Ducati Fila

Neil Hodgson (Ducati Fila) started off this weekend's crucial Dutch round of the World Superbike championship in fine style with provisional third place in Friday qualifying at the Assen TT Circuit.

The 29 year-old British rider, who needs just 10 points to clinch this year's title, was quickest throughout the morning's free practice session on his Ducati 999 F03 and topped the timesheets on race tyres until three minutes from the end of first qualifying, which was interrupted when a slower rider crashed. With all riders then on qualifying tyres, Neil was edged out of the top two places by Lavilla and Walker.

"Everything felt good, it was great to be back on the bike after such a long break" declared Neil. "The bike feels hard round here because it's a physical track, but luckily I've done a lot of training recently. My 999 is quite smooth through the corners but there is certainly a bit more to come. It probably won't improve the lap times much, because the bike just feels harder to move around than last year. I didn't really ride too well in the last couple of minutes because I had spent most of the time on race tyres. The plan tomorrow is to try more tyres and do race distance as always. Obviously I've had a lot on my mind recently but now it feels fantastic to be back on the bike again, and I know I've got a job to do this weekend".

Team-mate Ruben Xaus said he felt a little rusty after the five-week break but was convinced that there was more to come on the second Fila Ducati 999.

"It wasn't easy because I felt a bit rusty after the holidays and not riding the bike" said Ruben. "It's more a question of set-up and reaction to fast corners, because I spent the summer riding supermoto bikes and it's not easy to get back into the swing, with the Assen corners coming at you one after another. I find the rear a bit stiff and not reacting, but I'm sure we can solve that problem and then we can be good. If we can find a tenth everywhere I know we can be up at the front because last year I did 2'01 easily. It'll come tomorrow, I feel sure".

HM Plant Ducati

The huge buzz of expectation at the Dutch round of the Superbike World Championship at Assen centres on the crowning of Neil Hodgson as World Champion. However, while the runaway series leader was fastest for most of today’s free practice and first qualifying sessions, it looks likely that he will be under threat from his previous team – HM Plant Ducati – as he has been for most of this year.

Hodgson’s fellow Brits Chris Walker and James Toseland have finished second and eighth on the provisional grid for Sunday’s two Superbike races. The HM Plant Ducati riders may be out of the reckoning for the title but they are focussing on their personal goals in the remaining three rounds of the championship.

Toseland in particular has much to play for and is only 19 points behind Ruben Xaus in the battle for second place. The 22-year-old Sheffield star won his first World Superbike race this year and has come of age in his third year of racing in the series for GSE Racing/HM Plant Ducati.

However, the times at the end of the first day do him an injustice. He was second in the closing stages of the session, when the red flag was shown due to an incident involving one of the wild card riders. With only three minutes remaining, he opted to sit out the quick two-lap dash to the chequered flag.

“I’m really happy with how I’ve performed today,” said Toseland. “I was second for nearly all of the first qualifying session, having set my time on race tyres. There was no point in me wasting a qualifying tyre with dry weather forecast for tomorrow. We’ve got some more tyres to test but we’re looking at a good race set-up from the outset.”

Team-mate Chris Walker moved onto the provisional front row behind Gregorio Lavilla, relegating Hodgson to third. “I opted to use a qualifying tyre in the closing moments of qualifying and it paid off,” said the popular Nottingham rider.

“This is the first time that I have ridden a Ducati at Assen and so I’m having to put the work in to get the bike set up to my liking. It’s going well so far and I’m confident of making further progress tomorrow. Like all the British riders, I’m looking forward to the support we’re going to enjoy over the weekend – let’s hope that we can give them some results to cheer about.”

Foggy Petronas

Foggy Petronas Racing riders Troy Corser and James Haydon made progress throughout the first day of qualifying for the tenth round of the World Superbike championship at Assen, Holland. On the team’s first visit to the fast and flowing circuit, both riders had to learn the new back section of the circuit, in use for only the second year.

Troy shaved 1.5 seconds off his morning practice time to finish the afternoon session in 13th with a time of 2:04.865, 2.262 seconds off the pace set by Gregorio Lavilla. James also improved his morning time by more than three seconds with a best lap of 2:08.030. Troy said: “I was happy to get down into the 4s by the end of the qualifying session. On my flying lap I was trying to get a tow from Chili but we came up behind a slower rider. Frankie got past him, I didn’t, and he was away. I’m only now really starting to remember where the track goes, and the new section is a little bit tricky. Its first chicane is easy but the long right and left section is very fast and I still need to find the right spot where to turn in.

“I have been playing with the rear shock and am still not 100 per cent happy with the setting yet. I have also changed the gearing and am still in between gears in some corners, although the changes have helped. The modifications to the engine seem to have got rid of a flat spot in the power curve. The front Michelin tyre feels pretty good but the track was a little bit dirty, so I still have a few rears to try.”

James said: “We have made steps forward and one particular rear made a big difference. It was a real shame that the session was stopped for a red flag with just three minutes remaining, as I was on a hot lap on a qualifier. When I went back out there was too much traffic. I still need to change where I am riding the track slightly. You can take 1.5 seconds off your time with just tiny improvements at each corner here.”

Alstare Corona Suzuki

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Gregorio Lavilla ended the first day of qualifying on top of the world! His time of 2:02.603 was over a tenth of a second quicker then his nearest rival and good enough to put him on provisional pole position. Second fastest today was Briton Chris Walker (Ducati), with fellow countryman Neil Hodgson (Ducati), third. Italian Frankie Chili - also Ducati mounted -completes the provisional front row of the grid.

