Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sunday Morning World Superbike Practice Times:

1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:25.492
2. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:25.831
3. Regis Laconi, Ducati 998RS, 1:26.034
4. James Toseland, Ducati 998F02, 1:26.128
5. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:26.149
6. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 999F03, 1:26.163
7. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 999F03, 1:26.277
8. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:26.301
9. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, 1:26.431
10. Chris Walker, Ducati 998F02, 1:26.456
11. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati 998RS, 1:26.929
12. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, 1:27.215
13. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:27.517
14. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, 1:27.634
15. Lucio Pederchini, Ducati 998RS, 1:27.695
16. Juaj Borja, Ducati 998RS, 1:27.776
17. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:27.937
18. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, 1:28.044
19. Walter Tortoroglio, Honda RC51, 1:29.991
20. James Haydon, Foggy Petronas FP1, 1:30.128

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

By John Joss

Laguna traffic has always been chaotic, with no one seemingly in charge or possessing a vision of how traffic should flow. You’d think that after 40+ years and millions of visitors they’d have it figured out by now. You’d be waaaay wrong.

Consider only the primary entrance/exit at Hwy 68. This entrance/exit is about 200 yards from a traffic light at Laureles Grade, but estimates by the CHP (interviewed by me earlier this year) indicate that it will take at least five years to put in the 200 yards of asphalt on the Laguna Seca property that would go far to relieve the entire mess, permitting eastbound traffic to Salinas to exit on the light while westbound traffic to Monterey could leave from the present road. This would feed relief back all the way to the track, where the exits are typically choked for an hour or more (much more) on the ‘big’ day, Sunday.

Five years!

In addition to freeing up the heavy exit traffic, it would also greatly reduce the cost of hiring CHP and Sheriff officers to manage the flow manually, which would in all probability offset the cost of the 200 yards of asphalt.

Five years!

From the great musical “My Fair Lady” (all together, now):
“Why is thinking something people never do?
Why is logic never even tried?
Fixing up their hair is all they ever do.
Why don’t they fix up … the mess that’s inside.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The FIM-sanctioned 2004 World Superbike, World Supersport and European Superstock Championships will run on spec tires and Superbike rules across the world will be “globalized,” according to FGSport Group, the organizers of the World Superbike Championship series.

The announcement came from Paolo Flammini, the Managing Director of FGSport Group, and Maurizio Flammini, the President of FGSport Group, in a special press conference held Friday, July 11 at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. The press conference was organized due to overwhelming demand from the media present at Laguna Seca for reaction to recent press releases from the FIM and MSMA regarding proposed 2004 World Superbike rules.

In the press conference Maurizio Flammini, who answered nearly all of the questions, confirmed that there would be spec tires used in the 2004 Superbike World Championship series. “We really would like to have the teams who compete with the same possibility to win,” said Flammini. “Maybe you remember three or four years ago, instead of three or four riders who can win, like today, we had 10, 12 even 14. This is something we really want to go back to.

“We like what Michelin, Pirelli and Dunlop are doing. Unfortunately, there are very different performance caused by the performance of the tires, not from the performance of the motorcycle or the performance of the rider.”

Flammini said the tire companies were only supplying one or two teams with the best tires while the rest of the field getting “bad tires, not good tires, not competitive tires. This is not a good thing.

“You know if you have an engine that is 20 horsepower better than the other you can win two tenths, three tenths on the lap. But if you have a tire that is better than the others you can win one second. So if you don’t have the tire you can’t win.”

Flammini did not say teams would be provided the spec tires free of charge but said the deal would significantly reduce the cost of racing for the smaller teams that have to buy tires. “We will solve a big problem for the medium-level/low-level team,” said Flammini. “You know that today a medium-level team spends a lot of money, lots of money on tires. And they will spend a lot less, that is for sure.

“We can tell you that next year the teams will spend 50 percent less than this year, which is very good news for them.”

