Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Fabien Foret, the flying Frenchman, won a battle of France to take the win at the opening World Superbike round in Valencia. He spent most of
the race racing with fellow Frenchman Stephane Chambon in a thrilling battle to the line for victory.

Foret got a poor start on his Ten Kate Honda but recovered to take second place by the middle of lap one. Then he twice tried without success to pass Chambon to grab first place. The first time Foret got past, he ran wide on the brakes and was pushed back down into second. The second attempt saw him run even wider, narrowly avoiding a trip into the gravel trap. This time he was pushed down into fourth place.

Foret recovered and picked his way back to the front to start a fantastic duel with Chambon. By lap seven he got the better of Chambon and moved in front. Riding in his usual spectacular style Foret used all the track and then some to stay ahead of Chambon. But even when he ran so wide on the exit of the last turn he didn’t even think about closing the throttle, much to the amazement of the spectators in the main-straight grandstand. He repeated this spectacular move several times.

Christian Kellner, back in third, could only watch as the front pair got further into the distance. He then came under attack from a determined Chris Vermeulen, who is this year riding for Team Van Zon TKR. Kellner got the better of Vermeulen in the drag for the line to hang onto third place. Kellner’s teammate Jorg Teuchert lost the front end on lap five after touching the brake lever midway through a turn. He remounted but could only finish 16th.

World Supersport race result:
1 Fabien Foret, France (Honda) 38:11.646
2 Stephane Chambon, France (Suzuki) 38:11.962
3 Christian Kellner, Germany (Yamaha) 38:18.922
4 Chris Vermeulen, Australia (Honda) 38:18.947
5 Andrew Pitt, Australia (Kawasaki) 38:19.916
6 James Whitham, GB (Yamaha) 38:20.063
7 Alessio Corradi, Italy (Yamaha) 38:32.253
8 Paolo Casoli, Italy (Yamaha) 38:33.849
9 Antonio Carlacci, Italy (Yamaha) 38:43.484
10 Werner Daemen, Belgium (Honda) 38:45.271

World Supersport championship points after one of 12 rounds:
1 Foret 25
2 Chambon 20
3 Kellner 16
4 Vermeulen 13
5 Pitt 11
6 Whitham 10
7 Corradi 9
8 Casoli 8
9 Carlacci 7
10 Daemen 6.

Manufacturers1 points:
1 Honda 25
2 Suzuki 20
3 Yamaha 16
4 Kawasaki 11
5 Ducati 5

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Four-time AMA 250cc Grand Prix Champion Rich Oliver blames his crash Friday morning at Daytona on poor flag station positioning.

Oliver said he crashed wide-open in fourth gear up on the banking well after exiting the chicane, when he hit a wet spot on the pavement.

Oliver had seen warning flags in the chicane but thought they applied to the chicane, and that once he was out of the chicane, the track was free of any problems.

In fact, the flags at the exit of the chicane apply all the way around the banking until the next flag station, at the start/finish line. Oliver said it’s crazy to have such a long run of track between flag stations, and that it’s even crazier that race officials have never explained that set-up to the riders.

“I learned something about Daytona that I didn’t know,” Oliver said.

“The flagging here is screwed up,” Oliver continued. “And my body and my finger don’t appreciate it.”

In the crash, one finger on Oliver’s left hand was ground off down to the first joint, and his pelvis was fractured.

Oliver said he thought about racing today but decided that, because he wants to have a normal life after racing, he should sit out the event.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Italian Vittorio Iannuzzo took the opening race win in the European Superstock Championship Series in Valencia. The race was held in conjunction with the first round of the 2002 Superbike World Championship.

Iannuzzo’s Corona Suzuki teammate Giacomo Romanelli used the superior outright speed of his Suzuki to grab second place from Lorenzo Alfonsi on the DFX Ducati as the pair drag-raced out of the final turn and to the finish line.

