Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Foret in front again

By Glenn LeSanto

Fabien Foret snatched the provisional World Supersport pole right at the end of the first qualifying session at Phillip Island on Friday, with a blistering 1:35.528 lap.

The Flying Frenchman had languished in the middle of the timesheet for much of the session, an unfamiliar position for Foret, who was pole-sitter at Valencia after dominating qualifying. The team blamed going in the wrong direction on set-up for Foret’s struggle to lead the session. Foret’s fastest lap was his last flying lap.

“Although we have already tested here during the pre-season tests our set-up is quite different this weekend,” explained Ten Kate Honda team manager Ronald ten Kate. “It is much warmer this weekend. After this morning’s free practice we made some changes to the set-up and unfortunately we went in the wrong direction. But we worked it out and Foret was able to resume his familiar position at the top of the timesheet.”

Jamie Whitham had led for much of the session but was pushed back to fourth fastest as Foret, Pitt and Bontempi all set last-gasp fast laps.

Friday’s World Supersport qualifying times:

1 Fabien Foret, France (Honda) 1:36.553
2 Piergiorgio Bontempi, Italy (Ducati) 1:36.728
3 Andrew Pitt, Australia (Kawasaki) 1:36.817
4 James Whitham, GB (Yamaha) 1:36.882
5 Iain MacPherson, GB (Honda) 1:36.999
6 Stephane Chambon, France (Suzuki) 1:37.050
7 Jorg Teuchert, Germany (Yamaha) 1:37.091
8 Chris Vermeulen, Australia (Honda) 1:37.115
9 Christophe Cogan, France (Honda) 1:37.249
10 James Ellison, GB (Kawasaki) 1:37.393



More, from a Castrol Honda press release:

HONDA’S FORET ON TOP IN AUSTRALIA

Honda’s Fabien Foret led the way with the fastest lap in Friday’s opening qualifying session for round two of the World Supersport Championship at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia.

Foret–winner of the opening round of the series in Spain two weeks ago–was in dominant mood aboard his Ten Kate CBR600 as he clipped 1.2 seconds off the existing lap record.

Ducati’s Piergiorgio Bontempi was second fastest with defending World Champion Andrew Pitt third and Briton James Whitham, the Phillip Island lap
record holder, fourth to complete the provisional front row of the grid for Sunday’s 21-lap race.

Foret’s teammate Iain MacPherson was fifth fastest with former World Champions Stephane Chambon and Jorg Teuchert sixth and seventh respectively.


Yet more, from a Fuchs Kawasaki press release:

WORLD SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 2 – PHILLIP ISLAND, AUSTRALIA
22 MARCH 2002 – FRIDAY PRACTICE & QUALIFYING

PROVISIONAL FRONT ROW START FOR PITT AT PHILLIP ISLAND

Fuchs Kawasaki rider, and defending World Champion, Andrew Pitt, secured a provisional front row start at his home circuit of Phillip Island this afternoon; finishing the first 45 minute qualifying session third fastest, after briefly holding pole position during the closing stages.

Suspension problems during this morning’s free practice session left Pitt down in ninth place on the timesheet but, by the time the bike was wheeled out for qualifying proper, the problems had been rectified and normal service was quickly resumed. Pitt waited until there were just four minutes of the session remaining before stealing provisional pole, with the Australian eventually having to settle for third on the provisional grid following fast laps from Foret and Bontempi in the dying minutes.

‘We had quite a few problems setting the bike up this morning but, I’m happy to say, the team managed to get everything sorted for this afternoon,’ said Pitt. ‘The bike still feels a little hard over the bumps, but that’s something we should be able to dial out quite easily. Although anywhere on the front row would do me for the race, I’ll definitely be looking for pole position during tomorrow’s qualifying session. I topped the timesheets briefly today and, with slight refinements to the bike overnight, there’s no reason why I can’t stick it on pole tomorrow.’

Relatively inexperienced in World Supersport terms, James Ellison demonstrated that’s he’s finding his feet fast in this ultra-competitive series. The 20-year-old British rider waited until the final two minutes of the qualifying session before posting his fastest time; jumping up the timesheet from 16th to 10th in the process.

