By Glenn LeSanto

Two Ducatis battled it out under the hot sun at Misano, in San Marino on Italy’s Adriatic coast in a thrilling Superbike race this afternoon. Ben Bostrom led the race almost from the first corner and put on a stunning display of stylish riding, lifting the back wheel and waving it in the air going into corners. But Troy Bayliss, riding for Infostrada Ducati, caught and passed Bostrom on the L&M Ducati, lighting the fuse for an explosive last few laps that saw the pair swap places in a frantic fight for the win. In the end Bayliss won the battle, but only by a whisker, and Bostrom will be back for more in the second race.

Gregorio Lavilla, the popular Spaniard who rides for Fuchs Kawasaki, battled through the pack to claim third place. “I have a new helmet design,” smiled Lavilla pointing to his new gold crash helmet, “we call it the Goldfinger helmet. I don’t know if it brought me luck to help me get my second podium of the year, but I’m not going to change it now for the rest of the season.”

Bostrom was happy with his race, although you could see by the way he rode that he would rather have won. “It was a great race, and a lot of fun. And that’s what racing is really about,” said the American.

Bayliss stretched his Championship points lead even further as both rivals Edwards and Corser slipped back off the podium as the race wore on. “Ben rode really hard,” said Bayliss. “He led for almost all the race, I had it a little easier and relaxed a little and followed him. But I knew that I would have to work for the win and had to go really for it at the end.”

World Superbike Championship, Race One
Misano
Provisional Results:
1. Troy Bayliss, Australia (Ducati) 40:23.410
2. Ben Bostrom, USA (Ducati) 40:23.892
3. Gregorio Lavilla, Spain (Kawasaki) 40:31.782
4. Colin Edwards, USA (Honda) 40:34.796
5. Akira Yanagawa, Japan (Kawasaki) 4:39.613
6. Neil Hodgson, GB (Ducati) 40:39.744
7. Troy Corser, Australia (Aprilia) 40:39.747
8. Alessandro Antonello, Italy (Aprilia) 40:44.155
9. Tady Okada, Japan (Honda) 40:49.459
10. Ruben Xaus, Spain (Ducati) 40:57.514.

The audio file of the Loudon press conference that led to AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin being fined and docked a Championship point by AMA officials has been downloaded an average of once every 7 seconds since it was first posted on Friday.

That’s a whole lot of listening going on…

Radar Team Yamaha’s Robbie Baird took the points lead in the 2001 Yamaha Xtreme Tri-State series with the overall win in the four-leg race event held at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit June 17. Baird finished 1st – 2nd – 2nd- 2nd in the four, seven-lap legs on his Yamaha YZF-R1 in wet conditions to surpass his teammate Jamie Stauffer for the series lead.

Also riding a Yamaha YZF-R1, Stauffer finished 4th – 4th – 4th – 5th on the day and slipped to second in points with only one round of the five-round series remaining.

Baird’s other teammate, 18-year-old Craig Coxhell finished 3rd – 3rd – 9th – 1st to move into third in the points before heading to the final round at Eastern Creek Raceway July 7-8.

Second overall at Phillip Island was Geoff’s Auto Spares’ Josh Brookes, 18. Brookes collected two wins and a second place finish at Phillip Island and sits seventh in the points having missed the last round while racing in Japan.

The youngest of the three Gobert brothers, 17-year-old Alex, finished 2nd – 10th – 5th – 6th as he and his Red Wing Honda team came to terms with their week-old CBR929RR. Gobert is now sixth in the series points.

