Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Final World Supersport Qualifying Results:

1. Sebastien Charpentier, Honda CBR600RR, 2:06.930
2. Karl Muggeridge, Honda CBR600RR, 2:07.539
3. Kevin Curtain, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:07.596
4. Broc Parkes, Honda CBR600RR, 2:07.638
5. Andrew Pitt, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:07.820
6. Alessio Corradi, Honda CBR600RR, 2:07.846
7. Fabien Foret, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:07.904
8. Jurgen Vd Goorbergh, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:08.135
9. Matteo Baiocco, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:08.641
10. Max Neukirchner, Honda CBR600RR, 2:08.867
11. Kai Borre Andersen, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 2:08.908
12. Werner Daemen, Honda CBR600RR, 2:08.934
13. Arie Vos, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 2:09.059
14. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:09.121
15. Lorenzo Lanzi, Ducati 749R, 2:09.129
16. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:09.213
17. Jarno Janssen, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:09.287
18. Matthieu Lagrive, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:09.409
19. Stefano Cruciani, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 2:09.514
20. Christian Kellner, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:09.580


More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing:

SUPERB FRONT ROW FOR PITT ON DEBUT

Yamaha Racing Italia guest rider Andrew Pitt surprised everybody by posting the third quickest time in qualifying and with it, a place on the front row of the grid. Despite only four forty-minute sessions on the Yamaha Racing Italia R6, Pitt managed to get in the groove quickly and get to grips with his Pirelli tyres straightaway. Fabien Foret was another star today – despite broken bones in his right ankle, he grittily set the sixth best time of the day. Championship hopeful Jurgen van den Goorbergh ran out of time in final qualifying, but is well-placed alongside his team mate Foret on the second row of the grid. Australian Karl Muggeridge continued his domination of qualifying and took pole position – his seventh in eight races this season.

ANDREW PITT – 3rd, 2:07.038

During my fastest lap, I was held up a little by a couple of slow riders and who knows what would have happened if I’d been able to complete the lap without any problems? But I’m on the front row of the grid and that’s all that matters really. The Yamaha Racing Italia team is very professional and it’s been a dream racing for them here. The technicians have helped me a lot to understand the bike and make it work for me – especially the front and rear suspension. The Hondas are very fast, but I hope to make a good start and stay with them until the end.

FABIEN FORET – 6th, 2:07.165

I’m racing here thanks to the skill and support from guys in the Clinica Mobile and my French physio Bernard. He has helped me tremendously here and in the past few weeks. It’s difficult riding with a broken ankle and now I’ve got to see how it will stand up to a full race distance. But my aim is to try and finish – at the very least.

JURGEN VD GOORBERGH – 7th, 2:07.301

My race pace is very good and I’m happy about that. I lost the front row because we ran out of time and I wasn’t able to try my last tyre. I’m not worried about being on the second row at all, because I know I can ride an aggressive race here and get a good result.

CLAUDIO CONSONNI (Racing Manager)

The choice to put Andrew Pitt in this race to help Jurgen was the right choice. He’s very fast and we’re giving him the right conditions so that he can help Jurgen. The race will be very hard, but our Yamahas are more than ready to fight it out with the Hondas.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

World Superbike Superpole Results:

1. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, 2:03.103
2. James Toseland, Ducati 999F04, 2:03.755
3. Regis Laconi, Ducati 999F04, 2:03.856
4. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR1000RR, 2:04.018
5. Leon Haslam, Ducati 999RS, 2:04.266
6. Marco Borciani, Ducati 999RS, 2:04.280
7. Noriyuki Haga, Ducati 999RS, 2:04.654
8. Gianluca Nannelli, Ducati 998RS, 2:04.681
9. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, 2:04.831
10. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, 2:05.183
11. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati 998RS, 2:05.276
12. Garry McCoy, Ducati 999RS, 2:05.276
13. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 2:05.807
14. Chris Walker, Foggy Petronas FP1, 2:06.436
15. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 2:06.638
16. Steve Martin, Ducati 999RS, CRASH


More, from a press release issued by FG Sport Group:

CHILI TAKES CLEAR SUPERPOLE WIN AT ASSEN

THE BOLOGNA EXPRESS: After several close calls earlier in the season, Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati 998) took his first Superpole win of the 2004 season, running out the victor with a time of 2:03.103 – the fastest official lap of the weekend so far. The 40-year-old phenomenon, the holder of the fastest ever SBK lap of Assen set in 2003, was in untouchable form. He won the otherwise closely contested Superpole by over 0.6 seconds, an age even at such a long track as Assen. Currently fifth in the championship fight, two wins for ‘Frankie’ on Sunday would make the championship battle a five-way affair with two rounds to go.

FILA FORCE FIELDED: After some difficult times in recent events, there were smiles all round in the Ducati pit at the post qualifying prowess of the official factory Ducati Fila squad members, James Toseland and Regis Laconi. Toseland just edged out Laconi for the second best grid position by 0.101 seconds as he strove for his first Superpole win of 2004.

YELLOW PEARL: The Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR of Chris Vermeulen set the fourth best time of the Superpole session, earning a front row start, nut only after the 22-year-old Australian experienced some front end chatter problems in regulation qualifying. In front of his Ten Kate team’s home crowd, a front row start for the second placed championship contender was a popular result in most areas of the expansive Assen grandstands.

