Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Roland Sands put his Performance Machine Yamaha TZ250 on the pole for the AMA 250cc Grand Prix race at Fontana. A single time qualifying session Sunday morning replaced the heat races rained out on Saturday.

Time follow:

1. Roland Sands, Yamaha TZ250, 1:29.686
2. Jason Disalvo, Honda RS250R, 1:29.908
3. Rich Oliver, Yamaha TZ250, 1:30.212
4. Simon Turner, Yamaha TZ250, 1:30.941
5. Perry Melneciuc, Yamaha TZ250, 1:32.207
6. Jim Filice, Yamaha TZ250, 1:32.725
7. Chuck Sorensen, Aprilia RSV250, 1:32.913
8. Thad Halsmer, Yamaha TZ250, 1:33.128
9. Ed Sorbo, Yamaha TZ250, 1:33.153
10. Al Salaverria, Aprilia RSV250, 1:33.235
11. Chris Pyles, Yamaha TZ250, 1:33.662
12. Colin Jensen, Aprilia RSV250, 1:34.370
13. Jason Candelaria, Yamaha TZ250, 1:34.444
14. Darren Fulce, Yamaha TZ250, 1:34.633
15. Frank Aragaki, Yamaha TZ250, 1:35.027
16. Cory West, Yamaha TZ250, 1:36.486
17. John Williams, Yamaha TZ250, 1:38.599
18. Ty Piz, Yamaha TZ250, 1:38.746
19. Richard Denman, Yamaha TZ250, 1:39.500
20. John France, Honda RS250R, 1:40.805

From a Suzuki press release:

Team Suzuki News Service

GSV-R ON PODIUM AT FIRST RACE

MotoGP, Race Result, Round 1, Suzuka, April 7th.

TEAM TELEFONICA MOVISTAR SUZUKI wild-card rider Akira Ryo put the all-new 990cc V-4 GSV-R four-stroke on the podium at its first race at Suzuka today.

The reigning Japanese Superbike Champion led from the start for most of the rain-hit race. It was only in the dying laps that reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi on a Honda was able to pass and hold him off for the victory.

Ryo and Rossi traded fastest laps as they battled for the top spot on the rostrom. But Rossi just edged it on the last lap, leaving Ryo delighted to finish runner-up on the GSV-R.

Ryo’s team-mates, regular riders Kenny Roberts Jr and Sete Gibernau were unlucky to fall off in the slippery conditions. Roberts fell early while battling for a top-10 place, while Gibernau was battling for the lead with Rossi and Ryo when he fell midway through the race.

Ryo said: “I am happy, although I think I could have won that race. But Rossi is the World Champion and if I bear that in mind I have to be happy with second place.”

Roberts said: “I was finding my pace in the race and was being held up by slower riders in front. Then the wet conditions played a part and I ended up in the gravel trap.”

Gibernau said: “I was riding well, the bike was going well and I was fighting for the lead when I lost the front while cornering. I did everything as normal through the corner, but the track was very slippery and it caught me out. For sure I think I could have won, I was faster than Rossi and was getting ready to pass him when I lost the front. It is disappointing not to finish, but encouraging that the bike handled so well.”

Team manager Garry Taylor said: “It is a great result to finish second at our first outing, but a bit disappointing not to win when we really deserved it. Well done to Akira Ryo and the entire team for being so competitive.

“I feel sorry for Kenny and Sete. Both riders were outstanding on new bikes in the rain despite no testing time. Sete would have been in with a shout for the win, and I’m sure Kenny would have been there as well, they are two of the best wet-weather riders on the grid.

“But now we must learn from this and continue to develop the bike into a race winner in all conditions. We’ll have more parts, settings and tyres to try at Welkom in two-weeks time.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Nicky Hayden was 6.028 seconds ahead of battling Eric Bostrom and Mat Mladin, and Doug Chandler was catching Bostrom and Mladin, when the second AMA Superbike race at Fontana was red-flagged due to a crashed bike laying in the racing line.

Bostrom said on the podium that his arms had pumped up and he couldn’t feel his hands.

Aaron Yates DNF with mechanical problems, saying afterwards, “it just quit”, and Anthony Gobert cruised to eighth, one lap down, with a front tire that “never came in” according to a crew member.

Hayden is leading the points.