RESULTS
YAMAHA XTREME TRI-STATE PHILLIP ISLAND:
RACE 1:
1. Robbie Baird, Yamaha YZF-R1
2. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR929RR
3. Craig Coxhell, Yamaha YZF-R1
4. Stephen Tozer, Yamaha YZF-R1
5. Jamie Stauffer, Yamaha YZF-R1
6. Damien Cudlin, Yamaha YZF-R1

RACE 2:
1. Josh Brookes, Honda CBR929RR
2. Robbie Baird, Yamaha YZF-R1
3. Craig Coxhell, Yamaha YZF-R1
4. Jamie Stauffer, Yamaha YZF-R1
5. Damien Cudlin, Yamaha YZF-R1
6. Steven Cutting, Suzuki GSX-R1000

RACE 3:
1. Josh Brookes, Honda CBR929RR
2. Robbie Baird, Yamaha YZF-R1
3. Damien Cudlin, Yamaha YZF-R1
4. Jamie Stauffer, Yamaha YZF-R1
5. Tony Rees, Yamaha YZF-R1
6. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR929RR

RACE 4:
1. Craig Coxhell, Yamaha YZF-R1
2. Robbie Baird, Yamaha YZF-R1
3. Josh Brookes, Honda CBR929RR
4. Jamie Stauffer, Yamaha YZF-R1
5. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR929RR
6. Luke Phillips, Honda CBR929RR

YAMAHA XTREME TRI-STATE SERIES POINT STANDINGS (After 4 of 5 rounds):
1. Robbie Baird, 279 points
2. Jamie Stauffer, 246 points
3. Craig Coxhell, 239 points
4. Tony Rees, 203 points
5. Damien Cudlin, 178 points
6. Alex Gobert, 168 points
7. Josh Brookes, 130 points
8. Luke Phillips, 116 points
9. Graeme Morris, 100 points
10. Stephen Tozer, 84 points


Springwood Suzuki Aprilia’s Brendan Clarke, 17, clinched the 2001 Aprilia Challenge Championship at Phillip Island with a 3rd – 1st – 1st performance.

California Speedway officials in Fontana, California announced June 19 that they would construct an all-new infield road course to possibly host AMA Superbike races.

In a press conference for mainstream media held June 19, California Speedway officials told reporters that ground was broken June 11 on a multi-layout infield road course designed by Associated Engineers, one of the designers of the speedway, and to be constructed by Yeager Construction, the same company that built the state-of-the-art speedway.

The new infield is scheduled for an early-fall completion, with four main configurations: a 1.5-mile, 13-turn course; a 1.55-mile, 17-turn section; a 2.36-mile, 21-turn layout; and a 2.88-mile, 21-turn circuit. The 2.88-mile course is labeled the “Auto Competition Course.” The 2.36-mile layout is called the “Motorcycle Competition Course.” While both of the shorter courses will stay completely within the infield of California Speedway, both of the longer circuits will utilize portions of the speedway’s 75-foot-wide, D-shaped oval. The infield road course will be built to FIM / FIA-specifications, 45-feet wide and will feature an asphalt racing surface similar in compound to the speedway’s pavement. Including the construction of a temporary drag strip located in the vast parking lot of the speedway, the whole project is expected to cost some where between $2 and $3 million.

Since its 1997 opening, California Speedway has had a 1.3-mile infield road course that has been used 85 days a year for testing, driving schools and TV commercial production, but not competition. The new addition to the Fontana racing facility is aimed directly at attracting additional spectator road racing events.

“This is an exciting time for California Speedway as we take the next step in our continuation as a premier motorsports facility,” California Speedway President Bill Miller told reporters June 19. “The development of this road course increases the opportunities for us to host additional events that motorsports fans in Southern California will want to experience.

“We’ve had preliminary discussions with AMA and Grand Am (Grand American Road Racing Series). Now that we’ve broken ground and are proceeding with the course, we look forward to intensifying those discussions and seeing what makes sense from an entertainment and business standpoint. We have not finalized anything yet, but we anticipate making an announcement later this fall.”

A spring NASCAR Winston Cup/Busch Series and a fall CART FedEx Championship Series/ NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series weekends are the two major spectator events held each year at California Speedway. The Spring 2001 NASCAR race attracted a sell-out crowd of 120,000 spectators. The speedway estimates that their new road races will, initially, attract crowds of 20,000 to 25,000. Those numbers are conservative considering California Speedway’s spectator amenities and ease of access from all of Southern California, Arizona, and Las Vegas area.

