CORSER ON ASSEN FRONT ROW
03 September 2005 - Suzuki Racing

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra riders Troy Corser and Yukio Kagayama finished third and seventh in the Assen World Superbike Superpole in Holland today and will start tomorrow''s pair of 16-lap races just behind each other on the grid.

Chris Vermeulen (Honda) was the surprise of Superpole, posting a lap of 2:04.179, over half second ahead of his nearest rival - James Toseland (Ducati). Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) completes the front row of the grid, making it four different manufacturers across the front line.

Troy Corser - 3rd, 2:05.005:

''As long as I am on the front row, I''m happy - though winning Superpole is always nice! We used a new engine this afternoon and it felt a bit different and I think that is what prevented me from going any faster. Having said that, Chris Vermeulen did a fantastic lap and he fully deserved Superpole.

''Assen is a very technical and hard track and I don''t think anybody is going to clear off at the start. It could end up a very tactical race and a lot will depend on how the tyres are at the end. I''ve never won here before, but my aim is to leave Assen with my points lead intact or increased whatever the situation.''

Yukio Kagayama - 7th, 2:05.434:

''Yesterday I made some predictions about today and they didn''t come true. Sorry, change of schedule! The qualifying tyres today did not work as well as yesterday and there were some places on my Superpole lap where the bike was sliding too much and so I lost time. We will try a little change to the bike in the warm-up tomorrow and see if we can improve it. The second row is not so bad and if I can get a good start then maybe one of my predictions will still come true.''

Rizla Suzuki Wild Card racer Jurgen van den Goorbergh improved his best lap time after walking away unhurt from a high side crash at the final chicane at the start of qualifying. He mounted his spare Rizla Suzuki and took more than six-tenths-of-a-second off his best lap time from yesterday, recording 2:06.997 to place him 23rd on the grid and out of contention for the afternoon''s Superpole that was open to the fastest 16 riders.

Final Superbike Qualifying: 1 Vermeulen (Aus-Honda) 2:04.179, 2 Toseland (GB-Ducati) 2:04.899, 3 Troy Corser (Aus-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 2:05.005, 4 Haga (J-Yamaha) 2:05.078, 5 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda) 2:05.256, 6 Pitt (Aus-Yamaha) 2:05.304, 7 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 2:05.434, 8 Martin (Aus-Petronas) 2:05.560, 9 Chili (I-Honda) 2:05.691, 10 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 2:05.936 23 Jurgen Van Den Goorbergh (NL-Rizla Suzuki) 2:06.997.

WORLD SUPERSPORT QUALIFYING:

Due to red-flags and stoppages in today''s final qualifying, Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Javi Fores was unable to improve his position and so will start tomorrow''s 16-lap Supersport race from the fourth row of the grid.

Runaway series leader Sebastien Charpentier (Honda) once again took pole position with his team mate Katsuaki Fujiwara just behind.

Javi Fores - 13th, 2:10.143:

''This afternoon was a bit frustrating to say the least. The red flags and stoppages together with dirt on the track after Parkes crashed meant that it was hard to find a good rhythm, go quicker and move up the grid. It''s never easy starting so far down the grid, so I have to get a very good start if I am to have a chance of a good race. Once the start is done, a lot will depend on the actual pace of the race and if I do not get held up, I think I can make a good result.''

Final Supersport Qualifying: 1 Charpentier (F-Honda) 2:08.165, 2 Fujiwara (J-Honda) 2:08.434, 3 Fabrizio (I-Honda) 2:08.520, 4 Curtain (Aus-Yamaha) 2:08.890, 5 Foret (F-Honda) 2:09.063, 6 Nannelli (I-Ducati) 2:09.294, 7 Chambon (F-Honda) 2:09 .382, 8 Corradi (I-Ducati) 2:09.414, 9 Harms (Den-Honda) 2:09.510, 10 Parkes (Aus-Yamaha) 2:09.544, 13 Javi Fores (E-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 2:10.143.

SUPERSTOCK 1000 QUALIFYING:

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Riccardo Chiarello suffered a heavy crash in yesterday''s practice and was bruised and battered in the process.

Fortunately no bones were broken, but a very painful right wrist, thumb and left shoulder meant that Chiarello could not push as hard as normal, so ninth quickest today was a very creditable result.

Riccardo Chiarello - 9th, 2:10.350:

''My body feels sore all over, but it is my right thumb and wrist, plus my left shoulder, which are causing me real problems. Assen is a very physical circuit so it is not the best place to ride injured. My pain stopped me from going any faster today, but I hope I feel a lot better tomorrow. If my pain eases, then I think I can still get a good result, but a lot will depend on how the injuries feel in the morning.''

Final Superstock 1000 Qualifying: 1 Sofuoglu (Tur-Yamaha) 2:08.921, 2 Coxhell (Aus-Suzuki) 2;09.178, 3 Scassa (I-Yamaha) 2:09.344, 9 Riccardo Chiarello (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 2:10.350.

SUPERSTOCK 600 QUALIFYING:

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Xavi Simeon had a small gearshift problem in today''s final qualifying and was unable to challenge for a front row grid place. He will start tomorrow''s nine-lap race from the second row.

Xavi Simeon - 6th, 2:16.447:

''The bike is working very well and I think that the set-up was perfect today. But I had a little problem with the gearshift changing from fourth to fifth gear and that made it a bit difficult to challenge the leaders. This track is very technical and difficult and I am still learning it. Each time I go out I learn something new, but it takes a lot of laps to know it well enough to shave off those last fractions of a second. I want to make a good start and not lose touch with the leaders and, if I can do that, I am optimistic about my prospects.''

Final Superstock 600 Qualifying: 1 Corti (I-Yamaha) 2:13.771, 2 Canepa (I-Kawasaki) 2:14.426, 3 Berger (F-Honda) 2:14.564, 6 Xavi Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 2:16.447.

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