Régis Laconi and Ducati on pole in Qatar

Raceline Photography
By blue2bikes
February 25 2005

Troy Corser and team mate Yuki-san (Kagayama) had topped the table throughout testing and qualifying last weekend, with Troy still at the top after the first day’s qualifying on his new Alstare Suzuki.

At a very rain swept circuit, due to unseasonal rain, it was looking like yesterday,s qualifying was to be the race line-up for the race tomorrow. With the track wet and dry it was a matter of who had the best line to battle the changing weather after a hastily arranged Superpole session, and gain a good position.

Although Troy had topped the time sheets at nearly every session, it wasn’t to be his day today - with a flying lap put in by Régis Laconi, it was Régis who gained the first place position for the race.

Troy said, “I am a bit disappointed, as I had been the fastest on nearly every session, and the weather was unfavourable. Some people got a drier lap than others on the straight. It wasn’t so bad, but at the back of the track it was raining for me. I could see Régis coming up behind me at a fast pace, so I let him pass as this was part of the circuit where I was struggling due to the weather. I am happy to be on the front line, and may finish on the podium. Maybe I will get a win.”

So if the weather holds off and the track is dry it can be any rider from the top ten who will come home to win. One thing to be sure of, Yukio and Troy will be giving it everything they have and, as Troy stated when he was signed for Suzuki, “I am not here to make up the numbers. I am here to win the championship.”

Here are the times for the final grid:
1 Régis Laconi FRA, Ducati Xerox, 999F05, 2:01.593s
2 Troy Corser AUS, Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra, GSX-R1000 K5, 2:01.641s
3 Sébastien Gimbert FRA, Yamaha Motor France-Ipone, YZF-R1, 2:01.889s
4 Yukio Kagayama JAP, Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra, GSX-R1000 K5, 2:02.643s
5 Andrew Pitt AUS, Yamaha Motor Italia, YZF-R1, 2:02.670s
6 José Luís Cardoso ESP, DFXtreme Yamaha, YZF-R1, 2:02.745s
7 Noriyuki Haga JAP, Yamaha Motor Italia, YZF-R1, 2:02.766s
8 Chris Vermeulen AUS, Winston Ten Kate Honda, CBR 1000RR, 2:02.960s
9 Iván Silva ESP, La Glisse Yamaha, YZF-R1, 2:03.049s
10 Pier-Francesco Chili ITA, Klaffi Honda, CBR 1000RR, 2:03.100s
11 Chris Walker ENG, PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse, ZX10, 2:03.138s
12 Giovanni Bussei ITA, Kawasaki Bertocchi, ZX10, 2:03.169s
13 James Toseland ENG, Ducati Xerox, 999F05, 2:03.357s
14 Max Neukirchner BRD, Klaffi Honda, CBR 1000RR, 2:02.671s
15 Norick Abe JAP, Yamaha Motor France-Ipone, YZF-R1, 2:04.354s
16 Marco Borciani ITA, DFXtreme Sterilgarda Yamaha, YZF-R1, 2:05.041s
17 Lorenzo Lanzi ITA, Ducati SC Caracchi, 999RS, 2:03.314s
18 Karl Muggeridge AUS, Winston Ten Kate Honda, CBR 1000RR, 2:03.532s
19 Fonsi Nieto ESP, Ducati SC Caracchi, 999RS, 2:03.956s
20 Steve Martin AUS, Foggy Petronas Racing, FP1, 2:04.045s
21 Gianluca Vizziello ITA, Italia Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha, YZF-R1 2:04.587s
22. Miguel Praia POR, DFXtreme Sterilgarda Yamaha, YZF-R1, 2:04.627s
23. Ivan Clementi ITA, Kawasaki Bertocchi, ZX10, 2:04.63s
24. Mauro Sanchini ITA, PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse, ZX10, 2:04.689s
25. Garry McCoy AUS, Foggy Petronas Racing, FP1, 2:04.991s
26. Lucio Pedercini ITA, Team Pedercini Ducati, 999RS, 2:05.182s
27. Alessio Velini ITA, Team Pedercini Ducati, 999RS, 2:05.777s
28. Ben Bostrom USA, Renegade Koji Honda, CBR 1000RR, 2:08.199s
29. Talal Al Nauami QAT, La Glisse Yamaha, YZF-R1, 2:11.59s