Roadracingworld.com broke the story of the possibility of the AMA racing at California Speedway May 9. Erion Honda owner Kevin Erion, along with riders Mark Miller and Jake Zemke, attended a feasibility test overseen by AMA Superbike Racing Operations Manager Ron Barrick and several executives from the racetrack.

“We did several, if not a dozen, entries on to the front straightaway from a proposed exit out of the infield,” said Erion’s Miller in a telephone interview with Roadracing World June 21. “It seemed to work just fine. The angle of attack was safe. It doesn’t look like we’re anywhere close to getting up toward the wall. On the brakes (for turn one), it’s not the most optimum runoff in the whole world because you gotta brake at some point to get into the infield. Obviously, there’s an oval wall at the exit, but it’s quite far away. It’s nothing like a Loudon, or a Phoenix. It could be an 1/8th-mile away before you would hit a wall. And again the angle of attack is actually bringing you down away from the wall if the proposed track is in fact implemented like we spoke about that day. It actually brings you down the front straight and angles you toward the infield before you brake. I think that’s gonna be just fine.”

When asked what kind of top speed he saw, Miller estimated, “I would say about 165 mph possibly, on the CBR929RR Formula Xtreme bike. It’s a huge oval. So the front straighaway is quite extensive, but we’re actually starting from a relatively low speed at the entrance to that straightaway where we’re coming off of the infield. It’s not like we have a big fourth-gear run off of the banking onto the front like Daytona.

“We tried to use a little bit of the oval, but it just did not seem safe in anyway. The bikes are so much faster than that oval will allow with the amount of grip available that the oval, other than the front straightaway, just had to be completely taken out of the whole lap. There’s not enough banking. It’s nothing like the 32-degree banking of Daytona.

“I think the layout that we had come to an agreement on, the basic layout, is going to be safe enough for motorcycles. Hopefully, it comes to fruition in the way that we talked about, and it doesn’t change because of different varying issues either be money or logistics or that kind of thing. It’s actually very, very, very similar to the new road course in Germany (Lausitzring) that the World Superbikes just raced at. It’s damn near the exact same thing that we were looking at,” continued Miller.

“I think the speedway has a lot to offer in the way of beauty and pageantry and history and also just the facilities, the garages, the bathrooms, and the stands. It looks like the fans will be able to see most of the racetrack. I believe they’re going to build a grandstand inside, or throughout, the infield as well which will also give you a complete view of the racetrack. So it should be a fantastic overall experience for fans. I think Southern California is a terrific market to go ahead and spend a little money in a wild racetrack. I’m looking forward to it,” Miller concluded.

By Glenn LeSanto

Troy Bayliss put in a late fast lap to grab provisional pole in the final qualifying session for tomorrow’s World Superbike races in Misano. Aprilia factory test rider, Alessandro Antonello, had been on pole as the session came to a close. But the Italian was dislodged, first by Tady Okada and then by Troy Bayliss, and finished third fastest. Riding for the Infostrada factory Ducati squad, Bayliss put in a time of 1:35.236 in the dying minutes of the session. Tady Okada was having a better session than his Castrol Honda teammate Colin Edwards, who crashed midway through the session after losing the front end of his RC51 and qualified seventh. Ruben Xaus was another crasher, but qualified eighth.

American Ben Bostrom also put in some good laps on his L&M sponsored factory Ducati, but Aprilia’s top man, Troy Corser, edged him down the order. Corser was fourth-fastest, with Bostrom fifth. British rider Neil Hodgson leapt up the order late in qualifying to grab sixth spot in front of Edwards. Hodgson’s GSE Ducati teammate James Toseland also put in a fast lap as the final seconds ticked away to jump from 17th to 10th-fastest, earning himself a place in the Superpole. Francesco Chili and Akira Yanagawa both looked set to miss Superpole until they also squeezed their way in the top 16 as the session closed.

Many riders are complaining that the track is greasy. Conditions were very hot for qualifying, and with the sun burning down on the Misano circuit, the track temperature will play its part in the rider’s Superpole performances.

