settled into a good rhythm and kept w ith
him, but he didn't give me an inch or a
space to pass , and all I co uld do was sit
behind him until we got home. We made
a slight setting change on the rear to
improve rear gr ip and traction, so all
credit to the team for that."
Toseland , back to some kind of best
after a crisis of confidence, breathed a sigh
of re lief and then allowed himself a smile
as he secured the championship lead bac k
fro m Lacon i, 20 I points to 198 .
Vermeulen was the happiest camper imaginable - even if they did play the wrong
nat ional ant hem after his race one win .
"Waltzing Matilda" not 'Advance Australia
Fair?" How playing 'Am erican Pie" rather
than the "Star Spangled Banner" would go
down with the local crowd was thankfully
not tested .
That problem was sorted for race two,
but Vermeulen shouldn't care.
He sits on 187 points, only 14 from the
lead. In fourth Haga has 162, with Chili fifth
on 160. The winning totals now stand at
Laconi five, Haga and Vermeulen three, wid!
Chili, McCoy and Toseland with one apiece .
The fours are co ming - sorry the fours
are here - and if there is entertainment like
this for the next couple of races and only 41
points seperating the top fIVe riders toward
the end of the championsh ip, it's going to be
another grandstand finish. Such is the con tracted SBK race caiendar that there are
only four rou nds and eight races left in any
case. Brands Hatch is next, August I. eN
MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA
MONTEREY, CAUFORNIA
RESULTS: JULY II, 2004 (ROU ND
7)
SI8K QUALIFYING , I. Steve Hartin ( 1,26.9 12); 2.
James Toseland ( 1;26.94); J. Chris Venneulen (U6.987);
4. Pier-Francesco Chili ( I:27.200 ); 5. Troy Corser
( 1'27.H I); 6. Reg;. Laccot (U H 85); 7. Gany H Sandmi (Kaw); 9.
Leon Ha.lam (Due); 10. Tnoy Cone< (Pet) ; II. t1M
