Round 11, Imola (I), 2nd October 2005, Race
Circuit: 4.933kms. Weather: Race 1: Damp at start, then dry. Race 2:
Cancelled due to torrential rain

TC TOP CAT!

Troy Corser is the 2005 Superbike World Champion! He finished a very close
second to his nearest rival Chris Vermeulen (Honda) in the first race of the
day, which took part on a drying track after earlier rain. But, just before the
start of race 2, the heavens opened and deluged the 4.933 kilometre circuit.
Troy and the rest of the riders all left the grid and and then waited for thirty
minutes before another course inspection was made. Troy, Regis Laconi (Ducati)
and Chris Vermeulen went out in two course cars with the Clerk of the Course and
found the conditions no better then before. After a short pause the organisers
decreed the race cancelled. That meant that even if Vermeulen won the remaining
two races, he could not catch Troy in the points, so Troy is this year’s
champion!

TROY Race 1: 2nd  Race 2: Cancelled

It’s great to be World Champion, but it hasn’t happened the way I wanted. But,
the organisers definitely made the right decision by cancelling the second race
because the conditions were diabolical. It was unbelievably dangerous out there
as there was so much standing water on the track and, if we had raced, I’m sure
there would’ve been a lot of crashes for sure. It was the best decision for the
safety of the riders without a doubt.

The groundwork for our success started in our very first test back at the end of
last year. Since then the whole team have worked hard and given me a wonderful
package of a bike and the results have come. In the past few years, I never lost
faith in my own ability and Francis and Patricia Batta realised that and gave me
a chance to prove that I could be Champion again. I want to thank them, the
whole team and also all the hospitality staff who have looked after me during
the year. I want to dedicate this victory also to our good friend Kirk McCarthy.
I’m sure today he was watching over me, cheering me on and probably drinking a
Corona at the same time.

Results

Race 1:
 1 Vermeulen (Aus-Honda)
 2 TROY CORSER (Aus-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra)
 3 Haga (J-Yamaha)
 4 Toseland (GB-Ducati)
 5 Martin (Aus-Petronas)
 6 Walker (GB-Kawasaki)
 7 Neukirchner (D-Honda)
 8 Gimbert (F-Yamaha)
 9 Laconi (F-Ducati)
10 Vizziello (I-Yamaha)

Race 2: Cancelled

Points

 1 TROY CORSER (Aus-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra)  409
 2 Vermeulen                                      354
 3 Haga                                           255
 4 Toseland                                       228
 5 Laconi                                         221
 6 Kagayama                                       212
 7 Walker                                         140
 8 Pitt                                           137
 9 Chili                                          125
10 Lanzi                                          118

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