Final qualifying, fastest lap times and Superpole qualifiers:

1. Troy Bayliss, AUS, Ducati, 1:35.236
2. Tady Okada, JPN, Honda, 1’35:351
3. Alessandro Antonello, ITA, Aprilia, 1:35.464
4. Troy Corser, AUS, Aprilia, 1:35.488
5. Ben Bostrom, USA, Ducati, 1:35.496
6. Neil Hodgson, GBR, Ducati, 1:35.527
7. Colin Edwards, USA, Honda, 1:36.007
8. Ruben Xaus, ESP, Ducati, 1:36.181
9. Gregorio Lavilla, ESP, Kawasaki, 1:26.183
10. James Toseland, GBR, Ducati, 1:36.284
11. Lucio Pedercini, ITA, Ducati, 1:36.369
12. Steve Martin, AUS, Ducati, 1:36.454
13. Regis Laconi, FRA, Aprilia, 1:36.456
14. Pierfrancesco Chili, ITA, Suzuki, 1:36.593
15. Akira Yanagawa, JPN, Kawasaki, 1:36.612
16. Mauro Sanchini, ITA, Ducati, 1:36.640


Hodgson On Superpole
Neil Hodgson stormed to his second front-row start in two meetings today in Superpole. The GSE Ducati rider set the fastest time in fine style, backing his 996 Ducati into turns to set a scorching 1:35.532 lap, shaving a thousandth of a second off Troy Bayliss’s fastest lap in qualifying. Bayliss had been fastest in qualifying, but was relegated back to sixth after Superpole. Alessandro Antonello, who had been in provisional third, crashed early on in his lap, putting him to the back of the row behind, in eight, for tomorrow’s race.

Tady Okada was another Superpole loser, he had a big shimmy between two corners, losing over half-a-second, demoting him to 11th from provisional second on the grid.

Hodgson was delighted to have made it two Superpole victories in a row. “It’s a good habit,” joked Hodgson. When asked how he had managed to beat this year’s factory bike on last year’s model Hodgson was modest, “I just put it down to a bit of good luck.” This brought a cry from a spectator of, “It isn’t luck, it’s because he’s a better rider.” While there will be many who disagree with her sentiment, there’s no doubting that Hodgson’s form must be attracting the attention of Ducati’s factory racing team manager Davide Tardozzi.

Troy Corser declared himself happy with second on the grid but reckoned that the heat had changed things since he tested here earlier in the week. “The temperature has changed things. The tires that worked so well here in testing still work, but not as well. It’s so hot that as soon as you stop the bike you get really steamed up.”

Colin Edwards agreed with Corser, “It’s tough to get a good set-up, I don’t really know why. Maybe the temperature has changed things, or maybe I just have my head stuck up my ass!” he quipped.

All the teams know that the heat will make tire choice critical but Hodgson is confident in his Dunlop tires. “My tires can go race distance,” said the 2000 British Superbike Champion.

Final World Superbike Superpole Times:
1. Neil Hodgson, GB (Ducati) 1:35.235
2. Troy Corser, Australia (Aprilia) 1:35.396
3. Colin Edwards, USA(Honda) 1:35.532
4. Ben Bostrom, USA (Ducati) 1:35.665
5. Regis Laconi, France (Aprilia) 1:35.834
6. Troy Bayliss, Australia (Ducati) 1:35.906
7. Gregorio Lavilla, Spain (Kawasaki) 1:36.074
8. Alessandro Antonello, Italy (Aprilia) no time recorded (crashed)
9. Steve Martin, Australia (Ducati) 1:36.339
10. Akira Yanagawa, Japan (Kawasaki) 1:36.344.



World Supersport
Misano, San Marino
Final qualifying

MacPherson on top again In World Supersport- at last!

So far this season we’ve heard little of the fiery Scot Iain MacPherson. His great form of the last two seasons seemed to have evaporated, but today in final qualifying for the Misano round of the World Supersport Championship MacPherson and his Kawasaki ZX-6R emerged from obscurity. Just when it looked like another pole position for the Ten Kate Honda team, this time in the hands of the likeable Pere Riba, MacPherson nipped in to steal pole away from the Spaniard with only three minutes of qualifying left. “I’ve felt really comfortable all weekend,” said MacPherson. “I knew I could hook it all up for today. I’m looking forward to the race, this is one of my favorite tracks.”

