Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Pro Thunder Results:

1. Kirk McCarthy, Ducati 748RS, 10 laps
2. Tom Montano, Ducati 748R, -0.632
3. Mike Ciccotto, Buell XB9R, -7.014
4. Tripp Nobles, Buell XB9R, -18.143
5. Heath Small, Ducati 748RS, -44.528
6. Richie Morris, Buell X-1, -54.211
7. Dan Bilansky, Buell X-1, -54.278
8. Dave Estok, Buell XB9R, -70.538
9. Josh Bryan, Ducati 748, -72.088
10. Kevin Hanson, Ducati 748, -80.455
11. Clark Freatman, Ducati 748
12. Brian Weber
13. Jessica Zalusky, Ducati 748
14. Alex Freeman, Suz SV650, -1 lap
15. Charles Sipp, Buell 1200, -1 lap
16. Chris Knight, Ducati 748, -4 laps
17. Michael Handegard, Suzuki SV650, -4 laps, DNF, crash
18. Greg Avello, Buell X-1, -5 laps
19. Shawn Higbee, Buell XB9R, -7 laps

Pro Thunder Point Standings:

1. McCarthy, 113 points
2. Ciccotto, 90 points
3. Montano, 73 points
4. Bryan, 72 points
5. Freatman, 63 points
6. Estok, 55 points
7. Charlie Hewett, 47 points
8. Sipp, 44 points
9. Small, 42 points
10. Hull, 40 points

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Foret takes a the Lausitz lap record, the race win and the championship lead

Fabien Foret put in another faultless display in his Ten Kate Honda to take the win at Lausitzring in the World Supersport championship race. Foret, who qualified for the race in pole, was third into the first bend behind holeshot man Katsuaki Fujiwara and Andrew Pitt.

On lap two Foret shot by Pitt under brakes into turn one, a move he repeated on lap four when he passed Fujiwara for the lead. For lap after lap it looked like he wouldn’t be able to break Fujiwara, who clung grimly onto the back of Foret and his superfast Honda.

Then in the closing stages Foret poured on the style, taking the lap record as late as lap 18. Fujiwara had no answer to Foret’s late pace, and slipped to nearly two seconds behind. Foret slowed right up on the last lap but still finished 0.7 seconds up on Fujiwara.

In the latter stages of the race a fight developed for second place between Fujiwara, Chambon, Pitt and Christian Kellner. Pitt managed to squeeze past Chambon on lap 22, which put Chambon further adrift from Foret in the title chase. Foret’s win meant that he moved into the
championship lead, nine points up on Chambon. Foret had trailed Chambon by three points going into the race.

It was a disappointing day for Karl Muggeridge who lost the front end of his Honda early in the race while carving through the pack. He was lying third when he crashed. He remounted to finish 17. Kellner ended up fifth in front of the young Australian Chris Vermeulen.


Lausitzring World Supersport Race Results:

1. Fabien Foret, Honda CBR600F,23 laps, 40:02.756
2. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Suzuki GSX-R600, -0.721
3. Andrew Pitt,Kawasaki ZX-6R,-1.354
4. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki GSX-R600, -1.691
5. Christian Kellner, Yamaha YZF-R6, -3.339
6. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR600F, -17.532
7. James Whitham, Yamaha YZF-R6, -18.695
8. Jörg Teuchert, Yamaha YZF-R6, -21.344
9. Kevin Curtain, Yamaha YZF-R6, -21.480
10. Paolo Casoli, Yamaha YZF-R6, -31.041
11. Stefano Cruciani, Yamaha YZF-R6, -37.601
12. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Ducati 748R, -39.217
13. Iain MacPherson, Honda CBR600F, -39.938
14. Alessio Corradi, Yamaha YZF-R6, -42.511
15. Robert Ulm,Honda CBR600F, -43.968
16. Christian Zaiser, Yamaha YZF-R6, -50.114
17. Karl Muggeridge, Honda CBR600F, -52.160
18. David De Gea, Honda CBR600F, -62.953
19. Antonio Carlacci, Yamaha YZF-R6, -67.286
20. Gianluca Nannelli, Ducati 748R, -67.851
21. Claudio Cipriani, Yamaha YZF-R6, -70.285
22. Rico Penzkofer, Ducati 748R, -78.915
23. Diego Giugovaz, Yamaha YZF-R6, -3 laps, DNF
24. James Ellison, Kawasaki ZX-6R, -13 laps, DNF 25. Christophe Cogan, Honda CBR600F,-21 laps, DNF
26. Matthieu Lagrive, Yamaha YZF-R6, -22 laps, DNF
27. Ron Van Steenbergen, Honda CBR600F, -22 laps, DNF
28. Robert Frost, Yamaha YZF-R6, -23 laps, DNF
29. Kyro Verstraeten, Honda CBR600F, DNS