HASLAM STEPS ON UP: Leon Haslam (Renegade Ducati 999RS) put a disappointing 14th place qualifying position firmly behind him with an outstanding lap of 2:04.266, taking fifth place in the Superpole rankings. He managed to overhaul not only experienced DFX rider Marco Borciani but his own team-mate Noriyuki Haga, who is himself chasing outright championship glory from an overall third place. The second row was rounded off by the dramatic, all-action style of class rookie Gianluca Nannelli (Team Pedercini 998RS) who took his two year old machine to eighth, using all the track and more in his desperation to make another good impression.

CORSER THIRD ROW: With more revs and power from his three-cylinder Foggy Petronas FP-1 at this race, Troy Corser still could not quite reach the pace of his peer group at Assen, finishing Superpole in ninth position. His team-mate Chris Walker took 14th fastest time, for a fourth row start. The well sorted 998 Ducatis have been a force all weekend at this most classic of all current SBK tracks, and thus Lucio Pedercini was inside the top ten, demoting previous qualifying sensation Giovanni Bussei to 11th. Garry McCoy, an experienced Assen campaigner, dropped from seventh in regulation qualifying to 12th after Superpole.

MARTIN OFF: Ducati DFX rider Steve Martin had the misfortune to fall on de Strubben corner, as his front tyre lost adhesion around what is the first left-hander for almost half a lap. Failing to record a Superpole time, Martin will thus start from 16th position, one worse than his 15th starting position in Superpole.

WORLD SUPERSPORT: Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) extended his run of pole positions this season to seven in eight attempts, ripping the record books asunder once more with his 14th career Supersport pole. His Friday time of 2:06.249 was sufficient to hold off the challenge of Sebastien Charpentier (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) and wild card rider Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Italia), the 2001 World Champion on a Kawasaki. Broc Parkes, Muggeridge’s team-mate, starts from the front row, while another Aussie Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) heads up row two. Walking wounded rider Fabien Foret (Yamaha Italia) starts sixth after some heroics in qualifying, while would-be champion Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Italia) was seventh fastest on aggregate.

EUROPEAN SUPERSTOCK: Gianluca Vizziello (Yamaha) took the pole position from his team-mate Lorenzo Alfonsi, by the margin of 0.5 seconds. The two-man championship battle thus continues, with this weekend Bernat Martinez (Yamaha) their closest challenger, ahead of Ilario Dionisi (Suzuki) and Kenan Sofuoglu (Yamaha).

The Superstock class kicks of Sunday’s action, with the 16-lap Superbike and Supersport races taking place in the afternoon.


More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist:

FRUSTRATION FOR TROY

Troy finished Superpole with the ninth fastest time and will start tomorrow’s pair of 16-lappers from the third row of the grid. Troy’s disappointment came about because he was forced to use his spare bike in Superpole qualifying after his preferred number one bike suffered a problem in the afternoon session. Up until that problem, Troy was on course for at least a second row spot. Superpole was won by that veteran campaigner Frankie Chili (Ducati). The Italian used all his guile and skill to post the fastest lap in the 16-rider shoot-out. Second was James Toseland, with Ducati team mate Regis Laconi third and Chris Vermeulen (Honda) fourth.

TROY – 9th, 2:04.831

I know I should have been on the second row at the very least – if things hadn’t gone wrong in the afternoon session before Superpole. I was all geared up to use my preferred bike in Superpole and then it suffered a problem and I had to switch to my spare instead. Although there aren’t many differences between the two, the clutch was slipping differently and the front end geometry was a bit different – to make it steer better. I really felt that I could’ve gone into the 2:03s on the number one bike, but it began to make a funny sound after I had done my fastest lap on it and our chief engineer Steve Thompson decided that we couldn’t risk it in Superpole. Tomorrow, I’m just going to have to push 100 per cent on every corner of every lap. Everybody will be struggling with tyres slipping and sliding, but we’ll be struggling more because we have to try and carry that much more corner speed as we are still a little down on power.


More, from a press release issued by Xerox Ducati Nortel Networks – Scuderia Caracchi:

Third row for Garry McCoy at Assen

Garry McCoy will start from the third row on his 999RS Xerox Ducati Nortel Networks for the two 16-lap races scheduled tomorrow here at Assen as ninth round for World Superbike. The Australian rider recorded the seventh fastest after the final qualifying in the morning, but a mistake in the final stage of Superpole ruined his session relegating him in the twelfth position on the starting grid.

“I used the wrong gear in the second split and I lost a lot of time.” – said a bit disappointed Garry McCoy at the end of the session. “That’s a pity because after the first split I recorded just a small gap from the leader that I could easily recover. To start from the third row will make everything more difficult and I’m facing one of my toughest races of the season just to gain a good finish position on this narrow circuit which doesn’t allow to pass. During the qualifying session we found a good set up, the bike is very fast with the second top speed and we select the race tyres that are looking to work correctly, so I’m confident in a good performance for tomorrow’s races.”

Satisfied for his result is also Miguel Praia, which improved about two seconds his fastest lap and will start from the sixth row.

