Octagon

In the World Supersport Championship Assen race winner Karl Muggeridge was the top man, and by some considerable margin after the final 45-minute timed session. His time of 1:51.529 was a new record in qualifying, and over two seconds better than the existing race lap record.

Second overall was Stephane Chambon (Alstare Suzuki) who ran out the best Suzuki rider. Only Chambon and his team-mate Katsuaki Fujiwara can prevent today’s third fastest man Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda) from taking the title on Sunday, but with Fujiwara unable to improve his time from Friday Vermeulen is in a good position for the 21-lap race.

The rise of Sebastien Charpentier (Klaffi Honda) continued when he scored a front row start, ahead of Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Belgarda R6). Local rider and series regular Alessio Corradi (Team Italia Spadaro Yamaha) crashed in qualifying, with the red flag being brought out as he was attended at trackside. He broke his kneecap in the fall, and was ruled out of the race.

Ten Kate

Ten Kate Honda’s Karl Muggeridge destroyed the lap record by 2.4s in a thunderous finale to the second and final qualifying session as he took pole position in round 10 of the World Supersport championship at Imola, Italy on Saturday.

“I’m surprised at the lap time; it felt like any other lap but it proves that you can go fast without feeling like you’re out of shape everywhere,” said Muggeridge, who claimed his fifth pole of the season.

The 29-year-old Australian was the only rider to break the 1m 52s barrier, his time of 1m 51.592s giving him a 0.661s cushion over second-placed, Stephane Chambon with championship leader and Ten Kate team-mate, Chris Vermeulen 0.761s behind in third.

Vermeulen, who posted the quickest time in Friday’s qualifying, was nevertheless satisfied with his day’s work and acknowledged his team-mate’s blistering form.

“That was a good session for me, just confirming we have everything in place for the race tomorrow. I tried as hard as I could but I can’t believe Karl’s lap time. That is some lap he did,” said Vermeulen, who will become 2003 World Supersport champion if he finishes inside the top eight in Sunday’s race.

Team manager Ronald ten Kate was equally amazed by Muggeridge’s sublime performance. “It really was an exceptional effort but it has come as no surprise to the team that Karl is on the pace. He’s really got down to work in the last three rounds and it’s paying off with the win at Assen and pole position here.”

The spotlight may be on Vermeulen but the Australian youngster seems to be taking everything in his stride. “Chris is only 21 but he has the mature brain of a 30-year-old. He knows what he has to do tomorrow and he’ll go out and do what he has done in the past nine races,” added Ten Kate.

Despite the championship title being within touching distance, Ten Kate’s Australian double act will continue to do what they have been doing all season long: racing to win.

Karl Muggeridge

Ten Kate Honda’s Karl Muggeridge was third fastest in today’s opening qualifying session at round 10 of the World Supersport Championship at the 4.933 km Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit at Imola, Italy.

Muggas who won the last World Supersport round at his team’s home event in Assen is confident to for another podium here at Imola. The bike is feeling pretty good and they’ve made some relevant improvements since the morning session.

Muggas comments: “It went quite well, but I’m still a bit disappointed with this session, as I never got a clear lap on a soft tyre, there were just too many people coasting out there. I know I could have definitely gone faster, so hopefully we will get an opportunity tomorrow.”

The CBR rider’s ideal time (1’52.502) of today’s qualifying session shows that there is quite a bit left for tomorrow.

Chris Vermeulen

The countdown is on to Chris Vermeulen’s date with world championship glory, in tonight’s 10th and penultimate round of the World Supersport Championship at Imola, Italy. The Tenkate Honda rider will start the race from third on the grid, after losing provisional pole to his team mate Karl Muggeridge.

“That was a good session for me, just confirming we have everything in place for the race tomorrow. I tried as hard as I could but I can’t believe Karl’s lap time. That is some lap he did,” said Vermeulen.  The 21 year old just needs a handful of points to secure his maiden world championship, before moving his career into big time racing next season.

Team manager Ronald ten Kate said that while the world’s motorcycle spotlight may be on Vermeulen the Australian youngster seems to be taking everything in his stride. “Chris is only 21 but he has the mature brain of a 30 year old. He knows what he has to do tomorrow and he’ll go out and do what he has done in the past nine races,” added Ten Kate.

“I’m ready to race, no question,” said a determined Vermeulen. “We’ve got a good rear race tyre, the machine feels great and I just want to get on with it.”

Suzuki

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Stephane Chambon finished last year's race at Imola in second place and that's where he ended up today after final qualifying. His time of 1:52.253 was an amazing one and half seconds inside the lap record, but unfortunately was beaten by Karl Muggeridge (Honda) during today's final qualifying session. Chambon's team mate Katsuaki Fujiwara found today a bit of a struggle - due to set-up problems - and ended up sixth fastest, but still in with a chance. The pace of Supersport qualifying was so frantic that pole-setter Muggeridge would've qualified in the top fourteen for the Superbike race! Third quickest this afternoon was series leader Chris Vermeulen (Honda), with Sebastien Charpentier -also Honda - completing the front row of the grid.

STEPHANE CHAMBON - 2nd, 1:52.253: I'm pretty happy with my time and I'm happy to be on the front row of the grid - that was the goal today, so it's been a good start. My GSXR600 is working well and considering that it is an 'old bike', I think the team have done really well to give me such a competitive machine. I hope I can repay them tomorrow with a good result and also push hard, so that I end up second in the championship. That's my aim, because I don't think anybody can catch Vermeulen up front.

KATSUAKI FUJIWARA - 6th, 1:52.934: I'm not so happy because I wanted a place on the front row. The main problem is settings. I just haven't found anything that I'm really happy with and because of that I haven't been able to challenge the top three.
But, the times are quite close and in the race anything can happen, so I haven't given up yet. We'll think about things tonight and maybe try some things out in the morning warm-up tomorrow, but whatever happens I'll be giving my best in the race. Last year I won here, so I want a podium at the very least.

Kawasaki

With the weather conditions at Imola remaining warm and dry for the final entire untimed and official qualifying sessions Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-6RR) and Pere Riba (Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-6RR) fought hard to push themselves into the top starting positions. A day of hard work and occasional misfortune saw Foret end his pre-race competition ninth fastest with a 1:53.229 and Riba 19th with a 1:54.086.

The inability of the team to test at this venue with the 2003 spec ZX-6RR has played its part in today's results, and small but ill-timed technical problems for Riba meant he could not improve his first day time enough to move to the front of the grid. Pole man proved to be Karl Muggeridge (Honda) with a 1:51.529.

Foret and his crew combined in the final session to make improvements in lap times proving that the set-up direction was the correct one, but with other riders also going faster Foret has to start on the third row of the grid.

"I am happy with my lap time because I have improved but I am disappointed to be down in ninth position," said the 2002 World Champion. "We have been able to improve the bike but the track is so bumpy it is difficult to set the bike up for this circuit."

For Riba, who had to complete some of the session on his second machine, the final day of qualifying at Imola proved to be a tough assignment, especially with the intervention of other riders. "I tried to work step by step today but we had too many problems," said Riba. "I got held up on my fastest lap and there is only so much I can do. I am sure we will be much stronger in the race tomorrow."

The 21-lap Supersport race at Imola takes place at 13.20 local time, Sunday 28 September.