[Mark]

As the 2005 season fast approaches, Regis Laconi recently admitted to Crash.net reporter Johnny Green at the Valencia test that he simply crashed too many times last season to take the championship.

Second in the overall standings to team-mate James Toseland, Laconi scored the most amount of wins in the 2004 season, racking up seven wins to Toseland's three. However this still was not enough to crown him world champion.

“I made too many mistakes to become world champion,” admitted Laconi. “I was the fastest guy last year throughout the season but I made some mistakes. Then at the last race at Mangy Cours I finished third twice, and was not enough to take the title.”

“But it was good last year, it was a good experience, and now I look forward to this season equipped with that experience," he added.

The first race of the 2005 season takes place at Qatar on 26th February.