“I’m quite satisfied.” – confirms the young Portuguese rider – “This track is very demanding and I’ve been faster as yesterday. Now I hope to get some world championship point in the race tomorrow, I feel that I’ll be able to do it.”


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI FILA DUO OF TOSELAND AND LACONI POWER TO FRONT ROW STARTS AT ASSEN

Assen (Netherlands), 4 September 2004: Ducati Fila riders James Toseland and Regis Laconi confirmed their positive weekend qualifying performances in Superpole to take front row grid positions for tomorrow’s Dutch Round of the World Superbike championship behind Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati), winner here in 1998.

Second for Toseland and fifth for Laconi after qualifying became second and third as the British rider and the Frenchman sliced three and seven-tenths respectively off their times in the one-lap dash.

“I’ve always enjoyed riding here, it’s just a great place to race at and I’m sure there’ll be thousands of British fans here cheering me on. Hopefully I’ll not let them down again!” commented Toseland. “We’ve been going well all weekend, apart from a mishap in free practice 2 when the brake stuck on and I fell off but we got it all back together for Superpole and I did a good lap. We’re as fast as anyone on race pace and have been consistently so all weekend. I’m happy with my race tyre, we’ve got the bike working well, I’m feeling comfortable and the way things are going there’s no reason why we can’t have two good results tomorrow.”

Laconi declared: “Superpole here at Assen is very special, it’s very long with lots of fast corners, and you have to be very precise and not make any mistakes. My lap was a good one, it wasn’t enough to beat Chili and James but I’m pleased to be starting the races from the front row. It’s important to start on the front row because although it’s not difficult to pass, there are a lot of changes of direction and you have to be at the front. I’m very happy with my performance this weekend because I’m learning more about the bike with the new setting and improving my riding. This afternoon we tried something different for the rear and also for the race too, so I’m feeling really good about tomorrow.”


More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

FPR frustration with Assen grid positions

Foggy PETRONAS Racing riders Troy Corser and Chris Walker both expressed dissatisfaction with their grid positions for tomorrow’s races at the ninth round of the Superbike World Championship at Assen, the Netherlands.

Troy will start from the third row after qualifying in ninth while Chris was 14th fastest in a Superpole session dominated by pacesetter Frankie Chili, who produced the quickest lap of the weekend of 2:03.103 to claim pole position.

Troy went into the one-lap shoot-out having just recorded his own best time of 2:04.570 in the afternoon free practice session. However, a problem with his preferred bike at the end of that session forced him to switch to the spare bike for his Superpole lap of 2:04.831.

He said: “I should have at least been on the second row. There is not too much difference between bikes but the clutch was slipping differently and the geometry was shorter in the front on the other bike to make it steer better. I knew I could do a 2:04 on the number two bike but I thought I could have gone under 2:04 on the other. But that bike had started to make a funny sound after I had done my fastest lap and our chief engineer Steve Thompson decided we could not risk it for Superpole. I am just going to have to push 100 per cent on every corner of every lap tomorrow. Everyone is in the same boat with the tyres spinning and sliding but maybe we are struggling more because we have to try and carry that much more corner speed as we are still a little down on power.”

Chris, who has been receiving treatment for a bad cold, opted to use a race tyre for Superpole but was unable to match his best time of 2:05.395.

Chris said: “I have struggled to be as quick on the second half of the lap – the fast part of the circuit – on qualifiers as I have on race tyres. So for Superpole we decided to use the race tyre that I used for my fastest lap in the morning. Unfortunately, maybe because the track temperature was so much hotter in the afternoon, it didn’t seem to work. So we now have a mountain to climb, especially as there is a long drag to the first corner off the grid. But we have made progress today as we are now consistently going 0.8 of a second faster on race tyres than yesterday. We have got the front to work a little better, which gave us more grip going into the corners as the rear wheel wasn’t lifting off the ground.”


More, from a press release issued by Ten Kate Honda:

Muggeridge Maintains A Tight Grip At Assen

Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) secured his seventh pole start in the 2004 season, thanks to the provisional pole time he set on the opening day of qualifying. His mark of 2:06.249 was not seriously threatened for most of the final 45-minute session, which was interrupted after an oil spill reduced track adhesion during the early stages.

Muggeridge’s team-mate Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) secured a front row start with his fourth place time, a time which could have been improved on but for an inopportune bit of timing; the chequered flag stopping him from securing one final quick lap by the margin of only three seconds.

The front row for the 16-lap Supersport race on Sunday comprises Muggeridge, Honda rider Sebastien Charpentier, Yamaha wild card Andrew Pitt (Yamaha) and Parkes. Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha), Muggeridge’s closest championship challenger, could only finish seventh fastest.

Muggeridge’s seventh pole of the year took his career total to 14, yet another high for the all time World Supersport pole position record. Muggeridge was nonetheless disappointed not to improve on his Friday time, despite spending almost the entire session working on a race set-up. “So far so good. I was disappointed not to improve my time from yesterday but I should have put a new front tyre in and we didn’t have time to with the interrupted session. But the bike is good on race tyres and we’re fast. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

Parkes was disappointed to miss out on a possible better grid placing but satisfied with a front row start and a good machine set-up. “The front row is OK. I’m pretty confident for the race, and happy with the front row. I’m supposed to be a racer so I hope I can do better tomorrow.”

