Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. Damon Buckmaster pitted for a qualifying tire and then took his Graves Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R7/R1 to the top of the time charts in the final moments of Formula Xtreme qualifying at Sears Point on Saturday afternoon. Buckmaster turned a 1:33.505 at an average speed of 97.021 mph. Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Marty Craggill was fastest for most of the session, running race tires with a fastest lap of 1:33.925, 96.587 mph. Cragill ended up third fastest on his GSX-R1000. Right at the end of the session young gun Ben Spies also took on a qualifying tire and blitzed off a 1:33.905, 96.609 mph for second-fastest on his Attack Suzuki GSX-R1000. Jake Zemke was fourth-fastest on a Bruce Transportation Group Honda CBR9545RR, also on a qualifying tire, at 1:34.345. Katja Poensgen, who got a call Tuesday to ride for Corona Extra Suzuki as a replacement for injured Steve Rapp, flew in from Germany on Wednesday, missed Thursday practice and first rolled a wheel on the track on Friday. In Formula Xtreme qualifying, she crashed her GSX-R1000 after bottoming out a footpeg and lifting the rear wheel off the ground in Turn Three. She was 32nd fastest in the session. Times follow: 1. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R7/R1, 1:33.505 2. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.905 3. Marty Craggill, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.925 4. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR9545RR, 1:34.345 5. Mike Hale, Honda CBR9545RR, 1:34.390 6. Tom Kipp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:34.873 7. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR954RR, 1:34.972 8. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:35.040 9. Dave Stanton, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:36.340 10. Lance Isaacs, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:37.851 11. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:38.098 12. James Compton, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:38.559 13. Robert Mesa, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:38.570 14. Jason Curtis, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:38.858 15. Clint McBain, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:38.873 16. Jeff Bostrom, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:39.269 17. Cory Call, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:39.646 18. John Wilson, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:40.06 19. Bob Siebenhaar, Honda CBR929RR, 1:40.028 20. Kevin Pate, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:40.030 32. Katja Poensgen, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:42.192

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

MBNA 250cc GP Qualifying Times:
1. Roland Sands, Aprilia, 1:36.117
2. Simon Turner, Yamaha, 1:36.673
3. Rich Oliver, Yamaha, 1:36.795
4. Al Salaverria, Aprilia, 1:37.356
5. Jason DiSalvo, Honda, 1:37.359
6. Perry Melneciuc, Yamaha, 1:37.906
7. Chuck Sorensen, Aprilia, 1:39.269
8. Ed Marchini, Yamaha, 1:39.884
9. John Davis, Yamaha, 1:40.201
10. Darren Fulce, Yamaha, 1:40.917

Rich Oliver collided with Rich Snowden late in the qualifying session in the Carousel. Oliver did not return in the qualifying session.

According to Sears Point spokesman John Cardinale, Oliver was conscious and conherent upon the arrival of medical personnel. Oliver was airlifted to Santa Rosa Memorial hospital with suspected injuries to his left foot and shoulder.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Pressure applied to team managers by AMA Pro Racing Director of Professional Competition Merrill Vanderslice to silence rider criticism of Sears Point International Raceway over safety issues had an effect Saturday at the Sonoma, California racetrack.

Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates and Mat Mladin and Yamaha’s Anthony Gobert were all critical of the racetrack in response to a direct question asked by a reporter in a press conference held following the Friday Superbike qualifying session.

In response, an angry Vanderslice complained to the involved teams, telling them to muzzle their riders “or else I’ll do it.”

Don Sakakura, team manager for Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki, said Vanderslice was “disappointed as far as the comments that were made in the press conference. I couldn’t respond because I wasn’t there and didn’t know what the riders said. Speaking to the riders, they were concerned (about track safety). We had gone to see (AMA Race Manager) Ron Barrick on Friday. Several issues were brought up, the big ones being turn one and the speed of the course. They made some improvements with airbags and things at that time.”

Yamaha Racing Division Manager Keith McCarty said he, too, was approached by Vanderslice. “Merrill did talk to us yesterday after the Superbike qualifying press conference. His discussion point was bringing up about the track safety at the press conference. We want to be able to talk to him (Vanderslice) about that, and I’m sure they wanted to be right, but I think they (the AMA) took it as a bit of a surprise because with all the track improvements they really weren’t ready for that. When the racers come off the track after qualifying you can imagine that they were trying to be their best and I think it’s a sensitive weekend for everybody.”

In a press conference held following 600cc Supersport qualifying on Saturday, Gobert said, “I want to apologize to Sears Point Raceway. Obviously, we didn’t mean it to blow up and be such a big deal. We just kind of said a couple of things and, obviously maybe, it wasn’t the best time to say that. But, like everything, you always learn the hard way.”

Copyright 2202, Roadracing world Publishing, Inc.