More, from Ten Kate Honda:

Foret takes his third win of the season at Lasitzring

Ten Kate Honda rider Fabien Foret put in a masterful display at Lausitzring today to take his third win of the season. Pole sitter Foret
took the race win in style, even setting the lap record on lap 18! The win put him nine points clear at the top of the championship table.

“The track really suits my racing style,” commented Fabien after the race. “Both my bike and the Pirelli tyres worked very well. It was easy for me this weekend, I just had to get on my bike and ride. Everything was perfect.”

When asked how it was possible for him to set the lap record so late in the race at a time when other riders were starting to suffer from tyre
wear, Foret replied; “The Pirelli tyres I used today are incredible. They gave their best all through the race and right up to the chequered
flag they were still working perfectly. But it’s also due to the quality of the suspension because the WP Suspension helps me to conserve the tyres.”

It wasn’t such a good day for Iain MacPherson; “I’m obviously disappointed. But I’ll be back at Misano, which is a track I like, and
I’ll trying hard for a win there.”

After the race Fabien Foret’s engine was once more examined by the race officials and found to be perfectly within all the competition’s rules.

“We build our bikes to be very fast,” commented team manager, Ronald ten Kate, “but we build them fairly. “Today has once again shown the quality
of Fabien Foret,” he continued, “His display on the track was incredible, so mature, and yet so fast. But it’s not a solo effort, the entire team has worked very hard to ensure that he had the perfect set up for the dry. And credit has to go once again to WP Suspension and Pirelli Tyres for their invaluable contribution to our success.”

Ronald ten Kate had some positive words for Iain MacPherson; “I don’t think this circuit suits his style, he struggled here last year. But the team is 100% behind him and we’re confident he’ll be very strong at Misano. He’s proved in recent races, and testing, that he can be just as fast as Foret.”

1. Vittorio Iannuzzo, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 14 laps, 24:44.689
2. Gianluca Vizziello, Yamaha YZF-R1, -0.751
3. Lorenzo Alfonsi, Ducati 998S, -11.784
4. Benjamin Nabert, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -16.133
5. Koen Vleugels, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -23.121
6. Bjoern Steinmetz, Suzuki GSX-R1000 -27.428
7. Dario Tosolini, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -27.847
8. Ludovic Fourreau, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -29.362
9. Didier Vankeymeulen, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -29.654
10. Lorenzo Mauri, Yamaha YZF-R1, -29.766
11. Riccardo Chiarello, Ducati 998 S, -30.252
12. Andy Notman, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -38.529
13. Freddy Papunen, Yamaha YZF-R1, -40.210
14. Katja Poensgen, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -42.667
15. Christian Nau, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -42.922
16. Alessandro Brannetti, Honda CBR900RR, -45.993
17. Raffaello Fabbroni, Yamaha YZF-R1, -46.229
18. Simon Andrews, Honda CBR900RR, -59.263
19. Robert De Vries, Ducati 998S, -64.399
20. Sergio Ruggiero, Ducati 998S, -67.928
21. Marek Cerveny, Honda CBR900RR, -68.267
22. William De Angelis, Yamaha YZF-R1,-68.752
23. Nicolas Saelens, Ducati 998S, -69.039
24. Christian Dal Corso, Ducati 998S, -71.731
25. Declan Swanton, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -75.383

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Do we really have to tell you who won the Superbike race?

Yes, you’ve guessed it, Troy Bayliss took win number ten in race one at the Lausitzring World Superbike meeting. For half the race it looked like Colin Edwards might be able to do enough to take another win, but Bayliss wore him down and passed him on lap 15.

The race had plenty of incidents in the early stages but toward the end the outcome became increasingly predictable.

Chris Walker failed to get his Kawasaki off the grid, it appeared his rear brake caliper had dropped off! There was no indication of contact with another rider.