Team Manager Ronald Ten Kate stated, “We didn’t worry about the lap time so much. We saw people getting a little bit close to us so at the end Karl gave it another shot, but at that time his front tyre had passed it best. Broc was unlucky because he missed out on a final clear lap by three seconds. He was the first man to see the flag. There is a particular problem round here with the lap times being so high it is easy to miss out. We thought we had it all covered. He was going well and we could have expected an improvement on his time but a front row start is always good work. I’m happy. I’m particularly pleased that Karl has done so well at this stage of the season, with a big points lead. It shows how mentally strong he is at the moment.”

Final Qualifying
1. K. Muggeridge, AUS, Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR, 2’06.249
2. S. Charpentier, FRA, Honda CBR600RR, 2’06.500
3. A. Pitt, AUS, Yamaha YZF R6, 2’07.038
4. B. Parkes, AUS, Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR, 2’07.052
5. K. Curtain, AUS, Yamaha YZF R6, 2’07.159
6. F. Foret, FRA, Yamaha YZF R6, 2’07.165
7. J. vd Goorbergh, NED, Yamaha YZF R6, 2’07.301
8. K. Fujiwara, JPN, Suzuki GSX-R 600, 2’07.675
9. A. Corradi, ITA, Honda CBR600RR, 2’08.009
10. B. Veneman, NED, Suzuki GSX-R 600, 2’08.083


Assen: Vermeulen On Front Row

Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) secured a front row start for his team’s home SBK race after a Superpole lap spent fighting some peculiar traction concerns around the high speed Assen circuit. Vermeulen chose to use the same spec of rear qualifying tyre as he had tested in regulation qualifying, but could not quite replicate third place in these circumstances and had to take fourth in Superpole.

Finishing in the top quartet still leaves him in an excellent position for Sunday’s race, sharing the front row with Superpole winner Pierfrancesco Chili (Ducati), James Toseland (Ducati) and Regis Laconi (Ducati).

It had been a tough qualifying all round for Vermeulen, at his first Assen meeting on the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade. “We had the same tyre in as during qualifying but it just didn’t react the way I thought it would. Despite that, the bike is getting better and better around here. Set-up has proved difficult so far and we have a lot of chatter, especially under braking from high speed and we haven’t had that all year. No matter which tyre we use, or what suspension setting we’ve tried we haven’t got rid of it yet. The rest of the bike is working well. There are a lot of people going fast and we’re certainly in that group. It’s going to be really close tomorrow.”

Team Manager Ronald Ten Kate gave his pre-race comments. “Chris was on it for two splits and he thought he could do it, but he couldn’t finish it on the last split. It was good that he could still stay on the front row. With the race set-up we are close but it has been very hard work. It’s a compromise here always but we have a lot of knowledge of this track, so there are still some set-up question marks. For tomorrow, in warm-up, we will try to make it better so that he can hang in there during the races. We are sure he can stay in the front group, and then it will come down to the nerves and the tactics.”

World Superbike Championship
Round 9 Assen – The Netherlands
3 – 5 September 2004
Superpole Qualifying
1. P. Chii, Ducati 998RS, 2’03.103
2. J. Toseland, GBR, Ducati 999 F04, 2’03.755
3. R. Laconi, FRA, Ducati 999 F04, 2’03.856
4. C. Vermeulen, AUS, Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR, 2’04.018
5. L. Haslam, GBR, Ducati 999 RS, 2’04.266
6. M. Borciani, ITA, Ducati 999 RS, 2’04.280
7. N. Haga, JPN, Ducati 999 RS, 2’04.654
8. G. Nannelli, ITA, Ducati 998, 2’04.681
9. T. Corser, AUS, Petronas FP 1, 2’04.831
10. L. Pedercini, ITA, Ducati 998 RS, 2’05.183

From a press release issued by series organizers:

SHANNONVILLE, ON Granby, QC’s Pascal Picotte continued his mastery of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Shannonville Motorsport Park Saturday.

The 2004 series champion dominated qualifying on his Team Yamaha / Picotte Performance Yamaha YZF-R1 to claim his fifth MPM Array Pole Award of the season.

Picotte shattered his own track record in the 45-minute session with a time of 1:42.820. The old mark, which he set last year was 1:44.079.

“The bike was handling perfectly and we haven’t had to make a lot of changes, so it’s easy to stay ahead of the game,” said Picotte, who clinched his second straight Parts Canada Superbike crown two weeks ago at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant. “I tried to get the time done as soon as possible and then wait to see if anyone could beat it.”

No one else was able to get within a second of Picotte in qualifying. Maple Ridge, BC’s Steve Crevier placed second on his DXS Diablo Racing Team Suzuki GSX-R1000 with a time of 1:44.126 and Frank Trombino of Kleinburg, ON qualified third at 1:44.236 aboard the Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1.

Calgary’s Clint McBain completes the front row for Sunday’s 14-lap race after recording a lap of 1:44.389 on the Coors Light Racing / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Less than a second separated second place Crevier from seventh fastest qualifier Kevin Lacombe in the session.

In other action at Shannonville, there was no change at the top of the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Championship standings as none of the main title contenders earned points Saturday.