Riba admitted to a little complacency, “When I set my time of 1 minute 38.125 seconds I thought I had done enough for pole,” said Riba afterwards. “I relaxed a little too much and then saw MacPherson had stolen pole from under my nose.”

Jorge Teuchert, the reigning Supersport Champion, was close behind on his Wilbers Suspension Yamaha in third. Suzuki Alstare man Katsuaki Fujiwara makes up the front row. The session was dotted with crashes, with Dean Thomas losing the front end on his Dienza Ducati and James Whitham doing the same as the session came to a close.

It was another disappointing time for BKM Honda rider Kevin Curtain, he beat himself up in a crash on Friday and he’s struggled to ride all weekend. But the gritty Australian isn’t a quitter and he’ll be squeezing his swollen left arm into his leathers to compete on Sunday in an attempt to salvage his Championship assault. Paolo Casoli, who leads Curtain in the Championship by only three points, qualified down in fifth.

With only half-a-second covering the top 10 riders on the grid the race is sure to be a typical Supersport event, with lots of close-fought action between a big group of riders, all of them with a good chance of a win. Many riders are complaining that the track surface is greasy and the combination of a difficult surface and the searing Adriatic heat is going to make race day one of tough choices for the tire technicians. Several teams have found it impossible to select a tire that will go race distance in the heat, so it could be an inspired tire choice that wins the day. Or the race could go to the rider who can go fastest smoothly, someone able to save his tires while putting in laps at track record pace.

Final World Supesport qualifying results

1. Iain Macpherson, GBR, Kawasaki, 1:38.125
2. Pere Riba, ESP, Honda, 1:38.191
3. Jorg Teuchert, GER, Yamaha, 1:38.253
4. Katsuaki Fujiwara, JPN, Suzuki, 1:38.442
5. Paolo Casoli, ITA, Yamaha, 1:38.518
6. Vitto Guareschi, ITA, Ducati, 1:38.520
7. Fabien Foret, FRA, Honda, 1:38.620
8. Iannuzzo, ITA, Suzuki, 1:38.638
9. Chris Vermeulen, AUS, Honda, 1:38.640
10. Andrew Pitt, AUS, Kawasaki, 1:38.678
ENDS



Final Qualifying Superstock

Torto on pole in Misano

Italian Walter Tortoroglio will start tomorrow’s Misano round of the European Superstock Championship from pole after leading the final qualifying session this morning. Torto recorded a best time of 1:40.221 on his Suzuki GSX-R1000 – around one-and-a-half seconds faster than his time in yesterday’s session. He’ll be joined on the grid by Mark Heckles who lapped the San Marino track in 1:40.876. Heckles is the only British rider in the top seven after reigning Champion James Ellison was forced to retire with mechanical problems. “My Suzuki didn’t sound too good so I pulled in and stopped as a precaution,” said Ellison after wheeling his bike back to the grid. His team set about stripping the engine immediately and soon located the problem, a loose bolt in the selector drum in the gearbox.

Ellison’s retirement meant that he qualified down in ninth, a grid position he isn’t too familiar with after so many front-row starts.

Some observers have begun to nickname the Championship the Suzuki GSX-R1000 Cup because of the dominance of the big new Suzuki in the class. While there are six GSX-Rs in the top 10 spaces on the grid, they are joined by Heckles on the Honda Fireblade, Lorenzo Mauri in third on a Ducati, Daniel Oliver in sixth on an Aprilia and Gianluca Vizziello in seventh on a Yamaha YZF-R1.

