Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Suzuki factory test rider Akira Ryo, riding the GSV-R MotoGP Prototype, finished first in round two of the All-Japan Road Race Championship held on Sunday, May 12 at the 1.294-mile, eight-turn Tsukuba Circuit near Tokyo, Japan. But because Prototype machines race in the non-points-paying exhibition class, the actual race win was credited to Team Cabin Honda’s Makato Tamada, who crossed the finish line in third overall on his factory Honda RC51. Finishing second was the second Suzuki GSV-R Prototype, ridden by Yukio Kagayama, 0.089-second behind Ryo. After turning the fastest lap of the race, a 0:57.103 on lap nine of 30, Tamada was 3.480 seconds behind Ryo at the finish.

The fastest lap among the Prototype class entries, for the second time, was turned by Akira Yanagawa, a 0:57.155 on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP prototype bike. Yanagawa crossed the line in fourth place overall. The fastest qualifier, for the second time, was Ryo, with a 0:56.340.

The next round of the All-Japan series is scheduled for May 26 at the Suzuka Circuit. Sources in Japan say that Tadayuki Okada is expected to race, as a test for the Suzuka 8-hour race later this year.

All-Japan Road Race Championship Race Two Results:

1. Akira Ryo, Suzuki GSR-V, Prototype, 30 laps

2. Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki GSR-V, Prototype, -0.089 seconds

3. Makoto Tamada, Honda RC51, Superbike, -3.480 seconds

4. Akira Yanagawa, Kawasaki ZX-RR, Prototype, -6.454 seconds

5. Wataru Yoshikawa, Yamaha YZF-R7, Superbike, -7.012 seconds

6. Atsushi Watanabe, Suzuki GSX-R750, Superbike, -8.591 seconds

7. Tamaki Serizawa, Tornado S-1, Prototype, -11.564 seconds

8. Takeshi Tsujimura, Yamaha YZF-R7, Superbike, -12.332 seconds

9. Keijchi Kitagawa, Suzuki GSX-R1000, Prototype, -14.838 seconds

10. Ryuji Tsuruta, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, Superbike, -35.438 seconds

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 5 – Monza (Italy)
May 12th 2002

BAYLISS (DUCATI INFOSTRADA) NOTCHES UP SECOND SUCCESSIVE DOUBLE WIN AT MONZA – TOUGH WEEKEND FOR BOSTROM (DUCATI L&M) AND XAUS (DUCATI INFOSTRADA)

Troy Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) scored another sensational double win, his fourth of the year, in front of 82,000 fans in round 5 of the World Superbike Championship at Monza today. In race 1 the reigning world champion had a fantastic three-way scrap for victory with Hodgson (HM Plant Ducati) and Edwards (Honda), which became four when Troy and Colin overshot the first chicane on lap 10, allowing Chili (Ducati NCR) to rejoin the group. Bayliss then smashed the lap record to get back with the leaders and surged past Hodgson with two laps to go to take the win. In the second race of the day, Troy powered away from the rest of the leading group with six laps to go and took the chequered flag by 2 seconds from Edwards and Haga (Aprilia).

“I’m happy for the team and for Michelin because everyone did a great job. After going through the chicane, I had 4 seconds to catch up and so I did an amazing lap in the middle of the race. On the last lap I knew no-one could get near me after Ascari and the only place I was struggling was the two slight lefts where it’s impossible to pass anyway” declared Troy. “In the second race the track was a bit warmer and there was a bit of mud at the first chicane so the conditions were slower. Everybody played around for a little while but I put my head down and as soon as I had half-a-second lead I knew I had the win because the gap kept growing from there”.

Troy added “I’ve got the best team, the best bike and the best factory in the world behind me so I’m just doing my job, having the best time doing it and it’s all been absolutely perfect. I’d like to dedicate this result to all the Ducati fans out there but especially to the memory of Giovanni Mariannini, one of Ducati Corse’s veteran mechanics, who recently passed away.”

Xaus (Ducati Infostrada) recovered from a bad crash during the morning warm-up, in which he highsided off his 998 in the exit to the Ascari chicane, to finish a fighting sixth in race 1. But in the second race he was battling for fourth place when he crashed out at the first chicane on lap 3. “I got a good start in the second race and was going well, but then as I was going through the chicane the front end just turned in and the bike went away from underneath me” declared Xaus. “I’m pretty disappointed really, it hasn’t been a very good weekend after failing to qualify for Superpole, but I was going well in the second race and I’m sure I could have got onto the podium”.

