ducato, Yamaha, 1:33.628
29. Byron Barbour, Suzuki, 1:34.023
30. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki, 1:34.140
31. John Jacobi, Suzuki, 1:34.318
32. Roger Bell, Suzuki, 1:34.357
33. James Kerker, Honda, 1:34.462
34. Kevin Pate, Yamaha, 1:34.601
35. Jeff Muskopf, Suzuki, 1:34.944
36. Chuck Allen, Suzuki, 1:35.129
37. Greg Fryer, Yamaha, 1:35.434
38. Kevin Lehman, Yamaha, 1:36.107
39. Jack Pfeifer, Honda, 1:36.879
40. Darby Brauning, Yamaha, 1:37.861


More, from a press release issued by Mat Mladin Motorsports:

MLADIN EDGED OUT OF PROVISIONAL POLE POSITION AT MID-OHIO

Lexington, Ohio, USA (Friday, July 23) – For a fleeting moment Mat Mladin held the fastest time of the opening qualifying session for this weekend’s double-header round of the American AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, but his time was eclipsed by championship rival Miguel DuHamel who trailed Mladin throughout his final lap, coming away with the provisional pole winning time.

Out on his fifteenth and final lap of the session, Mladin recorded his best time of the session, pushing his Yoshimura Suzuki GASX-R1000 to a 1:26.753 lap of the 3.86km / 2.40 miles Ohio circuit. Unfortunately this time was bettered by DuHamel who posted a 1:26.516 as he followed the four-times American Superbike Champion across the line as the session concluded. Both riders were just outside of Mladin’s existing lap record of 1:26.498 that he set in 2001.

“I knew that Miguel (DuHamel) had got in behind me and subsequently done a quicker lap, but I’m not too worried about that today,” said Mladin. “We just have to see if he can do 28 of them tomorrow in the race.”

“Things are looking good at the moment for us. We posted the fastest time in the morning practice session and then did some good laps this afternoon. We spent a lot of the day sorting through race set-ups and we are happy with the times we did on race tyres. We only used the one softer qualifier at the end and that was it.”

“As for going quicker tomorrow, we’ll try a few things with the bike tonight and see how we go. I think we’re pretty close, the bike feels good around here.”

“The changed track surface could be a bit hard during the race. It’s bad enough when you’re on line, but if you are passing someone, you’re not quite sure what that section of surface will hold for you. It’s going to be interesting that’s for sure.”

Rounding out the provisional front row of the grid and with one more qualifying session scheduled for tomorrow morning are Jake Zemke (Honda, 1:26.932) and Ben Bostrom (Honda, 1:26.984).

With Mladin arriving at Mid-Ohio holding a 10-point lead in the championship over DuHamel, every point is crucial. With the AMA awarding a point for pole and an additional point for the rider who leads the most number of laps during the race, Mladin will be aiming to not only finish ahead of DuHamel in each of the weekend’s two 26-lap Superbike Nationals, but would also like to add those extra points to his tally as well.

AMA Superbike qualifying concludes tomorrow morning, before the first of the Superbike races takes to the track later in the afternoon.


More, from a press release issued by Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin:

BOSTROM ON PROVISIONAL SECOND ROW AT MID-OHIO

Lexington (Ohio) – Friday July 23, 2004: Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin’s Eric Bostrom qualified on the provisional second row for this weekend’s AMA Superbike doubleheader at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. In cool and clear conditions, Bostrom rode his Ducati 999R to a time of 1:28.923 on the 2.4 mile road course, putting him currently in seventh.

“We were struggling today,” explained Eric, who won the AMA Superbike race at Mid-Ohio in 2002. “We had some problems keeping the weight even on the tires all the way through the turns. I would go through the corners and the weight would move on and off the tire. Our grip was affected by it and I ended up running wide on a turn or two. This place is ‘connect the dots’ so if you end up wide, you’ll be off for the next few turns as well. Tomorrow we hope to make it better; we have some ideas and hopefully it will improve things.”

