CORSER TAKES ''STEADY'' SECOND AT ASSEN
02 September 2005 - Suzuki Racing

Team Suzuki Corona Extra''s World Superbike Championship leader Troy Corser took things steadily on the first day of qualifying at Assen but still managed to post the second quickest time, less than a tenth-of-a-second behind provisional pole-setter James Toseland on a revamped circuit he feels isn''t as ''much fun as it used to be.''

Corser''s team mate Yukio Kagayama was here three years ago in a MotoGP race, so had to start learning the track all over again: Assen circuit has a new layout since last year and most riders took their time finding the best way round the 5.997 kilometre track.

He ended the day with the ninth fastest lap and is looking forward to further improvement tomorrow.

Troy Corser - 2nd, 2:04.835:

''The changes have ruined the flowing nature of the track - from the new chicane onwards - and so it''s not such fun to ride as it used to be. Today I had quite a bit of wheelspin, both on race and qualifying rubber, but I think the track''s grip level is going to improve so I''m not that worried about it at the moment. We made quite a big step forwards from the morning to the afternoon session, mainly to do with the gearing and a bit of suspension work. I had a bit of a ''moment'' this afternoon when I went straight on instead of though the chicane, but I managed to keep it all upright ok and carry on. ''

Yukio Kagayama - 9th, 2:05.921:

''I was here three years ago but I have forgotten everything I knew about the track. There may be some changes from last year, but they don''t affect me at all! It is so important to know this circuit very well because there are many difficult corners. Once you know them well you can shave off time and make good laps. Today we mainly worked on the gearing because the bike was working well. This morning I was 14th, this afternoon ninth, so my aim tomorrow morning is top six, then front row after Superpole… and then podium in race one and a win in race two! This is my plan.''

The event sees the racing return of Dutchman Jurgen Van Den Goorbergh after a three-month lay-off. The 35 year old, who secured a wild-card entry aboard a British Superbike Championship Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000, took a provisional 23rd position.

Friday WSB Qualifying: 1 Toseland (GB-Ducati) 2:04 .742, 2 Troy Corser (Aus-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 2:04 835, 3 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda) 2:05.136, 4 Vermeulen (Aus-Honda) 2:05.445, 5 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 2:05.594, 6 Martin (Aus-Petronas) 2:05.793, 7 Neukirchner (D-Honda) 2:05.822, 8 Pitt (Aus-Yamaha) 2:05.908, 9 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 2:05.921, 10 Vizziello (I-Yamaha) 2:05.968. 23 Jurgen Van Den Goorbergh (NL-Rizla Suzuki) 2:07.662.

WORLD SUPERSPORT QUALIFYING:

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Javi Fores finished 13th on the first day of qualifying at Assen with a time of 2:10.366.

It was Javi''s first time at the technically-demanding circuit and he used the two sessions today to learn the track and find out which areas he could attack tomorrow.

Javi Fores - 13th, 2:10.366:

''This is my first time at Assen though I have heard a lot about this track. It is a very difficult track and very technical and it''s a track you have to know very well in order to go fast. There are many difficult corners, but once you understand them, you can go through them more quickly. I spent today learning the track and preparing for a charge tomorrow. We had a little front fork problem today so we will look at the data this evening and hopefully find the solution. My goal is to finish tomorrow with a place on the first two rows of the grid.''

Friday Supersport Qualifying: 1 Charpentier (F-Honda) 2:08.683, 2 Fabrizio (I-Honda) 2:08.757, 3 Parkes(Aus-Yamaha) 2:09.662, 4 Fujiwara (J-Honda) 2:09.679, 5 Foret (F-Honda) 2:09.792, 6 Curtain (Aus-Yamaha) 2:09.837, 7 Chambon (F-Honda) 2:09.883, 8 Corradi (I-Ducati) 2:10.090, 9 Vos (NL-Honda) 2:10.151, 10 Lagrive (B-Suzuki) 2:10.241, 13 Javi Fores (E-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 2:10.366.

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