Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The SBK Press Office announced that three-day attendance for the combined World Superbike/AMA Superbike event at Laguna Seca set a record at 98,000.

SBK goes on to claim in a press release that this figure makes the Laguna Seca event “the biggest ever event in the history of the Motorcycling series in the USA.”

SCRAMP officials on hand in the media center said that three-day attendance for the track’s latest CART auto racing event was approximately 68,000.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

MotoGP Race Results From Donington Park:

1. Valentino Rossi, Honda RC211V, 30 laps, 46:32.888
2. Max Biaggi, Yamaha YZR-M1, -2.371 seconds
3. Alex Barros, Honda NSR500, -5.533 seconds
4. Norick Abe, Yamaha YZR500, -22.036 seconds
5. Olivier Jacque, Yamaha YZR500, -28.087 seconds
6. Sete Gibernau, Suzuki GSV-R, -28.400 seconds
7. Daijiro Kato, Honda NSR500, -28.947 seconds
8. John Hopkins, Yamaha YZR500, -31.497 seconds
9. Nobuatsu Aoki, Proton KR3, -31.947 seconds
10. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha YZR500, -41.454 seconds
11. Tetsuya Harada, Honda NSR500, -49.458 seconds
12. Garry McCoy, Yamaha YZR500, -53.709 seconds
13. Akira Ryo, Suzuki GSV-R, -54.480 seconds
14. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki GSV-R, -54.594 seconds
15. Jurgen vd Goorbergh, Honda NSR500, -54.866 seconds
16. Regis Laconi, Aprilia RS3, -55.525 seconds
17. Alex Hofmann, Honda NSR500, -65.901 seconds
18. Carlos Checa, Yamaha YZR-M1, -11 laps, DNF, crash
19. Jeremy McWilliams, Proton KR3, -24 laps, DNF, mechanical


MotoGP Point Standings:

1. Rossi, 195 points
2. Ukawa, 108 points
3. Biaggi, 89 points
4. Barros, 87 points
5. Checa, 72 points
6. Abe, 72 points
7. Capirossi, 65 points
8. Kato, 60 points
9. Jacque, 42 points
10. Hopkins, 41 points
11. Roberts, 40 points
12. Aoki, 35 points
13. Harada, 32 points
14. Nakano, 30 points
15. Ryo, 29 points


More, from a press release issued by Marlboro Yamaha:

BRITISH GP, DONINGTON PARK
Race Day, Sunday July 14 2002

MARLBORO YAMAHA DUO STAR IN BRITISH GP
Marlboro Yamaha Team YZR-M1 rider Max Biaggi rode to a determined second-place finish in today’s sun-blessed British GP after team-mate Carlos Checa tumbled out of the lead, leaving Valentino Rossi (Honda) to win his seventh victory of the year.

Biaggi started from the second row of the grid after two tumbles during practice and immediately joined Checa and Rossi out front. The Italian, recovering from a fever that laid him low last week, stayed a close third until Checa’s exit.

“Carlos tried very hard, he was pushing very hard,” said YZR-M1 project leader Ichiro Yoda. “That’s why he crashed, because he wanted to win. I like his motivation, I really appreciate what he was doing out there today. Next time. Many riders crash at the left-hand corners here, because there aren’t so many, the left side of Carlos’ front tyre looked new after his race. Max also rode a good race. His last two GPs haven’t been so easy but he seemed more confident here, and I think we improved the handling of his machine for this track. We’ve also had positive feedback on the new crankshaft. Now we go to Germany and we’ll keep working hard to keep improving.”

Today’s crowd figure of 60,000 was three times that of Donington ’99, proving that MotoGP is rapidly gaining popularity in Britain after a period of low interest in the late nineties.

BIAGGI’S DETERMINED RUN TO SECOND
Max Biaggi scored his first podium finish in three races at Donington to move into third place in the 2002 MotoGP World Championship. This was yet another display of great determination from the four-time 250 World Champion who had suffered from a 39-degree fever last week. Fifth in qualifying, Biaggi made a superb getaway, slotting into third at turn one and staying third until race leader Carlos Checa fell. He ended the race just 2.371 seconds down on winner Valentino Rossi.

“I’m pretty satisfied because I tried 100 per cent, as usual,” said the Marlboro Yamaha Team star. “I got a pretty good start from the second row, kept the door closed for the first few laps and then worked at staying concentrated because the pace was very fast. I could stay with Carlos and Rossi, although my bike was lacking a little agility through the fast section. All things considered, it wasn’t so bad because I’d been sick for a week before I came here. I’ve been on antibiotics, which always leave you a little low on energy.”