Flammini also confirmed that spec tires, the same brand as World Superbike, would be used in the World Supersport Championship and the European Superstock Championship. “The tires in Supersport and Superstock…I believe that will be the same, will be spec tires for everybody,” said Flammini. “I believe it will be one brand for everybody, but I can’t say now (which brand it will be).”

Pirelli currently supplies spec tires for the European Superstock Championship.

Flammini said it was possible that several different compounds from one tire supplier would be available to all racers in 2004. “For sure you remember when Formula One had spec tires for a number of years,” said Flammini. “You have three or four or five kinds of tires. All the tires are for everybody.

“So in the end you can have different…you can choose a tires that fits better your bike than the other one, also the type of riding. If you’re an aggressive rider that needs a different tire.”

World Superbike insiders believe that FGSport Group is close to making a deal with Pirelli, if the deal hasn’t already been completed. Flammini implied that Michelin and Dunlop did not take Superbike World Championship management seriously up to this point, saying , “Maybe this is incentive enough for everybody. So maybe Dunlop will wake up finally, maybe Michelin will finally come.”

The Flamminis were then asked about the recent press releases, which, among other things, indicated that World Superbike would no longer use air restrictors in 2004. “This is correct,” said Flammini. “We will not have anymore. The performance balance will be obtained through different systems. Clearly the target is to have less tuning to the engines in order to keep the costs low.

“In order to get the performance (with air restrictors), you need to tune up the engine and make it very sophisticated and then you limit the performance through the limitation of the air you let into the engine. The way we would like, we will follow is that you don’t limit the air in the engine. In this way you will not need to have a sophisticated engine and therefore the cost.

“Until today everybody was concentrating on spending a fortune on tuning up the engine. Tomorrow this cost will be one-tenth of today.”

Then the Flamminis were asked to respond to the press release from the Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers’ Association (MSMA), which, in a strongly-worded statement, said all of the factories were pulling their support from the World Superbike series as of 2004.

“Maybe the MSMA people are upset,” said Flammini. “We understand that. They are upset because we worked together for a number of years and we developed a regulation. And finally this regulation was approved the third of September 2001. There is a press release that says – that they signed – that this regulation was approved on condition that the manufacturers will not leave World Superbike in the next three years.

“We accepted this regulation at the time because of the promise of the manufacturer.

“We understand there was a number of problems, and the cost was the first problem.”

Flammini said costs got out of control because “part of the regulation implies full freedom in the engine. You can use very sophisticated materials, you can use technologies and you produce a lot of power.

“We accepted that because the manufacturers said, ‘we are going to produce bikes, we are going to produce bikes also for an affordable cost.’

“After three years we understood that the bikes are not available. In fact, at the last meeting with the MSMA, they said, unfortunately we can only guarantee you one manufacturer, not more than that. Not counting Ducati. Ducati already confirm that they were in the Championship. But between the Japanese, only one was going to confirm that.

“We understand that certainly the motorcycles were not available. Some motorcycles eventually available for a huge price. So practically World Superbike 2004 was not possible to be organized.

“And then we spoke to the teams, we spoke to the riders, we spoke with the manufacturers also, we spoke with the various organizations of the world – like AMA, like UK, like the Germans. We very quickly formed an agreement, and the agreement is based on having motorcycles available to the rider for an affordable price and that can be competitive, can be fairly competitive.

“To give you some idea about, the technical regulations will be very similar to the AMA and the UK. So it will be something in the middle.”

Flammini mentioned that Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki would all have new bikes in 2004 that should be competitive under the new regulations.

“We want to announce the new rules very soon, very, very soon,” said Flammini. “The goal is the end of the month, but we will announce the new rules together with our other organizers like UK, the AMA, Italy. So we want to coordinate everything.”

Flammini said the World Endurance Championship, which is managed by FGSport Group, will also use the new Superbike regulations in 2004.