Revised results follow:
1. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 24 laps
2. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, -6.028 seconds
3. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, -6.107
4. Doug Chandler, Ducati, -6.754
5. Pascal Picotte, Ducati, -24.586
6. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, -27.586
7. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, -49.178
8. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha, -1 lap
9. Brian Parriott, Suzuki, -1 lap
10. Andy Deatherage, Suzuki, -1 lap
11. Rich Conicelli, Suzuki, -1 lap
12. Owen Richey, Suzuki, -1 lap
13. Brian Livengood, Suzuki, -1 lap
14. Mike Sullivan, Honda, -1 lap
15. Aaron Clark, Suzuki, -1 lap
16. Robert Mesa, Suzuki, -1 lap
17. John Dugan, -1 lap
18. Scott Jensen, Suzuki, -1 lap
19. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki, -1 lap
20. Rob Christman, Suzuki, -1 lap
21. Pedro Valiente, Suzuki, -1 lap
22. Randall Mennenga, Suzuki, -2 laps
23. Shawn Conrad, Suzuki, -4 laps
24. Kim Nakashima, Suzuki, -5 laps
25. Giovanni Rojas, Suzuki, -5 laps
26. Dr. Jeff Purk DDS, Suzuki, -5 laps, DNF, crash
27. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, -14 laps, DNF, mechanical
28. Marco Martinez, Suzuki, -19 laps, DNF
29. Robert Underwood, Suzuki, -21 laps, DNF, crashed
30. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki, -21 laps, DNF, mechanical

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Tommy Hayden broke away and stretched out a lead in the AMA Superstock (formerly 750cc Supersport) race at Fontana, riding his Kawasaki ZX-6R Supersport bike.

Ben Spies finished second on a GSX-R600, 8.991 seconds behind Hayden, and about 3 seconds ahead of battling Jordan Szoke and Chris Ulrich, both of whom came up through the pack and exchanged the position multiple times in the closing laps. Ulrich was 12th on the first lap.

Chris “Opie” Caylor led the first lap but was black-flagged for jumping the start.

Results follow:

1. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R
2. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R600, -8.991 seconds
3. Jordan Szoke, Suzuki GSX-R750, -12.618
4. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, -12.721
5. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6R, -16.383
6. Craig Connell, Suzuki GSX-R750, -21.524
7. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, -22.023
8. Ty Howard, Suzuki GSX-R750, 9. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSX-R750
10. Jeremy Toye, Suzuki GSX-R750, -22.675
11. Jason DiSalvo, Suzuki GSX-R750, -22.241
12. Vince Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, -27.917
13. Rich Conicelli, Suzuki GSX-R750, -28.361
14. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R750, -37.287
15. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, -39.115
16. Chris “Opie” Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R750, -39.336
17. Owen Richey, Suzuki GSX-R750, -40.016
18. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki GSX-R750, -46.036, crashed
19. Scott Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, -46.378
20. Shawn Conrad, Suzuki GSX-R750
21. John Dugan, Suzuki GSX-R750, -47.091
22. Mark Ledesma, Honda CBR600F4i
23. Jake Holden, Suzuki GSX-R750
24. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki GSX-R750
25. Eric Haugo, Suzuki GSX-R750
26. Scott Simpson, Kawasaki ZX-6R
27.Rob Christman, Suzuki GSX-R750, -3 laps
28. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, -6 laps
29. Giovanni Rojas, Suzuki GSX-R750, -6 laps
30. Phil Herrin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 7 laps
31. Aaron Clark, Suzuki GSX-R750, -15 laps
32. Michael Hannas, Kawasaki ZX-6R, -16 laps

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Troy Bayliss made it five in a row by winning the first race in the Kyalami round of the Superbike World Championship. He hauled himself up from third to first to run away with the race.

For a while, during the middle section of the race, it seemed Edwards, who had clawed his way back from a poor start, might reel the runaway championship leader in. But it wasn’t to be. Bayliss just piled on the pressure and finished the race over four seconds ahead of Edwards.

Noriyuki Haga, who had been involved in a scrap for the lead with Ben Bostrom, and then both Bostrom and Bayliss, crashed heavily at Nashua Corner on the 18th lap. He slid the Aprilia into the turn with the back end hanging out, but pushed it just a bit too hard and the bike gripped for a moment and flipped him over the bars. He looked dazed after the incident but was not seriously hurt.

