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SBK: Misano race reports (18/4/04) :
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 The fastest Superbike riders in the world had hoped for a dry day of race action, after the ever-changing track in qualifying, but it was another day of drifting parameters and conditions, and which delivered a win apiece to Regis Laconi and Pierfrancesco Chili.
Race One: In the first of the two Superbike races, scheduled for 25 laps, the victor’s laurels went to French rider Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila), who hunted down and caught long term leader Troy Corser (Petronas FP-1) shortly before the morning rains returned and halted the race early. The lap count finally was 17, making for a full points score for all riders who finished in the top 15. In third place, the 998 Ducati of Pierfrancesco Chili was enough to take the 39-year-old rider to a popular podium finish. Just off the podium came the charging Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati) followed by the yellow Ten Kate Honda of Chris Vermeulen in fifth.
Race Two: With a fully wet track in front of them the field of riders chose mostly full wet tyre solutions. The exception proved to be Pierfrancesco Chili, on his latest spec of 998R, who made slow progress before charging through at up to two seconds per lap faster than his peers. He tracked Regis Laconi and on the final lap took the advantage over his championship rival, as his hard compound wet rear tyre became unsuitable for the drying track. In third place, Steve Martin (DFX Ducati) was fully 32 seconds behind Chili. In fourth, Noriyuki Haga was another charging force, while his team-mate in the Renegade Ducati squad, Leon Haslam, equally his best 2004 finish of fifth.
Championship standings: The points standings changed significantly in Superbike, with Chili’s dazzling rides making him the new clear leader with 97, from James Toseland, who had two tough rides eventually finishing tenth and sixth after an abysmal qualifying in 20th. Laconi and Vermeulen share the 70-point mark. |
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