CHECA LEADS THE WAY BEFORE FALL
Carlos Checa gave it his all in his 100th premier-class race at Donington today, running a stunning pace in his quest for the YZR-M1’s first MotoGP win. But the Marlboro Yamaha Team rider was cruelly robbed of his victory chance when he lost the front at Goddards, a treacherous off-camber hairpin that had already caught out race rivals Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi during practice. Checa had been riding a brilliant race, leading from the green light all the way to the end of the 18th lap, when he slid off without injury. He bravely restarted but his bike was too badly damaged to allow him to continue.

“I was feeling very comfortable, no problem, the bike was going well and getting better as the fuel load went down,” said the bitterly disappointed Spaniard. “I didn’t feel like I was on the limit. We’d chosen the softest front available and it was sliding a little through the lefts. I was very concentrated, I wasn’t thinking about winning, just about being smooth and consistent. Unfortunately I held on to the front brake a little more than usual at that corner and that’s when I lost it.”

RAMPANT ROSSI TAKES 46TH WIN
World Championship leader Valentino Rossi scored his 46th victory at Donington today, an important success for the Italian who was contesting his 100th GP and always runs number 46. After his win, the three-time World Champion paid tribute to Carlos Checa’s speed. “The pace was incredible, after a few laps I looked behind me and only Biaggi was there,” he said. “Checa was very, very fast and pushing very hard. I was a little faster through the fast part, a little slower through the slow part, so I don’t know what would’ve happened at the end if he hadn’t crashed.”


More, from a press release issued by Red Bull Yamaha:

BRITISH GP – DONINGTON PARK

Race Day – Sunday July 14th 2002

HOPKINS 8TH IN HIS 8TH GP WHILE McCOY COMES BACK STRONG

Red Bull Yamaha Riders, Garry McCoy and John Hopkins both had solid performances at Donington Park today, finishing in the points and moving the Red Bull Team one place further forward into 6th position in the Team World Title chase. In front of a 60,000 strong crowd, McCoy ended his run of bad luck at Donington and finished in 12th place moving up 6 places from his grid position. McCoy seems fit and strong and eagerly wants to get to Germany to get some more time on the bike.

Hopkins, who is vying for the Rookie of the Year Title against Kato and Riba had another stunning race today, after putting in a very frustrating opening lap. Hopper had a great start but the first lap cost him 4 places and he had a determined and focussed race to finish in 8th place. Hopper’s result today confirms his position as 10th on the World Championship table and sees him leap ahead of his fellow American and former 2000 World Champion, Kenny Roberts, whilst being only one point behind former 250 Champion, Olivier Jacque.

John Hopkins – 8th place – scoring 8 points today
World Championship Classification – 10th with 41 points

“I got off the line really well but then during the first few corners I made some mistakes and lost some places. I clawed my way back up through the pack and diced it up with Kato, Gibernau, Jacque and Roberts. All in all I’m happy with my result and I’m in the points again but I’m disappointed that I couldn’t have got a better result considering the great tyres we had.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Battered Bayliss does it again

When Troy Bayliss crashed down to earth after a massive highside in free practice on Saturday Colin Edwards must have thought he was on for a race win on Sunday. But the Australian kept calm, took a massage and came back to grab win number 14.

It was Texan Edwards who made the early running; he led from the start until lap 24. Then, when Edwards made a mistake on lap 24, Bayliss was there to pounce and took off for yet another race win. Despite his heavily bruised and battered body, Bayliss rocketed off to make the win all his.

“Colin rode so hard that my race plan wasn’t working. So I just tried to hang on and waited for him to make a mistake,” Bayliss said. Edwards made that error and gassed the bike just a little harder than his rear tyre could take coming out of turn five. Bayliss had been putting him under pressure prior to that, getting a wheel ahead two laps earlier only for Edwards to grab the lead straight back.

Looking carefully at the time sheets it’s clear that Bayliss is being a little modest, as usual. When Edwards did make his mistake Bayliss not only passed him but also put in a lap at 1:25.794 ­ at a time when everyone else on the track was riding in the mid-1:26 zone.

“We always knew that 28 laps was going to be hard on the tyres and it started taking its toll towards the end there,” said Edwards. The slide at turn six lost Edwards drive on the exit and Bayliss and eventual runner-up Ruben Xaus just slipped by.

“I just couldn’t ride any harder,” Edwards added. “I was doing everything I could while I was leading. Then when they got by I had no reply. We’ve got the machine set up as good as it could be but I’m just missing that grunt out of the corners.

“Race two will be different. I’ve never won at Laguna Seca and I’m getting pissed off with that – it’s going to be a win or crash approach to race two.”

Ruben Xaus managed to get his bike into the lead after Edwards’ mistake, but Bayliss was having none of it and rode by him a turn later. “Ruben was there to make things even more exciting,” commented Bayliss.