Guelph, ON’s Tyler Kennedy was fastest at a record 1:49.756 on his Honda CBR600RR.

Darren James goes into Sunday’s race leading Rudy Raposo by four points in the standings and is 14 ahead of Dominic Lavoie. Levis, QC’s Lavoie qualified fifth fastest on his Kawasaki ZX-6RR. Raposo, from Mississauga, ON was eighth and North Vancouver’s James placed 12th. Both Raposo and James are aboard Yamahas.

Class champion Picotte also qualified on pole for the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike national support class with a record time of 1:44.770 on his Yamaha YZF-R6. Crevier was second at 1:45.990 aboard his Suzuki GSX-R600 and Matt McBride of Mississauga, ON placed third at 1:46.241 riding the Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-6RR.

Feature races in all three national classes will run Sunday afternoon. Practice opens at 8:30 a.m. with the first race set to go at 12:45 p.m.

This weekend’s event will be televised on TSN on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 2:00 p.m. EDT and on Quebec’s RDS on Sunday, Oct. 31 at 2:30 p.m. Action from Shannonville will also air later this fall on Toronto1 and A-Channel stations in Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton.

For more series information, visit www.cdnsuperbike.com

Starting line-up for Sunday’s eighth and final round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Shannonville Motorsport Park, showing starting position, rider name, hometown, type of motorcycle and qualifying time:

1.Pascal Picotte, Granby, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:42.820; 2. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, BC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:44.126; 3. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:44.236; 4. Clint McBain, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:44.389; 5. Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:44.886; 6. Jeff Williams, Harrowsmith, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:44.937; 7. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:44.993; 8. Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:45.195; 9. Francis Martin, Rock Forest, QC, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:45.927; 10. Matthew McBride, Mississauga, ON, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:46.511; 11. Michael Taylor, Toronto, ON, Ducati 999S, 1:46.553; 12. Jean-Francois Cyr, St-Lin Laurentides, QC, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:46.647; 13. Hugo Brisson, St-Sauveur, QC, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:48.315; 14. Stuart Nodell, Ajax, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:48.721; 15. Dave Young, Woodstock, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:48.773; 16. Zenon Nelson, Bowmanville, ON, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:49.358; 17. Brent Strong, Mississauga, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:49.408; 18. Derek Vammus, Orangeville, ON, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:49.474; 19. Bill Card, Wellesley, ON, Honda CBR600RR, 1:49.874; 20. Larry Orde, Peterborough, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:49.987; 21. Michael Leon, Beaconsfield, QC, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:50.161; 22. Barry French, Brampton, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:50.538; 23. Elie Daccache, Ottawa, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:52.014; 24. Dean Plater, Ottawa, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:52.510; 25. Yannick Morin, Repentigny, QC, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:53.232; 26. Paul Penzo, Toronto, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, No Time

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional AMA Superstock Qualifying Results;

1. Ben Spies, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:23.700*
2. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R1, 1:23.801
3. Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:23.943
4. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R1, 1:24.127
5. Roger Lee Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:24.372
6. Jamie Hacking, Yam YZF-R1, 1:24.612
7. Damon Buckmaster, Yam YZF-R1, 1:24.926
8. John Haner, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:25.557
9. Josh Hayes, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:25.606
10. Jake Holden, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:25.676
11. Jason Pridmore, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:26.260
12. Vincent Haskovec, Suz GSX-R750, 1:26.348
13. Eric Wood, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:26.717
14. Alex Gobert, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:27.508
15. Steve Rapp, Suz GSX-R750, 1:27.948
16. Scott Greenwood, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.193
17. Jeff Tigert, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:28.404
18. J.J. Roetlin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.512
19. Jesse Janisch, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.795
20. Jason Curtis, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.281
21. Kevin Pate, Yam YZF-R1, 1:30.980
22. James Kerker, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:31.582
23. Montez Stewart, Yam YZF-R1, 1:32.507
24. Dave Loikits, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:34.959
25. David McPherson, Yam YZF-R1, 1:35.061
26. Michael McAllister, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:35.385
27. Johnny Rock Page, Yam YZF-R1, 1:35.917
28. James Bonner, Yam YZF-R1, 1:37.320
29. Tony Larocca, Suz GSX-R750, 1:45.322

*Beats the existing lap record of 1:26.760, set by Josh Hayes on a Suzuki GSX-R750 in 2003.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

American Honda’s Miguel Duhamel wrapped up the Lockhart-Phillips USA AMA Formula Xtreme Championship with a win over top rival Jake Zemke in round 10 of 11 in the series Saturday at Road Atlanta.

The Championship was Duhamel’s first in the reconfigured-for-600cc Formula Xtreme class, but it was the seventh AMA Championship in his long career.

The race was a duel between Duhamel and Zemke from the start and the re-start. After Zemke led the first five laps, Duhamel led the next seven laps, but Zemke re-took the lead from Duhamel into turn one to start lap 13 of 15.

After sizing the Erion Honda rider up, Duhamel made his move coming off the back straightaway on the final lap. Zemke didn’t give up without a fight, but Duhamel was able to get his CBR600RR across the line one-half-bikelength in front of Zemke.

Second place clinched second in the Championship for Zemke.

