Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Saturday Afternoon Superstock Practice Times:

1. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:29.867
2. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:30.303
3. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:30.420
4. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.183
5. Tom Kipp, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:31.248
6. Craig Connell, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.264
7. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.441
8. Jason DiSalvo, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.606
9. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.674
10. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.765
11. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.053
12. Jordan Szoke, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.116
13. Clint McBain, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:32.294
14. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.458
15. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.488
16. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:32.585
17. Michael Hannas, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:32.666
18. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.937
19. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.168
20. Ty Howard, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.187

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Edwards makes his mark at Kyalami

By Glenn LeSanto

Colin Edwards made his mark at Kyalami today when he took pole with a blistering 1:41.221 lap.

Norikyuki Haga improved on his final qualifying position, hauling himself up onto the front row from eighth. Ben Bostrom looked spectacular as he squirmed and slid around the Kyalami track, but his antics probably cost him a few tenths and he dropped to third from a provisional first. Afterwards he revealed that a problem on his main bike meant he had been forced to make a last minute switch to his ‘B’ bike for the Superpole session. The ‘problem’ happened at the end of the pre-Superpole warm-up session when blue smoke issued from the pipes of his Ducati as he coasted to a halt on the circuit!

Troy Bayliss is second on the grid. Ruben Xaus went backwards in Superpole, he again looked scrappy and finished 11th, throwing away a provisional fourth on the grid. Neil Hodgson managed an excellent fifth, just ahead of the fastest man on four cylinders today, Hitoyasu Izutsu.

1: C Edwards USA Honda 1:41.221
2: T Bayliss AUS Ducati 1:41.412
3: B Bostrom USA Ducai 1:41.453
4: N Haga JPN Aprilia 1:41.625
5: N Hodgson GBR Ducati 1:41.825
6: H Izutsu JPN Kawasaki 1:42.453
7: P Chili ITA Ducati 1:42.475
8: L Pedercini ITA Ducati 1:42.547
9: J Borja ESP Ducati 1:42.671
10: J Toseland GBR Ducati 1:42.841
11: R Xaus ESP Ducati 1:43.054
12: C Walker GBR Kawasaki 1:43.853
13: M Borciani ITA Ducati 1:43.994
14: G Lavilla ESP Suzuki 1:44.133
15: S Foti ITA Ducati 1:44.395
16: S Martin AUS Ducati 1:44.966


More, from a SBK press release:

5th April – 7th April 2002
Kyalami, 6th April 2002

Superpole Qualifying Session

Edwards Sets Fastest Ever Kyalami Lap

A superb performance from three-time Kyalami race winner, Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda), saw him break the record for a qualifying lap at Kyalami. His best lap of 1:41.321 was the fastest time set in either racing or testing at Kyalami, and gave him back-to-back Superpole wins after his success in Australia two weeks previously.

The Texan, third last away, made a mark that Troy Bayliss (Infostrada Ducati) and fastest qualifier from the regular sessions, Ben Bostrom (L&M Ducati), could not match. Bayliss was second after Superpole, with Bostrom third, although even Bostrom was only 0.232 seconds slower than Edwards.

A much improved Noriyuki Haga (Playstation 2 Aprilia) took fourth and the last front row position for Sunday’s brace of 25 lap Superbike races, with a time of 1:41.625, riding hard on the brakes on one of his favourite circuits. The first five were away and clear of the next competitors, with the fifth fastest man, Neil Hodgson (HM Plant Ducati) also on a 1:41 lap.

Hitoyasu Izutsu (Kawasaki Racing Team) put in a scorching lap compared to his previous best from regulation, to score a sixth place starting position, ahead of Pierfrancesco Chili (NCR Ducati) and Lucio Pedercini (Pedercini Ducati), who completed the second row.

Juan Borja (Spaziotel Ducati) and James Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) took ninth and tenth places, on their privately entered machines.

A hugely disappointing performance from Ruben Xaus (Ducati Infostrada) dropped him from the upper echelons of the earlier qualifiers to 11th and the third row, just ahead of factory Kawasaki rider Chris Walker.