On lap two Neil Hodgson lost the front end as he and Ruben Xaus tried to outbrake each other into a turn. It looked like Xaus’ Michelins could handle more pressure than Hodgson’s Dunlops; Hodgson lost the front end and slid gently into the grass. He rejoined the race but later retired.

Noriyuki Haga and Ben Bostrom had a big battle over fourth. Haga passed Bostrom hard on the brakes on lap three with his rear wheel in the air. He ran wide and Bostrom slipped back under him. Later in the race they swapped positions again, with Haga eventually winning the tussle as the race entered its second half.

Steve Martin scored a useful win on the Pirelli shod DFX Ducati, taking ninth after starting tenth on the grid. Gregorio Lavilla and James Toseland tussled for much of the race, arguing over seventh. Toseland on the HM Plant Ducati kept his head and eventually pulled clear to claim the position ahead of Lavilla on the Corona Suzuki.

First race results:

1. Troy Bayliss, Ducati 998F02, 40:06.073
2. Colin Edwards, Honda RC51, -0.651 seconds
3. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 998F02, -18.966
4. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia RSV1000, -23.481
5. Ben Bostrom, Ducati 998F02, -27.820
6. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, -35.642
7. James Toseland, Ducati 998F01, -40.514
8. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R750, -47.096
9. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, -47.527
10. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, -69.452
11. Broc Parkes, Ducati 998RS, -69.623
12. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, -72.906
13. Alessandro Antonello, Ducati 998RS, -85.097
14. Marco Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -93.351
15. Alex Hofmann, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -96.265
16. Serafino Foti, Ducati 996RS, -1 lap
17. Mark Heckles, Honda RC51, -1 lap
18. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -1 lap
19. Thierry Mulot, Honda RC51, -1 lap
20. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, -6 laps, DNF
21. Peter Goddard, Benelli Tornado 900, -6 laps, DNF
22. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 998F02, -13 laps, DNF, crash
23. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati 996RS, -15 laps, DNF
24. Chris Walker, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -24 laps, DNF, mechanical

More, from an HM Plant Ducati press release:

Toseland does the business in race one

HM Plant Ducati/GSE Racing rider James Toseland was in good form in the first Superbike race at EuroSpeedway Lausitz. The 21-year-old Yorkshireman rode a well-judged and committed race that earned him an excellent seventh-placed finish and added nine more championship points to his already impressive total of 81. His team-mate Neil Hodgson was not quite so lucky, however. Although it may not have affected his current third place in the championship standings, a crash in the early stages of the race put paid to the 28-year-old Isle of Man-based rider’s hopes of another podium finish.

Hodgson had been running well in fourth place until a front-end slide on the second lap dropped his #100 HM Plant Ducati onto its side. Despite quickly remounting his stricken machine and rejoining the race, the bike was too badly damaged to make continuing worthwhile.

“It’s really frustrating to have crashed out so early, especially after going so well in qualifying,” explained Hodgson. “I’d opted for a fairly hard compound front tyre thinking that it would be better to have something in reserve for the final stages of the race. Unfortunately the conditions had changed prior to the race and it had become quite humid. This meant that the track was a little greasy. I could feel the front slipping about a bit on the warm-up lap, but obviously it was too late to do anything about it by then.

“It just folded on me as I went in to the corner and there was no way that I could save it with my knee. I kept the bike running, but when I got back on track I realised that the foot peg had snapped off and that the steering damper was broken. If I’d had any chance of making it back into the points I’d have given it a go, but I would have needed to do 1:40s and that just wasn’t possible with the bike in that kind of shape.”

With Hodgson out, it was down to James Toseland to give the HM Plant Ducati/GSE Racing team something to celebrate. He did this with an extremely consistent ride, during which he successful held off the challenge of SBK veteran Gregorio Lavilla.