HMC Milwaukee Ducati’s Doug Chandler made a last-lap pass to take third from Star School Suzuki’s Jason Pridmore. Triangle Cycles Yamaha’s Larry Pegram finished third on a Pirelli-shod YZF-R6.

After running third in the aborted first start, Kosco Buell’s Michael Barnes did not finish (DNF) the re-started race. The first start was stopped for a crash involving Hal’s Performance Buell’s Mike Ciccotto, who did not continue. Zemke’s teammate Alex Gobert was racing Chandler and Pridmore for third when his CBR600RR suffered a mechanical problem, forcing him to retire. Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Vincent Haskovec was fifth with less than two laps to go but ran out of fuel due to his engine control unit suffering a malfunction and making his fuel-injection system run rich.

Provisional AMA Formula Xtreme Race Results:

1. Miguel Duhamel, Hon CBR600RR, 15 laps
2. Jake Zemke, Hon CBR600RR, -0.210 second
3. Doug Chandler, Duc 749R, -25.033 seconds
4. Jason Pridmore, Suz GSX-R600, -25.148 seconds
5. Larry Pegram, Yam YZF-R6, -48.315 seconds
6. Mike Smith, Yam YZF-R6, -51.704 seconds
7. Chris Caylor, Suz GSX-R600, -51.795 seconds
8. Blake Young, Suz GSX-R600, -63.175 seconds
9. Heath Small, Yam YZF-R6, -63.298 seconds
10. Logan Young, Suz GSX-R600, -74.110 seconds
11. Nathan Hester, Yam YZF-R6, -75.765 seconds
12. Nicky Moore, Hon CBR600RR, -76.140 seconds
13. Darin Eli Edwards, Suz GSX-R600, -80.797 seconds
14. Perry Melneciuc, Yam YZF-R6, -84.356 seconds
15. Joseph Arico, Yam YZF-R6, -84.665 seconds
16. Tom Montano, Hon CBR600RR, -84.835 seconds
17. Vincent Haskovec, Suz GSX-R600, -1 lap, DNF, mechanical
18. Eric Pinson, Suz GSX-R600, -1 lap
19. Tim Knutson, Yam YZF-R6, -1 lap
20. Jeremiah Johnson, Suz GSX-R600, -1 lap
21. Alex Gobert, Hon CBR600RR, -7 laps, DNF, mechanical
22. John Waters, Suz GSX-R600, -8 laps, DNF
23. Jason Farrell, Kaw ZX-6RR, -14 laps, DNF, crash
24. Carlo Gagliardo, Yam YZF-R6, -14 laps, DNF
25. Mike Ciccotto, Buell XB12R, -15 laps, DNF, crash
26. Michael Barnes, Buell XB12R, -15 laps, DNF
27. Chris Peris, Suz GSX-R600, DNS


Provisional AMA Formula Xtreme Championship Point Standings (After 10 of 11 races):

1. Duhamel, 358 points
2. Zemke, 307 points
3. Gobert, 254 points
4. Haskovec, 231 points
5. Pegram, 215 points
6. Pridmore, 189 points
7. Small, 173 points
8. Hester, 165 points
9. Melneciuc, 152 points
10. Chandler, 137 points


More, from a press release issued by Proforma:

PRIDMORE FINISHES FOURTH IN FORMULA XTREME AT ROAD ATLANTA

Jason Pridmore finished fourth in today’s Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme final after running in third place and being shadowed by Doug Chandler for most of the race. Chandler passed Jason down Road Atlanta’s long back back straight on the last lap, and held off a last turn charge by Jason to finish third.

Saturday’s Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Final – 4th Place

“Considering we weren’t even going to be at these next two races, without the support of Jordan Motorsports, Jim Davis and all of our sponsors, we battled for a podium today,” said Jason. “Doug rode awesome. It’s always fun riding with Doug, because you always know where he’s gonna be, you always know you can trust him. It was a great race, but we finished fourth.”


More, from a press release issued by Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki:

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki suffered through a trying Formula Xtreme race at Road Atlanta on Saturday, but remain optimistic about their Sunday prospects.

Following an impressive third-place qualifying performance on Friday in a return to the scene of Vincent Haskovec’s first career AMA roadracing victory, hopes were high for another stellar performance from the charismatic rider. Not content with a mere podium finish racing in a class with one full factory team, Haskovec has stated, “I won’t be truly happy until I win a race this year.”

Unfortunately for Vincent, he will have to wait until the final round at Virginia to give it another shot after he failed to achieve his goal in Saturday’s race, held in warm conditions at Road Atlanta. Haskovec worked his way into a solid top-five position in the race and looked certain to finish no worse than fifth until a stock reprogrammed ECU malfunctioned. The problem made his GSX-R run rich and eventually out of fuel as he slowed to a stop before reaching the checkered flag.

Despite the disappointing finish, he remains fourth in the championship with just one race left on the calendar.

The squad enjoyed a more favorable day qualifying for Sunday’s 60K Supersport race. Steve Rapp earned a second row grid position on his Michelin-shod GSX-R600 by circulating the 2.54-mile racetrack with a fast time of 1:28.044.

The Californian hopes to make a similar showing in Sunday’s race, starting from the eighth spot on the grid. “Today went pretty well for us on the 600. It’s nice to be on the front two rows, and I think even with a really deep field of fast riders in the class, we should be able to finish about the same.”