The fourth row starting positions lined up in the order Marco Borciani, Gregorio Lavilla, Serafino Foti and Steve Martin, with the latter using all the track and more on his DFX Pirelli Ducati.

In the Supersport Championship, Stephane Chambon’s time of 1:46.146, set in the last moments of the final qualifying session, was enough to scoop pole position, and at record pace to boot.

With the 1999 World Champion setting off so late on his last run against the stopwatch, James Whitham (Yamaha Belgarda) could only watch his pole position status disappear before his eyes as Chambon (Alstare Suzuki) went faster at every split time.

Chambon’s historic mark comfortably beat the previous qualifying record of 1:47.293, set way back in 1999 by Ruben Xaus; and was more than two seconds faster than Iain Macpherson’s existing race lap record of 1:48.343, set during the 1999 race.

Andrew Pitt (Kawasaki Racing Team) could not dislodge Whitham or Chambon, and the Phillip Island race winner had to settle for third, and a much-desired front row start.

Christian Kellner (Yamaha Motor Germany) was on pole for a period with his best of 1:46.471, before the top trio set their more telling laps. The revitalised German, fully fit once more, was still a good fourth overall, the last rider on the front row.

All thirty of the Supersport entrants qualified for the race, even John McGuinness, who has been ruled out of contention through illness. The 25 lap Supersport race is scheduled between Superbike race one and two on Sunday 7 April.


More, from a Castrol Honda press release:

EDWARDS AND SP-2 ON TOP IN SOUTH AFRICA

Castrol Honda’s Colin Edwards took pole position for Sunday’s third round of the World Superbike championship with a blistering lap in Saturday afternoon’s Superpole final qualifying competition.

Edwards was 1.6 seconds inside the lap record as he recorded the fastest ever lap on a motorcycle around the 2.65-mile circuit on the outskirts of Johannesburg. Edwards also lapped 0.6s faster than he had all weekend as he took his second successive pole position on the SP-2 machine.

“I was so nervous,” Edwards admitted. “I knew I could get pole position but I also knew what Ben (Bostrom) and Troy (Bayliss) were capable of so my lap had to be perfect. Michelin came to the last round in Australia with their new Superpole tyres and they’re doing the job.”

Defending champion Troy Bayliss will start from second place on the grid for the two 25-lap races with his Ducati team-mate Ben Bostrom third, as one tenth of a second separates the top three, with Noriyuki Haga improving from eighth place after qualifying to take fourth.

Neil Hodgson leads the second row from Kawasaki’s Hitoyasu Izutsu, Pier-Francesco Chili and Lucio Pedercini. Juan Borja took ninth with young British rider James Toseland 10th after an exciting Superpole where nine of the top 11 qualifiers improved on their previous best lap times.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer Ricky Lundgren suffered fatal injuries during Superstock qualifying at Fontana Friday when Jeff Tigert’s tumbling bike vaulted a retaining wall and hit Lundgren.

The incident occured in an area of the racetrack where the infield doubles back upon itself, with traffic going one way separated from traffic going the other way by a grassy area and plastic Triton Barriers, which are about two feet wide at the base and about two-and-a-half or three feet high. The barriers at the crash site are designed to be filled with water but were not, and were fronted by a row of haybales.

The infield section of the track at Fontana starts with a tight left-right followed by an increasing-radius left-hand sweeper, a short straight, a wide double-left u-turn, a short straight, a fast left-right chicane, a short straight and a decreasing-radius, almost-180-degree right.

AMA radio traffic initially said that three riders were involved, but no official AMA statement has been released concerning the incident. A press conference clarifying what happened is expected sometime this morning at Fontana, where drizzling rain has delayed the start of practice.

According to AMA sources, Tigert lost the front end and fell in the left-right chicane leading to the following short straight and decreasing-radius right. His bike continued on, crossed the grassy area, started tumbling and flew over the retaining wall directly into Ludgren’s path.

AMA and track officials were meeting Saturday morning to discuss preventing a repeat of the situation, and may stack the barriers double high.

Ludgren was survived by his wife, Kelly, and two twin boys, age two-and-a-half.