Neil Hodgson sat in third position for the first part of the race. But he was overhauled on lap nine by Nori Haga. The Japanese rider then went on to pass Bayliss, who was then back in second place, on the next lap. But when he tried to dive under Edwards going through turn two on lap 13 it proved a move too far. Haga slid off the track, remounted but then retired just a few laps later.

Hodgson got third back – but only for a few laps. Xaus got by him a few laps later and then, on lap 21, Hodgson succumbed to the incessant pressure wild card rider Nicky Hayden had been piling on. Hayden finished the race in a brilliant fourth. “I was happy with the race, Hodgson wasn’t holding me up. We were faster and slower in different places though. All I need is a little more drive grip,” said Hayden.

Eric Bostrom had a great race, beating his brother Ben Bostrom and Aaron Yates to finish sixth. His brother had to make do with eighth after suffering tyre trouble, with Yates making up the meat in the Bostrom sandwich in seventh. “I need to get a better first eight laps in race two,” admitted Eric Bostrom, “then I reckon I can be really strong in the last half of the race.”

World Superbike Race One Results:

1. Troy Bayliss, Ducati, 28 laps
2. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, -0.339 second
3. Colin Edwards, Honda, -2.051 seconds
4. Nicky Hayden, Honda, -2.588 seconds
5. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, -4.104 seconds
6. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, -11.734 seconds
7. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, -17.661 seconds
8. Ben Bostrom, Ducati, -23.752 seconds
9. James Toseland, Ducati, -26.437 seconds
10. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, -30.199 seconds
11. Chris Walker, Kawasaki, -40.945 seconds
12. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati, -41.197 seconds
13. Doug Chandler, Ducati, -43.197 seconds
14. Steve Martin, Ducati, -56.675 seconds
15. Broc Parkes, Ducati, -67.030 seconds
16. Peter Goddard, Benelli, -74.270 seconds
17. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati, -74.624 seconds
18. Alessandro Antonello, Ducati, -79.892 seconds
19. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki, -83.757 seconds
20. Mark Heckles, Honda, -1 lap
21. Mark Miller Honda, -1 lap
22. Bertrand Stey, Honda, -1 lap
23. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki, -8 laps
24. Serafino Foti, Ducati, -11 laps
25. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia, -14 laps, DNF, crash
26. Marco Borciani, Ducati, -19 laps

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sunday Morning AMA Superstock Practice Times:

1. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:30.527
2. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:30.765
3. Jason DiSalvo, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.803
4. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.881
5. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.976
6. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.012
7. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:31.214
8. Craig Connell, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.427
9. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.468
10. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:31.753
11. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:31.792
12. Ty Howard, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.846
13. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.866
14. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.882
15. Christopher Rankin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.102
16. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.348
17. Rich Conicelli, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.451
18. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.817
19. John Dugan, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.941
20. Andrew Nelson, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:32.949
21. Mike Ciccotto, Buell Firebolt XB9R, 1:33.161
22. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.206
23. Michael Hannas, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:33.392
24. Giovanni Rojas, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.776
25. Owen Richey, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:34.094
26. Jeremy Toye, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:34.132
27. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:34.784
28. Jeff Bostrom, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:34.894
29. Mark Ledesma, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:35.237
30. Scott Simpson, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:35.417

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

125cc Grand Prix Race Results:

1. Arnaud Vincent, Aprilia, 26 laps, 42:57.387
2. Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, -0.193 second
3. Manuel Poggiali, Gilera, -0.699 second
4. Masao Azuma, Honda, -13.482 seconds
5. Steve Jenkner, Aprilia, -13.643 seconds
6. Joan Olive, Honda, -14.073 seconds
7. Alex De Angelis, Aprilia, -15.650 seconds
8. Youichi Ui, Derbi, -18.608 seconds
9. Andrea Dovizioso, Honda, -20.761 seconds
10. Shuhei Aoyama, Honda, -21.553 seconds

125cc GP World Championship Point Standings:

1. Poggiali, 147 points
2. Pedrosa, 131 points
3. Vincent, 128 points
4. Lucio Cecchinello, 91 points
5. Jenkner, 80 points

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Edwards prevails at last

Colin Edwards chose the WSB race meeting in his home country to finally break Troy Bayliss’ stranglehold on the series with a hard-fought win. The massive crowd of 98,000 was treated to perhaps the best WSB race of the season so far as Edwards, Bayliss and Neil Hodgson battled their way around the final laps in an epic struggle for victory.

In the end it came down to who could make the least mistakes in a wild war and that honor fell to Edwards who rode hard but kept his head for a great win. When Bayliss and Hodgson started to take bits out of each others’ fairings in the final two laps it gave Edwards the tiny bit of breathing space he needed and he made the most of it.

