DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
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SPANISH BACKDROP FOR TOSELAND AND LACONI (DUCATI XEROX TEAM) AT VALENCIA
Valencia (Spain), Thursday 21 April: Two down and ten remaining as Ducati Xerox
Team riders James Toseland and Rιgis Laconi arrive in Valencia, Spain for the
first round of this year's World Superbike Championship to be held on European
soil. After two overseas events in Qatar and Australia, the Ricardo Tormo
Circuit now provides the Spanish backdrop for the reigning world champion and
his French team-mate's assault on the 2005 title.
Rιgis Laconi, currently lying third in the table with 54 points, is the only
rider so far to really keep the pace of the leading Suzukis, and the 29-year-old
Frenchman is convinced he can again do battle this weekend.
"Three weeks since the last round is too long", declared Rιgis, "so it just
feels great to be back racing in Europe. We found some good solutions in Phillip
Island for the settings and I hope they will work again at this track. Lap times
were good in the tests here, so I think we can do a good job this weekend.
Valencia is a very difficult circuit because it has a lot of hard braking but
you need very good turning for the bike. That's something almost opposite so you
have to find a good compromise.
"I feel my 999 is such a good package now but every small change makes a big
difference and that's what I need, just two or three tenths is important to stay
at the front or try to pass. We are not down on power, our bike is very fast and
we have good acceleration, but the most important thing is to get the front of
the bike to go precisely where you want. Then you can open the throttle early
and get the best drive out of the corners", he concluded.
James Toseland is languishing down in eighth place following the series of
misfortunes and crashes that have marked his early-season title defence, but the
24-year-old won at Valencia last year and is sure to be a force to be reckoned
with this weekend.
"I'm pleased to be back at a race track after my shocker of a start in Qatar and
Australia", commented James. "Fortunately for me the problems that have been
occurring, apart from the crash in Qatar, have been out of my control. As far as
riding and my confidence goes, I feel good and just want to get back out there.
Lap times and everything else are all there, they just need to come together now.
"Valencia is totally different to the first two tracks, it's a lot slower and
tighter, and very technical. Because of the small gaps between corners you have
to be very accurate and if your concentration is off your lap time is ruined.
It's all about keeping it flowing around here because every corner leads into
the next one. Obviously you've got to get the bike to turn well but also keep
some weight on the rear to have a fine balance. The whole package is capable of
winning, we've just got to find the right form. This is where the season starts
and we've got to knuckle down", concluded Toseland.
DUCATI XEROX TWO-SEATER:
The first European round of the season will also mark the first appearance of
the Ducati Xerox Two-Seater, which has been set up in collaboration with the
team's new sponsor, Xerox. The bike is an exact replica of the 999F05 of James
Toseland, right down to the #1 on the front, and it will be used at every round
of the season to provide a sensational experience for a selected group of
clients, sponsors and VIPs. The rides will be provided by expert Italian racer
Dario Marchetti, chief instructor at Ducati's DRE (Ducati Racing Experience)
riding school and the first pillion passengers on the two-seater at Valencia
will be three lucky readers of Spain's most prestigious daily newspaper 'El Pais'.
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (after 2 of 12 rounds):
Riders
1. Corser (Suzuki) 91
2. Kagayama (Suzuki) 85
3. Laconi (Ducati Xerox) 54
4. Vermeulen (Honda) 50
5. Neukirchner (Honda) 37
6. Abe (Yamaha) 33
8. Toseland (Ducati Xerox) 22
Manufacturers
1. Suzuki 100
2. Ducati 56
3. Honda 53
4. Yamaha 41
5. Kawasaki 21
6. Petronas 1
THE CIRCUIT
Name: Ricardo Tormo
Length: 4.005 km
Pole Position: Right
Corners Left/Right: 9/5
Finish Line Length: 876 m
STATISTICS
Best lap: Hodgson (Ducati) 1m34.633s (2003)
Lap record: Hodgson (Ducati) 1m35.007s (2003)
Superpole: Bayliss (Ducati) 1m34.814s (2002)
Race distance: 2 x 23 laps/92.115 km.
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