Freddy Papunen and Andy Notman got themselves into the record book for all the wrong reasons when they crashed out on the first lap of the first race of the season. They were the only crashers in the race.

Romanelli, Alfonsi and last year’s runner-up in the championship Walter Tortoroglio spent most of the race trading paint as they fought for second place after Iannuzzo took off up front. Tortoroglio, who had led the race in the early stages, got the rough end of the deal and in the last few laps another Ducati, this one ridden by Sergio Fuertes, also got by. ‘Torto’ had to settle for fifth.

European Superstock
Finishing Order

1. V Iannuzzo, ITA, Suzuki, 21:58.519
2. G Romanelli, ITA, Suzuki, 22:04.969
3. L Alfonsi, ITA, Ducati, 22:04.971
4. S Fuertes, ESP, Ducati, 22:05.389
5. W Tortoroglio, ITA, Honda, 22:06.594
6. L Fourreau, FRA, Suzuki, 22:08.784

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Troy Bayliss takes first race win of 2002

By Glenn LeSanto

World Superbike, Race One report from Valencia

Reigning Superbike World Champion Troy Bayliss made it clear that he doesn’t intend to give up his Number One plate at the end of the season. The Australian led the first race of the season from start to finish, despite coming under some fierce early pressure from Noriyuki Haga and Ben Bostrom. As the laps ticked by, Bayliss steadily took control of the race, finishing the race 3.176 seconds up on Haga.

Behind him Bostrom and Haga spent the race locked in a titanic battle for the second step on the podium. Whenever it looked like Bostrom was getting away and leaving Haga behind, the Japanese wildman would pull off an awesome pass on the brakes. Bostrom didn’t seem to have an answer for Nori’s late braking at the end of the front and back straights.

As the race wore on it looked like Bostrom had used up his rear tire. He was clearly faster than Haga into most of the turns but on the exit it was the reverse, with Haga getting the better drive out. Bostrom’s Ducati was sliding and bucking in the longer turns as the Californian searched for grip.

Behind the pair Colin Edwards looked unable to close the half-a-second gap that existed for most of the race and had to settle for fourth. Ruben Xaus secured fifth, unable to recover from a poor grid position caused by an indifferent Superpole performance.

Bayliss dominated the race to such an extent that he finished over 30 seconds up on 10th-place man Chris Walker on the factory Kawasaki. Walker’s teammate, Hitoyasu Izutsu was first man home on a four-cylinder machine, and he finished seventh.

“It was a real hard race but also the funnest race I’ve had in a long time,” said Bostrom. “I’m kinda pissed off to finish back in third. But it was real fun out there and awesome to come back to such a great race. In race two I want to make sure I finish first!

“I think if Noriyuki Haga and me hadn’t fought so hard with each other in the race Troy Bayliss might not have got away so much. Our fight caused us to put in some pretty slow laps. And Troy is the kind of rider who’ll just sit on the bike and ride it and go. At the end he was just playing with us.

“I want to say how great it is to be back racing, it’s been a long winter and I’ve missed the feeling of racing and all the atmosphere from the crowd,” concluded Bostrom.

“It was a very tough race,” said Haga, who, like Bostrom, was on Dunlop tires. “By lap six my rear tire was sliding and Troy Bayliss had gone. Then Ben and me got into a really big fight, it was very hard but also very enjoyable. I’m very happy to be back in World Superbike racing.”

“I said after Superpole I planned to be first into the first corner, said Bayliss, “and I was! At first I got in a big fight with Ben, we were riding really close and we even touched a couple of times.

“I have to say that my bike was working really well, I’ve never ridden so hard and then hopped off the bike and felt like I’d done nothing, like I do now. The bike is that good.

“About two-thirds distance I lost concentration a bit and got into a bit of trouble in one corner. I guess I was thinking about lunch or something. You have to try to keep your head and keep smooth when you are out ahead like that, but I’m an aggressive kind of rider and sometimes that takes over.” Bayliss won on Michelin tires.