Meanwhile, veteran AMA 250cc Grand Prix racer Greg Esser remained hospitalized and has already undergone surgery to pin his broken left ankle. Esser also suffered a dislocated right shoulder and a concussion, according to his brother Brian Esser.

According to American Honda’s Chuck Miller and Danny Hull, Kurtis Roberts will not race this weekend, due to soft tissue damage to his right knee; Roberts, who crashed in Superbike qualifying, cannot bend the knee.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Ben Bostrom spoiled the Bayliss-Edwards show by snatching provisional pole position in the final qualifying session at the Kyalami round of the Superbike World Championship.

Troy Bayliss and Colin Edwards had spent much of the session swapping provisional pole and even riding around the track together as if racing. Then, as the session entered the final few minutes Bostrom moved up from third to first on the grid ahead of this afternoon’s Superpole with a best time of 1:41.354, over half-a-second quicker than Bayliss who finished provisional second. Bostrom’s best time last year at the circuit was 1:41.689. Bostrom also holds the circuit lap record at 1:42.928 set last year. Bostrom’s fastest lap was also his final lap.

Ruben Xaus took the final spot on the provisional front row but he’s still nearly half-a-second adrift of the front three. Chili continued to look impressive finishing the session fifth fastest on his factory supported Ducati. Haga could only manage eighth fastest on the Aprilia so is provisionally behind Hodgson and Borja.

World Superbike
Kyalami, 6 April 2002
Final qualifying

Combined qualifying times:

1 Ben Bostrom USA Ducati 1:41.354
2 Troy Bayliss Australia Ducati 1:41.894
3 Colin Edwards USA Honda 1:41.908
4 Ruben Xaus Spain Ducati 1:42.311
5 Pier-Francesco Chili Italy Ducati 1:42.495
6 Neil Hodgson GB Ducati 1:42.687
7 Juan Borja Spain Ducati 1:42.700
8 Noriyuki Haga Japan Aprilia 1:42.739
9 Lucio Pedercini Italy Ducati 1:42.870
10 James Toseland GB Ducati 1:43.018

8:30–9:30 a.m. Practice in the following order:
Supersport
250cc Grand Prix
Formula Xtreme
Superbike
Superstock

9:35-9:50 a.m. Supersport Qualifying (odd numbers)


9:55-10:10 a.m. Supersport Qualifying (even numbers)

10:15-10:45 a.m. Formula Xtreme Qualifying

10:50-11:10 a.m. 250cc Grand Prix Qualifying

11:10 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Lunch
12:00 p.m. Final Events:
Supersport – 17 laps

250cc Grand Prix – 17 laps

Formula Xtreme – 17 laps

3:00 p.m. Superbike Race Two – 28 laps

Superstock – 17 laps

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Officials from both California Speedway and AMA Pro Racing held a press conference at 11:30 a.m. local time at the Fontana, California facility to go over the events surrounding the death of racer Ricky Lungren.

A panel consisting of California Speedway President Bill Miller and Medical Director Dr. Jeff Grange and AMA Pro Racing’s Gary Mathers and Ron Barrick said that the incident started when racer Jeff Tigert lost control of his motorcycle as he exited turn eight and headed toward turn nine in Friday’s even-numbered Superstock qualifying session. According to Barrick’s relay of reports from track safety workers, Tigert’s bike slid for about 60 feet before leaving the asphalt, began tumbling in the grass run-off area, covered another 100 feet from the edge of the asphalt before jumping over a barrier erected to prevent crashed motorcycles from leaving turn nine and re-entering the track at turn four. Tigert’s motorcycle came across turn four where it hit Lundgren, who was accelerating through turn four.

According to Dr. Grange, he was called to the accident scene due to the serious nature of the crash. Dr. Grange said that medical personnel administered IV fluids, opened an airway for Lundgren and started respirating him; he was loaded into a medivac helicopter with a pulse. Lundgren then lost his pulse en route to Loma Linda University Medical Center. Attempts to resuscitate Lundgren were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at 6:25 p.m. local time Friday, April 5.

Lundgren was survived by his wife Kelly and twin, two-year-old sons.