Early on it was another American who had the crowd standing up and whooping, Eric Bostrom did what no other rider has done for as long as anyone can remember, he put a four-cylinder bike in the lead of a World Superbike race. Eric Bostrom took the lead into the first corner and then shocked Edwards by making a break for it.

“I saw Eric getting away,” said Edwards, “and thought shit! This isn’t good!”

But Bostrom didn’t stay ahead for long, Edwards had promised before the race to do everything up to and including crashing in an attempt to win at Laguna Seca. He overhauled Eric Bostrom on lap four and then made his own breakaway. Bayliss quickly saw the danger and took off after Edwards, passing Bostrom on lap nine. Hodgson joined them and the three broke away from Bostrom late in the race to set the scene for the explosive finale. Eric Bostrom eventually finished fourth, one up on his brother Ben Bostrom.

In the end, with Edwards cashing in on the tremendous fight between Hodgson and Bayliss behind him it was a case of who made the fewest mistakes would get second. Both Hodgson and Bayliss made plenty ­ they slid both tires, touched curbs ­ and even ran over the dirt as they fought over the runner-up spot. Bayliss made the fewer mistakes and was rewarded with second.

“I made so many mistakes,” said Hodgson, “I was a little disappointed with my performance in the first race and was really determined to make amends in race two. I was a bit wild really, I was a little out of control and made a lot of mistakes ­ I’d pass someone then run wide and let them back through. I almost crashed a few times.”

Among those who did crash were Nicky Hayden and Nori Haga who tangled in turn 11 on lap 14. Hayden dived inside Haga to try to claim fifth but lost the front on the brakes. Haga had nowhere to go except up and over Hayden’s Honda and the pair took to the kitty litter together. Hayden remounted to finish 13th as Haga trudged back to the pits.

Ruben Xaus beat even his own worst record for crashing when his throttle jammed open at the Corkscrew on the warm-up lap. He crashed again before the end of the lap and started late ­ and a lap down – from the pit lane. He finished 19th.

While Edwards’ victory meant so much to him, it did little to dent Bayliss’ commanding lead. The Australian is now 53 points ahead of Edwards and looks assured of a second World Superbike championship with only four meetings left.

Next round: July 28 – Brands Hatch, GB

World Superbike Race Two Results:
1. Colin Edwards, Honda, 28 laps
2. Troy Bayliss, Ducati, -1.086 seconds
3. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, -1.672 seconds
4. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, -5.043 seconds
5. Ben Bostrom, Ducati, -11.843 seconds
6. James Toseland, Ducati, -25.747 seconds
7. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati, -26.572 seconds
8. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, -30.234 seconds
9. Chris Walker, Kawasaki, -47.673 seconds
10. Doug Chandler, Ducati, -39.344 seconds
11. Steve Martin, Ducati, -55.463 seconds
12. Broc Parkes, Ducati, -59.065 seconds
13. Nicky Hayden, Honda, -66.996 seconds
14. Peter Goddard, Benelli, -74.841 seconds
15. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki, -79.063 seconds
16. Serafino Foti, Ducati, -83.356 seconds
17. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati, -82.867 seconds
18. Marco Borciani, Ducati, -84.380 seconds
19. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, -1 lap
20. Mark Heckles, Honda, -1 lap
21. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki, -1 lap
22. Mark Miller, Honda, -1 lap
23. Bertrand Stey, Honda, -1 lap
24. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, -14 laps, DNF, mechanical
25. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia, -15 laps, DNF, crash
26. Alessandro Antonello, Ducati, -25 laps, DNF, mechanical


World Superbike championship points after nine of 13 rounds:

1. Bayliss, 405
2. Edwards, 352
3. Hodgson, 221
4. Ben Bostrom, 184
5. Haga, 182
6. Xaus, 172
7. Toseland, 124
8. Walker, 108
9. Chili, 90
10. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki, 84.

Manufacturers points:

1. Ducati, 415
2. Honda, 357
3. Aprilia, 182
4. Kawasaki, 157
5. Suzuki, 101
6. Yamaha, 16
7. Benelli, 10

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The start of on-track activities was delayed because of fog. The morning practice for AMA 250cc Grand Prix was moved to the afternoon, following the first World Superbike race. The first World Superbike race will start at noon Pacific Time.

Honda’s Miguel Duhamel and Yamaha’s Anthony Gobert did not participate in the World Superbike warm-up session.

