Yukio Kagayama dominates in Qatar WSBK test
Raceline Photography
By blue2bikes
February 21 2005
During the final day of testing at a very dusty Qatar circuit, Yukio Kagayama kept up the pressure dominating the official practice session in preparation for the first round of the World Superbike championship, with team mate Troy Corser a very close second.
James Toseland in 2004 - photo © Raceline Photography
The present champion, James Toseland, having been consistently in the top five, highsided and was unable to put in a flying lap on qualifying tyres. James said, “I was going through the second of three successive right-handers, and the rear just let go. I just looped over onto my side - I have never been that high before,” he exclaimed. “Everything is okay, and I just need a couple of days’ rest and I will be back, although it was a pity as the bike felt a lot better and it was a shame to cancel out the progress we had made earlier.”
Yukio Kagayama in 2004 - photo © Raceline Photography
Yukio, only just over a second from breaking the sub-two minute lap on the big Suzuki, was in top form and this can only go towards building his confidence as he enters the WSBK series for the first time in his career. He said, “I am very happy with everything we have done over the past two days, and thanks to my team for all their hard work and the help they have given me. We have tried many different settings and tyres. I hope the condition of the track will improve and it may be possible for me to go quicker, but we shall have to wait and see. I am still learning the limit of the Pirelli tyres, so I know there is more to come from me and my plan for the race is head down and ride at my maximum - it is the only way I know.”
Troy Corser said, “I am happy we finished 1-2 because it was a good reward for the team after all the work and effort that we have put in. We have altered the mapping and the bike has improved considerably, although there is more to do. We have made chassis and suspension changes, and we have improved there as well. There are still a couple of sections of the track where I know I can go quicker, so Yukio had better watch out.”
Chris Walker in 2004 - photo © Raceline Photography
Disappointingly, other riders who are on new machines, like Chili and Haga, had a disappointing test - as you can see from the table below, and front runner last year Chris Vermeulen didn’t run as high as expected. Chris Walker, however, did very well aboard the new Kawasaki and ended up in seventh position. Is this a new beginning for Chris, as he really deserves to do well this year after the problems he has suffered in the past. Surprisingly enough, José Cardoso on the new Yamaha YZF did exceptionally well to finish third overall, with James Toseland ending up in the tenth spot. Garry McCoy on the Foggy Petronas had a very disappointing time, and finished well down the order - over five seconds behind Yukio in 27th position.
With one week left to the first race of the season, taking place at Qatar, the odds on favourite has to be Yuki-San, who will no doubt put all his skills to the test and will be on equal footing with all riders at this new venue. Will Yuki-San be the one to watch this year? Will James be able to keep hold of his crown? Who knows, but there’s one thing for sure it’s going to be the best WSBK series for a long time.
Here are the fastest times set on the final day:
1 Yukio Kagayama, Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra, GSX-R1000 K5, 2:01.480s
2 Troy Corser, Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra, GSX-R1000 K5, 2:01.554s
3 José Luís Cardoso, D.F.X. Treme Yamaha, YZF-R1, 2:01.797s
4 Régis Laconi, Ducati Xerox, 999F05, 2:01.827s
5 Sébastien Gimbert, Yamaha Motor France-Ipone, YZF-R1, 2:01.956s
6 Ivan Silva Alberola, La Glisse Yamaha, YZF-R1, 2:02.194s WC
7 Chris Walker, PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse, ZX10, 2:02.442s
8 Marco Borciani, DFXtreme Sterilgarda Yamaha, YZF-R1, 2:02.548s
9 Noriyuki Haga, Yamaha Motor Italia WSB, YZF-R1, 2:02.591s
10 James Toseland, Ducati Xerox, 999F05, 2:02.639s
11 Norick Abe, Yamaha Motor France-Ipone, YZF-R1, 2:02.652
12 Andrew Pitt, Yamaha Motor Italia WSB, YZF-R1, 2:02.713s
13 Lorenzo Lanzi, Ducati SC Caracchi, 999RS, 2:02.923s
14 Pier-Francesco Chili, Klaffi Honda, CBR 1000RR, 2:03.008s
15 Chris Vermeulen, Winston Ten Kate Honda, CBR 1000RR, 2:03.072s
16 Gianluca Vizziello, Italia Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha, YZF-R1, 2min
03.095s
17 Karl Muggeridge, Winston Ten Kate Honda, CBR 1000RR, 2:03.391s
18 Mauro Sanchini, PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse, ZX10, 2:03.398s
19 Giovanni Bussei, Kawasaki Bertocchi, ZX10, 2:03.602s
20 Fonsi Nieto, Ducati SC Caracchi, 999RS, 2:03.659s
21 Max Neukirchner, Klaffi Honda, CBR 1000RR, 2:03.874s
22 Lucio Pedercini, Team Pedercini Ducati, 999RS, 2:04.048s
23 Ben Bostrom, Renegade Koji Honda, CBR 1000RR, 2:04.285s
24 Steve Martin, Foggy Petronas Racing, FP1, 2:04.483s
25 Alessio Velini, Team Pedercini Ducati, 999RS, 2:04.864s
26 Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki Bertocchi, ZX10, 2:05.047s
27 Garry McCoy, Foggy Petronas Racing, FP1, 2:05.455s
28 Miguel Praia, DFXtreme Sterilgarda Yamaha, YZF-R1, 2:05.472s
29 Talal Al Nuami, La Glisse Yamaha, YZF-R1, 2:10.263s WC
To buy the photographs shown above, visit Raceline Photography