His teammate Chris Peris will start a couple rows further back in 13th. The Canadian posted a 1:29.735 during the abbreviated session, just fractions off a third row starting position.

Meanwhile in Superstock, the team expect the strengths of their Suzuki GSX-R750s to allow Rapp and Haskovec to improve upon their starting spots in the race. While the powerful 1000s have a significant edge around a track like Road Atlanta on fresh, sticky rubber, the Michelin-shod GSX-R750s could surprise tomorrow when the laps start adding up in the hot Georgian conditions.

Haskovec qualified twelfth with a best time of 1:26.348 while Rapp will start in fifteenth with a 1:27.948 qualifying performance.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Saturday Morning MotoGP Practice Times:

1. Alex BARROS, Honda, 1:50.781
2. Valentino ROSSI, Yamaha, 1:51.030
3. Sete GIBERNAU, Honda, 1:51.487
4. Max BIAGGI, Honda, 1:51.802
5. Carlos CHECA, Yamaha, 1:52.718
6. Colin EDWARDS, Honda, 1:53.040
7. Loris CAPIROSSI, Ducati, 1:53.232
8. Ruben XAUS, Ducati, 1:53.322
9. Kenny ROBERTS, Suzuki, 1:53.512
10. John HOPKINS, Suzuki, 1:53.883
11. Troy BAYLISS, Ducati, 1:54.405
12. Jeremy McWILLIAMS, Aprilia, 1:54.423
13. Michel FABRIZIO, Aprilia, 1:55.087
14. Makoto TAMADA, Honda, 1:55.188
15. Marco MELANDRI, Yamaha, 1:55.578
16. Norick ABE, Yamaha, 1:55.767
17. Neil HODGSON, Ducati, 1:55.918
18. Nobuatsu AOKI, Proton, 1:56.589
19. Alex HOFMANN, Kawasaki, 1:57.635
20. Shinya NAKANO, Kawasaki, 1:58.048
21. James ELLISON, Harris WCM, 2:00.068
22. Chris BURNS, Harris WCM, no time

From a press release issued by Proforma:

JIMMY MOORE TO SIT OUT ROAD ATLANTA

Two-time AMA Superstock champion Jimmy Moore will sit out the remainder of the Road Atlanta race weekend after a crash during Friday morning practice on his Corona Extra Suzuki GSX-R1000. Jimmy suffered a concussion in a highside crash in Road Atlanta’s turn four, and was transported to nearby Northeast Georgia Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and released. After being cleared to ride by medical staff at Road Atlanta on Saturday morning, Jimmy made the decision not to ride.

“My ankle is swollen, and I don’t feel 100%,” said Moore. “I’ll sit out the rest of the weekend and get ready for Virginia. I’m bummed, because I’ve done well here in the past, and I wanted to have a strong comeback. I’ll be ready for V.I.R.”

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

MLADIN SHATTERS LAP RECORD
Team Suzuki Press Office – September 4, 2004.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin shattered his own lap record in first qualifying for the Suzuki Superbike Showdown round of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship with the fastest ever lap by a motorcycle at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.

The four-time and defending Superbike champion threw down the gauntlet from his very first lap on the 2.52 mile road course. The time was 1:23.897, less than 0.4 seconds off his 1:23.520 pole position in 2003. On his third lap, he was under his lap record and even lower on the next lap and with just under 10 minutes to run, he clocked a final best of 1:22.917.

“The bike’s working awesome. It’s really working well. Best it’s been all year. Everyone’s been working hard,” said Mladin.

His first shot at a fast lap was scuttled by a slower rider: “I sat up and cruised around for a lap and had another go and the tyre was past its best by then, but it was good enough for the pole today.”

Mladin suffered a catastrophic rear tyre failure here last year and both he and Dunlop have worked hard to make sure there isn’t a repeat. There was a test here a month ago where new tyres developed for this track were tested. He turned a number of laps in the 2:03’s on a race tyre to start the session and then put the same tyre back on at the end.

“We’re on the safest tyre that Dunlop has brought here so we’re happy about that,” he said.

American Honda’s Ben Bostrom moved to second in the final third of the 30-minute session. There was a one-second gap until the final handful of minutes when he cut the margin to less than half a second before the final stop for qualifying tyres.

Provisional AMA Superbike Combined Qualifying Results:

1. Mat Mladin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:22.065
2. Miguel Duhamel, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:22.647
3. Ben Bostrom, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:22.982
4. Aaron Yates, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:23.273
5. Jake Zemke, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:23.483
6. Josh Hayes, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:23.973
7. Eric Bostrom, Duc 999F04, 1:24.162
8. Larry Pegram, Yam YZF-R1, 1:25.303
9. Geoff May, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:25.559
10. John Haner, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:25.822
11. Shawn Higbee, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:26.210
12. Marty Craggill, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:26.280
13. Chris Caylor, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:26.577
14. Lee Acree, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:26.688
15. Jason Pridmore, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:26.715
16. Brian Stokes, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:26.828
17. Eric Wood, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:27.030
18. Jake Holden, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:27.189
19. Chuck Sorensen, Yam YZF-R1, 1:27.398
20. Mike Smith, Yam YZF-R1, 1:27.649
21. David Weber, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.319
22. Jesse Janisch, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.429
23. Chris Ulrich, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.431
24. Jeff Tigert, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:28.514
25. Jeremy Toye, Yam YZF-R1, 1:28.537
26. Andrew Deatherage, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.556
27. Byron Barbour, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.608
28. Scott Greenwood, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.658
29. Heath Small, Yam YZF-R1, 1:28.703
30. Mark Ledesma, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:29.138
31. J.J. Roetlin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.229
32. Jason Curtis, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.407
33. Roger Bell, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.435
34. Dean Mizdal, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.447
35. Cory West, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.590, crash
36. Reuben Frankenfield, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.911
37. C.R. Gittere, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.021
38. Matt Lynn, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.234