The barrier that Tigert’s bike jumped over consisted of a series of haybale-protected plastic traffic walls designed to be filled with water, but which were installed empty. The height of the temporary wall was approximately three feet. In response to Friday’s fatal accident, California Speedway and the AMA increased the height of the wall to approximately nine feet with a three-high stack of the plastic barriers. The three-high stack is 40 feet long followed by another 60-foot-long section of two-high plastic walls. In addition, the stacked barriers are now fronted by three sections of Alpina Air Module and feature 60 to 100 feet of haybales on each side, most of which are stacked two-high.

Lundgren’s death is the second fatality at California Speedway since it was opened in 1997. CART racer Greg Moore died in an auto racing accident in 1999.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Yamaha’s Aaron Gobert will undergo additional surgery to his left ankle next week in Australia, says his mother and manager Sue Gobert. Aaron Gobert fractured his ankle, along with many other bones, in a horrific AMA Supersport race crash at Daytona March 8. Gobert had screws surgically inserted into the ankle a few days later at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. The 21-year-old Australian hoped to return to action in the May 2-5 AMA National at Sears Point, but now doctors say that more work, and time, is needed.

“Yamaha sent all his X-rays to Dr. (Arthur) Ting, and Dr. Ting said that he needed more surgery,” said Sue Gobert, the mother and manager of Aaron, Anthony and Alex Thursday, April 5 at California Speedway. “Aaron has a really good orthopedist at home, and he wanted another opinion. He flew back there Monday (April 1) and went straight to the doctor’s from the airport.

“He does need more surgery. He’s going into the hospital Monday (April 8). They are going to operate and put a plate in his left ankle.”

There were also question marks remaining about Gobert’s broken right collarbone and shoulder blade. Some reports said that the middle Gobert brother’s scapula was completely shattered.

“It is shattered. They did an MRI on his shoulder in Australia,” continued Sue Gobert, while waiting in the AMA technical inspection line at California Speedway with her youngest son, Alex. “I don’t think they did one here, I’m not sure. I haven’t seen one. But they (doctors in Australia) say that the shoulder should have been operated on straightaway.

“It is healing (naturally), but he will always have a physical deformity – his right shoulder will always be lower than his left. The plus side, I guess, he will never ever dislocate his right shoulder (again) because it’s jammed in there so far it’s never going to come out again. Apparently, he will have full range of motion in the shoulder.

“They’re going to wait one more week because with the skin graft on the shoulder, they couldn’t move. They had to keep the skin graft still. In one more week, they’re going to start physical therapy and get it all going. So the prognosis on the shoulder is really pretty good.

“He’s still young. He’ll be back better than ever, I’m sure. In another four to six weeks, then he can start training again. The right leg with the pin in it, he’s allowed to put little gentle pressures on it now. I think they are going to take the cast off while he’s in the hospital next week. He can very slowly start walking on the right leg, then four to six weeks for the left ankle. I know what Aaron’s like from being injured before. If they say it’ll take eight weeks, he’ll try and do it in four. He’s got a very strong will. He’ll be fine, better than the first night when we didn’t know what to expect.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Business as usual as Bayliss leads the pack

By Glenn Le Santo

Troy Bayliss was fastest in the first qualifying session at Kyalami, leaving onlookers to ask the question: Can anyone beat the reigning Superbike World Champion? Bayliss has already won the first four races this year and he’s looking ready to win the next two!

It looked for a while like Colin Edwards on the Honda could stem the Ducati tide, but then Bayliss put in a blistering lap late in the session to go to the top of the time sheets again. All Edwards could do was wave to the crowd that had already gathered at the Kyalami circuit, which is one of the Texan’s favorite tracks.

In fairness, although Bayliss leads the timesheets at the moment, both Edwards and Ben Bostrom, who took a win apiece here last year, are breathing down his neck with only 0.035-seconds separating all three riders.

Ruben Xaus made it three Ducatis on the provisional front row by going fourth fastest in the afternoon’s qualifying, held under fierce African sun. If temperatures stay the same for Sunday’s race then tires are sure to play their part in the equation again. Xaus was over half-a-second back of the front three.