Bostrom (Ducati L&M) had been expected to challenge for the win on the high-speed Monza circuit, but he had to retire from race 1 with transmission failure on lap 11. Ben had even more misfortune after the break, when he was slowed by electrical gremlins throughout race 2. “It hasn’t been a good weekend at all for me. We had a small problem in Superpole when we should easily have been on top” he said. “In the first race the bike had a small transmission problem that started in morning practice and we were unable to find it really for the first race. Then in race 2 an electrical problem started about half-way through lap 1, it was probably something simple. The bike ran well for one lap and we did the second quickest time of the race. All I can say is that the bike was set-up perfect and was definitely a front-runner, minus the gremlins. I think it could have won the second race for sure”.

From a press release issued by Fuchs Kawasaki:

BOSTROM IMPRESSES AS WALKER CURSES HIS LUCK

Drafted into the Fuchs Kawasaki team as a temporary replacement for Hitoyasu Izutsu, Eric Bostrom found himself flying the Kawasaki flag alone in race one at Monza this afternoon, after teammate Chris Walker was punted into the gravel by an over enthusiastic Marco Borciani just three laps from the chequered flag.

Bostrom, who was also T-boned by the Italian earlier in the race at the first chicane, eventually crossed the finish line in eighth place, after closing to within a tenth of a second of Gregorio Lavilla on the final lap.

‘I got jumped at the start by my own teammate – from two rows further back on the grid,’ said Bostrom. ‘I guess I’ll be looking for a better start in race two later. Once we got going I thought I might be able to follow Ruben Xaus away from the group I was battling with, but then Chris stuffed it up the inside of me at the Parabolica and Xaus got away from us both. It was real hard in the latter part of the race. I was having a good dice with Antonello; he was real good on the brakes but not so fast down the straights and it was difficult to find a way past him. Then, running into the first chicane, Borciani ran in way too hot, T-boned me and put us both on the grass. He was riding well beyond both himself and his bike and the inevitable happened; it’s just a shame he had to take Chris with him when he did eventually crash.’

Walker’s race started well, with the 30-year-old British rider launching his Fuchs Kawasaki ZX-7RR from fifteenth place on the grid straight through the second row and onto the back of the fast starters from the front row. After a brief battle with his team-mate, Walker looked set to finish the race as the top four-cylinder rider, when Borciani ran too hot into the Lesmo curve and clipped his rear wheel.

‘I got the start I needed and managed to keep out of trouble in the chicanes during the first few laps,’ said Walker. ‘Things were going well until three laps from the end when Borciani made a mistake and ran into the back of me at Lesmo, bringing us both off. We crashed on a real fast part of the circuit, so I guess I was lucky to walk away with just a bit of bruising on my left hand. It’s disappointing because I’d been on for a good result up until that point.’

In the second outing of the day, Bostrom managed to get his Fuchs Kawasaki away from the line with the leading group, before making up further places on the entry to the first chicane. After battling with Lucio Pedercini and Gregorio Lavilla for almost the whole of the 18-lap race, the Californian eventually crossed the line in seventh place.

‘I got a much better start in race two, although I did almost run into Colin Edwards in the first chicane as a result,’ said Bostrom. ‘I was a lot more aggressive on the entry this time, running over the curb on the right before picking the bike up to go through the left. Unfortunately, Colin was right where I was aiming for and I had to run wide to miss him. I was giving it everything I had out there and it felt real good running with the guys in the early stages. But then the rear tyre started giving me a bit of trouble four laps in and I ended up battling for the rest of the race with Lavilla and Pedercini; who I’d have passed on the final lap if I had only been a little more aggressive.

‘I’m looking forward to my next World Superbike outing at Silverstone, I just need to be a little more aggressive, a little more consistent and to find a bit more speed – a bit of everything really,’ continued the Californian.

For Chris Walker, the bad luck that saw him crash out of the first race continued for race two. Ground clearance problems, caused by a wayward exhaust bracket, meant that Walker was unable to achieve maximum lean angle around right-handers during the early part of the race. By the time he’d managed to grind the offending item away on the track, the leading two groups of riders had disappeared into the distance. Despite a problem that would have caused many a less determined rider to return immediately to the pits, Walker hung on to score a creditable tenth place finish.

‘After being knocked off in race one I really wanted a good result in race two,’ said Walker. ‘But, when I tipped into the chicane for the first time, part of the exhaust dug in and lifted the rear tyre off the track. I gave it another go at the following right-hander, only to suffer the same problem. After that I just had to take it a bit steady, until I eventually managed to grind away the part of the exhaust that was digging in three laps from the end.’

