Subscription

Car Racing

Motorcycle Racing

Racing in Oz

Shop

2004 WORLD SUPERBIKE: MAGNY COURS  

• 24 year old British rider's first world superbike title.
  TOSELAND: "... I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has helped me become world champion here today, the list is too long to mention everyone but it includes all my family and friends .... I think I deserved to become world champion at the end, these last three rounds have gone really well and that's down to the team who have given me the best opportunity to win with the best bike. There was no option of making a mistake today or doing anything wrong, it was that close, it was a great season with Regis, there were some great races and it could easily have been him up here".
• Factory Ducati team-mate Regis Laconi finished runner-up for 2004.
  
  LACONI: "Maybe we didn't find the right setting for today's races but a big thanks to the team, they worked very hard, I still gave my best and that is what is important ... I'm happy because I gave my best but it wasn't enough, c'est la vie!. I think I can still fight for world titles for some more years. There has been a little bit more pressure within the Ducati garage over the past few races with the two of us fighting for the title but that is normal. It is the first time also for Ducati to have both riders in with a chance of winning the title and it is not an easy solution for the team too, but all of Ducati did a fantastic job, they are world champions, I am not this year but thank you to them anyway"

• 2003 WINNERS:
• RACE 1 - Neil Hodgson GBR 999R Ducati
• RACE 2 - Ruben Xaus SPA 999R Ducati

• 1 James Toseland, Ducati 999 F04
• 2 Haga
• 3 Laconi
• 4 Gimbert
• 5 Martin
• 6 Chili
• 7 Haslam
• 8 Walker
• 9 McCoy
• 10 Duterne 11 Bontempi 12 Pedercini

• 1 Noriyuki Haga Ducati 999 RS
• 2 Toseland *** 2004 CHAMPION ***
• 3 Laconi
• 4 Gimbert
• 5 Chili
• 6 Haslam
• 7 Corser
• 8 Walker
• 9 McCoy
• 10 Nowland 11 Duterne 12 Fuertes

4TH OVERALL - VERMEULEN (HONDA): DNF in both races: "... In the first race it was just a freak electrical problem. We haven't had that problem all year. The second race the bike finished the race the same way as it did at Imola, so I didn't have any choice but to retire. The last three races have given us some problems so we have some serious work to do. I had an injection for my injured hand before the race and I felt no pain from it at all. I felt comfortable and the bike was good until it started missing a bit of power. It would cut in and out, but before that I felt every bit as quick as any of them. I wanted to go out with a podium, if not a win, so it's really disappointing"

• 1 Karl Muggeridge, Honda CBR600RR
• 2 Parkes
• 3 Charpentier
• 4 Lanzi
• 5 Vd Goorbergh
• 6 Pitt
• 7 Coxhell 8 Neukirchner 9 Lagrive 10 Baiocco

  4TH OVERALL - VERMEULEN (HONDA): DNF in both races: "... In the first race it was just a freak electrical problem. We haven't had that problem all year. The second race the bike finished the race the same way as it did at Imola, so I didn't have any choice but to retire. The last three races have given us some problems so we have some serious work to do. I had an injection for my injured hand before the race and I felt no pain from it at all. I felt comfortable and the bike was good until it started missing a bit of power. It would cut in and out, but before that I felt every bit as quick as any of them. I wanted to go out with a podium, if not a win, so it's really disappointing"

