Round 4 , Monza (Italia), Sunday 8th May 2005, Race
Circuit: 5,793km., Crowd: 93,000 (3-day)Weather: Dry, sunny 23-26 C

TROY WINS ONE, TAKES A THIRD AND EXTENDS HIS LEAD

Troy won the first of today’s Superbike World Championship races at Monza, took
a hard-fought for third in the other and extended his series lead to 52 points
over his nearest rival - team mate Yukio Kagayama. Troy always knew that Monza’s
two races would be close-fought affairs and he was proved right. But for a front
brake problem in the second race though, Troy might even have walked away with
yet another double. But, at the end of the day, a win and a podium was a
fantastic reward for a job well done and once again Troy showed his rivals that
he is the man to beat.

Troy led from the start of race one, but always had Yukio and Laconi (Ducati)
for company for most of the 18-lapper. Yukio even had the audacity to pass Troy
on the last lap, but Troy dived underneath almost immediately and got his team
mate back. After that the Japanese rider had no reply and Troy ran out the
winner by nearly a second. Current Champion James Toseland (Ducati) overtook his
team mate Laconi and took third - his first podium of what has so far been a
problematic season for the Briton.

Laconi led off the line in the second race, with Troy right in his wheeltracks
followed by Kagayama and Pitt (Yamaha). But Troy’s front brakes started to
vibrate a little and after that he found it impossible to brake as hard as he
had done in the first race. Vermeulen (Honda) came past and then set about
Laconi, catching and passing the Frenchman on the last lap before charging to
his first win (and the first non-Alstare Suzuki win) of the season. Laconi took
runner-up spot and Troy beat off Muggeridge’s (Honda) challenge to claim third
spot.

TROY - Race 1: 1st, Race 2: 3rd

Race 1: The first race was pretty good and I didn’t have any problems at all.
Monza always throws up close racing, so I knew that today’s pair of races wasn’t
going to be at all easy and I was right. I got a good start off the line and led
into the first chicane and although the whole pack was just behind I soon
settled into a bit of a rhythm. I knew that Yukio was probably going to be my
main threat, but I also had to take notice of the Hondas and the Ducatis. Monza
is like a home race for Ducati, so I knew that they would be strong here. Yukio
passed me on the last lap, but he ran a bit wide on the exit of the turn and I
just dived under him. As we straightened up, we made a little contact, but it
was nothing really and not at all dangerous. Yukio tried to come back at me, but
I had the better drive and took the chequered flag - my first ever win at Monza!
Race 2: I had front brakes problems right from the start of the second race and
I noticed it when I felt a vibration. I could go as fast as Regis (Laconi) and
Chris (Vermeulen), but I just couldn’t brake as hard as then or as hard as I had
been doing in race one for example. Also, when I was behind Regis and Chris, my
engine temperature went up and also the brakes got hotter because they were in
warm air. When you run up front, the whole bike runs cooler and that makes it
work much better. Muggas tried to take third from me, but I was determined not
to let him have it. I braked as hard as I dared on the last lap to prevent him
getting past when it might have mattered and managed to hold on for third. Of
course, a double would’ve been nice, but I guess we have to give the others a
chance! Yukio had gone off the track, so I knew that, wherever I finished, I
would be further ahead in the points standing. Anyway, it’s not about winning
races - it’s the championship I’m after. C ya. Troy

RESULTS

Race 1:
 1 TROY CORSER (Aus-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra)
 2 Kagayama (J-Suzuki)
 3 Toseland (GB-Ducati)
 4 Laconi (F-Ducati)
 5 Pitt (Aus-Yamaha)
 6 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda)
 7 Chili (I-Honda)
 8 Walker (GB-Kawasaki)
 9 Nannelli (I-Ducati)
10 Abe (J-Yamaha)

Race 2 :
 1 Vermeulen (Aus-Honda)
 2 Laconi
 3 TROY CORSER
 4 Muggeridge
 5 Toseland
 6 Pitt
 7 Chili
 8 Walker
 9 Haga (J-Yamaha)
10 Nannelli

Points

 1 Troy Corser (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 182
 2 Kagayama   130
 3 Vermeulen  115
 4 Laconi      87
 5 Pitt        60
 6 Toseland    57
 7 Walker      54
 8 Abe         54
 9 Haga        52
10 Chili       44

TROY CORSER WEBSITE - http://www.troycorser.com