Bostrom, who had led for several laps early in the race after grabbing first place from holeshot man Bayliss, dropped back to finish fourth behind Xaus.

Bayliss almost threw the race away when he nearly highsided his Ducati at Westbank corner on the very last lap. But the Australian saved it and took his fifth win in succession. He had made another mistake in the chicane earlier in the race which allowed Edwards to close the gap by almost a second, but he recovered to record another victory.

“It’s incredible!” said Bayliss, who runs Michelin tires. “I can’t seem to put a foot wrong. Everything is working well, rider, team, bike, tires, the whole package. What can I say?

“I had a little moment on the last lap but the biggest mistake was actually halfway through the race when I messed up the chicane and allowed Colin Edwards to claw a half-second back.

“The first three laps were crazy. It was like the guys were on a three-lap race! I didn’t want to get mixed up in that at all.

“Once I got out in the lead I just rode like I was in practice, I forgot everyone else and just kept my head down and went for it,” concluded Bayliss.

Edwards, also on Michelin tires, said, “I got a shit start. Last year I could get my bike off the line no problem. But this year there’s been a few changes and I just can’t get the thing to launch. I don’t know what I have to do to beat this guy (Bayliss). Troy and his bike are a good package, and it seems it’s a better package than me and my bike! I want to win, I need to win but it just won’t work.”

Third-place Ruben Xaus, another Michelin runner, said “I want to dedicate this race to Chili who is injured after an incident in warm up. I hope he is back soon. It was just a racing thing, I was on a fast lap and he had moved over to allow me past. But then we got tangled up on the same line and he went down. There was nothing else to it, it wasn’t intentional.” (Despite Xaus’ statement, the officials thought differently and issued a written official warning to Xaus. The warning accused Xaus of riding ‘in an unsafe manner’ while overtaking Chili.

World Superbike Championship
Kyalami, 7 April 2002
First race result:

1 Troy Bayliss, Australia (Ducati) 43:01.781
2 Colin Edwards, USA (Honda) 43:05.900
3 Ruben Xaus, Spain (Ducati) 43:08.317
4 Ben Bostrom, USA (Ducati) 43:13.764
5 Neil Hodgson, GB (Ducati) 43:18.605
6 James Toseland, GB (Ducati) 43:31.325
7 Hitoyasu Izutsu, Japan (Kawasaki) 43:39.161
8 Chris Walker, GB (Kawasaki) 43:49.079
9 Juan Borja, Spain (Ducati) 43:56.353
10 Marco Borciani, Italy (Ducati) 43:56.822


Pitt wins two in a row

After winning the World Supersport championship in 2001 without winning a single race, Andrew Pitt now leads the championship again, this time with two wins out of three races.

It was a typical hard-fought Supersport race that featured plenty of scraps and quite a few crashes. After a few laps a battle for the first three places between Stephane Chambon, Jamie Whitham and Andrew Pitt emerged. There was plenty of nail biting overtaking manoeuvres as the three traded places for the lead. The favorite place for passing was the severe downhill drop into Westbank Corner where the riders punish the front tire under heavy braking.

Chambon lost touch a little at the end of the race leaving Whitham alone to try a few last gasp passes. He looked up the inside at Westbank but Pitt was very tough on the brakes there. He tried again at Vodacom Corner, but again Pitt was very late on the brakes and crossed the line just ahead of Whitham.

Behind them a massive scrap between seven bikes ended with Jorg Teuchert just grabbing fourth from Fabien Foret on the line.

Pitt now leads Chambon by 61 points to 52. Foret is third in the title with 43 points.

World Supersport
Kyalami 7 April
Race result

1. A Pitt, AUS, Kawasaki, 44:58.860
2. J Whitham, GBR, Yamaha, 44:59.017
3. S Chambon, FRA, Suzuki, 45:00.533
4. J Teuchert, GER, Yamaha, 45:09.682
5. F Foret, FRA, Honda, 45:09.727
6. C Kellner, GER, Yamaha, 45:10.529
7. P Casoli, ITA, Yamaha, 45:10.828
8. I MacPherson, GBR, Honda, 45:11.113
9. C Vermeulen, AUS, Honda, 45:19.781
10. A Corradi, ITA, Yamaha, 45:20.389