• GRID, SUPERPOLE, OCT 2, 2004
• CORSER'S 30TH SUPERPOLE "... Well, it’s been a bit of a time coming, but I really wanted to get my 30th pole before the end of the season and now I’ve done it. I was down in the first two timed sections, but I got back the time in the final part - though that might have been down to a little mistake really! I braked a bit late, but I still managed to stay on the track and not suffer at all. It wasn’t luck, but it was not far off! I am happy because the team have worked their socks off and it’s thanks to them and our new specification engines that I was able to put the Petronas on pole. In Superpole, you can either gain a little or lose a lot and the key is to not make mistakes or try too hard. This weekend my times on race rubber have been very consistent, so now I need a good start. I am definitely going for a podium, but hopefully a race win"
  1 Troy Corser, Petronas FP1 1m 41.547
  "... Well, it’s been a bit of a time coming, but I really wanted to get my 30th pole before the end of the season and now I’ve done it. I was down in the first two timed sections, but I got back the time in the final part - though that might have been down to a little mistake really! I braked a bit late, but I still managed to stay on the track and not suffer at all. It wasn’t luck, but it was not far off! I am happy because the team have worked their socks off and it’s thanks to them and our new specification engines that I was able to put the Petronas on pole. In Superpole, you can either gain a little or lose a lot and the key is to not make mistakes or try too hard. This weekend my times on race rubber have been very consistent, so now I need a good start. I am definitely going for a podium, but hopefully a race win"
• 2 Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR 1000RR 1m 41.845
  "... Congratulations to Troy and it's nice to see so many different manufacturers in the front row. We struggled here yesterday and we got faster and faster. It will be close races and we just have to get into the first group and then be first across the line. But I will be giving it my best shot for sure."
• 3 James Toseland, Ducati 999 F04 1m 41.856
• 4 Gimbert, Yamaha YZF R1 *** privateer ***
• 5 Laconi, Ducati 999 F04
• 6 Chili, Ducati 998 RS
• 7 Martin, Ducati 999 RS
• 8 Haga, Ducati 999 RS
• 9 Haslam, Ducati 999 RS
• 10 Walker Petronas FP1
• 11 Borciani 12 Pedercini 13 Clementi 14 Bontempi 15 McCoy 16 Bussei

• 1 Sebastien Gimbert, Yamaha YZF-R1 1m 42.599 *** privateer ***
• 2 James Toseland Ducati 999F04 1m 42.635
  "... It was a good qualifying session today, nice and consistent. We've made a few changes to the bike, the main problem at the moment is the tyre is moving on the rim and that is stopping me doing more laps than I want to. We're running a new rear tyre here and it looks like it's going to be a good one so I want to do as many laps as possible on it, but unfortunately I haven't been able to do that today. "
• 3 Regis Laconi, FRA Ducati 999F04 1m 42.6
  "... I think I am just not entirely happy about the feeling on the bike ... We tried to change it to improve but we didn't find the right setting today so we just tried to learn and see what's happening with the tyres ... My position is OK and the lap times are very close. I made the fastest lap with the race tyre, I was surprised about that while with the qualifying tyre I was slower. It looks like it was not only for me. It's tight at the top, but we must try and do something better for tomorrow."
• 4 Martin
• 5 Corser
• 6 Walker
• 7 Vermeulen
• 8 Clementi
• 9 Borciani
• 10 Chili

QUOTES

• LACONI, championship leader: "... Now I feel OK after the races in Imola because it was important to get a couple of good results in the penultimate round" commented Regis. "I don't feel under too much pressure here, I think Imola was worse because I could have been ten points behind and instead I am four points ahead. The fight is with James but for sure we have to keep an eye on Chris, it's not going to be easy ... It depends on qualifying over the weekend but the most important thing is what happens on Sunday at 12 o'clock at the start and after two or three laps. If you have everything right, you go in the front and go away but if you don't then you have to battle with everyone, you cannot prepare the race before. The first race will be very important and we will see what happens, that is my philosophy for this weekend, I'm not saying anything else."
• TOSELAND, 2nd in standing: "... There's nothing in it ... I'm pleased with the way I dug deep at Imola and showed the spirit to fight for the championship. Everybody wants the title, there's going to be a lot of pressure on Regis in France, but the Ducati Fila team has been awesome all through the year and deserve to win this championship, whether it's me or him. They have put a major effort to win it, so it should be one-two at the end ... We tested at Magny-Cours two weeks ago and did really well so I'm confident that Friday morning we can be strong and work well all over the weekend. I had pole there last year so I know I can go fast. If we can get it right Friday morning, which we have been doing recently, then I'm confident that we'll be on top come Sunday. The best man will win and that's what has made the championship so exciting. If I win I'll be the happiest guy on earth but if I don't then I just have to be pleased with what I've done this year, but for me second isn't an option."