Gregorio's team mate Vittorio Iannuzzo suffered two heavy falls and was taken to hospital for a precautionary check up. No bones appeared to have been broken, but Iannuzzo gave his head a bit of a bang in the second crash, so it was decided to go to hospital to make sure everything was OK. He only finished five laps in the afternoon timed session before his crash so ended the day nineteenth on the leaderboard.

Gregorio Lavilla - 1st, 2:02.603 - "Today was a good start and I'm very happy to be the fastest rider out there. Everything went very well today and although I was on the limit on my fast lap, it wasn't anything crazy. I had a good tyre and I made a good lap. I'm happy for myself and also for my team, especially as it's been a long time since the last race - it shows that I haven't forgotten how to ride a bike! We have a few ideas to try out tomorrow - nothing major - just to see if we can make my job a bit easier. We knew Assen would probably suit my Alstare Suzuki and so far it's gone well. Now let's see what tomorrow (and Superpole) brings."

Troy Corser

Troy spent the day learning the revised Assen circuit and was happy to get into the 2:04s at the end of the first day of qualifying. Despite only setting the day's thirteenth quickest time, Troy and his Petronas FP1 team were satisfied with their work today and are looking forward to improving tomorrow. Troy is pleased with the new engine modifications and will be pushing a lot harder in tomorrow's two sessions and in the Superpole shoot-out. Today's fastest lap was posted by Spaniard Gregorio Lavilla (Suzuki) - the first time he has been on provisional pole this season. Second is Briton Chris Walker (Ducati), with fellow countryman Neil Hodgson (Ducati) third. Completing the front row of the grid is Italian Frankie Chili - also Ducati mounted.

TROY - 13th, 2:04.865 - "It's a good job I'm not superstitious! But I'm not concerned about where I ended up today, I was just happy to break the 2:04 barrier. I haven't raced here for a couple of years and since then the track has been revised a bit. I think I could've gone a bit quicker, but a slow rider held me up, otherwise it might have been a low 2:04 instead. I really only started remembering what Assen is all about towards the end of the second session, so I'm satisfied with what we achieved today. Tomorrow we'll try a few things - different rear shock and gearing for a start. I'm in between gears in some corners and although we made some alterations today, I feel that we can improve a bit more. The engines mods have helped getting rid of a flat spot in the power curve and I think the bike has definitely improved a little. The front Michelin feels pretty good, but I've still got a few rears to try. We'll see how it all pans out tomorrow."

Rizla Suzuki

Rizla rider John Reynolds finished 10th in first qualifying for Sunday's 10th round of the World Superbike Championship at Assen and immediately vowed that he will do better tomorrow.

The Nottingham based Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 rider last raced in Holland eight years ago and as well as re-learning the circuit today, he suffered a high speed crash and lost track time to boot. JR was unhurt in the crash and in true grit fashion, claims he is ready to bounce back and show his real form tomorrow.

Rizla Suzuki is competing at the Dutch 10th round of WSB - its third race in the series this year - with JR as a lone rider after team mate Yukio Kagayama broke his pelvis in an accident at the Cadwell Park round of BSB last month. The Assen circuit is part sponsored by Rizla and JR has received a wild-card entry to compete in Sunday's double-header, with the first race taking place at noon. Alstare Suzuki rider Gregorio Lavilla was fastest today on his GSX-R1000.

John Reynolds:
"The first session today was good, we spent the time tyre testing and making the bike stiffer. As the session went on, we made the bike stiffer and we were sure it was the way forward.

"Before the qualification session, we went even stiffer and as I found out, that was a mistake and I crashed early on. I got back to the garage and we decided to try going softer on the set-up with the spare bike. Instantly the GSX-R1000 felt better and more composed, but we had ran out of time and I ended up 10th fastest in the session, which isn't a true reflection of what we can do here.

"I'm confident about tomorrow. We know the direction to take the bike set-up and I am happier with my knowledge of the circuit now I've completed more laps. There's a lot more to come from me and the Rizla Suzuki. Come Superpole tomorrow, I'll be giving it 100 per cent and I will do my best as always."

Dave Marton, Chief Technician to John Reynolds:
"We started with JR's bike set-up from the last BSB round at Cadwell Park and made it stiffer because we thought that would suit the nature of the track. But that seems to be the wrong direction to go and we will now try a softer set-up for tomorrow and that should give JR more feel and grip.

"We know the Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 is a competitive bike and through the speed traps today he was a close fifth overall, showing the motor is strong. Once we get the handling dialled in, we hope he's going to be right on it."

First Qualifying: 1: Gregorio Lavilla (Alstare Suzuki) 2:02.603, 2: Chris Walker (Ducati) +0.133, 3: Neil Hodgson (Ducati) +0.231, 4: Pierfrancesco Chili (Ducati) +0.509, 5: Ruben Xaus (Ducati) +0.534, 6: Ivan Clementi (Kawasaki) +0.767, 7: Regis Laconi (Ducati) +0.936, 8: James Toseland (Ducati) 0.950, 9: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +1.474, 10: John Reynolds (RIZLA SUZUKI) +1.944.

*** Rizla Suzuki Rider Yukio Kagayama has been transferred from Lincoln County hospital to Poole General hospital. The Japanese ace who broke his pelvis on August 25th at Cadwell Park BSB, was transferred by private plane with a nurse yesterday to be closer to his family who live in nearby Sandbanks. "I am still sore, but now I am getting better," said Yuki. "Being close to home is good for Kiyomi and Sakura to visit me in hospital. They keep me smiling."