From a press release:

Team Suzuki News Service

NEW TESTS PREPARE SUZUKI MEN FOR SECOND MICHELIN RACE

MotoGP – Round 4, Le Mans, France, 19th May 2002.

Team Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki riders Kenny Roberts Jr. and Sete Gibernau come to Le Mans with a few more miles under their newly shod wheels than after the last round in Spain.

That was the first race for the powerful new four-stroke GSV-R – Suzuki’s exciting new Blue Baritone – on Michelin tyres, after a switch from undeveloped Dunlop tyres to the established class-leading Michelins. Up against rivals who had been testing on those tyres since before the start of the season, it was like the first test.

The team stayed on at Jerez after the Spanish round, where they finished eighth and ninth, for two days of testing, the second spoiled by rain; and then travelled to Clermont Ferrand, to Michelin’s own track, for specially controlled tests in wet conditions.

Although still in the early stages of development, after only three months out of the workshop, the powerful new-generation Suzuki surprised even factory staff and team personnel with its ability. In the first round in Japan, it challenged for pole position, led the race, and finished a close second to defending champion Valentino Rossi. This competitive performance, from a machine already brought out a full year earlier than originally planned, triggered the decision to switch to ready-to-race tyres rather than continuing with the development programme.

After a troubled race in South Africa, the machines were reshod for the Spanish round with the familiar Michelins – used almost continuously by the team for more than 25 years. Two top-ten finishes confirmed the Blue Baritone’s early promise, but also proved what the team already knew: that switching tyres was in one sense almost like starting again, against rivals who had been working with the Michelins for several months.

The tests meant they could make some amends for the deficit, and to work towards finding a base set-up for the new combination. At the same time, the machine is undergoing rapid development, with a constant supply of new parts and ideas from the factory race department in Japan, working closely with the race team.

Team manager Garry Taylor was looking forward to arriving at the French circuit better-prepared than in Spain, where the team used the new tyres for the first time in the first practice session.

“That was like our first test, and though our aim is to be in a position to win races sooner rather than later, there were many reasons to be pleased with the machine’s qualifying performance, and two top-ten finishes,” he said.

“The extra tests have given us a chance to build on our race experience with the Michelins, and look for another step towards our ultimate goal with the new machine,” added Taylor. “The mood of the riders and the whole team is very positive.”

The Le Mans race is expected to draw bigger crowds than ever before, as French fans flock for their first chance to see the new MotoGP 990cc four-stroke machines like the Suzuki up against the established 500cc two-strokes.

At Jerez for the Spanish GP the technical track with few straights meant that the two-strokes were able to fight back, with five 500cc bikes in the top seven, although the race was won by defending champion Valentino Rossi’s four-stroke. Le Mans is a track with predominately slow corners linked by short “drag-strip” straights, which should hand the advantage back to the powerful new-generation MotoGP bikes.

The fourth of 16 rounds, the French GP is the second round in Europe, where the GP circus will stay, but for a side trip to Brazil, until late September, when four more “flyaway” GPs precede the final round at Valencia.

KENNY ROBERTS – TESTING TO IMPROVE
“Every test we do is beneficial – whether it goes well or badly. We’re finding things all the time that are going to make the bike better. At Jerez we found some aspects of the chassis that we need to address. As for the wet tests – I’ve always enjoyed riding in the rain, but our settings in Japan, where it rained only on race day, were something of a crap shoot. We’re going to Le Mans a lot more well rounded.”

SETE GIBERNAU – GETTING THERE STEP BY STEP
“I was really pleased to get back to familiar tyres to concentrate full on developing the bike and not tyres as well. We’re making progress all the time. My team and I got our heads together at the tests to keep the improvement going. We go racing to win, not for top-ten finishes, and not to talk about. We’ll keep working until we get there, and if we can maintain the rate of progress since we first started testing in January I’m confident we’ll get there soon.”

ABOUT THIS RACE
The French GP is a long-standing but irregular fixture on the calendar. The first event was run in 1951, the third year of GP racing – but in the 50 years since there have been just 37 events under that name. The race has wandered around the country, moving from the first event at Albi to Rouen, Reims, Clermont Ferrand, Le Castellet, Nogaro and Magny-Cours over the years. the first time at Le Mans was in 1969, on an early version of the then-new Bugatti circuit, which uses the traditional pits and start-finish area of the famous 24-hour track Since that time the circuit has been changed considerably in detail, even since the last series ended in 1995; while the French GP moved down south again to Le Castellet. The return to Le Mans in 2000 was forced when the Paul Ricard at Le Castellet was sold to Formula One mogul Bernie Ecclestone, and signalled something of a revival in attendance, with strong support at a track which has not always been able to count on big numbers of spectators.