“I’m happy with the way things went in that race,” said Toseland. “I was putting in regular 1:41s without any problems at all. My next challenge is to get on the back of Chili and Bostrom and stay with them. Then I’ll almost be fighting for a podium place, which is my ultimate goal this season.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sunday Morning Superbike Practice Times:

1. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 2:08.989
2. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 2:09.369
3. Jake Zemke, Honda RC51, 2:09.724
4. Mat Mladin Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:09.752
5. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:09.860
6. Doug Chandler, Ducati 998RS, 2:09.995
7. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 2:10.282
8. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:10.488
9. Pascal Picotte, Ducati 998RS, 2:10.950
10. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:15.756
11. Jason DiSalvo, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:15.839
12. Craig Connell, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:15.988
13. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:16.254
14. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:16.260
15. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:16.602
16. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:17.535
17. Shane Prieto, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:18.290
18. Shane Clarke, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:18.306
19. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:18.818
20. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:18.966

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Superbike Race Two Results:

1. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 16 laps
2. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, -0.069 seconds
3. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -2.266
4. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R750, -2.366
5. Jake Zemke, Honda RC51, -24.949
6. Doug Chandler, Ducati 998RS, -17.202
7. Pascal Picotte, Ducati 998RS, -23.331
8. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R750, -28.698
9. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSX-R750, -101.241
10. Craig Connell, Suzuki GSX-R750, -101.309
11. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, -105.624
12. Andy Deatherage, Suzuki GSX-R750, -122.267
13. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, GSX-R750, -122.336
14. Rich Conicelli, Suzuki GSX-R750, -126.995
15. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki GSX-R750, -127.218
16. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, -128.691
17. Shane Clarke, Suzuki GSX-R750, -129.077
18. Jason DiSalvo, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap, crash
19. John Dugan, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
20. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
21. Shawn Conrad, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
22. Larry Pegram, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
23. Randall Mennenga, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
24. Shane Prieto, Suzuki GSX-R750, =1 lap
25. Mike Luke, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
26. Chris Voelker, Ducati 996RS, -1 lap
27. Scott Hermersmann, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
28. Justin Blake, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
29. Robert Christman, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
30. Doug Duane, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
31. Eric Spector, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
32. Jason Knupp, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
33. Dave Ebben, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
34. Giovanni Rojas, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
35. Roger Hendricks, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
36. Leo Venega, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
37. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, -2 laps, DNF, mechanical
38. Scott Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, DNF, -5 laps
39. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R750, DNF, -6 laps, mechanical
40. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R750, DNF, -9 laps, mechanical
41. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R750, DNF, -15 laps
42. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki GSX-R750, DNF, -15 laps, crash
43. Jeffrey Purk, DDS, Suzuki GSX-R750, DNF, -15 laps, crash



Provisional Superbike Point Standings:
1. Hayden, 313 points
2. Bostrom, 273 points
3. Yates, 260 points
4. Duhamel, 245 points
5. Picotte, 228 points
6. Mladin, 207
7. Parriott, 192
8. Hacking, 183
9. Livengood, 180
10. Chandler, 151
11. Conicelli, 150
12. Deatherage, 147
13. Anthony Gobert, 118
14. Haskovec, 113
15. Mizdal, 109


Note: In the second Superbike race at Road America, Brian Parriott ran a Superstock GSX-R750 on slick tires, Craig Connell ran a Formula USA Unlimited Superbike-spec GSX-R750 on DOT-labelled tires, and Andy Deatherage ran a Superbike-spec GSX-R750 on slick tires. The first two riders on Superstock-spec machines on DOT-labelled tires were Chris Ulrich in 11th and Vincent Haskovec in 13th.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sunday Morning Supersport Practice Times:

1. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 2:15.483
2. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 2:16.232
3. Jake Zemke, Honda, 2:16.269
4. Tom Kipp, Suzuki, 2:16.969
5. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, 2:17.441
6. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, 2:17.491
7. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda, 2:17.757
8. Mike Hale, Honda, 2:17.925
9. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 2:17.930
10. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 2:18.023
11. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 2:19.016
12. Ty Howard, Suzuki, 2:19.992
13. Monte Nichols, Yamaha, 2:20.977
14. Andrew Nelson, Honda, 2:21.135
15. Tyler Wadworth, Yamaha, 2:21.841
16. Jimmy Filice, Kawasaki, 2:22.830
17. Alex Gobert, Honda, 2:22.890
18. Shawn Conrad, Yamaha, 2:23.341
19. Kevin Lehman, Honda, 2:23.466
20. Scott Ruehle, Yamaha, 2:23.718

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Another double for Bayliss

Troy Bayliss put on yet another perfect display of race craft in the second World Superbike race at Lausitzring. He resisted some fierce pressure from team mate Ruben Xaus to take his eleventh victory of the season and his fifth double!

