Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.



Interview by Michael Hannas

(Stewart Miller, a 28-year-old Scotsman, is one of the three mechanics working on John Hopkins’ Red Bull Yamaha YZR500 under the direction of race engineer Colin Davies. Miller, who has been with Red Bull WCM for three years, is a motorcycle fanatic who used to race himself in club events in the U.K. Roadracing World’s Michael Hannas met Miller in San Diego last week, where Miller was on holiday between the Rio and Motegi rounds of the MotoGP Championship. Hannas, who doesn’t get a chance very often to talk to MotoGP mechanic, whipped out a tape recorder, and asked Miller a few questions. Miller’s answers, which are his personal opinion based on his personal experience working with various riders in 500cc Grand Prix and MotoGP, were transcribed directly off the tape. Obviously, Roadracingworld.com and Hannas had no control over what Miller said; Hannas asked the questions, and Miller said what he said. In other words, if you are a fanatical supporter of Noriyuki Haga or Regis Laconi, or for that matter a fanatical detractor of John Hopkins, tell it to their former or current mechanic, not us.):


Roadracingworld.com: Who were your riders before John Hopkins?
Miller: Well, it was Haga last year and Laconi the year before.


RW: How would you say Hopkins stacks up compared to those two, as far as how he is to work with?
Miller: Well, he is above them. No question, he is on another level than those two.


RW: What would you say the main differences are between Hopper and Haga and Laconi?
Miller: The other guys would always blame the bike when things didn’t go so well. Haga never really wanted to be there, he didn’t eat in the hospitality tent with the team once all season, never hung out with the mechanics, and always blamed the bike when his results were poor. Laconi was really emotional, one minute he’d be a hero and the next he thought he was shite. He also constantly blamed the machine, whereas John just f–king rides it!


RW: So Hopkins doesn’t ask you guys to make very many changes to the bike?
Miller: Once we found a good baseline setting for him, John hasn’t changed the bike around very much, no. He is always pleasant to work with and gives 100% every time he is on the track. It is refreshing that instead of racing for his paycheck or publicity, he just races to win. Period.


RW: How do you think Hopkins will do next season on a four-stroke?
Miller: I think he’ll be on it. There are a lot of variables so it is hard to speculate at this point in time, but when we get the machine sorted out, I’m sure John will surprise a lot of people. He has the talent and the desire, so with competitive equipment and a year of experience on the circuits, I think he’ll be up there next year for sure.

This just in from Trevor Hedge of MCN Australia:

Mat Mladin was on the pace aboard his Suzuki GSX-R1000 during (untimed) Friday practice for the final round of the Australian FX Tri-State Series at Eastern Creek, Australia.

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Stopwatches in the paddock had Mladin dipping into the 1:33 bracket, along with a few of the regular local competitors.

From a press release issued by MonsterMob Ducati:

Round 13 – 2002 MCN British Superbike Championship – Donington Park – September 29th

HISLOP DRAWS FIRST BLOOD

MonsterMob Ducati rider Steve Hislop silenced his critics by setting fastest time in all three sessions at today’s practice day in readiness for Sunday’s British Superbike Championship showdown at Donington Park.

37 points to the good in the series, the 40-year-old Scot posted a fastest time of 1:32.616 in the first session, one-and-a-half seconds quicker than his nearest rival, to maintain his mantle of the fastest-ever Superbike racer around the 2.5 mile Leicestershire track, bettering the 1:32.651 he set at the 2001 World Superbike meeting on his way to pole position last May.

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“The track conditions were perfect in the first session but we were still working on the fuelling and gearing so to set that time without an ideal set up was fantastic, plus we had some new tyres to get used to also. The humidity meant the track was slower in the second two sessions but I was still fastest by a decent margin and we’ve got some improvements to make overnight so I’m really looking forward to Sunday. Hopefully, it’s shut one or two people up!” joked Hislop.

Fellow Ducati rider Michael Rutter ended up second fastest in each session, eventually finishing half-a-second down on Hislop whilst main championship rival Sean Emmett was third-fastest on his Yamaha, nearly a second down on the MonsterMob man.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

West Honda Pons rider Alex Barros will race a Honda RC211V four-stroke at the Pacific Grand Prix at Twin-Ring Motegi, Japan October 4-6.

A report appearing Friday on the West Honda Pons website quotes Barros as saying, “I am very excited about my chance of riding the RC211V. It is clearly one of the fastest bikes around at the moment and finally I have the chance of competing on the same level as Valentino Rossi and the other four-stroke riders. It will not be easy to be competitive immediately because I have had no time to familiarise myself with the bike. The first time I get on the bike will be during Free Practice on the Thursday of the Grand Prix. However, I have a lot of experience riding four-stroke Hondas in the 8-Hours of Suzuka races every summer where I have always performed very well. For this reason I am confident that I will adapt quickly to the bike and maybe I will be in with a chance of a podium finish on race day.”