Racing Manager Tom Bodenbach commented, “Eric rode hard, but it just didn’t happen for him today. We’ve been in meetings after the session and think we might be able to improve the grip some for tomorrow. We also have another Michelin front tire to use tomorrow that might help, too. The guys on the crew are all working hard and it would be great for them if we can get a top result.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional 125cc GP Qualifying Results:

1. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Honda, 1:37.736
2. Pablo NIETO, Aprilia, 1:38.283
3. Mika KALLIO, KTM, 1:38.349
4. Roberto LOCATELLI, Aprilia, 1:38.409
5. Youichi UI, Aprilia, 1:38.607
6. Thomas LUTHI, Honda, 1:38.631
7. Hector BARBERA, Aprilia, 1:38.736
8. Julian SIMON, Honda, 1:38.753
9. Mirko GIANSANTI, Aprilia, 1:38.782
10. Stefano PERUGINI, Gilera, 1:38.834
11. Marco SIMONCELLI, Aprilia, 1:38.899
12. Mattia PASINI, Aprilia, 1:39.071
13. Simone CORSI, Honda, 1:39.079
14. Jorge LORENZO, Derbi, 1:39.105
15. Steve JENKNER, Aprilia, 1:39.148

From a press release issued by FIM:

Nicolas Rodil del Valle

FIM Honorary President Nicolas Rodil del Valle passed away last night in Valencia, Spain, at the age of 88.

Don Rodil del Valle was elected FIM President at the Congress of Paris, in October 1965, as the successor of Dutchman Pieter Nortier. He was then re-elected for five more mandates, remaining President during 18 years until he decided to retire, at the Congress of Benalmadena (Spain) in October 1983.

Don Rodil took part in the very first meeting of the FICM after the Second World War, held in Geneva on June 11, 1946. He was then Secretary General of the Spanish Federation (RFME) since 1943. In November 1949, he was elected member of the International Sporting Commission (CSI). He became RFME President in 1951. In May 1953, at the spring Congress in Rome, he was elected FIM Vice-President.

Nicolas Rodil del Valle was the first President of the modern times of the FIM. He gave a permanent structure to the Secretariat in Geneva and centralised all the administrative work. He was the first to understand the essential role that commercial rights and television would play in the future, and he worked to centralise the TV rights for the FIM, as the true owner of the World Championships, and also to develop the supervising role of the FIM. The current stage of development of the motorcycling sport at world level, with involvement of promoters, the presence of television and sponsors, was reached thanks to the work started during his presidency.

Mr Francesco Zerbi, FIM President, declared:
“Don Rodil was the greatest President of the FIM in modern times. It is a great loss, and we will always remember him for all the work he carried out during 18 years for the development of our sport.”

FIM Chief Executive Officer Guy Maitre started to work in the FIM in December 1978:
“I was hired by Don Rodil, and I can say he has been my spiritual father. He was a very demanding person, with a strong character, and it was sometimes difficult to deal with him, but his endless efforts put the motorcycling sports, and also the non-sporting activities of motorcycling, on the trail of development and modernity”.

The funeral will be held tomorrow in Valencia at 15:00. A memorial ceremony will be organised in Madrid next September.

All the members of the FIM present their sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

1. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:30.152
2. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:30.272
3. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha YAF-R1, 1:30.548
4. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:30.792
5. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:30.897
6. Roger Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:31.600
7. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.995
8. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.251
9. Scott Greenwood, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.672
10. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.791
11. John Haner, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.307
12. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.369
13. Jake Holden, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:34.382
14. Brian Hall, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:35.485
15. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:35.626
16. Jesse Janish, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:38.050
17. Manuel Garza, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:39.700
18. Dave Loikits, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:40.259
19. Robert Deily, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:40.679
20. Montez Stewart, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:41.827

(The above is a list of all 20 riders who went out in the first Superstock practice, held Friday morning at Mid-Ohio.)