Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra news
2006 Superbike World Championship
Round 4, Monza, Italy
Final qualifying 6th May
Circuit: 5.793m. Weather: Dry, sunny/cloudy 18-22 C.
‘MR SUPERPOLE’ STRIKES AGAIN!
Once again Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Troy Corser
lived up to his ‘Mr Superpole” reputation with
a stunning performance at the end of the 16-rider shoot-out
today. Series leader Troy Bayliss (Ducati) had stormed his
way round the 5.793 kilometre course and looked a certainty
to claim pole position. Troy Corser made a cautious start
and was down at the first split, but then charged back into
contention with a faster second split. The third split was
pure magic - with Troy’s drive through and out of the
Parabolica virtually perfect. At the end, he finished three
tenths of a second ahead of his rival. Third quickest is Alex
Barros (Honda), with Regis Laconi (Kawasaki) fourth - making
it four different manufacturers on the front row of the grid.
Troy’s team mate Yukio Kagayama struggled with a very
painful right hand and then made a small mistake at the first
chicane on his Superpole lap. It was enough to relegate him
to the ninth fastest time and a third row grid place. Joining
him on row three is Team Alstare Engineering Corona Extra
Fabien Foret.
TROY CORSER 1st, 1:46.058
After taking things pretty steadily yesterday because of the
weather, it was good to be able to push harder today. The
bike worked pretty well and the guys gave me a great package
to use on my Superpole lap. In the free practice before Superpole
we tried a new qualifying tyre and decided to use it for Superpole.
I was a bit cautious on the brakes going into the first chicane,
but when I felt that the tyre was going to stick OK, I started
to go for it. The second split was good and the third was
perfect. For that I have to thank the whole team. Races at
Monza are never easy because it’s so difficult to get
a gap on the field and I think there's going to be a lot of
tactics going on. My aim is to stay in the front group, see
how it goes and then make my move when I think the time is
right.
YUKIO KAGAYAMA 9th, 1:47.156
My right hand is a problem. I put on some strapping and then
helped a lot, but after one lap or so I started to lose feeling
in the hand, so I don’t think it’s going to be
possible to race with it strapped up. Although there are many
fast corners here, there are also some chicanes and that’s
where I find it hard getting the bike to change direction
quickly enough. I made a small mistake at the first chicane
on my Superpole lap and the back end came off the ground.
That lost me a lot of time and I could only finish ninth today.
I need two very good starts tomorrow and my hand to last the
distance without any big problems. It’s not going to
be an easy day!
FABIEN FORET 12th, 1: 48.009
On the positive side I managed to qualify for Superpole OK
and that was good considering the problems I had in practice
- mainly to do with the rear shock. We solved the problem
in the afternoon untimed practice and I felt more comfortable
straightaway. But I don’t think I was aggressive enough
on my Superpole lap and so ended twelfth. It’s going
to be two long, hard races tomorrow and I need good starts
if I am to have any chance of good results.
Final qualifying
1 TROY CORSER (Aus-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:46.058,
2 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:46.360, 3 Barros (Bra-Honda) 1:46.511,
4 Laconi (F-Kawasaki) 1:46.597,
5 Walker (GB-Kawasaki) 1:46.978, 6 Pitt (Aus-Yamaha) 1:47.015,
7 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda) 1:47.082, 8 Toseland (GB-Honda) 1:47.133,
9 YUKIO KAGAYAMA (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 1:47.156,
10 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:47..627, 12 FABIEN FORET (F-Alstare Engineering
Corona Extra) 1:48.009,
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