New support classes, including a “naked” class, for the FGSport Group’s 2004 series are also being considered, according to Paolo Flammini.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

MBNA 250 Grand Prix rider Sean McNew (#161) of Tijeras, N.M., crashed in turn three in this morning’s 250 GP practice session. He was transported by ground to the Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP) for a precautionary CATSCAN. He is alert and awake and has no broken bones.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Ducati Corse may not field an official factory team in the 2004 World Superbike Championship due to the spec tire plan unveiled by FGSport Group, organizers of the World Superbike Championship.

That’s the word from Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Corse. “We have a long-lasting Michelin tradition,” said Domenicali Saturday in the paddock at Laguna Seca Raceway. “I think if we have to change it, we’ll have to think about it, you know?

“We have not been told who is the one tire manufacturer. I think it’s more possible it’s not Michelin.”

Asked if it is possible there may not a Ducati Corse team in World Superbike next year, Domenicali said, “Yeah, everything is changing, so we will plan next year when everything is more clear. We have a lot of interest in Superbike, World Superbike. So we would like to be present at a good level, but let’s see what happens.”

Domenicali said FGSport Group officials talked to him in detail about new Superbike technical rules but did not consult Ducati Corse about spec tires.

“We talked a lot about the regulation but not about the tires,” said Domenicali. “With the spec tire, it is too early to say. It is a brand-new concept, so we have to get used to it. We have to see how different people feel.

“On the sporting side, with one tire manufacturer it is possible to have more competitive race. On the other hand, the World Championship is used by tire manufacturers to develop product also. So you have to find the proper balance, you know?”

Domenicali also said that there will be a satellite MotoGP team in 2004 using 2003-spec Desmosedici machines, but “who will be riding where, we will not know this until the end of the month. We are in discussion with several teams and riders.”

Domenicali is attending the races at Laguna Seca rather than the British Grand Prix in order to attend meetings over Superbike technical rules proposed by FGSport Group.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Superbike:

1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, 1:25.295
2. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:25.896
3. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:26.199
4. Kurtis Roberts, Honda, 1:26.393
5. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati, 1:26.793
6. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:26.889
7. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 1:26.928
8. Ben Bostrom, Honda, 1:27.097
9. Jordan Szoke, Suzuki, 1:28.638
10. Josh Hayes, Suzuki, 1:28.785
11. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki, 1:29.131
12. Michael Barnes, Suzuki, 1:29.440
13. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki, 1:29.468
14. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, 1:29.864
15. Chris Caylor, Suzuki, 1:30.700
16. Geoff May, Suzuki, 1:30.885
17. James Randolph, Suzuki, 1:31.257
18. Jeremy Toye, Suzuki, 1:31.395
19. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki, 1:31.423
20. Mike Sullivan, Suzuki, 1:31.610

AMA 250cc Grand Prix:

1. Rich Oliver, Yamaha, 1:31.140
2. Chuck Sorensen, Aprilia, 1:31.644
3. Perry Melneciuc, Yamaha, 1:33.224
4. Simon Turner, TSR Honda, 1:33.851
5. Ed Sorbo, Yamaha, 1:33.879
6. Colin Jensen, Aprilia, 1:35.154
7. Michael Montoya, Yamaha, 1:35.253
8. Mark Watts, Honda, 1:35.925
9. Greg Esser, Honda, 1:36.011
10. Ed Marchini, Yamaha, 1:36.267
11. Chris Pyles, Honda, 1:36.493
12. Barrett Long, Yamaha, 1:36.729
13. M. Ben Welch, Yamaha, 1:38.344
14. Wes Totsubo, Honda, 1:38.464
15. Steve Scott, Yamaha, 1:38.774
16. Billy Dalu, Yamaha, 1:38.871
17. John France, Honda, 1:38.887
18. Darren Fulce, Yamaha, 1:39.203
19. Nobi Iso, Aprilia, 1:39.264
20. Sandy Noce, Yamaha, 1:39.398

AMA Formula Xtreme:

1. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:26.834
2. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:27.297
3. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:27.566
4. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR954RR, 1:27.653
5. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:27.777
6. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:27.906
7. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR954RR, 1:28.476
8. Marty Craggill, Honda CBR954RR, 1:28.481
9. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:29.341
10. Josh Hayes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:30.545
11. Jason Curtis, Honda CBR954RR, 1:31.133
12. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.173
13. Corey Eaton, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.424
14. Tom Wertman, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.695
15. Tom Montano, Ducati 999S/R, 1:33.132
16. Garry Combs, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.183
17. Mark Ledesma, Honda CBR954RR, 1:33.493
18. Jeff Bostrom, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.886
19. David Bell, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:34.261
20. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:34.359

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.


By Glenn Le Santo

Yoshimura Suzuki wild card rider Mat Mladin continued his total domination of the WSB weekend in Laguna Seca, USA by running off with the Superpole best lap in front of the WSB regulars at 1:25.561, slightly down on his best lap in qualifying.

Mladin held off Regis Laconi, the strongest WSB rider so far this weekend, to hang onto the pole he’s held all weekend. Frankie Chili was another World Superbike campaigner trying to take on Mladin, but he had to be content with third on the grid. Aaron Yates, Mladin’s teammate, was just able to hang onto his front-row spot, despite the efforts of Gregorio Lavilla, also on a Suzuki, to get on that all-important Laguna front row.

WSB regulars James Toseland, Ruben Xaus and Championship-leader Neil Hodgson completed the second row. Eric Bostrom, AMA Championship leader until today’s AMA Superbike race victory by Mladin ribbed him of the title lead, came home in 10th. Giovanni Bussei was the last wild card rider home, in 12th, behind Steve Martin.

World Superbike Superpole Results:

1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:25.561
2. Regis Laconi, Ducati 998RS, 1:25.999
3. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, 1:26.162
4. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:26.476
5. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:26.583
6. James Toseland, Ducati 998F02, 1:26.622
7. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 999F03, 1:26.667
8. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 999F03, 1:26.838
9. Chris Walker, Ducati 998F02, 1:26.841
10. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:26.947
11. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, 1:27.055
12. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati 998RS, 1:27.187
13. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, 1:27.269
14. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, 1:27.447
15. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:27.851
16. David Garcia, Ducati 998RS, 1:27.974

The rest of the grid:

17. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, 1:27.446
18. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, 1:27.501
19. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:27.644
20. James Haydon, Foggy Petronas FP1, 1:28.472
21. Lucio Pedersoli, Ducati 998RS, 1:29.141
22. Walter Tortoroglio, Honda RC51, 1:29.489
23. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati 998RS, 1:29.774


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

Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, California, USA
SWC Qualifying and Superpole Report

WORLD SUPERBIKE POLE POSITION FOR MLADIN AT LAGUNA SECA

Monterey, California, USA (Saturday, 12 July) – In a sensational final Superpole qualifying session, Australia’s Mat Mladin produced the quickest time of the 16-rider group and will start tomorrow’s two 28-lap Superbike World Championship races from pole position at Laguna Seca Raceway, California.

Mladin has been untouchable in both SWC qualifying sessions held this weekend and reproduced that form to score his first ever SWC pole position after scorching around the 3.610km (2.2miles) in a time of 1:25.561.

“It felt good to have gotten the win in the AMA Superbike race earlier today, leaving us with just one bike to focus on for the rest of the weekend,” said Mladin.

“So far this weekend everything has gone well with setting up the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 in SWC spec. The package with the bike and Dunlop tyres is working well, so after today’s efforts I feel that we are in a very good position for tomorrow.

“The World Superbike race is very difficult for us. Yes, I would like to win a race or two like everyone else does, but having to put some much effort into one race meeting has been hard for all of us in the team.

“We’ve had to prepare a complete new bike for this meeting so that it meets the rules of the SWC. The engine and the feel of the bike is different to that the one that we use here in the AMA Championship, but the overall performance of the bike isn’t that different.