ABOUT THIS TRACK
The Bugatti circuit originally used part of the famous Sarthe 24-hour car circuit – the pit straight and a daunting right-hand corner under the Dunlop bridge and down the hill – before looping off for the first of its U-turns and short straights. That corner has been made slower and safer, and a slow chicane put before the bridge, before rejoining the run downhill and hard onto the brakes for the first of several slow U-turns, linked with drag-strip straights, before the back straight leads to another twisting section and a slow corner to rejoin the start-finish straight. The U-turns are not uniform, however, and each has its own character and challenge. Another slight change for this year was dictated by an alteration to the long car circuit, and introduces a left-hand kink under braking for the first right-hand U-turn after the first downhill run. The lap record speed of less than 155 km/h puts Le Mans among the slower tracks on the calendar.

GP DATA
Bugatti Circuit – Le Mans
Circuit Length: 2.598 miles / 4.180 km

Lap Record: 1:39.594 – 96.344 mph / 155.051 km/h. M Biaggi (Yamaha) 2001 (Old Circuit)

2001 Race Winner: Max Biaggi (Yamaha)

2001 Race Average: 46:59.346 – 95.639 mph / 153.916 km/h.

2001 Fastest Race Lap: see lap record

2001 Pole Position: M Biaggi 1:38.421

2001 Kenny Roberts: Sixth, qualified Second (Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki)

2000 S Gibernau: Ninth, qualified 14th (Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki)

From a press release issued by Castrol Honda:

Castrol Honda’s Colin Edwards took second place in today¹s second race of round five of the World Superbike championship here at Monza in Italy.

But the hard-riding American was forced to defend second place on the final 3.6-mile lap as held of the challenge of Neil Hodgson and Noriyuki Haga. The runner-up place, along with third place in the opening race, continued Edwards’ run of podium finishes–nine from this year’s 10 races.

Edwards said: “I was determined to try and make up for third place in the opening race by winning the second. I think Haga, Hodgson and me messed each other up and let Bayliss get away at the front.

“Monza is always a tactical battle out on the track and while I got into the middle of the fight for the lead Bayliss made the break, at exactly the same time. We’ve worked hard this weekend but, in the end, I suppose victory wasn’t to be.”

Edwards added: “Everyone’s getting worked up about the championship situation but there’s five of 13 rounds gone. At this stage last year I had 130 points, this year I’ve got 186 so I know I’m still capable of being world champion.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn Le Santo

Bayliss makes it eight wins from ten races

The Ozzie Express continued to steam his way through World Superbike Championship today with another double win. Troy Bayliss took two wins to stretch his championship lead to 38 points, with Colin Edwards now looking an increasingly distant second.

Bayliss fended off a strong challenge from Neil Hodgson, Nori Haga and Edwards to take the second race win. It was Neil Hodgson who took the holeshot from his pole position grid slot, but Bayliss only waited until the exit of the first chicane to make his move into the front. The pair jostled for position over the next few laps but Bayliss kept his grip on the lead until lap nine when Edwards took a brief turn at the front.

Behind him Pierfrancesco Chili and James Toseland had a battle that ended badly when Chili’s Ducati vented oil took the pair down at the entry to the first chicane on lap seven. That let Haga in to join in the tussle up front between Edwards, Bayliss and Hodgson. The racing stayed incredibly tight up front, with the four riders continually competing for the same bit of track, swapping places several times a lap and even several times in one turn!

They continued to treat the crowd to some vintage World Superbike racing but Bayliss decided he’d had enough of swapping sponsor stickers and around lap 12 Bayliss took advantage of Haga, Edwards and Hodgson tripping each other up by stretching out in front. At the end of the race Bayliss was enjoying a lead of over two seconds.

Behind him the trio of world class riders continued to fight over the crumbs off of Bayliss’ table. Hodgson was by now almost losing a tail pipe, leaving him down on power. He used all his riding skills to keep up with Edwards and Haga, often outbraking both of them into the various Monza chicanes.

Edwards got the better of them both when it mattered, out of the final turn, to take second by the narrowest of margins. Haga just beat Hodgson to the line by about the width of a tyre valve, to secure the last step on the podium.

Behind them other personal scores were being settled as Gregorio Lavilla just beat Lucio Pedercini and Eric Bostrom to the line in a fierce battle that had lasted race distance. Broc Parkes showed the new promise of the Pirelli slicks as he stormed his Ducati into eighth just ahead of a disappointed Ben Bostrom. The pair only narrowly beat Chris Walker to the line. Steve Martin brought the next Pirelli-shod Ducati into eleventh.

