Different track, same problems for Benelli.

The scenery may change but the problems remain the same for the factory Benelli World Superbike team as they once again suffered from a lack of power in qualifying at Imola which left Peter Goddard languishing in 23rd on the grid, four seconds slower than the pace setters.

For the second time this year an Italian circuit has been graced by the fantastic sound of the Benelli Tornado triple motor. The first time was at Misano earlier this year when the Benelli Tornado debuted in World Superbike competition. Now the historic Imola track hosts the Benelli marque in its first year back in international motorcycle competition as the 4.390km track witnesses the final round of the 2001 World Superbike Championship.

The development of the Tornado will benefit greatly from the experiences gained at the Imola circuit, and the data gathered there will be added to all the information the Benelli technicians have harvested at the five previous rounds.

But it's been difficult for the team and rider Peter Goddard again. The entire team is impatient to see the Tornado up front and battling for a podium finish, but the real situation is different. A team in its first year, with a brand new bike, has to settle for less - all the time hoping that the experience gained will prove valuable in the following year.

"It's the same story here as at all the other tracks this year," explained Goddard. "We're short of acceleration and we have no set up data to work from, so we have to start almost from scratch." Benelli aren't the only team without set up information to work from, as the WSBK series hasn't been to Imola before. But many teams, such as Honda and Ducati, have visited the track for testing.

"It's a fast circuit and the uphill sections are especially hard on us," said Goddard, "you really need strong acceleration to be competitive here. But we are making progress and I know the team will work hard in the winter to improve the engine's power."

The Benelli Sport team already have plans and ideas for improving the bike, such a wider choice of gearbox ratios and some reworking of various engine parts, some so drastic that re-homologation for certain parts may be required, but the tight racing schedule hasn't allowed them the time they needed to fully test any major developments for safety and reliability.

"We've managed to improve on our set up," said Goddard. "We struggled a bit on Friday morning with suspension settings, but now we have that more or less sorted and we've got some good Dunlop tyres for the race. But the real work will come in the winter, right now we'll just do what we can to make the bike as reliable and competitive as possible."

Around the fast and flowing (for bikes anyway) Imola circuit, Benelli's power deficiency was clear for all to see as Goddard qualified a disappointing 23rd on the grid with a best lap of 1 minute 52.445 seconds, almost four seconds slower than the pace setting Ruben Xaus. The veteran Australian rider had settled in 21st place overnight after the first session but while others chopped up to one second off their Friday times, Goddard could only trim three tenths off his overnight best resulting in a place on the sixth row of the grid.