Barros’ West Honda Pons teammate Loris Capirossi will remain on his Honda NSR500 two-stroke at Motegi. Capirossi has announced that he will be riding for the Ducati MotoGP team in 2003.

With the previous announcements that Gauloises Yamaha Tech 3’s Shinya Nakano and Olivier Jacque will be on Yamaha YZR-M1s and that Kawasaki’s Ninja ZX-RR will make its MotoGP race debut with Akira Yanagawa, there will be a total of 12 four-strokes and only nine two-strokes on the grid at Motegi.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

This just in from CCS Southwest Regional Race Director Randy Stem:

“There has been some confusion about whether or not there will be a (Lockhart-Phillips USA) Sport Rider Day in conjunction with our scheduled CCS Regional race at Firebird (International Raceway, October 4).

“Just to confirm, there will be a Sport Rider/Track Day held on the big Firebird track on October 4, 2002. This will be followed by our season finale CCS regional race on Saturday and Sunday, October 5 & 6, 2002.

“As stated in an earlier (Roadracingworld.com) post, the Team Challenge event, scheduled for this weekend, has been canceled.

“Thanks,
Randy B. Stem
CCS/SW
Regional Race Director”

For more information, call CCS at (817) 332-4822, FAX (817) 870-9790, e-mail [email protected], or go online at www.ccsracing.com.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

New Yamaha recruit Jason DiSalvo will race a Yamaha-factory-team-prepared Supersport YZF-R6 at the CCS Race of Champions at Daytona October 16-20 and at the WERA Grand National Finals at Road Atlanta October 23-27.

DiSalvo will test on the Yamaha during a track day on the Las Vegas Classic Course this Sunday, September 29.

From a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway:

Daytona International Speedway Modifies Chicane

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.¯ (Sept. 27, 2002) — Daytona International Speedway announced today modifications to the chicane that is utilized by motorcycle competitors during both Daytona 200 Week in March and the upcoming Fall Cycle Scene on Oct. 17-20.

The modifications, which were made in conjunction with the American Motorcyclists’ Association and Alan Wilson, a noted track designer, include a change in the exit of the chicane so riders will re-enter the track prior to NASCAR Turn 3. This change should potentially enhance competition while not affecting the distance of the 3.56-mile road course. The chicane and Turn 6 will also be repaved in order to give riders a smoother transition between these areas and the tri-oval.

These modifications to the chicane and the paving will be completed in time for Fall Cycle Scene on Oct. 17-20 and could also be utilized by sports cars during their upcoming events.

Tickets and more information on Fall Cycle Scene are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling the Speedway ticket office at (386) 253-7223.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday’s European Superstock Qualifying Times:

1. Vittorio Iannuzzo, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:54.770
2. Gianluca Vizziello, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:55.646
3. Fabrizio De Marco, Honda CBR900RR, 1:55.767
4. Walter Tortoroglio, Honda CBR900RR, 1:56.073
5. Giacomo Romanelli, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:56.073
6. Lorenzo Mauri, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:56.155
7. Ilario Dionisi, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:56.282
8. William De Angelis, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:56.363
9. Olivier Four, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:56.531
10. Koen Vleugels, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:56.606

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Foret Starts As He Means To Finish

By Glenn Le Santo

Fabien Foret is a man on a mission: He wants to win the World Supersport Championship. He leads the title by 17 points from closest rival Katsuaki
Fujiwara. He’s got the best possible start to the final World Supersport meeting of 2002 by taking provisional pole in Friday’s qualifying.

With only 16 points available for a third place finish, the flying Frenchman actually only has to score points if his rival Fujiwara comes home in first or second, any lower than that and Foret could technically just pull into the pits and drink his victory champagne.

Will he do that? Will Foret just ride for a finish? Of course not and anyone who expects him to simply doesn’t know the fiery Frenchman’s character! He only races to win, any less and he’s just not happy. On Sunday he’ll be pushing his Ten Kate Honda just as hard as he can for a win, no holds barred.

“I’m happy to go to provisional pole today,” said Foret. “But it’s the race that matters and I’ll be giving 100% all the way.”

Fujiwara, riding for Alstare Suzuki, kept the pressure on Foret by finishing the session second fastest, just in front of Chris Vermeulen with reigning Champion Andrew Pitt fourth.