Britain’s Neil Hodgson was fifth fastest, on yet another Ducati with Noriyuki Haga trailing him by under two-tenths on the Aprilia RSV1000. Frankie Chili and Lucio Pedercini packed two more Ducatis onto the second row in a series that is looking more and more like a Ducati cup everyday. Eight of the top 10 bikes are Ducatis.

World Superbike Championship
Kyalami, South Africa
Friday qualifying, 5 April 2002
Fastest times:

1. Troy Bayliss, AUS, Ducati, 1:41.961
2. Colin Edwards, USA, Honda, 1:41.973
3. Ben Bostrom, USA, Ducati, 1:41.996
4. Ruben Xaus, ESP, Ducati, 1:42.505
5. Neil Hodgson, GBR, Ducati, 1:42.687
6. Noriyuki Haga, JPN, Aprilia, 1:42.830
7. Pierfrancesco Chili, ITA, Ducati, 1:42.929
8. Lucio Pedercini, ITA, Ducati, 1:43.304
9. Juan Borja, ESP, Ducati, 1:43.336
10. James Toseland, GBR, Ducati, 1:43.449



More, from a press release issued by Bayliss’ publicist, Steve Reeves:

TROY BAYLISS Racing – Media Information
For immediate release
Friday, 5 April 2002

Round 3, 2002 Superbike World Championship
Kyalami Circuit, South Africa
First qualifying session

BAYLISS FASTEST IN OPENING WORLD SUPERBIKE QUALIFYING IN SOUTH AFRICA

Kyalami, South Africa: – A last minute charge has seen defending World Superbike champion, Australian Troy Bayliss, set the fastest lap time of the opening qualifying session for this weekend’s third round of the Superbike World Championship held at the Kyalami Circuit in South Africa.

American Castrol Honda rider Colin Edwards had been the pace setter through much of the session, but was unable to hold off Bayliss’ blistering final lap of the session that saw him record a time of 1-min 41.961-seconds around the 4.263km South African circuit. Edwards was forced to finish the session with the second fastest time, a 1:41.973, followed by fellow American Ben Bostrom (L&M Ducati) with a 1:41.996 and the only other rider to break the 1:42 barrier. Spaniard Ruben Xaus (Infostrada Ducati) rounded out the top four with a time of 1:42.505.

The times set during the session were well under the existing Superbike lap record of 1:42.928 set at last year’s event by Bostrom, but were marginally slower than the pole winning time of 1:41.689, also set by Bostrom.

“I’m happy that we were fastest today, but I think there is still a bit of work to be done before I’m completely happy,” said Bayliss who completed 24 laps during the session aboard his Infostrada Ducati 998R. “There wasn’t much in it at all in that session. Colin (Edwards) has shown that he is going to be hard to beat and then Ben (Bostrom) came on strong towards the end as well. I think it could come down to the three of us at this moment.

“The track seems to get bumpier each time we come here, but I suppose that adds character to the place,” Bayliss added. “I’m sure that we will go faster as the weekend goes on. The track is in good condition, but it just seems to take a while to get up to speed.”

Fifth fastest in today’s session was Brit Neil Hodgson (HM Plant Ducati) with a time of 1:42.687, ahead of Japanese star Noriyuki Haga (Playstation 2 Aprilia) who slipped to sixth fastest with a 1:42.830 after being second fastest early in the session. Italian favourite Pierfrancesco Chili was seventh fastest aboard his NCR Ducati (1:42.929), just ahead of Lucio Pedercini’s Ducati (1:43.304).

The second qualifying session for the World Superbike stars takes place on Saturday morning before the top 16 qualifiers from the combined sessions take part in the grid position determining Superpole session later that afternoon.

Fellow Australians Steve Martin (DFX Ducati) and Broc Parkes (NCR Ducati) were outside the top ten in the opening qualifying session. Martin produced the twelfth fastest time (1:44.023), while Parkes was sixteenth (1:44.486) overall.