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sunday Morning Superbike Warm-up Times:

1. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 1:25.903
2. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, 1:26.046
3. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:26.545
4. Pascal Picotte, Ducati, 1:27.004
5. Doug Chandler, Ducati, 1:27.102
6. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:27.128
7. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:27.368
8. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha, 1:28.698
9. Craig Connell, Suzuki, 1:30.712*
10. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki, 1:30.866*
11. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki, 1:31.020*
12. Chris Caylor, Suzuki, 1:31.229*
13. Robert Jensen, Suzuki, 1:31.496*
14. Owen Richey, Suzuki, 1:31.731*
15. Brian Parriott, Suzuki, 1:31.835*
16. Brian Livengood, Suzuki, 1:32.667*
17. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki, 1:33.170*
18. Rich Conicelli, Suzuki, 1:33.273*
19. Robert Christman, Suzuki, 1:33.301*
20. Shawn Conrad, Suzuki, 1:33.544*

*denotes Superstock bike

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Aaron Yates won the 17-laps AMA Supersport race at California Speedway in Fontana, California, beating Anthony Gobert by 3.344 seconds. Tommy Hayden beat Damon Buckmaster for third, by 0.010-second.

Results follow:

1. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R600
2. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R6, -3.344 seconds
3. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R, -5.322
4. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R6, -5.332
5. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R600, -17.020
6. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R600, -20.178
7. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R600, -23.686
8. Tom Kipp, Suzuki GSX-R600, -23.787
9. Mike Hale, Honda CBR600F4i, -24.236
10. Roger Hayden, Honda CBR600F4i, -26.199
11. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6R, -29.762
12. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600F4i, -35.219
13. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR600F4i, -53.257
14. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R600, -53.334
15. Ty Howard, Suzuki GSX-R600, -53.534
16. Clint McBain, Suzuki GSX-R600, -54.900
17. Mark Ledesma, Honda CBR600F4i, -66.458
18. Owen Richey, Yamaha YZF-R6, -69.215
19. Scott Simpson, Kawasaki ZX-6R, -93.783
20. Tyler Wadsworth, Yamaha YZF-R6, -1 lap

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Damon Buckmaster held off an early challenge from Jason Pridmore and then ran off and hid from the Formula Xtreme field after Pridmore ran off the track. Buckmaster brought his Yamaha R1-power YZF-R7 across the line 19.694 seconds ahead of Pridmore’s Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Pridmore came back to finish second ahead of Jake Zemke. Tom Kipp, who ran with Buckmaster and Pridmore early-on, faded to seventh when the left seal in his aftermarket racing forks blew out and oiled up the footpeg and rear tire; the forks had less than 100 laps on them since they were new. Roger Lee Hayden, who also raced with Buckmaster and Pridmore, crashed after his Erion Honda’s exhaust system came loose and pivoted outward.

Results follow:

1. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R7/R1

2. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -19.694 seconds

3. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR954RR, -21.119

4. Mike Hale, Honda CBR9545RR, -25.699

5. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -36.893

6. Jordan Szoke, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -37.700

7. Tom Kipp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -40.051

8. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -53.447

9. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR954RR, -54.911

10. Clint McBain, Suzuki, -62.581

Note: Officials docked Tom Kipp one position for cutting a chicane during the race. Kipp appealed the decision and said he was forced out of the chicane by a lapped rider.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

AMA Pro Racing Road Racing Operations Manager Gary Mathers confirmed to Roadracingworld.com that the Superbike race at Calfornia Speedway April 5-7 was his last event as an AMA Pro Racing employee.

“This is my last race,” Mathers told a reporter in the California Speedway media center Sunday morning. Mathers said that one of the reasons he was leaving was because he got in too much trouble for being open, answering questions honestly.

When asked if he would consider going back to his previous profession as a racing team manager, Mathers said that he had no such plans but would consider any proposals that seemed fun because his wife, an AMA Pro Racing registration worker, wanted to stay involved in racing.

When asked at Daytona about rumors that he would leave following the Fontana race, Mathers was evasive, demanded to know where a reporter had heard he was leaving, then denied talking to the source of the information. Asked directly whether he was leaving or not, Mathers said “I’m not saying anything. You can print anything you want.” For reference, see our post dated 03/10/02).