World Superbike Results From Valencia, Race One:

1. Troy Bayliss, Ducati, 36.51.963
2. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia, 36:55.139, -3.176 seconds
3. Ben Bostrom, Ducati, 36:55.279, -3.316
4. Colin Edwards, Honda, 36:55.990, -4.027
5. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, 37:00.673, -8.710
6. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, 37:06.408, -14.445
7. Hitoyasu Izutsu, Kawasaki, 37:07.858, -15.895
8. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki, 37:22.778, -30.815
9. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati, 37:22.783, -30.820
10. Chris Walker, Kawasaki, 37:23.559, -31.596
11. Juan Borja, Ducati, 37:23.630
12. James Toseland, Ducati, 37:28.233
13. Alessandro Antonello, Ducati, 37:31.935
14. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati, 37:35.765
15. Broc Parkes, Ducati, 37:38.615
16. Marco Borciani, Ducati, 37:39.535
17. Steve Martin, Ducati, 37:40.830
18. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki, 38:15. 961
19. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki, 38:17.806
20. Thierry Mulot, Ducati, 38:28.476
21. Mark Heckles, Honda, 22 laps

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Times from Friday’s IRTA tests at Catalunya

1. Valentino Rossi, Honda RCV211V, 1:44.716
2. Loris Capirossi, Honda NSR500, 1:45.359
3. Carlos Checa, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:45.533
4. Alex Barros, Honda NSR500, 1:45.547
5. Tohru Ukawa, Honda RCV211V, 1:45.586
6. Max Biaggi, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:45.658
7. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha YZR500, 1:46.360
8. Norick Abe, Yamaha YZR500, 1:46.366
9. Daijiro Katoh, Honda NSR500, 1:46.435
10. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:46.641
11. Olivier Jacque, Yamaha YZR500, 1:46.807
12. John Kocinski, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:46.887
13. Sete Gibernau, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:46.973
14. John Hopkins, Yamaha YZR500, 1:46.989
15. Jeremy McWilliams, Proton KR3, 1:47.040
16. Aoki, Proton KR3, 1:47.211
17. Akira Ryo, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:47.327
18. Pere Riba, Yamaha YZR500, 1:47.628
19. Regis Laconi, Aprilia RS3, 1:47.675
20. Jurgen Van Der Goorbergh, Honda NSR500, 1:47.749
21. Shinich Itoh, Honda RCV211V, 1:47.766
22. Guintoli, Yamaha YZR500, 1:47.872
23. Tetsuya Harada, Honda NSR500, 1:48.824

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Daytona 200 by Arai, Purse $138,000
1. $16,000, (including $2500 wearing-Arai-helmet bonus)
2. $10,500, (including $2200 Arai bonus)
3. $7500, (with $1900 Arai bonus)
4. $6500 ($1700)
5. $5500 ($1600)
6. $4500 ($1450)
7. $4300 ($1300)
8. $4100 ($1250)
9. $3900 ($1200)
10. $3700 ($1150)
11. $3500 ($1100)
12. $3400 ($1050)
13. $3300 ($1000)
14. $3200 ($950)
15. $3100 ($900)
16. $2900 ($850)
17. $2800 ($800)
18. $2700 ($750)
19. $2600 ($700)
20. $2500 ($650)
21. $2350
22. $2250
23. $2150
24. $2050
25. $1950
26. $1800
27. $1700
28. $1600
29. $1500
30. $1400
31. $1050
32. $1000
33. $950
34. $900
35. $850
36-40. $700
41-45. $650
46-50. $550
51-55. $450
56-60. $350
61-65. $300
66-70. $250
71-75. $200
76-80. $150


MBNA 250cc Grand Prix
1. $6000
2. $3700
3. $2750
4. $2250
5. $1750
6. $1550
7. $1400
8. $1250
9. $1100
10. $1000
11. $950
12. $900
13. $850
14. $800
15. $750
16. $700
17. $650
18. $600
19. $550
20. $500