And a release from Ducati Corse:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 3 – Kyalami (South Africa)
Friday Qualifying

BAYLISS (DUCATI INFOSTRADA) HEADS EDWARDS (HONDA), BOSTROM (DUCATI L&M) AND XAUS (DUCATI INFOSTRADA) IN KYALAMI FIRST QUALIFYING

Championship leader Troy Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) headed the timesheets at Kyalami, South Africa as Friday qualifying turned into a terrific three-way battle between the Australian, Honda’s Colin Edwards and Ben Bostrom (Ducati L&M). The three riders were separated by a fraction as Bostrom’s one-year-old lap record tumbled by a full second. Ducati Infostrada’s Ruben Xaus was half-a-second off the pace in fourth, ahead of HM Plant Ducati’s Neil Hodgson and Noriyuki Haga (Aprilia).

Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) set a time of 1’41.961 on a qualifying tyre at the end of the hour, smashing the lap record of 1’42.92, but the Australian was convinced there was more to come in tomorrow’s session. “I got a good start to the weekend today in qualifying”, declared Bayliss, “but I’m still not 100% happy as we went a full second quicker than this in January testing. We made a couple of changes on the bike after the morning session and we found some good tyres, with this circuit it’s really just a case of working your way into it. We haven’t changed much on the bike since the last test here, but you just can’t relax with the other guys breathing down your neck. I’m fastest for the moment, but there’s a long way to go”.

Bostrom (Ducati L&M) was separated from Bayliss by 30/100ths of a second, sandwiching Honda’s Colin Edwards, but was pleased with his provisional third-quickest time of 1’41.996. “The bike was great and the tyres were working really well, maybe I could have rode a bit better, but I feel like I’m back in the race”, declared Bostrom. “On my fast lap time of 1’41.9, I made a few mistakes so tomorrow I reckon I can get down to a time of 1’41.0. The only problem is that I’m sure there are a few other riders who are going to do it as well. It’s going to be a great battle tomorrow!”.

Xaus (Ducati Infostrada) was fourth-quickest in today’s first qualifying session after changing to his second 998 due to a minor technical problem. “I feel a lot more happy than I was at the start of qualifying because I was just unable to put together a good lap”, commented Xaus. “Kyalami is a difficult track and you have to stay on the line all the time. I set a good time on my race tyre, but then my number 1 bike developed a temperature problem and I switched to the other one which wasn’t set up exactly the same. I was going better on my second run, but I lost time in the last section which is very hard on the brakes, so I need to work more on the final couple of corners”.


And a release from Aprilia:

SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – Third Round
South Africa – Kyalami Circuit, 4.263 km – Qualifying Session

HAGA AND APRILIA GAIN GROUND

KYALAMI (South Africa), Friday 5 April 2002 – Noriyuki Haga with his Aprilia RSV Mille makes sixth fastest time in the first day of qualifying sessions in the South African round of the World Superbike Championship. The Japanese rider, making his debut at Kyalami on the twin-cylinder from Noale, was preceded by five riders who have spent four days on tests in the run-up to the championship. After this morning’s free practice, Haga was 1.964 behind in the ratings but in the afternoon he had reduced this margin to 869 thousandths away from the leader, Troy Bayliss (Ducati). Haga also obtained the best performance on race tyres, unlike the five in front who were riding “soft”. The trend is upward, and in the two remaining hours of tests, it looks as though Noriyuki will be able to reduce the gap even further.

NORIYUKI HAGA (Playstation2-FGF Aprilia Team rider) commented: “I’d say things aren’t too bad: I thought Ducati and Honda would be further ahead since they got in so much practice a couple of months ago. This is the first time I’ve been out on Aprilia here in Kyalami – there are still a number of things to sort out, but I’m sure I’ll be able to put on a good fight. The tyres also gave us some good indications: next to Phillip Island, things are looking much brighter.”

GIACOMO GUIDOTTI (Technical Manager of Playstation2-FGF Aprilia) commented, “We’re quite pleased. You have to bear in mind that Haga was making his absolute debut on Aprilia at Kyalami, while the others had plenty of practice during the winter. We aren’t far off and we’ll try to get closer still. Haga’s got a good pace on race tyres. But he’s still not able to make the most of the ‘soft’ tyres used here for the qualifying sessions. In the final tests, we’ll try to improve this.”