Monza World Superbike Race Two Results:

1. Troy Bayliss, Ducati 998F02, 18 laps, 32:51.693
2. Colin Edwards, Honda RC51, -2.226 seconds
3. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia RSV1000, -2.267
4. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 998F01, -2.291
5. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R750, -21.844
6. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, -21.958
7. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -22.333
8. Broc Parkes, Ducati 998RS, -34.485
9. Ben Bostrom, Ducati 998F02, -34.542
10. Chris Walker, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -34.622
11. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, -42.748
12. Scarfino Foti, Ducati 996RS, -61.098
13. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -67.542
14. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -78.619
15. Alessandro Valia, Ducati 996RS, -81.925
16. Paolo Blora, Ducati 996RS, -83.688
17. Peter Goddard, Benelli Tornado 900, -97.105
18. Mark Heckles, Honda RC51, -1 lap
19. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, -3 laps
20. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, -6 laps
21. Alessandro Antenello, Ducati 998RS, -9 laps
22. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, -12 laps, DNF, crash
23. Christian Caliumi, Ducati 996RS, -12 laps, DNF
24. James Toseland, Ducati 998F01, -13 laps, DNF, crash
25. Thierry Mulot, Ducati 996RS, -13 laps, DNF
26. Bertrand Stey, Honda RC51, -14 laps, DNF
27. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 998F02, -16 laps, DNF, crash


World Superbike Championship Point Standings:

1. Bayliss, 224 points
2. Edwards, 184 points
3. Hodgson, 131 points
4. Haga, 103 points
5. Ben Bostrom, 102 points
6. Xaus, 96 points
7. Toseland, 68 points
8. TIE, Lavilla/Walker, 58 points
10. Hitoyasu Itzutsu, 47 points

14. Eric Bostrom, 21 points


More, from an Aprilia press release:

HAGA ON THE PODIUM THRILLS 82,000 AT MONZA

Monza (Milan), Sunday 12 May 2002 – Noriyuki Haga made a spectacular performance in the second race of the Italian Superbike Grand Prix at Monza. The Japanese Playstation2-FGF Aprilia Team champ managed to snatch a fantastic third place, crowning his efforts in the most challenging weekend since the start of the Championship. This visit to the rostrum is the best result achieved by the Aprilia RSV Mille in the three times it has raced on this circuit. Haga and the twin-cylinder from Noale gave a taste of their potential as they were driven on by a huge public in Monza: 82,000 spectators. In the first race, a broken bearing in the water pump forced Haga out.

NORIYUKI HAGA (Playstation2 – FGF Aprilia Team rider) declared: “It was a tough race, because in the first leg we only went round a few times, so we had to start the second without any references about tyre wear. Then, after just a few laps, there was an incident on the first chicane which pushed me back from the leading pack. But I gave it all I’d got and managed to catch them up: I just had to make it onto the podium – I couldn’t let my thousands of Italian fans down.”

GIACOMO GUIDOTTI (Technical Manager, Playstation2 – FGF Aprilia Team) commented: “All things considered, we’ve come away with a great result – third place is fantastic. Even so, we really did have a bit too many problems this weekend to be truly satisfied. We’ll be working flat out to be even more competitive in the next races.”


More, from an HM Plant press release:

Hodgson rides through problems to take fourth

Race two at Monza saw HM Plant Ducati/GSE Racing rider Neil Hodgson miss out on a podium position by the narrowest of margins. After an epic race-long display of tactics, skill and courage, the #100 HM Plant Ducati crossed the line less than 0.07s from second-placed Colin Edwards and just 0.024s behind third-placed Noriyuki Haga. Hodgson’s team-mate James Toseland was unable to complete the 18-lap race after he fell victim to spilled fluid on the track and slid off his bike while on target for a fifth-placed finish.

Hodgson had fronted the contest in places, but it was Troy Bayliss who eventually eked out a lead that he was to maintain to the chequered flag. Behind him the race became a furious battle for the subsequent three positions and Hodgson rode remarkably throughout. After countless laps of astonishing overtaking and spectacular slipstreaming action, the final placings were decided on the very last corner.

“Something split in my exhaust system during the race and I lost a load of power,” explained Hodgson. “Nobody’s to blame for that happening – it’s just one of those things – but I suddenly found myself right down on acceleration. I was drafting past the other two pretty easily but I just couldn’t get the drive back out of the chicanes and that was what I needed right at the end. Although I’ve reinforced my third place in the championship standings, I’m more than a little disappointed in the way things turned out, mainly because I’m riding really well and potentially could have won both races.”