“We are looking forward to tomorrow’s races and it would be nice to give Suzuki their first World Superbike win of the year.”

Joining Mladin on the front row of the grid will be Frenchman Regis Laconi, who was the only other rider to drop into the 1:25 mark setting a time of 1:25.999 aboard his NCR Ducati. His lap was 0.438 seconds off Mladin’s mark.

Third on the grid is Italian veteran Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati, 1:26.162), with Mladin’s teammate Aaron Yates completing the front row of the grid after setting a time of 1:26.476 on his flying lap.

Current World Superbike points leader Neil Hodgson (Fila Ducati) will start from position eight, while fellow Australians Steve Martin (DFX Ducati) and Troy Corser (Foggy Petronas) will start from positions eleven and fourteen respectively.


More, from a press release issued by Scuderia Caracchi NCR Nortel Networks:

Regis Laconi confirms second fastest at Laguna Seca

Also if the local hero Mladin will start tomorrow from the pole the American fans present at Laguna Seca for the US Round of World Superbike hot applauded Regis Laconi and his Ducati 998RS Caracchi NCR Nortel Network, that have been always attached “with the glue” to the AMA Superbike Championship leader. Mladin actually found a perfect set up with soft tyres, but with the race setting Laconi is very close to Suzuki’s rider and for the tomorrow’s races he is confident in a good result.

“I would like to thank grabbing the pole the team guys that yesterday night did extemporise a nice garage-party for my birthday.” – said Regis at the end of Superpole – “We know that on this track the presence of AMA Championship wild card riders will made things more difficult; more Mladin, at least in qualifying set up, was just rippin. I’ve not been able to grab the pole, but everyone in the team, and I’m the first, is really satisfied because in those conditions a second fastest is equivalent to a pole between the WSBK riders, and more in those two days we made a very, very good job. This morning’s crash happened because I was riding actually too hard for a last fast lap, my front end washed out in turn three and I biffed it. Turn three is actually unfaithful and slippery, but has been a fall without any consequence and the bike too had ridiculous damages; later during Superpole I badly skid at turn four, but I don’t believe that I could be able to be faster as Mladin. For tomorrow’s race we worked a lot on the set up and tyres and at the end we found a good solution; I made a 20 laps long run and the tyre performed perfectly. I feel that with race set up Mladin isn’t unapproachable and so I’m confident to fight to win tomorrow.”

David Garcia grabbed also in Laguna Seca the right to contest Superpole, and with the presence of four American wild card that a precious result; now he’s focused for the 28 laps of tomorrow’s races: “In practice I ride well, but now I must prepare myself for the races. I know that 28 laps are hard and I’m sure I’ll be not able to mantain a consistent race rhythm, because after a few laps I have hard pains in my left arm, but thank the help of Clinica Mobile staff I’ll try to do it.”


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

Foggy PETRONAS Racing were confronted by the challenges posed by the testing Laguna Seca circuit during qualifying for tomorrow’s races at round eight of the World Superbike championship in the USA.

With both riders struggling for grip, Troy Corser focused on the gearing for the FP1 – the Malaysian superbike – while James Haydon concentrated on his set-up.

Troy, who has recovered from a bout of acute food poisoning, was unhurt in an afternoon crash that robbed him of valuable track time in the countdown to Superpole. His one-off lap was 14th fastest, with local wild card Matt Mladin claiming pole position after winning the domestic AMA race earlier in the day. James qualified in 20th place, missing out on Superpole in his return to action after missing the two previous rounds through injury.

Troy said: “We tried a few different gearings today but every corner is different here, so it is really hard to get it right. You do have to compromise with gearing at Laguna but, at present, we don’t have enough torque to pull the bike through that compromise. I tried a new tyre and did quicker race times, although the lap times are still not great.

“I made a mistake through Corkscrew on my Superpole lap but it did not make too much difference. The crash during free practice was my fault. I was on a harder front and it was probably a bit too hard and I lost the front end without any warning. I wanted to use the same bike for Superpole, so the crash meant that I didn’t have the chance to try another qualifier before Superpole.”