110 percent of fast time: 1:30.272

39. Scott Jensen, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:30.278
40. David Bell, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.431
41. James Kerker, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:30.491
42. Kevin Pate, Yam YZF-R1, 1:30.763
43. Anthony Fania, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.974
44. Roland Williams, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:32.649
45. Lenny Beckman, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:32.946
46. Jeremiah Johnson, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:33.448
47. James Bonner, Yam YZF-R1, 1:37.582

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional AMA Supersport Qualifying Results:

1. Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:26.082*
2. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R6, 1:26.154
3. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R6, 1:26.290
4. Ben Spies, Suz GSX-R600, 1:26.802
5. Roger Lee Hayden, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:26.994
6. Damon Buckmaster, Yam YZF-R6, 1:26.994
7. Michael Barnes, Yam YZF-R6, 1:27.702
8. Steve Rapp, Suz GSX-R600, 1:28.044
9. Ben Attard, Suz GSX-R600, 1:28.094
10. Lee Acree, Suz GSX-R600, 1:28.727
11. Tony Meiring, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:28.996
12. Darren Luck, Suz GSX-R600, 1:29.507
13. Chris Peris, Suz GSX-R600, 1:29.736
14. Danny Eslick, Suz GSX-R600, 1:29.739
15. Chris Ulrich, Suz GSX-R600, 1:29.787
16. Jason Perez, Yam YZF-R6, 1:30.122
17. Blake Young, Suz GSX-R600, 1:30.222
18. Martin Cardenas, Yam YZF-R6, 1:30.431
19. Giovanni Rojas, Yam YZF-R6, 1:30.484
20. Darin Eli Edwards, Suz GSX-R600, 1:30.811
21. Jason Farrell, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:30.875
22. William Meyers, III, Yam YZF-R6, 1:31.271
23. Ben Carlson, Suz GSX-R600, 1:31.702
24. Nathan Hester, Yam YZF-R6, 1:31.972
25. Daniel Doty, Yam YZF-R6, 1:32.095
26. Nicky Moore, Hon CBR600RR, 1:32.455
27. Montez Stewart, Yam YZF-R6, 1:33.139
28. Dan Ortega, Yam YZF-R6, 1:33.168
29. Jason Moss, Yam YZF-R6, 1:33.183
30. Chris Siebenhaar, Hon CBR600RR, 1:33.490
31. Taylor Knapp, Yam YZF-R6, 1:33.547
32. Scott Beckley, Yam YZF-R6, 1:34.207
33. Jim Wood, Suz GSX-R600, 1:34.462
34. Ryan Andrews, Tri Daytona 600, 1:34.531
35. Joseph Ford, Yam YZF-R6, 1:34.955
36. Robert Terando, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:35.866
37. Chad Simons, Yam YZF-R6, 1:35.965
38. Stacy Summers, Kaw Zx-6RR, 1:36.327

112 percent of fast time: 1:36.412

39. Johnny Rock Page, Yam YZF-R6, 1:36.462
40. Caesar Gonzales, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:36.697
41. Lindsay McGregor, Yam YZF-R6, 1:37.177


*Beats Jamie Hacking’s 2003 lap record of 1:26.250.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Saturday Morning 250cc Practice Times:

1. Franco BATTAINI, Aprilia, 1:54.595
2. Fonsi NIETO, Aprilia, 1:55.244
3. Toni ELIAS, Honda, 1:55.465
4. Anthony WEST, Aprilia, 1:55.698
5. Roberto ROLFO, Honda, 1:56.453
6. Naoki MATSUDO, Yamaha, 1:56.490
7. Daniel PEDROSA, Honda, 1:56.653
8. Jakub SMRZ, Honda, 1:56.706
9. Alex DE ANGELIS, Aprilia, 1:57.298
10. Erwan NIGON, Aprilia, 1:57.313
11. Sebastian PORTO, Aprilia, 1:57.485
12. Hiroshi AOYAMA, Honda, 1:57.746
13. Alex DEBON, Honda, 1:58.041
14. Sylvain GUINTOLI, Aprilia, 1:58.808
15. Randy DE PUNIET, Aprilia, 1:59.383
16. Hugo MARCHAND, Aprilia, 2:00.190
17. Manuel POGGIALI, Aprilia, 2:00.430
18. Dirk HEIDOLF, Aprilia, 2:00.498
19. Chaz DAVIES, Aprilia, 2:00.656
20. Joan OLIVE, Aprilia, 2:01.136