We’ve been told there are no Honda team orders for Sunday, with all the Honda riders being told simply to ride as normal and try to pack out the top few places and spoil Fujiwara and Suzuki’s party.


Friday’s World Supersport qualifying times:

1. Fabien Foret, Honda CBR600, 1:53.376
2. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:53.500
3. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR600, 1:53.652
4. Andrew Pitt, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:53.729
5. Stéphane Chambon, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:54.105
6. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati 748R, 1:54.154
7. Alessio Corradi, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.171
8. Paolo Casoli, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.243
9. Iain MacPherson, Honda CBR600, 1:54.657
10. Robert Ulm, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.866
11. Jörg Teuchert, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.889
12. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Ducati 748R, 1:54.907
13. Antonio Carlacci, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:55.143
14. James Whitham, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:55.289
15. Stefano Cruciani, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:55.503
16. Karl Muggeridge, Honda CBR600, 1:55.737
17. Paul Young, Honda CBR600, 1:55.835
18. Gianluca Nannelli, Ducati 748R, 1:55.899
19. Christian Kellner, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:55.962
20. Christophe Cogan, Honda CBR600, 1:55.986
21. James Ellison, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:56.296
22. Matthieu Lagrive, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:56.744
23. Robert Frost, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:57.164
24. Michael Laverty, Honda CBR600, 1:57.232
25. Claudio Cipriani, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:57.284
26. Juri Proietto, Honda CBR600, 1:57.748
27. Laurent Brian, Honda CBR600, 1:58.074
28. Lorenzo Segoni, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:58.129

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn Le Santo

The incredible WSB turnaround continues

Colin Edwards looks poised to bring about the biggest upset of Superbike history. He’s caught and passed Troy Bayliss in the title hunt and now he’s taken provisional pole at Imola.

By the middle of the season Troy Bayliss looked to have secured his second World Superbike crown. He’d won the first six races of the season and at one stage was 58 points ahead of Edwards, who to his credit, has never given up all year.

When Edwards won the second race at Laguna Seca it marked the start of an incredible comeback ­ he’s won every race since! Then Edwards went one point ahead when Bayliss crashed out in the second race at Assen. “I reckon we’ve got him well and truly mentally f–ked!” said Edwards before this weekend!

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Colin Edwards, Friday morning free practice, Imola.

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As if to confirm his point Edwards sits on provisional pole at the end of the first day, with a lap time of 1:48.336. Meanwhile Bayliss is back in fourth, 1.108 seconds down on the Texan. Ruben Xaus was second fastest, but he was almost a second slower than Edwards. Neil Hodgson was third fastest.

Hodgson had fallen halfway throughout the session when he collided with Xaus. Bostrom also fell but was unhurt.

Friday’s World Superbike qualifying times:

1. Colin Edwards, Honda RC51, 1:48.336
2. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 998F02, 1:49.256
3. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 998F01, 1:49.414
4. Troy Bayliss, Ducati 998F02, 1:49.444
5. James Toseland, Ducati 998F01, 1:49.792
6. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, 1:50.005
7. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia RSV1000, 1:50.103
8. Alessandro Antonello, Ducati 998RS, 1:50.371
9. Ben Bostrom, Ducati 998F02, 1:50.408
10. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, 1:50.790
11. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, 1:51.440
12. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:51.565
13. Serafino Foti, Ducati 996RS, 1:51.827
14. Chris Walker, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:51.966
15. Hitoyasu Izutsu, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:52.188
16. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, 1:52.212
17. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:52.263
18. Broc Parkes, Ducati 998RS, 1:52.315
19. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, 1:52.472
20. Peter Goddard, Benelli Tornado 900, 1:52.719
21. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:53.950
22. Michele Malatesta, Ducati 996RS, 1:54.300
23. Alessandro Valia, Ducati 996RS, 1:54.329
24. Jeronimo Vidal, Honda RC51, 1:54.933
25. Luca Pini, Ducati 996RS, 1:55.102
26. Mark Heckles, Honda RC51, 1:55.255
27. Paolo Blora, Ducati 996RS, 1:56.180
28. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati 996RS, 1:58.175
29. Marjan Malec, Ducati 996RS, 1:58.375
30. Giuliano Sartoni, Ducati 996RS, 1:59.901


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 13 – Imola (Italy)
27-29 September 2002

BAYLISS (DUCATI INFOSTRADA) FOURTH QUICKEST AT IMOLA – XAUS (DUCATI INFOSTRADA) AND BOSTROM (DUCATI L&M) SECOND AND NINTH RESPECTIVELY

Troy Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) set fourth quickest time in today’s opening qualifying session for the final round of the World Superbike Championship at Imola, Italy as championship rival (Colin Edwards) took provisional pole. Ducati team-mates Ruben Xaus (Infostrada) and Ben Bostrom (L&M) were second and ninth quickest respectively in the afternoon qualifying session, which was red-flagged twice during the hour.

Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) was one of five riders to get under the 1m50s mark, putting his 998 F02 on the provisional front row of the grid with fourth-quickest time of 1:49.444. “We tried lots of different things in that session, but now we need to come up with something better if we’re going to get closer to Colin in qualifying”, declared Troy. “It’s hard to be happy when someone is going a second faster than you but I’m sure me and the guys will find something extra tomorrow. I’m missing something in the third split so that’s where we’re going to have to work and find a setting that will help me go over the bumps, because the bike feels quite harsh”.

After his excellent performances here in 2001, Xaus (Ducati Infostrada) again showed his liking for the Imola track with second-quickest time of 1:49.256, just under one second slower than Edwards. “My lap time wasn’t so good today, last year we were riding much faster here”, commented Ruben. “It was a tough practice with red flags twice, then oil, then when I got out with a qualifier I always found someone else in the middle, which made me lose concentration. I was waiting for a second qualifying lap but then there was a big crash somewhere else and there were yellow flags in three corners. Although the surface is pretty rough it has good grip, but when it gets oily then it becomes quite hairy. I improved a lot in the afternoon and tomorrow I hope to be there with Colin.”

Bostrom (Ducati L&M) set ninth quickest time in 1:50.408 on his twentieth lap of the session but crashed on the exit of the final chicane just yards after the start-finish line, at the very end of that lap, bruising his left hand and right foot. The Californian then sat out the final ten minutes of the session. “I went to accelerate out of the corner and for some reason the bike accelerated, then spun really quick and spat me off”, explained Ben. “That was my quick lap and I was sliding across the finish line. I wasn’t even trying to push on that lap either, my quick lap was going to be the next one. My left hand slapped down so hard at first I couldn’t feel it, but it’s OK now”.


More, from a press release issued by Castrol Honda:

EDWARDS ON TOP AFTER OPENING QUALIFYING

Castrol Honda’s Colin Edwards set the fastest time in this afternoon’s opening qualifying session for the final round of the World Superbike championship here at Imola in Italy.

The Texan was in confident mood as he lapped the 3.04-mile circuit more than one second inside the existing lap record.

“We tested here last week so I knew we’d be quick straight out of the box today,” said Edwards. “But we’ve got tomorrow’s action to go and I’d like to think we could try a qualifying tyre and get a chunk of time off my best lap today.

“We had a couple of tyres to try and a few new suspension settings and in general we’re happy with the progress today,” continued Edwards. “At the very end of the session I tried a brand new Superpole tyre but ran out of time and didn’t really get the final lap I was looking for.”

Edwards leads the world championship by a single point but the 28-year-old remains in a relaxed state as he builds towards Sunday¹s two 21-lap races.

“I am pretty relaxed, no need to be anything else. I’m feeling more tension from watching the Ryder Cup golf on TV today,” added keen golfer Edwards.


More, from a press release issued by HM Plant Ducati:

All systems go for Imola showdown

Neil Hodgson and James Toseland started the last round of the 2002 Superbike World Championship at Imola as they mean to go on. The HM Plant Ducatis ended the first official qualifying session by finishing in third (Hodgson) and fifth (Toseland) positions respectively, with the former a fraction outside Troy Corser’s existing lap record (1:49.398).

While media attention will focus on the battle between Troy Bayliss and Colin Edwards for the title, Hodgson and Toseland will be gearing up for their own respective showdowns to confirm their third and seventh positions in the championship overall. With this in mind, both riders were happy with their qualifying performances in preparation for tomorrow afternoon’s one-lap Superpole qualifying session and Sunday’s two races.

Hodgson was second behind Edwards in this morning’s free practice, but his progress was halted when he collided with Ruben Xaus in the afternoon session. “I was feeling really good out there until Xaus came under me at the Rivazza and knocked me off,” said the 28-year-old who is competing in his last race for the team after four years with GSE Racing.

“I had to complete the remainder of the session on my number two machine, but I was reasonably happy with my time under the circumstances. With the pace that Edwards is setting already, I know that I have to get down to the 1:48 barrier to make more progress tomorrow.”

Toseland was elated with one of his best qualifying performances of the year: “My objective is to finish ahead of Chili and Walker in the battle for seventh overall and so I am delighted to be ahead of them on time – even at this early stage of the weekend. I’m feeling positive after making it on to the podium at Assen and hope that I can carry that form through the rest of the weekend.”