James said: “I was almost starting from scratch today after a mistake with set-up yesterday sent us the wrong way, which explained why we were going round the houses in the afternoon. So we changed the bike back today and made a lot of set-up changes and I took two seconds off my time in the morning, but that was on a kamikaze lap!

“We still haven’t got to the crux of setting the bike up as I need it. In the afternoon, we changed gearing, head angle, offset, trail and rebound but my preferred bike could only do three or four laps. But the rest of the session did give us a better idea of how I will start tomorrow’s races. The team had felt they had made big steps forward with set-up over the last couple of rounds but those changes did not work for me and I now know that Troy’s set-up information is irrelevant for me. I never dreamed I would still be in this position at this stage of the season.”


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

Ruben Xaus and Neil Hodgson will start from row 2 of the grid for the U.S. round of the World Superbike Championship at Laguna Seca after setting seventh and eight quickest time in this afternoon’s Superpole session.

Multiple AMA Superbike champion Mat Mladin was on pole, followed by the two private Ducatis of Regis Laconi (Ducati NCR) and Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati), while Giovanni Bussei will start from the third row of the grid with the Ducati Austin 998.

Both Ducati Fila riders struggled to find a perfect set-up in today’s qualifying and free sessions, but remain cautiously optimistic for the races tomorrow.

“As always my Superpole lap was not so good,” declared Ruben. “The right hand corners here are difficult as soon as you get out onto the track and I made a mistake and didn’t lean into the curve enough, and that cost me some time. Free practice was much better; our race distance was good, so we think we are closer to the guys in front with race set-up. I hope to do a good start, because the race will be long. If the tyre I chose keeps going for 28 laps and is constant, then I know I will do a good job tomorrow.”

“We haven’t been able to find the right feeling with the bike,” declared Neil. “We’ve had a few problems with grip and we never really found the right front-end feeling we’re used to. I didn’t do a really good Superpole lap either – basically I didn’t get into the right rhythm. The tyres gave us some good indications during the afternoon free practice so I’m pretty confident for tomorrow because they are similar to the ones used last year, when they performed well in both races.”


More, from a press release issued by HM Plant Ducati:

HM Plant Ducatis on second and third rows

The top three riders in the 2003 Superbike World Championship were relegated to the second row of the grid in a day of surprises during qualifying for the eighth round of the series at Laguna Seca. With wild card rider Matt Mladin setting the pole position time of 1:25.561 at the Californian circuit, leading British riders James Toseland and Chris Walker qualified their HM Plant Ducatis in sixth and ninth places respectively for what should be one of the most closely contested events of the season to date.

It was role reversal for championship leader Neil Hodgson and his nearest challengers for the coveted title Ruben Xaus and Toseland. Hodgson and Xaus failed to beat Toseland’s Superpole time of 1:26.622 on their Fila Ducatis and will therefore line up behind the talented 22-year-old Sheffield rider for Sunday’s two Superbike races. Walker improved his time and position on Saturday, but just missed out on a second row starting position by a fraction of a second.

It was a day of mixed fortunes for the HM Plant Ducati team-mates as they sought to find their optimum race set-ups. Walker was happy with the progress that he had made: “I’d like to thank the team for all their hard work over the past two days. We have taken some positive steps forward in today’s sessions and I believe that we now have a good race set-up.

“It’s a shame that I wasn’t able to perform better in Superpole. I don’t think that my time and position are representative of where we should be for tomorrow’s races. I need to get a good start from the third row, because this is such a hard track to overtake if you get stuck in the chasing pack.”

Toseland was unable to fine-tune the settings of the HM Plant Ducati to his liking: “I’ve had quite a frustrating day as we’ve gone one way and then the other in our efforts to find the right balance. As I went into Superpole, the bike was a bit nervous at high speed and was prone to wheelies out of the slow turns.