Sunday Morning World Superbike Warm-up Times:

1. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, 1:25.284
2. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia, 1:25.301
3. Colin Edwards, Honda, 1:25.390
4. Ben Bostrom, Ducati, 1:25.422
5. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 1:25.448
6. Troy Bayliss, Ducati, 1:25.652
7. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:25.668
8. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:25.879
9. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, 1:25.917
10. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, 1:26.294
11. Doug Chandler, Ducati, 1:26.472
12. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati, 1:26.473
13. Steve Martin, Ducati, 1:27.165
14. James Toseland, Ducati, 1:27.171
15. Chris Walker, Kawasaki, 1:27.276
16. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati, 1:27.695
17. Peter Goddard, Benelli, 1:28.230
18. Broc Parkes, Ducati, 1:28.369
19. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki, 1:28.761
20. Mark Heckles, Honda, 1:29.036

From a press release issued by HMC Ducati:

Two in a row for Chandler

HMC Ducati rider Doug Chandler came through the chaos of Laguna Seca’s AMA Superbike race to claim his second podium in a row. After a difficult qualifying session the Californian triumphed; starting from eighth on the grid to finish third in a fast, furious race. Five laps in, the race was red flagged when Kurtis Roberts high sided taking out Jamie Hacking. The restart took Chandler up to fifth on the grid and an instant fourth place in Hacking’s absence. Another crash, another restart. Chandler kept his fourth place until a smooth overtaking move on Aaron Yates, with six laps to go, elevated him to the podium.

The Salinas local has been fast in all AMA sessions bar qualifying, where a choice of new tires caused set-up problems and Chandler could do no better than eighth place. The problem was quickly resolved and Doug was back in the top three in morning practice.

“It was crazy with the two red flags,” said a relieved Chandler, finally out of his leathers after four straight hours. “The first tire I liked but I wasn’t going to risk going out a third time on it so I opted to put something else on. That one definitely got the job done but I wouldn’t use it again. A lesson for tomorrow’s race.

“Nicky and Eric seemed to have things just a little more sorted and they quickly dropped us. At one stage I was wondering if I‘d be good to the end but I regrouped and changed my riding style a little and my lap times started getting better. It got really crazy towards the end; I was doing everything I could just to keep the thing on two wheels. It was more of a survival race in this heat, you couldn’t really charge at all.”

World Superbike Qualifying

Doug Chandler qualified ninth in today’s World Superbike qualifying session, the second fastest of the wildcard riders, but found Superpole a struggle, clocking a 1:26.406 to put him 13th on the grid.

“I couldn’t get into it,” he said simply. “I knew I was going to have a hard time going out there with a brand new qualifier without anytime on it. But it’s a long race and we know we can do better times with the race tire.”


From a press release issued by Mat Mladin’s publicist:

INJURY FORCES MLADIN TO RETIRE FROM AMA SUPERBIKE RACE AT LAGUNA SECA

Mat Mladin’s inspired form at this weekend’s combined American Superbike and World Superbike Championship round at Laguna Seca Raceway came to a momentary halt after a crash in the final World Superbike qualifying session forced him to retire from the AMA Superbike Championship race after just five laps.

His crash came just 45 minutes before the start of the AMA Superbike race and Mladin had to quickly make his way from the circuit Medical Centre and onto the grid for the start of the race.

The three-time American Superbike Champion suffered bruising to the back of both hands and abrasions to his right shoulder in the fall at the fast downhill right hand Turn Ten.

He took his position on the front row of the grid, but once the 28-lap race started, he slipped down the order and was lying in eighth place as the field crossed the line on lap five when officials brought out the red flag as a result of a multiple bike crash. He did not return to the track for the resumption of the race.

“I tried for a few laps out there, but my hands and head were aching,” said Mladin. “I was dropping back through the field after a couple of laps and it wasn’t really worth it for me out there in this condition.”

As for the crash, Mladin was surprised as to how it happened. “I was surprised as I didn’t think I was doing anything different. I was on my out lap with a qualifying tyre on and I guess that I didn’t get the right side of the tyre hot enough. I slapped my hands down hard and landed hard on my shoulders as well. I’ve got practice and Superpole in a short while for the World Superbike event, so I’ll rest up and see how it goes out there.”

Today’s AMA Superbike race was won by Eric Bostrom (Team Kawasaki) who held out championship points leader Nicky Hayden (American Honda) and Doug Chandler (HMC Ducati). The race was stopped on two separate occasions in the early laps, before Bostrom broke away to win by 9.798 seconds from Hayden.


More, from World Superbike team HM Plant Ducati:

Hard work pays off for HM Plant Ducati

Neil Hodgson only narrowly missed out on his second pole position of the year at Laguna Seca Raceway in California. The HM Plant Ducati rider’s time of 1:25.189 was just 0.3secs of that of home rider and pole sitter Colin Edwards. A rear wheel slide may have been the only thing that prevented the 28-year-old Englishman from heading up the grid. Hodgson’s young team-mate James Toseland put in another determined Superpole performance aboard his spare bike to earn himself a ninth place start for Sunday’s two Superbike races.