Final qualifying results

1. Walter Tortoroglio, ITA, Suzuki, 1:40.221
2. Mark Heckles, GBR, Honda, 1:40.876
3. Lorenzo Mauri, ITA, Ducati, 1:41.157
4. Romanelli, ITA, Suzuki, 1:41.372
5. Four, FRA, Suzuki, 1:41.663
6. Daniel Oliver, ESP, Aprilia, 1:41.739
7. Gianluca Vizziello, ITA, Yamaha, 1:41.802
8. Notman, GBR, Suzuki, 1:41.949
9. James Ellison, GBR, Suzuki, 1:42.016
10. Jerzenbeck, Suzuki, 1:42.063

Funeral services for WSMC racer Paul Wright, 31, will be held Monday, June 25 at 10:00 a.m. at Mt. View Cemetery in San Bernardino, California, at the corner of Waterman & Highland.

Wright died on Sunday, June 17 when he crashed after taking the lead in the 600cc Superstock race during a WSMC race weekend at Willow Springs International Raceway. Wright fell immediately in front of Sam Carnibucci, who could not avoid him, and was run over.

Wright’s family issued the following statement through WSMC:

In response to the e-mail as to are fellow riders welcome to attend the funeral? The answer is absolutely. Paul started racing at Willow Springs 13 years ago, and has made many friends during that time. The family, as well as Paul, would want his racing buddies to be a part of this. And we extend to all of you the invitation to be part of our family through this very tough time. There will be a visitation on Sunday, June 24 between 4:00-8:00 p.m., at Mt. View Cemetery, 570 E. Highland Ave., San Bernardino, CA (on the corner of Waterman and Highland Ave.)”

Wright won the GTO race on Saturday, June 16 at Willow Springs.

This just in from Eric Bostrom’s new personal agent, Norm “Lawdog” Viano:

“RED BULL GIVES ERIC BOSTROM WINGS

“June 22, 2001 – Atlanta, GA. Eric Bostrom, ‘the Boss’, proudly announces that Red Bull North America has signed on as his personal sponsor for the remainder of the 2001 racing season. The sponsorship will see Eric sporting a new, custom-painted Red Bull helmet at all road racing events, beginning with the upcoming Laguna Seca AMA and World Superbike rounds. The sponsorship will also provide Red Bull’s newest athlete with enough product to fuel his intense training, on and off the track.

“This looks to be the beginning of a long-term relationship and a fantastic opportunity for Eric, as Red Bull traditionally builds long-term relationships with their athletes. ‘It’s great to be taken in under the wings of the Red Bull family, and to become one of their athletes. I’ve been a big fan of theirs for several years now, and it always gets me fired up when I drink it.’ The sponsorship will also provide Eric with the opportunity to cross-train with other Red Bull athletes from time to time.

“Due to its exceptional composition, Red Bull’s energy drink provides your body with extra energy during times of increased physical strain or stress, and has been proven to increase physical endurance, improve reaction speed and concentration, increase mental alertness, improve overall feeling of well-being, stimulate metabolism and increase stamina. Launched in Austria in 1987, Red Bull has become, from its launch, the unchallenged market leader, selling one million cans in 1987 to over 300 million in 1998. Red Bull is now available in almost all of Europe and many parts of North and South America, Africa and Australia. ‘I’m so proud to be involved with a company that’s as aggressive as I am when I’m on the track.’

“And despite being on the oldest bike in the Superbike paddock. Eric has been holding 2nd place since the first round at Daytona. He also is leading the all-important Pro Honda Oils 600cc Championship on his Kawasaki.

“Look for Eric to be a major factor at Laguna as he’s looking to take the momentum from his impressive win at Loudon into Laguna for both the AMA and World Superbike Championship rounds. And look for his new Red Bull helmet there, as he’ll be the only road racer in the AMA or WSBK paddock to have it on.”

By Glenn LeSanto

After weeks of struggling with injuries sustained after crashing out at Monza, Ben Bostrom made it clear that he was back with the fast guys in the World Superbike Championship.During the first qualifying session at Misano on Friday there was a titanic battle between Bostrom, Troy Corser, Troy Bayliss and Colin Edwards for the four provisional front row grid spots in the searing afternoon heat. Bostrom headed the time sheet on his L&M Ducati until the closing minutes when Bayliss edged his Infostrada Ducati ahead to snatch provisional pole from the American. The other Australian, Corser, had been fastest but both he and Edwards finally succumbed to hold third and fourth spot respectively.