‘I matched my fastest time from pre-season testing this afternoon, so I’m pretty happy with my qualifying position,’ declared Ellison. ‘I managed to hook onto the back of Andrew as he came round to start a flying lap and I thought I’d tuck in behind him and see where he was quicker than me. It almost didn’t work, as I got better drive out onto the start and finish straight and had to roll it off slightly to avoid overtaking him. Qualifying top ten has really given me a real confidence boost this afternoon, but I won’t be resting on my laurels and I’ll definitely be looking to improve tomorrow.’

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Interview by David Swarts

In his first interview since his crash on Daytona’s banking during the AMA Supersport race, Yamaha’s Aaron Gobert spoke through pain and the effects of pain medication to tell Roadracingworld.com about his current condition and about coming home.

RW: How’re you doing?

AG: “I just got two new plaster casts on my feet. So I’m just laying here waiting to go home tomorrow (March 22).”

RW: How’s your shoulder?

AG: “I had to get a skin graft, off the thigh muscle, and get that put up onto the shoulder. It’s sort of on the top, sort of across the back of the neck, you know what I mean? I had the leather burn all the way across my shoulder to the side of my neck, and the bit that was so bad that it wouldn’t heal was around the side of my neck.”

RW: Are they going to have to re-construct your shoulder?

AG: “Nah, hopefully, it’s gonna be alright. They said that it got compressed, the socket got compressed. It seems it should be alright. They keep saying that it won’t need anything. They can never really predict what motorcycle racing does to them.”

RW: Didn’t you break both your shoulders few years back motocrossing?

AG: “Yeah, I already had all of the reconstruction done to them both. That’s what they were worried about. It got squashed and maybe it could turn the operation.”

RW: So how long are you going to be out?

AG: “They’re talking about four to six weeks for my legs and then about two or three weeks more with my shoulder, because the skin graft is going to be about a week, and it’s broken as well. So I have to wait and bed it in slowly, don’t do anything too quick.”

RW: We heard Anthony say that you were trying to get off the pain medicine. Is that true?

AG: “Yeah, I slowed down a little bit on that sh*t, trying to get off it a bit. I wanted to start feeling it out, see what it was actually feeling like, you know? See how much pain I was really in. It’s been pretty hard because my back and all my ribs are broken. You lay around all day, then your back starts hurting. You have to get out of bed to stop that from hurting. Then that starts off a chain reaction of everything hurting. So there’s no real way around it, the pain. I guess it’s just a matter of time. I think I just have to hang on, hold out and wait a little longer.”

RW: Did you see the tape of the crash yet?

AG: “I’ve seen a bit of a tape now, but I don’t remember anything from like two days before the race. I don’t remember coming here, meeting some of the nurses and ladies working here in my ward. I don’t remember any of that. It’s pretty funny. I missed out on a whole week of sh*t.”

RW: What did you see on the tape?

AG: “It didn’t look as bad as what it turned out to be. I guess the tape I saw didn’t have that good of footage. I guess Anthony run me over pretty good, too. He was sort of under the thought that he didn’t run me over, but then when he saw it, he was like, ‘Ah sh*t! I guess I did run you over pretty good.’

“If Tommy (Hayden) run me over, it was up by my head area. He didn’t run over my whole body or anything.”

RW: Will you be flying in an air ambulance?

AG: “I’m just going in an ordinary (commercial) plane back to Ontario (Airport). I’m pretty good (on sitting up) now, not so as bad as I was. I’ve got the prescription. So I’ll just take ‘em all and get ready for the trip.”

From a press release:

Changes to AHRMA national schedule

Two changes have been made to the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association’s Progressive Suspension Historic Cup Series/Motorcycleindustry.com Singles, Twins & Thunder Series:

a.. The Sept. 7-8 rounds at New Mexico’s Sandia Motorsports Park have been canceled due to scheduling problems. The event will not be replaced.

b.. Because of a conflict with a NASCAR race in the area on the original weekend, the Oct. 5-6 rounds at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway in Alabama have been moved to Sept. 28-29, with a practice day on Sept. 27.

