World Superbike testing times from Valencia

Raceline photography
By blue2bikes
November 24 2004

Troy Corser outshone them all in the winter sunshine of Valencia. Corser, aboard the Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra, was to prove he was the fastest rider overall during the three day tests in Valencia, Spain.

Having fallen in the final outing, due to throttle response being erratic, he lost the front end and, although uninjured, retired to the pits to call it a day.

World Champion James Toseland, suffering from a dislocated thumb, cut short his track time in the final session so he could return to a meeting in London with the President of Ducati Motor Holdings. Régis Laconi (pictured above) – James’ team-mate - was to prove to be the faster of the two with a time of 1 min 36.1 seconds, and James’ time of 1 min 36.9 secs.

Honda’s Chris Vermeulen withdrew from testing on day one, due to the effects of recent surgery performed on his wrist. Meanwhile, Chris Walker was to get a best time of 1 min 39 secs with the Kawasaki, after testing different suspension units from Bitubo and Öhlins.

Unfortunately the Foggy Petronas rider Garry McCoy crashed out on day one and day three, suffering from a suspected broken ankle - although this hasn’t been confirmed as yet. Garry’s team-mate, Steve Martin, was to get a best time of 1 min 37.3 secs.

Here are the test times for the final day:
1 Troy Corser, Alstare Suzuki, 1:36.0s
2 Régis Laconi, Fila Ducati, 1:36.1s
3 James Toseland, Fila Ducati, 1:36.8s
4 Andrew Pitt, Yamaha Italia, 1:36.9s
5 Karl Muggeridge, Ten Kate Honda, 1:37.2s
6 Sébastien Gimbert, Yamaha France, 1:37.3s
7 Lorenzo Lanzi, Ducati 999 F04, 1:37.4s
8 Sébastien Charpentier, Ten Kate Honda CBR600, 1:38.0s *
9 Katsuaki Fujiwara, Ten Kate Honda CBR600, 1:38.0s *
10 Steve Martin, Foggy Petronas, 1:38.5s
11 Chris Walker, PSG-1 Kawasaki, 1:39.0s
12 Mauro Sanchini, 1:39.3s
13 Garry McCoy, Foggy Petronas, 1:39.6s
14 Gianluca Nannelli, Scuderia Ducati 999RS, 1:39.9s
* 600cc World Supersport rider