CORSER TOPS VALENCIA SUPERPOLE
23 April 2005 - Suzuki Racing

Troy Corser will start tomorrow''s third-round world Superbike round in Valencia from the front after winning this afternoon''s Superpole - the 31st of his career.

The Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider set a blistering time of 1''35.676 with a speed of 282.7 kph on his 2005 GSX-R1000 - the only rider under the 1''36.000 mark at the Spanish circuit - to beat Chris Vermeulen (Honda) and Regis Laconi (Ducati).

Corser''s team mate Yukio Kagayama set the ninth-fastest time with 1''36.875 and a speed of 280.5 kph after making a small mistake exiting turn two which upset the rhythm of his lap and pushed him back.

Troy Corser - 1st, 1:35.676:

''I have to thank my Alstare Suzuki team because they''ve done a great job. Our test here before Phillip Island went very well and we started with that set-up. The front end is working really well and I''ve more or less chosen my tyres for the race. I''ll only change my mind if the conditions are different.

''It''s going to be a couple of long, tough races tomorrow and tyre conservation is going to be very important especially if it is hot. My Superpole lap went quite smoothly and there were no dramas on it. In fact, I felt pretty comfortable this afternoon and now all I need to do is to try and translate that into a couple of wins tomorrow.''

Yukio Kagayama - 9th, 1:36.875:

''I made a small mistake in turn two and that affected the whole lap. This track is like that - if you make a mistake in one place it messes up the rest of the lap. The mistake means that I will start the races tomorrow from the third row and that is not going to be so easy.

''I need a very good start but if I get that, I feel that I can catch the leaders. I know what lap times I can do so I think a podium - or two - is still possible. I will give it full gas and try my hardest as usual.''

Final WSB Qualifying: 1 CORSER (AUS-ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA) 1:35.676, 2 Vermeulen (Aus-Honda) 1:36.125, 3 Laconi (F-Ducati) 1:36.356, 4 Neukirchner (D-Honda) 1:36.447, 5 Pitt (Aus-Yamaha) 1:36.558, 6 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda) 1:36.565, 7 Walker (GB-Kawasaki) 1:36.847, 8 Abe (J-Yamaha) 1:36.862, 9 KAGAYAMA (J-ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA) 1:36.875, 10 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:37.031.

WORLD SUPERSPORT:

Javi Fores was unable to improve on yesterday''s lap time and so will start tomorrow''s 23-lap race from the third row.

A problem with the rear suspension today prevented Javi from moving up the grid but he is confident of a good result as long as he can get a good start.

Frenchman Sebastien Charpentier (Honda) will start from pole position alongside team mate Katsuaki Fujiwara, Fabien Foret (Honda) and Kevin Curtain (Yamaha).

Javi Fores - 11th, 1:40.220:

''I don''t think we were able to improve the bike since yesterday and that really prevented me from going any faster. We will try a little suspension change in the morning warm-up and hopefully that will allow me to lap a bit quicker.

''But I am quite positive because I feel I can put in good laps on the race tyres. The third row is not good, but if I can get a good start, I think I can fight for a top-six place. That is my aim and that is what I will try my best to do.''

Final WSS Qualifying: 1 Charpentier (F-Honda) 1:38.351, 2 Fujiwara (J-Honda) 1:38.634, 3 Foret (F-Honda) 1:38.884, 4 Curtain (Aus-Yamaha) 1:39.083, 5 Fabrizio (I-Honda) 1:39.449, 6 Parkes (Aus-Yamaha) 1:39.605, 7 Carrasco (E-Yamaha) 1:39.751, 8 Stigefelt (S-Honda) 1:39.953, 9 Chambon (F-Honda) 1:40.121, 10 Veneman (NL-Suzuki) 1:40.135, 11 FORES (E-ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA) 1:40.220.

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