It was Ben Bostrom on the L&M Ducati that made the early running, storming into the lead from the start. Although he looked strong in the first lap it soon became apparent that he just didn’t have the tyres for the job. Bayliss was the first rider to get past Bostrom. When Bostrom tried to fire it out of a turn on lap two his rear Dunlop cried foul and spun fiercely, sending his Ducati side-slipping across the Lausitzring tarmac. Bayliss, who was stalking Bostrom at the time, pounced. His Michelins gripped hard through the turn as he cut inside Bostrom to take the lead.

Xaus was able to catch up and momentarily pass his team mate Bayliss. But his riding was extreme, he was obviously on, or even over, the
limit. By contrast Bayliss looked smooth and controlled, and as we’ve seen so many times already this year, he just upped his pace enough to take yet another win.

In the latter stages of the race Colin Edwards exploited a mistake by Xaus to push his Honda into second place. Bostrom, struggling for grip,
slipped back to finish fourth behind Xaus.

James Toseland and Gregorio Lavilla were yet again involved in a scrap, but Lavilla crashed to leave seventh position for Toseland. Steve Martin
recovered from a near high side while battling for tenth with Neil Hodgson and clawed his way back up to finish the race in eleventh. He was again the highest finishing Pirelli rider after his DFX Ducati team mate Antonello crashed while trying to hold Martin off. Broc Parkes, the only other rider using Pirelli tyres in WSB, retired from the race.

Noriyuki Haga finished fifth on his Aprilia, just ahead of Frankie Chili.

It’s a credit to Colin Edwards that despite Bayliss’s incredible performance so far this season, he’s still only 39 points adrift. With
six meetings, twelve races and a maximum of 300 points still to score, the championship is definitely not over yet.



World Superbike Race Two Results:

1. Troy Bayliss, Ducati 998F02, 24 laps, 40:09.633
2. Colin Edwards, Honda RC51, -1.650
3. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 998F02, -5.065
4. Ben Bostrom, Ducati 998F02, -13.963
5. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia RSV1000, -20.035
6. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, -28.960
7. James Toseland, Ducati 998F01, -31.380
8. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 998F01, -38.343
9. Chris Walker, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -54.252
10. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, -62.251
11. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, -62.795
12. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, -64.210
13. Alex Hofmann, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -79.737
14. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -83.765
15. Peter Goddard, Benelli Tornado 900, -84.325
16. Serafino Foti, Ducati 996RS, -95.748
17. Mark Heckles, Honda RC51, -101.574
18. Alessandro Antonello, Ducati 998RS, -5 laps
19. Broc Parkes, Ducati 998RS, -5 laps
20. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, -10 laps
21. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -16 laps
22. Thierry Mulot, Honda RC51, -17 laps
23. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R750, -23 laps
24. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati 996RS, DNS

Superbike World Championship Point Standings:
1. Bayliss, 310 points
2. Edwards, 271 points
3. Hodgson, 165 points
4. Haga, 153 points
5. Xaus, 152 points
6. Bostrom, 143 points
7. Toseland, 99 points
8. Walker, 80 points
9. Lavilla, 68 points
10. Chili,58 points

More, from HM Plant Ducati:

The ups and down of EuroSpeedway

HM Plant Ducati/GSE Racing rider James Toseland put in yet another consistent performance to take his second seventh-placed finish of the weekend at EuroSpeedway Lausitz. Despite the best efforts of many more experienced competitors, the young Englishman was able to continue the strong points-scoring run that he has maintained right up to this mid-way point of the season. His team-mate Neil Hodgson completed the race in eighth place. The 28-year-old Lancastrian showed great determination as he fought his way back through the field, after a minor collision with Noriyuki Haga dropped him back from fifth to 11th place.

Even after this disappointing conclusion to the weekend, Hodgson’s third place in the Superbike World Championship remains safe.

“I had a bit of a coming together with Haga as we were dicing for fifth place,” explained the 2000 British Superbike Champion. “All of a sudden, Haga decided to stuff it up the inside when there wasn’t really space. He popped up on my line just as I turned in and we bumped fairings. I had to pick the bike up and couldn’t help running wide, then off down the slip road. I now had two choices. One was to carry straight on, go round the bowl and rejoin. The other was to turn around and get back on the circuit at the first possible opportunity. There was no clear rule regarding this situation and after the confusion of Monza, I figured that I’d better turn back rather than risk a penalty.