There are now 20 rounds in the 2002 series. An updated entry form is available for downloading on AHRMA’s website, www.ahrma.org.

Willow trial now on Saturday.
The Speed & Sport national trial at California’s Willow Springs has been moved one day earlier. It now will take place on Saturday, May 4.

For additional information, call 615-851-3674 or visit www.ahrma.org.

From a press release:

WORLD SUPERBIKE & SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS
ROUND 2 – PHILLIP ISLAND, AUSTRALIA
21 MARCH 2002 – PREVIEW

FUCHS KAWASAKI CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS DOWN UNDER

The Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team head for Australia and round two of the World Superbike and Supersport Championships this weekend, confident that they can repeat the success that saw Hitoyasu Izutsu, Chris Walker and reigning World Supersport Champion, Andrew Pitt, score top-10 finishes at the opening round of the season in Spain just two weeks ago.

For Australian, Andrew Pitt, expectations are high as he returns to his home circuit to continue his world title defence. Despite the added pressure of racing in front of his fellow countrymen, Pitt is confident of a good result at one of his favourite circuits on the World Supersport calendar.

‘I suppose there’s always a bit of added pressure when you’re racing in front of a home crowd, but that just makes a win feel even better I suppose. And that’s exactly what we’re here to do this weekend: Win. Championship points are important but, if I find myself in a position where I can win the race, then you can bet I’ll be going all out to do just that.’

Pitt’s World Supersport teammate, James Ellison struggled with handling problems in the opening round at Valencia, but the 20-year-old European Superstock Champion was fifth fastest during preseason testing at Phillip Island and is looking forward to his second outing on the Kawasaki ZX-6R.

‘I feel a lot more confident going into this weekend than I was prior to the Valencia race. After testing at Phillip Island at the beginning of the year, I know the circuit and the bike goes real well around here; certainly well enough for me to be confident of a top-10 finish on Sunday.’

Less technical than many of the other circuits on the World Superbike calendar, Phillip Island is a real horsepower track; a characteristic that Hitoyasu Izutsu, who celebrated his 31st birthday in Australia on Thursday, will be looking to take maximum advantage of with the awesome top speed of his factory Kawasaki ZX-7RR.

‘I was very happy with the way the bike performed at Phillip Island during preseason testing and I’m looking forward to the weekend ahead. This is a very, very fast circuit, which suits the Kawasaki and, if I can qualify near the front of the grid, then I think I’ll be in with a chance of a good result on Sunday. I will be trying very hard whatever the circumstances.’

Although unhappy with his progress during testing at Phillip Island, two strong performances during the opening round in Spain have bolstered Chris Walker’s confidence and the 29-year-old British rider is looking forward to the weekend ahead.

‘I really like the Phillip Island circuit and the bike goes real well around here speed wise. With the confidence boost that Valencia gave me, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be on the pace this weekend. If I can qualify on the first three rows of the grid, and then get a good start like I did in race one at Valencia, then I reckon I’ll be able to run with the leaders during the two races on Sunday.’

PHILLIP ISLAND STATISTICS

Superbike:
Lap record: Troy Corser, Australia (Ducati) 1:33.019 – 1999

2001 Superpole: Troy Corser, Australia (Aprilia) 1:33.576

2001 Race 1 Winner: Colin Edwards, USA (Castrol Honda)

2001 Race 2 Winner: Race cancelled due to weather

Supersport:
Lap record: Adam Fergusson, Australia (Honda) 1:37.973 – 1999

2001 pole position: Paolo Casoli, Italy (Yamaha) 1:36.917

2001 race winner: Kevin Curtain, Australia (Honda)

TV COVERAGE

Eurosport (Pan Europe): Superbike Race 1, Sunday 24 March 02:00-03:00 (Live), Superbike Race 2, Sunday 24 March 05:30-06:30 (Live), Supersport Race, Sunday 24 March 03:00-04:00 (Live)

BBC (UK): Superbike Race 1&2, Sunday 24 March 16:45-17:45 (Delayed)

LA7 (Italy): Superpole, Saturday 23 March, 17:55 (Delayed), Superbike Race 1 & Supersport, Sunday 24 March 13:50 (Delayed), Superbike Race 2, Sunday 24 March 17:40 (delayed)

From a press release issued by KWS Motorsports:

On Saturday, March 23, KWS will have their Grand re-opening at their new shop located in North Charleston, S.C. at 4675 Franchise Street. For directions call 843-522-7177.