“It’s a shame about my Superpole lap, because I had compensated well for these things up until the last corner. I was concentrating on keeping the front wheel down, but as I adjusted my body position, my foot slipped off the gear lever. That was the difference between the first and second row. I’m confident that we can change the bike and find the best compromise in warm-up before the races.”


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

SMALL MISTAKE COSTS TROY.

A small error on his Superpole lap cost Troy a chance of moving a row or two up the grid at Laguna Seca today. The mistake, at the Corkscrew, meant that Troy went four tenths of a second slower then his previous best lap time and left him with a fourth row grid place for tomorrow’s pair of races. Superpole was won by ‘wild card’ rider Mat Mladin (Suzuki), who posted a time of 1:25.561. Second is Regis Laconi (Ducati), with Frankie Chili (Ducati) third and another ‘wild card’ – Aaron Yates (Suzuki) fourth.

Laguna Seca is a renowned Dunlop track, so it was no great surprise that any of the Michelins riders (including Troy) were able to make much of an impact.

TROY – 14th, 1:27.447

I felt better today, but in the end I wasn’t particularly happy to end up on the fourth row of the grid – but I suppose it was more or less what we expected. Michelins never go as well here as Dunlops, but we had some other problems as well. We tried a few different gearings, but every corner is different here, so it’s really hard to get the gearing right. You have to make a compromise but, at present, our bike doesn’t have enough torque to pull the bike through the compromise. This afternoon I tried a new tyre and did quicker race times, but the times were not so great. I had a little crash in the free practice, when I lost the front end without warning at the last turn. We were using a harder front, so maybe that was why. Laguna Seca was always going to be hard for us and so far it has been. It’s going to be a very long day tomorrow.


More, from a press release issued by Alstare Corona Suzuki:

Gregorio misses front row by a whisker

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Gregorio Lavilla missed out on a front row grid position by the narrowest of margins at Laguna Seca today. At the end of Superpole, Gregorio lost his front row spot by just one tenth of a second to one of the local ‘wild card’ riders – Aaron Yates (Suzuki Yoshimura). During today’s two sessions, Gregorio had improved considerably and had slashed over a second off his best time from yesterday. But, more importantly, he was happier with his GSXR1000 and so was able to push that much harder. But he still faces a big challenge tomorrow – especially from the two ‘wild card’ riders on the front row – the Suzuki teamsters Mat Mladin and Aaron Yates. Mladin used his extensive circuit knowledge – and a confidence-boosting win the AMA Superbike race earlier in the day – to take Superpole with a time of 1:25.561. Second fastest today is Regis Laconi (Ducati), ahead of Frankie Chili (Ducati), with Yates in fourth place.

GREGORIO LAVILLA – 5th, 1:26.583 I’m happier for sure and we are improving all the time, but we can still improve some more. We made some suspension and changes to the balance of the bike today and I was more comfortable with the bike. The GSXR1000 is a sensitive bike and sometimes it is not the bike I want and then we have to work to make it the bike I want. Some tracks are better then others and we get close to a good base set-up, then we go to another track and we have to almost start over again. I’ve more or less chosen which tyres I’m going to use – the front is no problem, but I still have to make a decision about the rear. I think, all of us will have tyre wear problems at some stage in tomorrow’s races – it’s normal. The two AMA Superbike riders, who are ahead of me on the grid, show what the GSXR1000 is capable of. They’ve put in many, many more laps of this track then me, and today they rode well. I’ve ridden well against strong, local Suzuki riders before, so it’s nothing so new for me. They have nothing to lose at all, so they’ll push very hard. It’s up to me to try and match them and get a pair of good results and that’s what I’ll be chasing tomorrow.


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

THREE SUZUKI’S IN TOP FIVE AT LAGUNA

Team Suzuki Press Office 13th July 2003.
Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Gregorio Lavilla missed out on a front row grid position by the narrowest of margins at Laguna Seca today. At the end of Superpole, Gregorio lost his front row spot by just one tenth of a second to one of the local ‘wild card’ riders Aaron Yates (Suzuki Yoshimura).

