CORSER TOP IN VALENCIA TESTS
12 March 2005 - Suzuki Racing

Troy Corser and his Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra GSX-R1000 topped the first day of World Superbike tests in Valencia, Spain today.

His time of 1:35.911 was just over two tenths of a second quicker than his nearest rival, Regis Laconi (Ducati). Chris Vermeulen and his Honda team mate Karl Muggeridge posted the third and fourth fastest times ahead of the Yamahas of Jose Luis Cardoso and Noriyuki Haga.

Corser''s team mate Yukio Kagayama suffered problems with grip today and finished ninth quickest in only his second ever visit to the circuit

Troy Corser:

''The track conditions kept changing but strangely enough I found that the grip was better when it was cooler. There is so much rubber on the track from the F1 cars that test here that it can get very slippery when the track warms up. Today I have been concentrating on testing some new parts so I haven''t been pushing very hard. It''s good fun to know that everybody is concentrating on what I am doing and trying to chase me.''

Yukio Kagayama:

''I am happy today to be learning the track again. Valencia is a very technical circuit. I do not like it so much, but I am sure I would if I was in the top three. Today, like Troy, I have been trying new parts and tomorrow we may try some different gear ratios. I am sure I will improve my times tomorrow and I hope to chasing Troy at the front.''

Saturday WSB Test Times: 1 Troy Corser (Aus-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:35.911, 2 Laconi (F-Ducati) 1:36.147, 3 Vermeulen (Aus-Honda) 1:36.411, 4 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda) 1:36.913, 5 Cardoso (E-Yamaha) 1:37.191, 6 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:37.256, 7 Gimbert (F-Yamaha) 1:37.447, 8 Toseland (GB-Ducati) 1:37.476, 9 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:37.498, 10 Pitt (Aus-Yamaha).

WORLD SUPERSPORT:

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Javi Fores suffered grip problems but rode steadily to claim a top ten spot at the end of the first day of the two-day tests.

The Spanish rider was not happy because the level of grip changed throughout the day and so he was unable to force his way higher up the order.

Frenchman Sebastien Charpentier posted today''s fastest time with a lap of 1:38.020 ahead of fellow Honda riders Michel Fabrizio, Katsuaki Fujiwara and Fabien Foret.

Javi Fores:

''I have been working on getting a good balance on the bike and getting used to my World Supersport machine, which is quite different to the machine I rode last year. The changes in grip in the track made life difficult and we will probably make some changes to the suspension tomorrow to see if it helps. The team gave me a target of 1:40.5 and I managed 1:40.6, so I think we were all pretty happy at the end. Tomorrow, I will be going for a high 1:39 and I want to make sure that I am the fastest Suzuki again.''

Saturday WSS Test Times: 1 Charpentier (F-Honda) 1:38.020, 2 Fabrizio (I-Honda) 1:39.255, 3 Fujiwara (J-Honda) 1:39.256, 4 Foret (F-Honda) 1:39.265, 5 Nannelli (I-Ducati) 1:39.740, 6 Parkes (Aus-Yamaha) 1:39.968, 10 Javi Fores (E-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:40.613.

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