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World Superbike Championship 2004
Round 6 Silverstone, Great Britain 11 – 13 June 2004
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Chili Early Champ: Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati 998) yet again proved his speed in an early SBK session, running his big V-twin to the best time of day one, 1:55.043 – all despite the high winds which hustled over the flat midland's countryside. The 23-time SBK race winner, currently third in the championship hunt, is looking to make up the 40+ points differential to the leading Fila Ducati riders, who experienced some difficult moments in the first day of qualifying.
Vermeulen Velocity: The Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR of Chris Vermeulen has made quite an impression in the championship since its inclusion this year, especially in the capable hands of 21- year-old SBK class rookie Chris Vermeulen. Silverstone is a track Vermeulen knows well, but this is his first visit on a Superbike during the first year of the development of the all-new Honda Fireblade.
Ducati Files: Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila 999F04) is one of only two riders in possession of a full works Ducati 999 this season and on his first visit to Silverstone since his promotion to the factory team he had to give best to two other riders on day one.
His team-mate James Toseland (Ducati Fila 999F04) was only seventh, continuing what is a sometimes-difficult relationship with his factory machine this season.
Haga and his Homies: Winner of two races so far Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati 999RS) was once more impressively quick in the 22-rider field. Fourth fastest, enough to claim a space on the provisional second row (before the final qualifying competition of Superpole at least) Haga is another potential winner to add into the mix this weekend.
Privato: The impressive bulk of SBK privateers squabbled in tense fashion in the first timed qualifying session, the best behind Chili and Haga proving to be Italian Gianluca Nannelli (Pedercini Ducati 998RS), in a fulsome fifth place. His fellow Italian privateer Marco Borciani (DFX Ducati 999RS) was sixth, in what was another unpredictable and pleasingly diverse series of top qualifying times.
McCoy Row Two: Last man on the second row proved to be Garry McCoy (Xerox Ducati 999RS) on his first run around Silverstone. He was also the last rider inside one second of Chili's pole time. If Chili's excellent lap is discounted, McCoy made it seven riders within 0.6 seconds, proving once more that fast circuits like Silverstone lead to generally close racing.
Petronas Progress: With Chris Walker's Foggy Petronas FP-1 bursting into flames during the morning session, and Troy Corser still recovering from his crash at Oschersleben, it was a busy and often fruitless first day on British soil for the Foggy Petronas Team. Top qualifier at this fast circuit was Troy Corser, 10th overall, but Chris Walker was only 14th, one place ahead of another top British rider, Leon Haslam (Renegade Ducati).
Supersport: A familiar looking quartet of riders filled the first four places on the Supersport qualifying order, with Karl Muggeridge heading up the timesheets yet again on his Ten Kate Honda. In second place 2002 World Champion Fabien Foret ripped to second, 0.131 seconds slower than Muggeridge, but faster by 0.2 seconds than Broc Parkes, the second Ten Kate Honda rider. In fourth place Sebastien Charpentier (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) edged out another Honda rider, Alessio Corradi, a big fan of Silverstone's fast layout.
2nd QUALIFYING SESSION (Superpoll to come)
1, Chili
2, Vermeulem
3, Laconi
4, Haga
5, Nanneli
6, Borciani
7, Toseland
8, McCoy
9, Pedercini
10, Corser
Money on Laconi, Haga then Chili or Toseland. 8)
World Superbike Championship 2004
Round 6 Silverstone, Great Britain 11 – 13 June 2004
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
Chili Early Champ: Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati 998) yet again proved his speed in an early SBK session, running his big V-twin to the best time of day one, 1:55.043 – all despite the high winds which hustled over the flat midland's countryside. The 23-time SBK race winner, currently third in the championship hunt, is looking to make up the 40+ points differential to the leading Fila Ducati riders, who experienced some difficult moments in the first day of qualifying.
Vermeulen Velocity: The Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR of Chris Vermeulen has made quite an impression in the championship since its inclusion this year, especially in the capable hands of 21- year-old SBK class rookie Chris Vermeulen. Silverstone is a track Vermeulen knows well, but this is his first visit on a Superbike during the first year of the development of the all-new Honda Fireblade.
Ducati Files: Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila 999F04) is one of only two riders in possession of a full works Ducati 999 this season and on his first visit to Silverstone since his promotion to the factory team he had to give best to two other riders on day one.
His team-mate James Toseland (Ducati Fila 999F04) was only seventh, continuing what is a sometimes-difficult relationship with his factory machine this season.
Haga and his Homies: Winner of two races so far Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati 999RS) was once more impressively quick in the 22-rider field. Fourth fastest, enough to claim a space on the provisional second row (before the final qualifying competition of Superpole at least) Haga is another potential winner to add into the mix this weekend.
Privato: The impressive bulk of SBK privateers squabbled in tense fashion in the first timed qualifying session, the best behind Chili and Haga proving to be Italian Gianluca Nannelli (Pedercini Ducati 998RS), in a fulsome fifth place. His fellow Italian privateer Marco Borciani (DFX Ducati 999RS) was sixth, in what was another unpredictable and pleasingly diverse series of top qualifying times.
McCoy Row Two: Last man on the second row proved to be Garry McCoy (Xerox Ducati 999RS) on his first run around Silverstone. He was also the last rider inside one second of Chili's pole time. If Chili's excellent lap is discounted, McCoy made it seven riders within 0.6 seconds, proving once more that fast circuits like Silverstone lead to generally close racing.
Petronas Progress: With Chris Walker's Foggy Petronas FP-1 bursting into flames during the morning session, and Troy Corser still recovering from his crash at Oschersleben, it was a busy and often fruitless first day on British soil for the Foggy Petronas Team. Top qualifier at this fast circuit was Troy Corser, 10th overall, but Chris Walker was only 14th, one place ahead of another top British rider, Leon Haslam (Renegade Ducati).
Supersport: A familiar looking quartet of riders filled the first four places on the Supersport qualifying order, with Karl Muggeridge heading up the timesheets yet again on his Ten Kate Honda. In second place 2002 World Champion Fabien Foret ripped to second, 0.131 seconds slower than Muggeridge, but faster by 0.2 seconds than Broc Parkes, the second Ten Kate Honda rider. In fourth place Sebastien Charpentier (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) edged out another Honda rider, Alessio Corradi, a big fan of Silverstone's fast layout.
2nd QUALIFYING SESSION (Superpoll to come)
1, Chili
2, Vermeulem
3, Laconi
4, Haga
5, Nanneli
6, Borciani
7, Toseland
8, McCoy
9, Pedercini
10, Corser
Money on Laconi, Haga then Chili or Toseland. 8)
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