From Fuchs Kawasaki:

WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 3 – KYALAMI, SOUTH AFRICA
5 APRIL 2002 – FRIDAY PRACTICE & QUALIFYING

MIXED FORTUNES FOR WALKER AND IZUTSU AT KYALAMI

For Fuchs Kawasaki riders, Hitoyasu Izutsu and Chris Walker, the opening day at Kyalami didn’t quite go according to plan. While Walker started well, finishing the opening free practice session tenth fastest, things weren’t quite so positive for team-mate Izutsu.

The former Japanese Superbike Champion struggled to find a workable suspension set-up during the free practice session and, as a result, was unable to match the times of the leading riders. For qualifying, the team reverted to the suspension settings used at Kyalami during preseason testing; with instant results. After improving his lap times steadily throughout the hour-long session, Izutsu eventually finished eleventh fastest, putting him on the third row of the provisional grid.

‘It was a bit of a struggle this morning, but we made some big steps forward prior to the qualifying session this afternoon,’ said Izutsu. ‘We’re now back on the settings we used during preseason testing and the bike feels a lot better for it. More importantly, I think there’s more to come. We’ll be making small changes tonight, and throughout tomorrow, in order to arrive at the best set-up for Sunday’s races.’

Tenth fastest during free practice, Chris Walker slipped down to 15th place after the first qualifying session. Despite not finishing as high up the provisional grid as he’d hoped, Walker was upbeat about his day’s work, and more than happy to explain the reasons for his temporary slide down the timesheet.

‘I forgot to take my big girl’s blouse off before I went out for qualifying,’ quipped Walker. ‘Actually, I was on a pretty good qualifying lap, but I fell foul of the bump at the entry to the chicane. I was running into the corner a bit hotter than I had been on previous laps, which meant I was braking harder when I hit the bump. The back end kicked up, I couldn’t turn in and I ended up having to run wide, which lost me loads of time. I’m pretty happy with how the day has gone though, especially as the sweatband under the helmet appears to be working quite well; stopping the sweat running into my eyes. I also feel a lot more comfortable on the bike than I have previously, so I’m confident I’ll improve my qualifying position tomorrow.’

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Chambon fastest as Supersport returns to Kyalami

By Glenn LeSanto

The World Supersport Championship returned to Kyalami for the first time since 1999 and was greeted by beautiful sunshine. Stephane Chambon took advantage of the sun to set the fastest time in Friday’s qualifying session.

Britain’s Jamie Whitham again looked fast in qualifying, not a thing that he’s been known for in the past. But he was pushed down into provisional third on the grid by his teammate Paolo Casoli.

Reigning champion and winner of the previous race, Andrew Pitt, took the final place on the provisional front row, qualifying fourth fastest.

Chris Vermeulen continued to shine with a provisional fifth place in a session that featured more than its fair share of yellow flag waving. One incident saw Supersport regular Stefano Cruciani lose his front end while riding on the inside of local rider Arushen Moodley. Both riders crashed heavily, wrecking their machines. Thankfully the two of them were
later declared fit to ride again this weekend.

World Supersport Championship
Friday Qualifying, 5 April 2002
Best Times

1. Stephane Chambon, FRA, Suzuki, 1:46.647
2. Paolo Casoli, ITA, Yamaha, 1:46.943
3. Jamie Whitham, GBR, Yamaha, 1:47.277
4. Andrew Pitt, AUS, Kawasaki, 1:47.296
5. Chris Vermeulen, AUS, Honda, 1:47.530
6. Christian Kellner, GER, Yamaha, 1:47.577
7. James Ellison, GBR, Kawasaki, 1:47.823
8. Jorg Teuchert, GER, Yamaha, 1:47.985
9. Trevor Crookes, RSA, Ducati, 1:47.991
10. Piergiorgio Bontempi, ITA, Ducati, 1:47.998


More, from a Fuchs Kawasaki press release:

WORLD SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 3 – KYALAMI, SOUTH AFRICA
5 APRIL 2002 – FRIDAY PRACTICE & QUALIFYING

PROVISIONAL FRONT ROW FOR ANDREW PITT AT KYALAMI

Reigning Champion, Andrew Pitt secured a provisional front row start for Sunday’s 25-lap Supersport race at Kyalami this afternoon, overcoming a stomach bug to post the fourth quickest lap of the opening qualifying session on his Fuchs Kawasaki ZX-6R.

