2005 World Superbike championship, round seven - Brno, Czech Republic
Qualifying practice - 15 July 2005

VERMEULEN ON PROVISIONAL SECOND ROW IN BRNO

Chris Vermeulen set the eighth fastest time in this afternoon's opening
qualifying session for Sunday's two seventh round World Superbike championship
races at Brno in the Czech Republic. Provisional pole position was taken by
Britain's Chris Walker with Vermeulen's Winston Ten Kate Honda team-mate, Karl
Muggeridge, currently lying in 14th place.

It is the first visit for both team and riders to the 5.4km Brno circuit, 220km
south-east of Prague and today's practice and qualifying sessions were used by
Vermeulen and Muggeridge to increase their knowledge of circuit layout and
search for the ideal set-up for their Honda CBR1000RRs.

Ronald ten Kate - team manager:

"Karl has been making good progress here and competing comfortably at the front
on race tyres. He was lying in fourth place after this morning's free practice
but, unfortunately, we chose the wrong qualifying tyre from the two that Pirelli
have brought here. It was a harder compound and Karl went no more quickly than
he had been going on race tyres. Because Chris and Karl don't know the circuit
and we haven't tested here like most of the other front runners, we knew we'd be
playing a bit of catch-up today. But we'll work through everything this evening
and I'm confident that the crew can find some things to put the guys back up
there tomorrow."

Chris Vermeulen - eighth fastest, 2m04.436s

"To be honest, I'm struggling a little with the track here but getting to know
it better each time I go out. I like it a lot but it's very bumpy in places and
we've been working to get the bike better through those sections. I've also been
running a bit wide here and there and looking for some more exit grip from
certain corners. It all adds up to losing time in specific areas of the track
but I'll sit down with the team later and I'm sure we'll be able to find ways to
improve those areas tomorrow."

Karl Muggeridge - fourteenth fastest, 2m04.862s

 "OK, so fourteenth doesn't look great but I'm actually pretty happy with the
 steps we've made today. We tried a couple of new chassis components this
 afternoon and I felt we were making progress. Unfortunately, I ended up pushing
 the front a little too hard and slid off in the first sector during that
 session. The qualifier just didn't work at all but I think we're going OK on
 race tyres and during the day we've improved in certain areas of the track
 where we were struggling earlier. I'm happy with the rear of the bike so now we
 just have to concentrate on the front."

World Superbike, Brno - provisional qualifying times:

 1 Chris Walker GBR (Kawasaki)                   2m03.064
 2 Troy Corser AUS (Suzuki)                      2:03.487
 3 Max Neukirchner GER (Honda)                   2:03.912
 4 J-L Cardoso ESP (Yamaha)                      2:03.917
 5 Regis Laconi FRA (Ducati)                     2:04.184
 6 Mauro Sanchini ITA (Kawasaki)                 2:04.330
 7 Ivan Clementi ITA (Ducati)                    2:04.336
 8 Chris Vermeulen AUS (Winston Ten Kate Honda)  2:04.436
 9 James Toseland GBR (Ducati)                   2:04.613
10 Noriyuki Haga JPN (Yamaha)                    2:04.729
14 Karl Muggeridge AUS (Winston Ten Kate Honda)  2:04.862