Hodgson had performed consistently well all day and was third fastest after regulation qualifying. Then, in a session that saw Laguna specialist Ben Bostrom, among others, crash out, his flying Superpole lap was effective enough to place him on the front row at a circuit that he loves and has performed well at in the past.

“It seems like all the hard work that the team has been putting in is beginning to pay off,” said Hodgson. “I’m really pleased to have got second place on the grid and it’s made all the sweeter by the fact that I’m also the first Ducati rider and the first Dunlop rider. The track had cooled a lot by the time I went out for Superpole and I’m not sure that the tyre I chose was the right one for the conditions. The rear got away from me a little on the way out of turn three and I had to back off a bit, which may have just cost me pole. At the end of the day it’s not a problem because I’m still right at the front and ready to really go for it when the lights change.”

James Toseland’s 1:26.129 Superpole lap was enough to put him at the head of the third row. The 21-year-old Superbike star had been forced to resort to his back-up bike after a post-crash fire destroyed his first choice machine on Friday. As a direct consequence, Toseland had to use Saturday’s qualifying time to perfect the set-up of his HM Plant Ducati rather than going for fast laps, but he made up the deficit admirably during Superpole.

“I’m a little disappointed not to have made it onto the front two rows but my Superpole lap was as good as any I’ve done all weekend and I’ve qualified better than some really fast guys who know this place like the back of their hand. I’ve been a little cautious during qualifying due to the fact that I’ve don’t have a spare bike any more, but I’m well up for the races and know that a top six finish is well within my capabilities.”



More, from Aprilia:

HAGA AND APRILIA MAKE FRONT ROW

Laguna Seca (United States), Saturday 13 July 2002 – Noriyuki Haga played a lead role in the final qualifying for the US Superbike GP at Laguna Seca. The Playstation2 – FGF Aprilia Team ace made fourth quickest time in the Superpole and will thus be starting from front row on the grid.

Nitro-Nori was timed at 1’25″429 but had actually done better in the free practice beforehand, when he achieved 1’25″234, with an “ideal time” (the sum of the best intermediates) of 1’24″969, using the same tyres he will be mounting for the two races tomorrow. All this would suggest that the Haga-Aprilia combination should be able to put up a great fight. It was on this track that the RSV was ridden to victory in 2000, while Haga has won twice. Meanwhile, the Japanese has sliced six tenths off the best time achieved by his predecessor Troy Corser last year.

NORIYUKI HAGA (Playstation2 – FGF Aprilia Team rider) – I’m happy, because we started out with a few problems but we’ve managed to improve with each session. I could have got an even better time in the Superpole, but unfortunately I made a slip halfway through the lap and lost at least a couple of tenths. I love Laguna Seca and I’m looking forward to two great races tomorrow.”

GIACOMO GUIDOTTI (Technical Manager of the Playstation2 – FGF Aprilia Team) commented: “We’re very pleased, because Haga was using race tyres and made a fantastic simulation, doing every lap under the threshold of 1’26”, which means he was constantly below the circuit record set last year by Corser.

We got what we were aiming for: front row on the grid and really effective tyres. We’ll be trying to get a bit better handling in the warm up, and then we’ll just go for it.”


More, from Castrol Honda:

Colin Edwards: “I knew the lap time was in there. I put it together but, better than that, we know that Michelin have a good one-lap Superpole tyre and a good race tyre for Laguna. I want to follow today with two wins tomorrow.
The crash this morning was stupid. There was oil on the track at turn five and I couldn_t do a thing about it. I was taking the corner as normal but as I braked I knew it wasn’t right.”

Edwards was later fined 3000 Swiss francs by officials after he grabbed the red flag and stopped the morning’s qualifying session so the oil could be cleared from the circuit. He commented: “I’m very disappointed with the fine but I was thinking about the safety of all the other riders and I’ve seen too many bad crashes because oil on the circuit hasn’t been spotted.”


More, from Benelli Sport:

Peter Goddard: “We were a lot faster than yesterday and a bit quicker than last year, but just not fast enough. We also had a small problem at the end of the final qualifying session and I didn’t get out to use my final qualifying tyre. It’s going to be a hard day on Sunday being far back on the grid, but the race will probably be a race of attrition with all those wild cards around so I’ll just keep my head and try to pick up some places. We’ve gone all four sessions without mechanical trouble. This has given us more time on the track and a chance to concentrate on set up, that’s valuable time at this level.”