During today’s two sessions, Gregorio had improved considerably and had slashed over a second off his best time from yesterday. But, more importantly, he was happier with his GSXR1000 and so was able to push that much harder. But he still faces a big challenge tomorrow especially from the two ‘wild card’ riders on the front row, The Suzuki teamsters Mat Mladin and Aaron Yates. Mladin used his extensive circuit knowledge and a confidence-boosting win with the AMA Superbike race earlier in the day to take Superpole with a time of 1:25.561. Second fastest today is Regis Laconi (Ducati), ahead of Frankie Chili (Ducati), with Yates in fourth place.

GREGORIO LAVILLA 5th, 1:26.583
I’m happier for sure and we are improving all the time, but we can still improve some more. We made some suspension alterations and changes to the balance and I was more comfortable with the bike. The GSXR1000 is a sensitive bike and sometimes it is not the bike I want and then we have to work to make it the bike I want. Some tracks are better then others and we get close to a good base set-up, then we go to another track and we have to almost start over again. I’ve more or less chosen which tyres I’m going to use the front is no problem, but I still have to make a decision about the rear. I think, all of us will have tyre wear problems at some stage in tomorrow’s races, it’s normal. The two AMA Superbike riders, who are ahead of me on the grid, show what the GSXR1000 is capable of. They’ve put in many, many more laps of this track than me, and today they rode well. I’ve ridden well against strong, local Suzuki riders before, so it’s nothing so new for me. They have nothing to lose at all, so they’ll push very hard. It’s up to me to try and match them and get a pair of good results and that’s what I’ll be chasing tomorrow.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yoshimura Suzuki had over $14,000 worth of Superbike racing wheels stolen from their pit area in the Laguna Seca Raceway paddock Thursday night, July 10.

Three 3.5 x 16.5-inch front and two 6.0 x 16.5-inch rear forged magnesium Marchesini wheels fitted with brake rotors, axle spacers, bearings and Dunlop development slicks were stolen from a “wheel tree” located under the Yoshimura Suzuki pit canopy, according to Yoshimura Suzuki Team Manager Don Sakakura.

“This is the first time we’ve ever had a problem like this,” said Sakakura. “Now I don’t have a secure feeling leaving the racetrack. It’s disappointing with the security here. I thought they would have a better handle on things.”

Sakakura valued the wheels at between $2800 and $2900 each, not counting the tires, but the wheels are virtually useless to whoever stole them.

“People don’t know the fitment,” said Sakakura. “The rears are set up for a captive spocket set-up. Even the front rotor spacing, it’s for our triple clamp pitch. It would be difficult for anyone to retrofit them to something else.”

Ed Nichols, the Press Officer for Laguna Seca Raceway, confirmed the theft and said that it was under investigation. However, Nichols pointed out that even though the track provides security, Laguna Seca is “not responsible for lost or stolen items.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Combined Times
World Superbike Qualifying
Laguna Seca Raceway

1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, 1:25.219
2. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:25.518
3. Regis Laconi, Ducati, 1:25.881
4. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati, 1:26.061
5. James Toseland, Ducati, 1:26.109
6. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati, 1:26.138
7. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, 1:26.216
8. Chris Walker, Ducati, 1:26.290
9. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, 1:26.294
10. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:26.382
11. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki, 1:26.507
12. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati, 1:26.695
13. Troy Corser, Petronas, 1:27.012
14. Steve Martin, Ducati, 1:27.098
15. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki, 1:27.216
16. David Garcia, Ducati, 1:27.368
17. Juan Borja, Ducati, 1:27.446
18. Marco Borciani, Ducati, 1:27.501
19. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki, 1:27.644
20. James Haydon, Petronas, 1:28.472
21. Luca Pedersoli, Ducati, 1:29.141
22. Walter Tortoroglio, Honda, 1:29.489
23. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati, 1:29.774






Note: Laconi crashed just before the end of the session.