CORSER ON IMOLA FRONT ROW
02 October 2005 - Suzuki Racing

World Superbike Championship leader Troy Corser will start from the front row of the grid after setting third-fastest time in today''s Superpole at Imola, Italy.

A small crash in the afternoon un-timed qualifying was just enough to make the Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider start his Superpole lap a bit cautiously.

He was down on time in the first split and that probably cost him the Superpole win. But he is on the front row and well-placed to contest the lead right from the start of tomorrow''s pair of 21-lap races.

Chris Vermeulen (Honda) smashed the lap record to take his second Superpole win with a time of 1:48.075. Second is Regis Laconi (Ducati), with Corser third and James Toseland (Ducati) fourth.

Yukio Kagayama found the setting-sun difficult to cope with and lost his braking markers a few times on his way to the seventh fastest lap in Superpole.

Troy Corser - 3rd, 1:48.506:

''In the afternoon un-timed session we did a simulated race distance and I was pretty happy with my lap times on race rubber. Right at the end of the session I slipped off going into turn one and that affected my approach to that turn when I did my Superpole lap. Obviously the crash was in the back of my mind and so my first split suffered. I think my second and third splits were pretty much the same as Chris Vermeulen, so if I could''ve done a better first split, I would''ve been on pole. But, the front row is good enough and the four of us and any on row two are in with a chance. I don''t think anybody is going to make a real break, so it looks like it''s going to be two long, hard races.

Yukio Kagayama - 7th, 1:49.271:

''Going out so late in the day was a bit of a problem for me because the sun was very low and reflecting off the track in some places. I couldn''t see exactly where I was going and I missed my brake markers a few times, so my lap time was not as fast as it could''ve been. As it is my first time here I think, with more experience, the sun would not have been a problem. Second row is OK and I plan to make a good start and challenge the leaders straightaway. I think the races will be close and I hope to be fighting for a podium. I am very satisfied with the set-up of my bike and know which tyres I will use for the races, so now I want to race.

Final Superbike Qualifying: 1 Vermeulen (Aus-Honda) 1:48.075, 2 Laconi (I-Ducati) 1:48.506, 3 Troy Corser (Aus-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:48.649, 4 Toseland (GB-Ducati) 1:48.867, 5 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 1:48.923, 6 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:49.094, 7 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:49.271, 8 Bostrom (USA-Honda) 1:49.300, 9 Pitt (Aus-Yamaha) 1:49.601, 10 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda) 1:49.845.

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