More, from Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki:

Gregorio Lavilla was forced to sit out Superpole qualifying after a heavy fall in the closing minutes of the afternoon untimed practice. His left ankle was injured in the crash and he also damaged two fingers of his left hand: “Today we improved the bike and it felt a bit better _ especially on race rubber. On qualifying tyres there was a slight improvement, so we were hopeful of a god Superpole. But in the final few minutes of the afternoon qualifying just before Superpole I was highside exiting the second fast right-hander and injured myself. I had done one lap on the tyre and then pulled in because of the red flag. We put the tyre warmers on the bike and then when the session restarted we went out for the end of the session. I think the tyre was up to temperature OK, but there not many left-handers, so maybe the tyre wasn’t as hot as it should’ve been. I lost the rear and that was that. My left ankle took a bit of a battering and by the time I was drive back to the pits, there wasn’t really enough time to get ready for Superpole. Because of my ankle, I’m not sure if I could’ve made a good lap anyway. Obviously I’m disappointed, but I hope it’s not too sore in the morning. We’ll have to see.”


More, from Infostrada Ducati:

Troy Bayliss: “I feel a little beat up but I‘m happy to be on the front row. We were thinking of sitting it out and we would have ended up eighth on row 2 but we decided to go for it anyway. I’m glad I did because it’s important to be as close as possible to Colin. The good thing is that the bike is really quick around here and I set some quick times on my race tyres this afternoon, which makes me feel confident for tomorrow’s races”.

Ruben Xaus: “This morning was not so good, the set-up of the bike wasn’t perfect but now it’s getting a lot better. We found some things that helped me and I was really confident in Superpole. I thought my Superpole lap was not so good but maybe that’s the way to go, over the edge at the Corkscrew. With the race tyre I did some really good times in the long-run, so for the moment it’s OK and I hope tomorrow to do the same.”


More, from L&M Ducati:

Ben Bostrom: “I don’t know what happened, I was just going slow down the hill to save my qualifying tyres for the lap. I went through Turn 9 and took my tear-off strip and started to tilt it in for Turn 10 and the bike just went out from under me. I thought I hit dirt or oil but it could have been a tear-off. I was pretty pleased with my long-run because I went fast, the tyre feels pretty good, the set-up is close but we’ve still got a few more things to do tomorrow.”


More, from the SBK Press Office:

Edwards Takes Pole Position

A Superpole lap time of 1’24″888, just outside the new absolute track record of 1’24″833, gave Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda) a much-coveted Superpole win on home ground, after what proved to be a close and dramatic Superpole competition for the top 16 regulation qualifiers.
Neil Hodgson (HM Plant Ducati) scored an excellent second place on the Superpole time sheets, and may have taken pole himself had he not experienced a severe rear wheel slide on the exit of turn three, losing vital forward motion.
Despite the cumulative effects of earlier crashes, Troy Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) braved his back pain to score a third place on the grid. His suffering was such that he missed the Superpole front row press conference to attend the Clinica Mobile for treatment.

An excellent charging ride from Noriyuki Haga (Playstation2 Aprilia) put the other Italian factory on the front row.
A similar feat of riding skill, this time on a four-cylinder machine, gave Eric Bostrom a fifth place start, the first man on the second row and the first four-cylinder rider in the classification.

His countryman, and top ‘pure’ wild card rider, was Aaron Yates (Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki) in sixth, while Ruben Xaus (Ducati Infostrada) scored a good seventh, finding some pace after a difficult weekend thus far.

Two riders crashed out of the Superpole session itself, one being Ben Bostrom (L&M Ducati) who fell in strange circumstances. Bostrom felt that he crashed on oil or dirt but some trackside witnesses speculated that he might even have fallen on another rider’s tear off visor. Due to his front row qualifying performance before Superpole he was only relegated to the last place on row two.

James Toseland scored ninth place on his HM Plant private Ducati, one place ahead of regular qualifying faller Mat Mladin (Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki).

Nicky Hayden (Honda), another wild card, had a difficult Superpole, scoring 11th place after a good regulation qualifying performance.

Pierfrancesco Chili went 12th after a subdued ride in Superpole, one place ahead of local Ducati runner Doug Chandler and regular private DFX Ducati man Steve Martin.

Lucio Pedercini was an early crasher on his self-entered Ducati, losing the front inexplicably at turn five.

Gregorio Lavilla (Alstare Suzuki) is almost certain to start the races, although he did not start Superpole after suffering a painful crash in the final untimed qualifying session. His failure to set a time puts him on the last place on the fourth row.

A total of 29 riders qualified for the brace of Superbike races on Sunday.


More, from a press release issued by Honda:

AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship: Round 12
Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca
Monterey, California,
July 13, 2002

Weather: Sunny, 30 degrees
Crowd: 50,000

Hayden fights for second

American Honda’s Nicky Hayden persevered through two red flag stoppages, a race that lasted twice as long as normal, and more track time than any other race weekend of the year to take second to championship rival Eric Bostrom (Kawasaki) in the AMA Superbike race on a sweltering afternoon at Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca.