James Toseland: “I’m really frustrated not to have been able to finish the second race because I was right up there. The pace may have been slower than the first race, but I was well in touch with the leaders until I came off. Something was leaking from Chili’s bike and I don’t think he saw the black flags. I was trying to get past him and it was just really unfortunate that I hit some of the fluid at that exact point on the track. That aside, I’ve had a really encouraging weekend and picked up my best ever result in the process.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Bayliss wins after three-way scrap at Monza

Troy Bayliss took his seventh win of the World Superbike season after a nail-biting scrap with Neil Hodgson and Colin Edwards.

It almost didn’t happen for Bayliss after he ran off at the first chicane on lap 10. Hodgson, Bayliss and Edwards went into the chicane side-by-side in a game of ‘who brakes last and hardest wins’. Hodgson and his HM Plant Ducati won the game as Bayliss and Edwards took to the slip road, having outbraked themselves.

Chili, who had been hunting the trio down lap by lap, took full advantage of the situation to get in amongst the action. But as Edwards and Bayliss hauled themselves back into the fray the fight proved too hot for Chili. Edwards and Bayliss soon caught back up with Hodgson to produce a thrilling finale to a magnificent race. After the race Chili marched angrily into race control complain that the two weren’t penalized for cutting the chicane, an offence which many riders thought can carry a 10 second stop-and-go penalty.

As the race drew to a close the three were all using every ounce of their engines and tyres as they struggled to get drive out of the turns. Bayliss almost highsided out of the first chicane but kept it pinned. Hodgson had his own moments and Edwards joined in with some lurid rear-wheel slides.

As the three hammered round the final lap it was Bayliss who got the best drive out of Ascari and managed to break Hodgson out of his slipstream as they powered down the main straight. That gave Bayliss all the advantage he needed as they entered the super fast Parabolica–the final turn at Monza. On the exit Hodgson was just too far back to get the draft and Bayliss took win number seven in front of Hodgson and Edwards.

After the race Hodgson said he thought he had won the race, after seeing Edwards and Bayliss take to the slip road. “As far as I was concerned I had won the race,” he said, “but then when I came into the pits I was told I was second.”

Colin Wright, Hodgson’s Team Manager, also seemed to think his man had won and followed Chili up to race control to protest. When asked if his protest had been upheld he said; “No, but it’s not over yet.” The latest news is that the result stands because the pair gained no advantage from cutting the chicane. But had the slip road not been there the pair would have both ended in the gravel.

Haga had to retire his Aprilia after only two laps with a broken water pump. Peter Goddard on the Benelli Tornado scored championship points on Benelli Sport’s return to World Superbike racing. Ben Bostrom’s L&M Ducati succumbed to clutch problems early in the race and his brother Eric Bostrom survived a battering from Borciani as they fought for position. Unfortunately Chris Walker, who was also in the scrap, ended up in the gravel after contact with Borciani ending his race. James Toseland brought the other HM Plant Ducati into fifth position.

Race One Results:

1. Troy Bayliss, Ducati 998 F02, 18 laps, 32:34.429
2. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 998 F01, -0.259 seconds
3. Colin Edwards, Honda RC51, -0.576
4. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, -6.422
5. James Toseland, Ducati 998F01, -18.860
6. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 998F02, -27.528
7. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R750, -38.264
8. Alessandro Antonello, Ducati 998RS, -38.642
9. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -38.745
10. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, -56.182
11. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, -64.410
12. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -88.651
13. Alessandro Valia, Ducati 996RS, -94.857
14. Peter Goddard, Benelli Tornado 900, -98.868
15. Mark Heckles, Honda RC51, -98.899
16. Christian Caliumi, Ducati 996RS, -1 lap
17. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -1 lap
18. Thierry Mulot, Ducati 996RS, -1 lap
19. Chris Walker, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -3 laps, DNF, crash
20. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, -3 laps, DNF, crash
21. Scrafino Foti, Ducati 996RS, -5 laps, DNF
22. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, -7 laps, DNF
23. Ben Bostrom, Ducati 998F02, -7 laps, DNF, mechanical
24. Broc Parkes, Ducati 998RS, -10 laps, DNF
25. Paolo Blora, Ducati 996RS, -10 laps, DNF
26. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia RSV1000, -16 laps, DNF, mechanical
27. Bertrand Stey, Honda RC51, -17 laps, DNF


More, from a HM Plant Ducati press release:

Hodgson shows the way around Monza

HM Plant Ducat/GSE Racing rider Neil Hodgson once more confirmed his status as a championship contender by taking an outstanding second-placed finish after a thrilling first race at the Monza Autodrome. His team-mate James Toseland scored his best result ever onboard a Superbike – an emphatic fifth place – to make it a superb start to the day’s racing for the team.

