NEWS ARCHIVE - FEBRUARY 2005

World Superbikes
Qatar

Japan roars back
Troy Corser won the rain-hit first race - a first part lead by 4.1sec enabling him to hold off Xerox Ducati's Régis Laconi, along with his Alstare Corona Suzuki team-mate Yukio Kagayama...but the race was not without a lot of incident, even before the start. Jose Luis Cardoso on the DFXtreme Sterilgarda Yamaha R1 had his engine cut out on the grid, and with the slipper clutches now used in WSB, even spinning the back wheel with a dedicated motor and "dumping" the clutch wasn't enough to get the engine started and he was out of Race 1. It has been reported that the fault was traced eventually to a RUSTY fuelling connector...RUSTY??...someone's not doing their job!
Pierfrancesco Chili ( (Klaffi Honda Fireblade) was also out with a technical problem after not even completing the first lap and Alessio Velini (Pedercini Ducati) blew his engine on Lap 8 and was also out - but the race was halted 2 laps later because of rain, with Corser holding a 4 second advantage...but Régis Laconi had taken the fastest lap.
With World Endurance Champion Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha France), Lorenzo Lanzi (SC Caracchi Ducati) and Max Neukirchner (Klaffi Honda Fireblade) crashing out of the second part of race one, the overall result went to Corser, with Kagayama coning second in an Alstare Corona Suzuki 1-2, Laconi third, 10 seconds ahead of Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Italia R1) in 4th.
LACONI - "I made a so-so start and just tried to pass the guys in front of me immediately because I was fourth on the first lap. It feels tough to finish second in both races and end up third overall but those are the regulations and I am just happy to be on the podium"
TOSELAND - "I got two good starts and we hung in there. I was two-tenths off getting fifth in the aggregate but considering everything that's happened this week, it's a solid start. The confidence is coming again, I needed some dry time and I can only get that in the races"
 KAGAYAMA - I think I was a bit lucky in the first race when it was stopped because for the re-start, I was able to make some small adjustments and my GSX-R1000 felt much better."
CORSER - "I found it pretty easy in the first race and felt relaxed and comfortable up front. The bike was working great and the only problem was when it started raining. I knew that we would have to stop because we were all on slicks, so I put my hand up and the race was red-flagged. By the time we got going again, the track was dry again so I think we were all on slicks once more. Yukio made the break and I just hung with Regis Laconi knowing that I didn't have to beat him to take the win. It's been a long time since my last win in 2001, but I hadn't forgotten the winning feeling."

Race 2 saw fast charging Ivan Silva Albertola (La Glisse Yamaha R1) crash at the first corner after being hit by Jose Luis Cardoso who also also crashed a few seconds later. Silva restarted but blew his engine later in the race. Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda) attempted an inside pass on Chris Walker (PSG-1 Kawasaki) but hit him with 8 laps to go in the race and both riders were out - and Fonsi Nieto (SC Caracchi Ducati) also stuffed Marco Borciani on the inside of a corner, with Borciani surprised enough to crash his DFXtreme Sterilgarda Yamaha R1.
Up front, Corser was having problems with grip from his front tyre and was first passed by team-mate Kagayama, then by Régis Laconi - and Kagayama went on to score his first win in World Superbikes.
The fastest lap was taken by Yamaha France's Sebastien Gimbert at 2' 01.852, who finished in 10th place.
LACONI - "I tried to catch Yukio in the final laps but it wasn't easy and when I saw it was easy to slide I told myself to just ride and settle for second and that's what I did. I did the best that I could do today and it was important for me to start the championship with two results, unlike last year, and get my season off to a good start"
TOSELAND - "Two sixths from thirteenth place is OK, as far as the championship goes I'm joint fifth, which is not what I wanted but at least it's solid. Towards the end of the race I was lapping as quick as the leaders. After Sunday's crash I needed some dry time and I just didn't get it. We haven't been able to try everything we wanted and that made the whole weekend difficult for me. I'm disappointed but I know I could have been out for a couple of rounds with last week's crash, so I'll take these results any day"
CORSER - In the second race I was leading and then the oil flags came out on the approach to turn one so I ran a bit wide and eased off the throttle. I still nearly crashed, but Yukio dived underneath. I tried to catch him straight away, but he'd pulled out a bit of a gap. My front was a bit chewed up and I knew I couldn't stay ahead of Regis, so I let him past. It's great to win and it's great to be on the podium with a perfect start for our team. The only thing that would have been better is if I had won both races! But my favourite circuit, Phillip Island, is next so maybe I can do a double there."
KAGAYAMA - "Today I am a very happy man. I did not dream that I would win a World Superbike race so soon or that I would be leading the Championship after the opening round. I was happy to be on the podium in the first race, so after the win in the second, I am twice as happy! In race two, the track temperature was lower and I felt that my bike would work better and it did! When Troy ran wide, I passed under him and took the lead and from then on I was able to pull out an advantage. Troy had gone wide because of some oil on the track and nearly lost control and I also felt a bit of a slide, but I carried on ok. At the end, I just had to watch my pit board and keep steady for the win."

Yukio Kagayama now leads the Championship standings with 45 points, Troy Corser 41 points and Régis Laconi 36 points

Full Results on the World Superbike Championship Official Site

MASTER OF ENDURANCE SERIES - LE MANS - Report and Pictures HERE
WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND - ASSEN REPORT HERE...WITH PICTURES
WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP SECOND ROUND - ZHUHAI REPORT HERE...WITH PICTURES
WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP THIRD ROUND - ALBACETE REPORT HERE...WITH PICTURES
WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP FOURTH ROUND - SUZUKA REPORT HERE
WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP FIFTH ROUND - OSCHERSLEBEN REPORT HERE...WITH PICTURES
MASTER OF ENDURANCE SERIES - BOL DOR - Report HERE...WITH PICTURES
WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP SIXTH ROUND - VALLELUNGA REPORT HERE...PICTURES SOON!
2004 MACAU GRAND PRIX...RACE RESULT