“I was right there with him earlier on, but I couldn’t really do much with him,” Hayden, 20, said. “I was just hanging on, pretty much. I felt all right, and I just thought maybe I’d keep going and see if I could make up some time once the tires went off a little bit. And I got in traffic, and obviously, you know, they didn’t go my way today.”

Bruce Transportation Group’s Jake Zemke gave the Honda CBR-954RR its first ever win with a runaway victory in the Formula Xtreme race. Starting from the front row, Zemke led every lap, winning by 8.641 seconds, the largest margin of victory of the season.

“It seemed like I was just on a Sunday cruise out there,” Zemke said. “When the bike’s working that good it makes it easy to come out on top.”

The win vaulted the Californian into the Formula Xtreme championship points lead. With two rounds remaining, he holds an eight point lead.

Despite finishing second, by 9.798 seconds, Hayden carries a 36 point lead into the final two meetings, both Superbike double-headers, on the AMA calendar. Behind Bostrom is American Honda’s Miguel DuHamel. The veteran was injured in the Pro Honda Oils 600cc Supersport crash on Friday and rode hurt to fifth place in the Superbike race, besting fellow French-Canadian Pascal Picotte (Ducati).

Erion Honda’s Kurtis Roberts crashed out unhurt on the fifth of 28 laps. Roberts was exiting the high-speed downhill right-hand turn 10 when the rear wheel stepped out, throwing him off and taking Suzuki rider Jamie Hacking with him.

The AMA race is run on Saturday, slotted in among the various practice and qualifying sessions of the World Superbike race, run the same weekend at the Monterey, California circuit. Hayden had no sooner finished qualifying fifth-tops among the seven American wild cards-for the World Superbike race, when he had to jump into the thick of the AMA Superbike race.

The first attempt at running the race was red-flagged by a crash on the sixth lap. The second attempt lasted little more than a lap. The final segment lasted 21 laps. Hayden stayed with Bostrom for much of the race, finally settling for his position late in the race and taking the certain points into the final rounds.

Nicky’s younger brother, Roger Lee Hayden, carded top Honda honors in the Pro Honda Oils 600cc Supersport race, finishing fourth. The race was won by Suzuki’s Jamie Hacking from teammate Aaron Yates, and the oldest of the Haydens, Tommy, on a Kawasaki. DuHamel, making his first 600cc Supersport appearance since the opening round at Daytona, crashed out of a contending position on the seventh lap.

Nicky Hayden, Second Place
Eric (Bostrom) just rode really good, and was just really smooth and consistent, never really made any mistakes, so he made it hard on me. But he did a great job. I just want to thank the Honda team for giving me a great bike. We got some work to do still. A lot of racing yet to go this weekend, so hopefully we can make some changes and get it going a little better. But for the most part my bike was pretty good early, and then kind of, got to do something to make it a little better at the end. But the Dunlops were really good, and the pace was fast early. So I’m just looking forward to trying to get things better. There’s a few spots that I need to work. I know one corner where I just want to get better. So hopefully it’ll be better. I just wish I could have got up there and raced Eric and put on a better show.

Miguel DuHamel, Fifth Place
I got blocked pretty bad by traffic and they (Aaron Yates and Doug Chandler) got a big gap on me and then I tried and got back into the 1:27s and I thought I felt a little vibration in the rear tire, but the tire was alright. It did get greasy. And when I saw Doug (Chandler) did get (Aaron) Yates and pulled away from him, I said, ‘Well I’m only losing one point to Yates in the championship.’ Then I got a couple of big slides and set on this pace. For a while I was thinking I was going to get Yates. I was making tow-tenths a lap. Al (Ludington), my crew chief was telling me the intervals on the radio and everything was going well and then we hit traffic. Then you know I wasn’t 100%. My body, everything’s tired. Right foot, right ankle, muscles in my right thigh got a real big bang, skin off my hip, my right shoulder’s gone, so I’m overworking my left side. I’ve got three or four ribs that are suspect.

Kurtis Roberts, DNF
I went into that corner and the thing kicked back to the inside and threw me off the inside, which was strange. It was spinning a little bit, but was pretty far out of the corner. I didn’t even slide off the track. I stood up in the middle of the race track. I was pretty well out of the danger zone. Just kind of sprung back to the inside and threw me off. I knew one of the Suzukis was close. I didn’t know which one it was. Unfortunately that happened, too. It was really an easy crash. The whole thing was kind of surreal. Didn’t really happen. But unfortunately, this year’s not over yet.