After starting from pole position, Hodgson remained at the head of the field for the majority of the 18-lap race. The 28-year-old former-British Superbike Champion put in an incredibly strong showing, and dominated the frantic three-way battle for the lead that was to rage throughout the 104km contest. Troy Bayliss eventually emerged victorious from the struggle, despite both he and third-placed Colin Edwards cutting out the Prima chicane. The pair of world champions outbraked themselves at the end of the 190mph start/finish straight and were forced to straight-line the section and make use of the run-off road.

“I really thought I’d won the race,” said Hodgson. “A memo had gone around before the race saying that a ten-second stop-and-go penalty would be imposed if you cut out the chicane. On the last lap, I didn’t really try to get by Troy because, as far as I was concerned, I only had to worry about Chili getting past me. It turns out that the penalty wasn’t imposed. I’m disappointed, but I can’t take anything away from everybody else because they rode really well to catch me back up. I’m on pole for race two, I’m not at any real power disadvantage anymore and I have these fantastic Dunlop race tyres. I’ll be able to give it 100% again and see if I can get that win.”

James Toseland rode a commanding race to collect 11 valuable championship points, finishing well ahead of many factory riders, including Ducati’s Ruben Xaus.

“That was amazing,” said Toseland. “I got a good start which put me up into fifth. I was expecting to have a bit of a scrap with Haga for that position until his bike packed up. I was determined to keep fifth place, so from there on in I just kept my head down and rode as hard as I could. It’s been a great day for the HM Plant Ducati team so far, and I want more of the same in race two.”

From a press release:

Benelli returns to racing at historic Monza

After their unfortunate problems at Valencia earlier this year, which resulted in Benelli missing the last three rounds, Benelli Sport returned to World Superbike competition at Monza.

“It’s good to be back!” declared Team owner Andrea Merloni. “We have solved all the problems we had in Valencia. The reliability is back although we are a little disappointed with the results, we were faster here in testing on the 29th of April.”

Despite being given tyres specially made by Dunlop for Monza, the team struggled with severe chatter in qualifying. Peter Goddard managed to qualify in 24th place on Friday.

“Maybe it’s the tyres,” said Merloni. “Or maybe it’s a combination of suspension, tyres and even the weather, but we expected to be two seconds faster here today. We need another dry qualifying session to get a good grid position, unfortunately we can’t rely on the weather forecast, in Italy they are a lottery!”

In wet qualifying on Saturday, Goddard and the Benelli were competitive, ending up eighth-fastest in the session.

“We went really well in the wet and it felt good to be up in the top ten,” said Goddard. “The problem is we have been going in the wrong direction for our dry set-up. Now we’ve worked out where we’ve been going wrong, and if we have a dry free practice in the morning we’ll be able to try out our latest dry settings.”

Unfortunately for the team, Friday’s dry times, when Benelli were still struggling, have decided the grid positions. This leaves Goddard with a mountain to climb as he starts Sunday’s two races from back in 24th on grid.

Team owner Andrea Merloni admitted he was hoping for a pair of wet races, “We’ve got a great wet set up and today proved the potential of the Tornado. This is essentially our first race of the season and we’ve got a lot of work still to do. We seem to have found the problems with our dry set up, we’ll have a chance to test our direction if it is dry during Sunday morning’s free practice. Our engine is better than our grid position. We want to get 100% out of our bike but it’s going to take lots more work and commitment.”

Sig. Merloni expressed his confidence in his rider, “Peter is a talented rider and his performance in the wet has proved he has what it takes to race with the best riders in World Superbike racing.”

Away from racing there was good news for Benelli, the beautiful Tornado road bike is in full production and Benelli expect to start the first deliveries to dealers in a little over a week.

“We already have many orders for the new road bike,” confirmed Merloni. “That makes me very happy.”

Reaction to the Benelli Tornado has been positive since the first time the bike was shown to the public, and the factory have managed to bring the bike from prototype to production while remaining faithful to the original design. The bike looks set to become an instant Italian classic!

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Vermeulen takes pole and a place in the history books

By Glenn LeSanto

Van Zon Honda TKR rider Chris Vermeulen snatched pole away from Fabien Foret late in today’s qualifying session and wrote his name into the
history books. At only 19 years of age Vermeulen is the youngest rider ever to qualify on pole in a World Supersport race.