‘I’m pretty happy to have finished fourth this afternoon, because I’m definitely not feeling 100%,’ said Pitt. ‘I’m starting to feel better after picking up this stomach bug, but I still feel a little weak on the bike and I was suffering cramps, brought on by dehydration, during the latter part of the session. I’m sure my condition will have improved even more by tomorrow, and I’m hoping to be back to full fitness come race day. I just need to make sure that, when I am fully fit, I’ve qualified far enough up the grid to get away with the leading group in the race.’

For James Ellison, the day certainly ended better than it started. Having struggled to post a fast lap during the opening free practice session this morning, the 20-year-old British rider stormed his way to seventh place, and the provisional second row, during this afternoon’s 45-minute first qualifying session.

‘The track was real dusty this morning, so I didn’t want to push it too hard,’ said Ellison. ‘We were also working on suspension settings and, judging from the way the bike felt this afternoon, we’re definitely moving in the right direction. The new qualifying rubber we got from Dunlop for this weekend is good for two flying laps, rather than just one like the previous tyres, and this is a big improvement. There’s less pressure when you know you’ve got two laps in which to set your best qualifying time and it’s always easier to put in a quick lap off the back of another – it allows you to settle into a rhythm.’




And a Ten Kate Honda release:

Troubled start for Ten Kate Honda at Kayalami

The Ten Kate Honda team struggled during the first qualifying session at Kyalami. Fabien Foret finished the session down in 13th place, not a position he is at all accustomed to. His team mate Iain MacPherson was one place further down the timesheet in 14th.

“The track is completely new to the team,” explained Team Manager Ronald ten Kate. “We’ve not raced or even tested here before so we have no
experience and no data to work on at all. The feeling is not good for us; we are not used to seeing our riders so far down the time sheet. But we remain confident that we can come good in the next session. We are working very hard with our partners at Pirelli and WP Suspension to arrive at a good race and qualifying set up and I am sure that both riders will improve their grid position before the race on Sunday.”

Fabien Foret spent his time trying to learn the track, which he had never even seen before this weekend. “It’s a challenging circuit and I have to learn it before I can go fast,” said Foret, who won the opening race at Valencia. “Unfortunately, even when I felt I knew my way around a bit I didn’t get much chance to really do any quick laps today. There were yellow flags and even red and yellow oil flags waving every time I tried for a fast lap, forcing me to back off which was very frustrating. But I will be pushing as hard as possible tomorrow to get a faster time.”

Iain MacPherson has raced at Kyalami before; in fact he holds the current World Supersport lap record around the South African circuit. “I don’t have Fabien’s excuse about being new to the circuit, I know the track well and I know I can be fast here. I did better in the morning’s free practice session than in actual qualifying, but we changed a few settings for qualifying and it looks like we went the wrong way. But I know the team will work hard to resolve the problems ready for the final qualifying session.”

Chris Vermeulen, who rides a Ten Kate Racing prepared Honda CBR600FS for the Van Zon Honda TKR team had a much better qualifying session, finishing in provisional fifth on the grid.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Superbike Practice Times:

1. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R7, 1:25.824
2. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:26.330
3. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:26.592
4. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:26.719
5. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 1:26.762
6. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:26.779
7. Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, 1:27.357
8. Doug Chandler, Ducati 998RS, 1:28.306
9. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 1:28.334
10. Pascal Picotte, Ducati 996RS, 1:28.518
11. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.198*
12. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.154*
13. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.152*
14. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.345*
15. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.114*
16. Owen Richey, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.122*
17. Rich Conicelli, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.330*
18. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.374*
19. Craig Connell, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.379*
*Superstock bike