Pro Honda Oils Supersport
1. $1600
2. $1350
3. $1100
4. $850
5. $775
6. $700
7. $550
8. $400
9. $375
10. $350
11. $290
12. $280
13. $270
14. $260
15. $250
16. $240
17. $230
18. $220
19. $210
20. $200
21-40. $125
41-60. $100


Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock
1. $1400
2. $1100
3. $900
4. $750
5. $600
6. $500
7. $450
8. $400
9. $350
10. $300
11. $150
12. $150
13. $150
14. $150
15. $150


Buell Pro Thunder
1. $1400
2. $1100
3. $900
4. $750
5. $600
6. $500
7. $450
8. $400
9. $350
10. $300
11. $150
12. $150
13. $150
14. $150
15. $150

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

---

---

Anthony Gobert led the restart of the Daytona 200 at about 1:48 p.m. Sunday, after taking the point from Kurtis Roberts in turn one.

But before the lead pack reached the chicane, Roberts and Nicky Hayden blew past Gobert.

Gobert made up time on the brakes for turn one and started the second lap of the restart in second place.

The lead group is Roberts, Duhamel, Gobert and Hayden at the start of the third lap of the restart.

Miguel Duhamel just sat up and slowed across the finish line to finish lap 10 of the race (lap four of the restart), then coasted to a halt exiting turns one-two.

Duhamel is pushing his Honda back toward the pits, counter-course. Meanwhile, Gobert is back in front on lap 11 of 57.

Roberts, Gobert and Hayden are the lead group, the Hondas faster accelerating up onto the banking and Gobert very quick in the infield and into turn one.

Running order lap 12:
Roberts
Gobert
Hayden
Hacking
Yates
Bostrom
Picotte
Barnes
Mertens
Deatherage

Nicky Hayden ran wide into turn one after drafting past Roberts to lead, to start lap 14, leaving Roberts to lead Gobert.

Larry Pegram and Eric Wood have pitted with machine problems. Dean Mizdal has crashed.

Running order lap 15:
Roberts
Hayden
Gobert
Yates
Bostrom
Hacking
Picotte
Barnes
Mertens
Haskovec
Deatherage
Livengood
Jacobi
Conicelli
Orlando


Picotte pitted after lap 16, with mechanical problems after running off at the chicane. HMC Ducati mechanics worked on the shift linkage/left footpeg; Picotte rejoined the race after losing about two laps.

Gobert has lost touch with Roberts and Hayden, Gobert is visibly sliding, and Gobert has been caught by Hacking. Gobert pits on lap 20 for a tire and fuel, Hacking is now third from Yates, Bostrom and Gobert, back on track after his pit stop.

Picotte is back in the pits on lap 20.

Roberts and Hayden went through turn one side by side to start lap 23 and nearly collided, with Hayden having to stand his bike up and pull in his knee to avoid contact.

Hayden retakes the lead into turn one to start lap 24, riding around and outside Roberts at the entrance.

Kurtis Roberts has just paid the price for spining his tire wildly, his tire has shredded with cords flying, Roberts is riding back to the pits on the grass inside the apron, on lap 24.

Roberts made it to his pit and his crew is refueling the bike and changing the wheel; a mechanic put a tire warmer on the removed wheel to try to hide the tire damage from TV cameras.

Roberts is back on track in seventh, just ahead of Hayden; Hayden pits on lap 26.

Hayden rejoins in third to start lap 27 but has the lead again by the end of the lap, from Yates, Bostrom, Gobert, Hacking and Roberts.

The running order on lap 29, halfway point in the race, is:
Hayden
Yates
Bostrom
Gobert
Hacking
Roberts
Hayden has lapped through seventh place.