The celebration had been put off due to the preparation of customers’ bikes for the opening of race season. We invite you to come join us for hamburgers and hotdogs between the hours of 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. as our guests. Hope to see you there!

From a Castrol Honda press release:

World Supersport – free practice – Friday morning

1 Fabien Foret France Honda 1:37.217

2 James Whitham GB Yamaha 1:37.307

3 Paolo Casoli Italy Yamaha 1:37.325

4 Chris Vermeulen Australia Honda 1:37.609

5 Katsuaki Fujiwara Japan Suzuki 1:37.846

6 Piergiorgio Bontempi Italy Ducati 1:37.873

7 Iain MacPherson GB Honda 1:37.884

8 Andrew Pitt Australia Kawasaki 1:38.023

9 Stephane Chambon France Suzuki 1:38.094

10 Jorg Teuchert Germany Yamaha 1:38.201

11 Karl Muggeridge Australia Honda 1:38.573

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Three-time AMA Superbike Champion Doug Chandler has officially joined the HMC Ducati team, replacing Pascal Picotte.

“It’s a done deal. Mitch (Hansen, HMC Team Owner) has said I could put the word out,” said HMC Ducati Team Manager/Crew Chief Mark Sutton. “I don’t think there’s any signed contract yet, but I think they’re working on that.”

As he spoke to Roadracingworld.com, Sutton said that Ducatis with Chandler’s number on them were being loaded into the team transporter, which is bound for a test at Laguna Seca. HMC plans to test with Chandler, alongside other factory teams, for three days next week at the Monterey, California circuit.

Sutton said he could not comment when asked if there had been any other changes in team personnel.

From a press release:

CCS presented by Lockhart Phillips event will have Air Fence* this weekend

Fort Worth, TX, (March 21, 2002) – Formula USA officials announced today that this weekend’s March 22-24 Championship Cup Series presented by Lockhart Phillips event at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill., will feature multiple sections of the recently acquired Air Fence inflatable safety barriers, donated to Formula USA/CCS by the Roadracingworld.com Action Fund.

The feature is a major safety innovation in motorcycle road racing and a first for stand alone CCS presented by Lockhart Phillips events. CCS is providing a premier safety feature normally seen at the Formula USA National Road Race Series events and other worldwide premier road racing events.

“We’re pleased to be able to utilize the Air Fence product at both our Formula USA national events and our CCS presented by Lockhart Phillips sportsman events like this one at Gateway”, said Bill Syfan, Formula USA director of road racing. “In addition, the product will be in place for the LP USA Privateer Sport Rider Track Day on Friday, which will benefit our licensed CCS racers as well as the newcomer street riders participating in the track day. Formula USA is grateful to the Roadracingworld.com Action Fund for their contribution and continuing efforts”.

Formula USA plans to make the Air Fence sections available at additional select CCS events in the future.

For more information on CCS presented by Lockhart Phillips USA, visit www.ccsracing.com.

* Air Fence is a registered trademark of Airfence Safety Systems of Australia.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Shogun Motorsports’ Josh Demuth won the Clear Channel Entertainment Speed Stick National Arenacross Championship. In his third season in the series, 22-year-old Demuth won 25 Arenacross main events on his Shogun Motorsports Yamahas and won the Championship by 129 points over Darcy Lange.

Formerly a Formula USA road race team, Shogun Motorsports is owned by Texas road racer and business executive Brooks Gremmels. When television coverage still had not materialized for the Formula USA National Road Race Series at the end of the 2001 season, Gremmels moved his program to the 2002 Clear Channel Entertainment Arenacross series.

Gremmels still sponsors several regional road racers as well as Jason Pridmore’s Star Motorcycle School, and sits on the Board of Directors of the CMRA.