Steve Martin, who rides a privateer Ducati, showed that both he and his Pirelli tires have got what it takes to qualify well up the order. Martin, who was on the provisional front row until the final minutes, finished seventh behind another privateer Pedercini Ducati rider, Mauro Sanchini. The pair are joined on the provisional second row by Tady Okada, who was fifth-fastest on his Castrol Honda, and Infostrada Ducati rider Ruben Xaus, who had a big crash late in the session.

If conditions remain the same then both Saturday’s Superpole and Sunday’s two races will be a severe test of the staying power of the riders and their tires. The circuit is situated within the principality of San Marino on the Adriatic coast of Italy, where the weather at the moment is very hot and very dry. Air temperatures reached the mid-30 degrees centigrade mark (86 degress F) while track temperatures hover at around 50 degrees centigrade (122 degrees F).

Britain’s Neil Hodgson, who has enjoyed great form recently, struggled in the heat and finished the session ninth fastest. Peter Goddard managed to get plenty of attention on the fabulous Benelli Tornado, competing in the World Superbike series for the first time. However the bike isn’t yet as good as it looks, and he qualified way down in 23rd.

Friday Qualifying times:

1. Troy Bayliss, AUS, Ducati, 1:35.749
2. Ben Bostrom, USA, Ducati, 1:35.999
3. Troy Corser, AUS, Aprilia, 1:36.155
4. Colin Edwards, USA, Honda, 1:36.558
5. Tady Okada, JPN, Honda, 1:36.594
6. Mauro Sanchini, ITA, Ducati, 1:36.640
7. Steve Martin, AUS, Ducati, 1:36.791
8. Ruben Xaus, ESP, Ducati, 1:36.922
9. Neil Hodgson, GBR, Ducati, 1:36.936
10. James Toseland, GBR, Ducati, 1:37.084



World Supersport Championship
Misano, Italy
Friday Qualifying

Guareschi sets the pace

Alstare Suzuki rider Katsuaki Fujiwara was on provisional pole until the final minute of Friday’s qualifying practice in Misano. Vitto Guareschi set the fastest time as the clock ticked away the last moments of the session, leaving no chance for his rivals to better his lap. Behind them were the Ten Kate Honda duo of Pere Riba and Fabien Foret, who had also both sat on the top of the timesheet only a few minutes before the end of the session.

Fujiwara was the first rider to depose the pair – but then he was shifted one place down the order by Dienza Ducati rider Guareschi who had crashed midway through qualifying.

Foret claimed that he was holding a little something in reserve. “When I qualify on pole on Friday,” explained the Frenchman. “I then lose the position on Saturday. This weekend I am trying a different strategy and will push harder on Saturday to keep pole for the race.” Despite claiming to be ‘taking it easy’ Foret still managed to have a big moment, and although he didn’t fall he did manage to snap off the heel plate on his Honda CBR600F4i with his foot while saving the slide.

Chris Vermeulen tried to capitalise on his success during the testing earlier in the week when he was the fastest rider on the track. He was fastest in the early stages of the qualifying, but slipped down the order to finish seventh fastest on his Castrol Honda. Kevin Curtain struggled to put fast laps in due to a nasty flesh injury to his left arm he sustained in a crash in the morning’s free practice. He’s way down the order on his BKM Honda at 34th.

World Supersport Friday qualifying times:

1. Vitto Guareschi, ITA, Ducati, 1:38.520
2. Katsuaki Fujiwara, JPN, Suzuki, 1:38.976
3. Pere Riba, ESP, Honda, 1:39.011
4. Fabien Foret, FRA, Honda, 1:39.119
5. A. Pitt, AUS, Kawasaki, 1:39.139
6. Jorge Teuchert, GER, Yamaha, 1:39.160
7. Chris Vermeulen, AUS, Honda, 1:39.178
8. V. Iannuzzo, ITA, Suzuki, 1:39.252
9. N. Russo, ITA, Yamaha, 1:39.320
10. I. Macpherson, GBR, Kawasaki, 1:39.522