“It’s not only my first ever pole in World Supersport it’s also my first ever front row! I didn’t even know I was on pole,” said Vermeulen. “We had problems with the lap timer all session so I didn’t know how fast I was going. It wasn’t a hard lap. I got a tow of Werner Daemen down the straight and then went for it. I knew it was my quickest lap but I didn’t realize I had gone pole. The first corner here is important, either being at the front or being at the back is the best place for that first lap, first corner. My game plan is to get a good launch off the grid and just go for it. Hopefully then I can avoid the action, but we’ll see what happens. This place makes for unreal racing, there will probably be eight or ten guys at the front drafting for the lead. Nobody can know who’ll win until the end of the race.”

“I’m very proud to be a friend of Chris,” said Eddie Roberts from Pirelli, “He’s the youngest rider ever to make pole in Supersport. He
gives great feedback to us, his riding is good, his information is good and the guy has good manners. He’s a nice guy and he deserves it, I
think his future is very bright.”

Fabien Foret was also pleased for Vermeulen, “It’s good for Chris,” said Foret, “I am very happy for him. But I am very tired after my crash yesterday. I tried to do my best but I didn’t push so much because I wasn’t feeling so good, I need to sleep! But it was easy to go fast because the Honda is so good and the Pirelli tyres are excellent as always. I like to be on pole, especially here. But I am on the front row, so I am confident for tomorrow. I am hoping for good weather, it is better for everybody if it is dry. But we will see.”

Suzuki pairing Stephane Chambon and Katsuaki Fujiwara will join the two Hondas on the grid for the race after spending most of the session
towing each other around the circuit. Fujiwara eventually bettered his teammate’s time to go third.

Final World Supersport Qualifying Times From Monza:

1. Chris Vermulen, Honda CBR600F, 1:53.127
2. Fabien Foret, Honda CBR600F, 1:53.457
3. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:53.622
4. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:53.661
5. Alessio Corradi, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:53.756
6. Paolo Casoli, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:53.845
7. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Ducati 748R, 1:54.055
8. Karl Muggeridge, Honda CBR600F, 1:54.222
9. James Whitham, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.260
10. Christophe Cogan, Honda CBR600F, 1:54.325
11. Andrew Pitt, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:54.424
12. Kevin Curtain, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.461
13. James Ellison, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:54.602
14. Christian Kellner, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.775
15. Iain MacPherson, Honda CBR600F, 1:54.806
16. Jorg Teuchert, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:55.117
17. Werner Daemen, Honda CBR600F, 1:55.188
18. Stefano Cruciani, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:55.412
19. Sebastien Charpentier, Honda CBR600F, 1:55.585
20. Gianluca Nannelli, Ducati 748R, 1:55.866

More from a Ten Kate Honda press release:

Vermeulen takes pole in front of Foret

Van Zon Honda TKR rider Chris Vermeulen snatched pole away from Fabien Foret late in today’s qualifying session.

The Van Zon Honda TKR is a Ten Kate Honda satellite team, with the bikes prepared by Ten Kate Racing. So no surprise then that Team Manager
Ronald ten Kate was happy to have given pole away to Vermeulen, “If we have to give up the pole to anyone I am definitely happy that we give it
to Chris Vermeulen,” he said. “I am happy for him, to see Vermeulen’s performance going up. I am happy for Fabien, being in second spot, a
front row start is important here. But we’ve seen a lot of crazy races around here and if it is dry we will see the same again. With Iain I am
a little puzzled as to why he is still struggling, although he didn’t get a really good draft down the straight and when on his fast lap he ran in to some traffic. It’s going to be one of those famous races with first corner mayhem ? maybe Chris and Fabien are in the right place! I
hope we can use the speed of the bikes in the race, and maybe Chris and Foret can make a little escape in the front.”

“It’s good for Chris Vermeulen,” said Fabien Foret, “I am very happy for him. But I am very tired after my crash yesterday. I tried to do my best but I didn’t push so much because I wasn’t feeling so good, I need to sleep! But it was easy to go fast because the Honda CBR600FS is so good
and the Pirelli tyres are excellent as always. I like to be on pole, especially here but I am on the front row, so I am confident for tomorrow. I am hoping for good weather, it is better for everybody if it is dry. But we will see.”

MacPherson will have his work cut out in the race, “It didn’t quite come together for me,” said Ian, “maybe I’m trying to hard. I’m losing a bit of time on the brakes and having trouble getting it set up for the chicanes. But I was on the third row last year and yet I finished 0.8
seconds off the winner so anything’s possible.”