“The incident cost me six places and even when I was back in the race, I still had a load of muck stuck to my tyres. So I had to take it easy to start with. Once I was past Walker, I started get back on the pace but there was just no way that I was going to get any higher than eighth, without James pulling over and letting me past. It certainly hasn’t been a great round, but everybody has a weekend when things go a bit wrong, and I’m hoping that I’ve just got mine out of the way!”

James Toseland is now 19 points clear of his nearest challenger for seventh place in the Championship. Top eight finishes are now a regular occurrence for the rider of the #52 HM Plant Ducati, but it is clear that he still wants more.

“I was five seconds quicker in that race than in the first,” said Toseland. “There’s only one fast line around Lausitzring, so it’s really hard to pass people. My aim was to try and get on the back of Chili, and I was over two seconds closer to him this time. If I keep up this level of improvement throughout the rest of the season, I should be on the podium before the end of it.”

More, from Aprilia:

HAGA GAINS GROUND AT LAUSITZRING

Lausitz (Germany), Sunday 9 June 2002 – Noriyuki Haga made two excellent places in the German Superbike Grand Prix, coming in fourth and then fifth. A great overall result, considering that, unlike his rivals, the Playstation2 – FGF Aprilia Team rider from Japan had never raced at the Lausitzring before, and that most of the test sessions were affected by bad weather. Haga had experienced the same conditions he found in today’s race (when the track was completely dry) only during the Saturday afternoon warm-up, and then in the brief Superpole. In race 1, Haga was the fastest on Dunlop tyres.

NORIYUKI HAGA (Playstation2 – FGF Aprilia Team rider) said: “My aim is to win, so I’m only pleased up to a point with these positions. Even so, if I think back to where we were at the end of the sessions on Friday, I can only be satisfied. We had no references here, so things should go better at Misano, where we’ll be in a couple of weeks’ time – we did our tests there last month.”

GIACOMO GUIDOTTI (Technical Manager, Playstation2 – FGF Aprilia Team) commented: “I’m convinced we came home with as much as we could have hoped for. On Friday, Haga was only fourteenth, but he made two great places in today’s races. The ground temperature was higher in race 2, so we changed a few settings to get a better grip: Haga didn’t like it, but actually he took the same time over the long distance and moved up three seconds against the winner, Bayliss.”

More, from Benelli:

Goddard finishes Fifteenth at Lausitzring

Peter Goddard rode the Benelli Tornado to fifteenth place in race two at Lausitzring today. Goddard managed to improve upon his seventeenth place grid position during the race.

“It was fun out there in race two,” said Goddard, “I was having a race with a couple of other riders, using the Tornado’s abilities under
braking to try to keep me in touch with faster bikes.”

Race one was a disappointment for the Benelli Sport team after a small problem forced Goddard to retire on lap 19.

“The weekend has been a tough one,” admitted Goddard. “The team have never raced at Lausitzring before, and because it’s a nearly new track neither have I. Obviously we’ve still got some way to go with the development of the race bike to make it competetive with the established
factory teams. We always knew it would be tough and we’ll have to go back to the workshop to try to extract some more horsepower from the engine. The bike handles really well, and it’s good on the brakes, but I’m being out-dragged along the straights.”

The next World Superbike round at Misano marks the anniversary of Benelli’s return to racing. The Benelli Sport team re-entered the racing
world for the first time at Misano a year ago when they debuted in the World Superbike competition.

From a press release issued by series organizers:

SZOKE WINS WET RACE

CALGARY, AB – Jordan Szoke outduelled Owen Weichel for victory in the second round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at a wet Race City Motorsport Park Saturday.

The Brantford, ON rider, aboard the Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000, took the lead from Weichel’s Kawasaki ZX-7RR on lap 10 of
the 16-lap race and held on for a 1.759-sec. win over the Huntington Beach, CA resident.

Sherbrooke, QC’s Francis Martin placed third in the cold and rainy conditions riding the Coors Light Racing/Fast Company Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Kevin Lacombe of Granby, QC was fourth on a Diablo Suzuki GSX-R1000.

“It took me a couple of laps to settle in,” said Szoke after his fourth Superbike win at the Calgary venue. “We definitely had more power
than Owen and I was able to run it in deeper into turn 1.”