Running order on lap 33:
Hayden
Gobert, -25 seconds
Hacking, -26
Yates, -27
Bostrom, -27
Roberts, -74
Barnes, -1 lap
Deatherage
Livengood
Martinez
Orlando
Conicelli
Mertens
Fitzpatrick
Haskovec
Schmidt
Dugan
Krebs
Purk
Mennenga
Rojas
Holden


Hacking/Yates/Bostrom nose-to-tail for third on lap 35, to start lap 36 it’s Yates/Hacking/Bostrom, racing through traffic.

This news just in from pit lane: Pascal Picotte’s problem was an internal shifting problem, with the transmission stuck in third gear.

Gobert is back on pit row on lap 38, for fuel and tires, and is back out, with 19 laps remaining. Gobert should be done with his pit stops.

Running order to start lap 40:
Hayden
Yates
Hacking
Bostrom
Gobert
Roberts
Barnes
Deatherage
Orlando
Livengood

Barnes in for his final pit stop on race lap 40 (his lap 38).

Roberts pits on lap 40 for his final stop.

Yates/Hacking/Bostrom still locked together nose-to-tail on lap 42, before their last pit stop. They are 27 seconds behind Hayden.

Hayden is closing on sixth-place Roberts and may lap him on lap 43; Roberts’ bike may have lost a carbon-fiber muffler, which could have been damaged by his flailing rear tire earlier in the race.

Hacking pits lap 44 for the final time, and rejoins the race in fifth behind Hayden, Yates, Bostrom and Gobert and ahead of Roberts.

Hayden pits lap 45 for the last time. Both wheels and fuel. Hayden back away, still ahead of Yates and Bostrom.

Bostrom pits lap 47, both ends and fuel.

Running order start of lap 49:
Hayden
Yates, -3.3 seconds
Gobert, -19
Hacking, -24
Bostrom, -25
Roberts, -76
Deatherage, -2 laps
Barnes
Orlando
Conicelli

Yates pits on lap 49, both ends, fuel.

New running order on lap 51
Hayden
Gobert, -19
Hacking, -24
Bostrom, -28
Yates, -28
Roberts, -67

Mertens retires.

Hacking is putting on a charge on Gobert, and is pulling away from Bostrom.

Michael Barnes’ Suzuki just blew up in a cloud of smoke.

Hacking less than a second behind Gobert on lap 55 of 57.

White flag is out for Hayden. Hacking is drafting Gobert toward turn one, but may not be close enough. Halfway through the last lap, Goberts till has a second on Hacking.

Nicky Hayden has just won the 61st Daytona 200 by Arai, and Hacking drafted past a weaving Gobert, crossing the line in second.

Hayden wins by 18.225 seconds and turned the fastest lap of the race, 1:49.933.

Unofficial results
Hayden
Hacking
Gobert
Yates
Bostrom
Roberts
Deatherage
Livengood
Conicelli
Orlando
Fitzpatrick
Martinez
Haskovec
Dugan
Jacobi
Schmidt
Holden
Mennenga
Rojas
Krebs
Pearson
Ray

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Mat Mladin looked very stiff as he put on his race leathers Sunday morning in the Team Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki garage. Mladin declined an offer of help in putting on his leathers.

When asked by a reporter if Mladin would race, Mladin’s Crew Chief Peter Doyle said, “Don’t hold your breath.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The Daytona 200 was red-flagged following a series of crashes, one of which involved Greg Fryer and dislodged a section of Air Fence at the exit of turn six. The section of Air Fence moved out onto the racing surface.

Running order at the time of the red flag was as follows:

1. Nicky Hayden
2. Kurtis Roberts
3. Miguel Duhamel
4. Anthony Gobert
5. Aaron Yates
6. Jamie Hacking
7. Eric Bostrom
8. Pascal Picotte
9. Michael Barnes
10. Larry Pegram
11. Eric Wood
12. Andy Deathrage
13. Vince Haskovec
14. Stephane Mertens
15. John Ashmead
16. Rich Conicelli
17. Marco Martinez
18. John Jacobi
19. Ricky Orlando
20. John Dugan

Nicky Hayden had turned the fastest lap of the race, a 1:49.933.