CORSER 2ND IN MISANO SUPERPOLE
25 June 2006 - Suzuki Racing

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Troy Corser was more than a second under the official lap record but still had to settle for the second fastest time in World Superbike Superpole at Misano in San Marino this afternoon.

A slightly cautious start in the first turn lost the World Champion some time but, from then on in, he stormed back into contention losing out by the narrowest of margins in the end to James Toseland (Honda).

Corser’s team mate Yukio Kagayama finished in 10th position after suffering with a brake lever problem that he couldn’t adjust in his flying lap.

Third quickest is Andrew Pitt (Yamaha) with Steve Martin (Petronas) fourth. Three out of the first four are Aussies, but surprisingly series leader Troy Bayliss is not amongst them.

Troy Corser - 2nd, 1:33.866:

“I know it sounds a bit funny but I’m a bit disappointed not to have taken Superpole today. Before I started the lap, I felt that I could do a mid 1:33 but maybe I was a bit too cautious going into the first turn and that cost me some time. But, at the end of the day, being on the front row is the important thing because if you are not in with the leaders when you go into the first left-hander, it’s easy to lose a lot of time. Today, I had a lot of wheelspin or maybe lack of grip exiting the turns. Part of that might have been due to the very high track temperature out there today. I just can’t seem to get sufficient grip where I want it. We’ll look at the telemetry and see if we can make some adjustments in the morning warm-up. After my recent illness my energy levels are not back up to 100%. At the moment I’m ok for about 12-15 laps, but then it becomes a bit of a struggle. It’s going to be a very long, hard day tomorrow for sure.”

Yukio Kagayama - 10th, 1”34.685:

“I had a little problem with my brake lever on my Superpole lap. Going into the left-hander at the end of the back straight, the lever came almost all the way back to the bar! As I was on a Superpole lap there was not enough time to adjust it so I had to just ride it as best as I could. It was not so easy! It was very difficult but I didn’t want to stop, so I kept going and brought the bike back home.
In normal qualifying I had some problems with wheelspin - especially when the bike is banked over and I’m trying to get on the gas. My problem tomorrow for the races is my grid position. Misano is not a good track to be so far down the grid as you lose a lot of time because the left turns just before the back straight. So I must make the best start in the world in both races!”

Fabien Foret - 18th, 1:35.694:

“I am disappointed because I am so far down the grid - and I am very disappointed because I did not qualify for Superpole. In the end, I think I missed Superpole by a tenth-of-a-second or less. I think it was all because of a little problem with my suspension setting and if we had managed to get it working better, then qualifying for Superpole would not have been a big problem. Now I have a tough day tomorrow because I need two very good starts if I am to have any chance of getting a good result. Of course, that’s what I shall be going all-out for in both 25-lap races.”

Final WSB Qualifying: 1 Toseland (GB-Honda) 1:33.833, 2 Troy Corser (Aus-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:33.866, 3 Pitt (Aus-Yamaha) 1:34.031, 4 Martin (Aus-Petronas) 1334.178, 5 Walker (GB-Kawasaki) 1:34.472, 6 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:34.487, 7 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:34.523, 8 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 1:34.556, 9 Laconi (F-Kawasaki) 1:34.648, 10 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:34.685. 18 Fabien Foret (F-Alstare Engineering Corona Extra) 1:35.694.

SUPERSTOCK 600 RACE:

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Xavier Simeon saw his hopes of victory dashed by a red flag at Misano today in the Superstock 600 European Championship race, but still leads the championship by 19 points.

Simeon had led the early part of the race and then settled in behind Canepa (Ducati) and Giugliano (Kawasaki) waiting to make his move in the closing stages.

He passed Canepa and was lining up leader Giugliano when the race was red-flagged because of a crash. Giugliano took the win with Simeon second and Canepa third.

Xavier Simeon:

“That was a bit frustrating and I am disappointed because I knew I could win the race. I was ready to make my move on Giugliano in the last couple of laps but the race was stopped with two laps to go and so I lost my opportunity. Before that, it had been a very exciting race and I enjoyed myself a lot. But, at least I am still leading the championship and my points lead is not so bad.

Superstock 600 Results: 1 Giugliano, 2 Xavier Simeon (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), 3 Canepa, 4 Lamarra, 5 Antonelli, 6 Beretta.

Points: 1 Simeon 90, 2 Giugliano 71, 3 Canepa 61, 4 Colucci 37, 5 Costantini 29, 6 Lamarra 26.

Points uploaded under: NATIONAL RESULTS/ FIM Superstock 600.

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