TWO GREAT RACES AT MONZA PRODUCE TWO PODIUMS FOR THE DUCATI XEROX
TEAM: TOSELAND THIRD IN RACE 1, LACONI SECOND IN GARA 2

Monza (Italy), Sunday 8 May: The fourth round of the World Superbike
Championship at Monza produced two great races today in front of 93,000 fans and
in particular two important results for the Ducati Xerox Team following a
difficult start to the season. After a superb recovery in race 1, James Toseland
takes home an excellent third place behind the two Suzukis of Corser and
Kagayama, a real confidence boost for the young reigning champion. While in the
second race of the day, Régis Laconi led across the startline on every lap until
half way through the final lap, when he was passed by Vermuelen (Honda), who
went onto take the win.

"In the last few laps I saw on my pit board that someone was behind me but I
didn't have time to see who it was, as I was just trying to keep my small
advantage" declared Laconi. "Maybe I pushed too much on my tyre to hold off Troy
in the early laps because the left side was becoming very difficult and the tyre
was sliding around. But I am very happy because I made a good race result and we
pushed very hard to be there today. I really wanted to win today but Chris
passed me on the last lap. He was just a little bit faster than me for the last
few laps but we will see next time! I gave my best and I am happy when I get a
result like that".

"I'm slightly disappointed that the second race wasn't as good as the first but
we had a bit of a spin problem and I wasn't able to slipstream the Kawasaki and
the Yamaha and when I did, after eight laps, the leaders had gone" explained
Toseland. "The podium in race 1 was the best bonus for me. It was a race in
which I showed everyone, the team and myself that I am capable of repeating my
performances of last season. The team has been well-organised all weekend, we
found a great set-up at the start and we were able to run two confident races.
It's been a positive weekend all round because I was on the podium and I'm
taking a trophy home to Silverstone for the British Round".

RACE 1:

 1. Corser (Suzuki)
 2. Kagayama (Suzuki)
 3. Toseland (Ducati Xerox)
 4. Laconi (Ducati Xerox)
 5. Pitt (Yamaha)
 6. Muggeridge (Honda)
 7. Chili (Honda)
 8. Walker (Kawasaki)

RACE 2:

 1. Vermeulen (Honda)
 2. Laconi
 3. Corser
 4. Muggeridge
 5. Toseland
 6. Pitt
 7. Chili
 8. Walker

POINTS (after 4 of 12 rounds) :

Riders
 1. Corser     182
 2. Kagayama   130
 3. Vermeulen  115
 4. Laconi      87
 5. Pitt        60
 6. Toseland    57

Manufacturers
 1. Suzuki   191
 2. Honda    128
 3. Ducati   100
 4. Yamaha    86
 5. Kawasaki  66
 6. Petronas   1