Despite starting from the second row of the grid Weichel grabbed the lead before the end of the opening lap and held it until Szoke, the MPM
Array Pole Award winner in qualifying, passed him at the end of the front straight at the start of lap 5.

Weichel regained the lead under braking for the Bus Stop chicane on lap 9, only to have Szoke repass him into turn 1 again on lap 10.

“With a couple of more laps maybe I could have got him again,” said Weichel, the winner at Race City last year. “But he was pushing hard and he rode great.”

Szoke’s win gave him the lead in the Parts Canada Superbike standings heading into Sunday’s second half of the weekend doubleheader. He has 98 points to the 79 of Frank Trombino and Weichel.

Trombino, riding the Orion Motorsports Honda CBR954RR, finished eighth in Saturday’s race.

The heavy rain resulted in the cancellation of qualifying for the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Open Sport Bike and Yoshimura 600 Sport
Bike national support classes on Saturday.

The starting line-ups for both features will be set based on Friday afternoon practice times, putting Calgary’s Clint McBain on pole for
each race on Sunday. McBain leads the standings in both classes thanks to wins in the season openers in Shannonville, ON.

Practice on Sunday begins at 9:00 am with the first race scheduled to go at 1:00 pm.

This weekend’s Superbike races will be televised on TSN Saturday, July 6 at 1:30 pm and Sunday July 28 at 1:00 pm EDT. Action from Race City
will also be shown later this year on Quebec’s RDS and across Canada on the Outdoor Life Network.

Results of Saturday’s second round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Race City Motorsport Park, showing finishing position,
rider name, hometown and type of motorcycle:

1.Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000

2. Owen Weichel, Huntington Beach, CA, Kawasaki ZX-7RR

3. Francis Martin, Sherbrooke, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000

4. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000

5. Ugo Levert, Lorraine, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000

6. David Klassen, Vancouver, BC, Suzuki GSX-R600

7. Michael Taylor, Toronto, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1

8. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON, Honda CBR954RR

9. Benoit Pilon, St-Jerome, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1

10. Matthew McBride, Toronto, ON, Honda CBR600F4i

11. Jean-Francois Cyr, Joliette, QC, Yamaha YZF-R6

12. Philip Onisto, Bolton, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000

13. Bruce McDonald, Mt. Albert, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6

14. Tim Easton, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000

15. Darryn Wilbur, Maple, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1

16. John Brundl, Toronto, ON, Honda CBR954RR

DNF. Nick Ienatsch, Irvine, CA, Honda CBR600F4i

DNF. Clint McBain, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R600
Margin of Victory: 1.759 secs.
Fastest Lap: Jordan Szoke, 1:26.167 on lap 5

Parts Canada Superbike Championship point standings following the second round at Race City Motorsport Park in Calgary:

1.Jordan Szoke, 98
2. Frank Trombino 79
3. Owen Weichel 79
4. Kevin Lacombe 64
5. Benoit Pilon 50
6. Jean-Francois Cyr 44
7. Francis Martin 41
8. Philip Onisto 40
9. Darryn Wilbur 33
10. Bruce McDonald 32
11. Ugo Levert 29
12. Michael Taylor 29
13. David Klassen 27
14. John Brundl 23
15. Michael Leon 21
16. Matthew McBride 19
17. Dave Young 17
18. Clint Hines 13
19. Tim Easton 12
20. Dave Hodge 12
21. Mike Desmarais 10
22. Steve Crevier 4

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Saturday Morning AMA Supersport Practice Times:

1. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 2:15.936
2. Jake Zemke, Honda, 2:16.215
3. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 2:16.219
4. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, 2:17.488
5. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 2:17.494
6. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, 2:17.819
7. Tom Kipp, Suzuki, 2:18.279
8. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 2:18.420
9. Mike Hale, Honda, 2:18.896
10. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda, 2:18.937
11. Alex Gobert, Honda, 2:19.212
12. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 2:21.291
13. Ty Howard, Suzuki, 2:21.399
14. Andrew Nelson, Honda, 2:21.883
15. Monte Nichols, Yamaha, 2:22.706
16. Shawn Conrad, Yamaha, 2:23.051
17. Tyler Wadsworth, Yamaha, 2:23.705
18. Michael Hannas, Kawasaki, 2:23.960
19. Brian Salazar, Suzuki, 2:25.812