250cc GP Qualifying Times:
1. Franco Battaini, Aprilia, 1:44.803
2. Fonsi Nieto, Aprilia, 1:45.268
3. Marco Melandri, Aprilia, 1:45.323
4. Sebastian Porto, Yamaha, 1:45.499
5. Roberto Rolfo, Honda, 1:45.580
6. Randy De Puniet, Aprilia, 1:45.596
7. Casey Stoner, Aprilia, 1:45.648
8. Alex Debon, Aprilia, 1:45.694
9. Emilio Alzamora, Honda, 1:45.964
10. Toni Elias, Aprilia, 1:46.170
11. Naoki Matsudo, Yamaha, 1:46.293
12. Roberto Locatelli, Aprilia, 1:46.440
13. Raul Jara, Aprilia, 1:46.502
14. David Checa, Aprilia, 1:46.545
15. Haruchika Aoki, Honda, 1:46.630

More from an Aprilia press release:

Marco Melandri comes third in pole qualifying session. Three Aprilia RSW 250 bikes on the first row of the grid.

It was in the closing stages of today’s qualifying sessions that Marco made his bid to confirm the provisional pole he scored yesterday. Marco Melandri spent most of the session concentrating entirely on working out the best settings for tomorrow’s race. It is going to be a race in which the opening stages could be crucial. Macio thus took the time he needed to prepare everything to make sure he has all the potential he needs to be in top form for the third race in the championship.

Marco Melandri # 3 (MS APRILIA RACING) – 3rd 1’45.323

“I must say I thought it would be easier to improve the bike today. But instead we had a tough time, for I wasn’t as fast as I wanted to be. Then things improved and we worked out some better solutions. What really matters, apart from the start, is to get to the final stages with still something to spare. Some of the tyres we tried out today started sliding after just a few laps. This isn’t going to be a race like Welkom: the start’s going to be hard and it won’t be easy to break out into the lead. I imagine the opening stages are going to be hard-fought and then it’ll be a matter of strategy and determination to win.”

125cc GP Qualifying Times:
1. Pablo Nieto, Aprilia, 1:49.018
2. Arnaud Vincent, Aprilia, 1:49.186
3. Manuel Poggiali, Gilera, 1:49.227
4. Alex DeAngelis, Aprilia, 1:49.248
5. Steve Jenkner, Aprilia, 1:49.287
6. Lucio Cechinello, Aprilia, 1:49.494
7. Gino Borsoi, Aprilia, 1:49.786
8. Simone Sanna, Aprilia, 1:49.831
9. Andrea Dovizioso, Honda, 1:49.936
10. Youichi Ui, Derbi, 1:50.029

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

1. Mike Hale, Honda, 1:35.822
2. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha, 1:36.022
3. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:36.104
4. Jake Zemke, Honda, 1:36.364
5. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, 1:36.524
6. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 1:36.669
7. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 1:36.917
8. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 1:36.922
9. Tom Kipp, Suzuki, 1:37.115
10. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:37.769
11. Alex Gobert, Honda, 1:38.384
12. Brian Parriott, Honda, 1:38.643
13. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:38.745
14. Owen Richey, Yamaha, 1:38.835
15. Chris Siebenhaar, Honda, 1:39.261
16. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, 1:39.337
17. Jimmy Filice, Kawasaki, 1:39.703
18. Andrew Nelson, Honda, 1:39.871
19. Michael Hannas, Kawasaki, 1:40.193
20. Clint McBain, Suzuki, 1:40.618

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Unofficial Combined Superbike Qualifying Results:

1. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R7, 1:31.692
2. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 1:32.149
3. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:32.392
4. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.724
5. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.882
6. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 1:32.938
7. Pascal Picotte, Ducati 998RS, 1:33.806
8. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:34.106
9. Doug Chandler, Ducati 998RS, 1:34.506
10. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:36.192
11. Mark Foster, Kawasaki ZX-7R, 1:36.451
12. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:36.619
13. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:36.880
14. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:36.931
15. Tom Montano, Ducati 998S, 1:37.237
16. Scott Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:37.381
17. Ed Milhausen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:37.492
18. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:37.614
19. Owen Richey, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:37.648
20. Jake Holden, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:37.928
21. Andy Deatherage, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:38.015

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Saturday Afternoon Superbike Practice Times:

1. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 1:33.163
2. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.312
3. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 1:33.448
4. Pascal Picotte, Ducati 998RS, 1:33.856
5. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:34.115
6. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:34.697
7. Doug Chandler, Ducati 998RS, 1:35.119
8. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:35.465
9. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:36.725
10. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R7, 1:36.777
11. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:37.203
12. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:37.911
13. Scott Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:38.215
14. Mark Foster, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:38.305
15. Tom Montano, Ducati 998S, 1:38.362
16. Ty Howard, Suzuki, GSX-R750, 1:38.623
17. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:39.052
18. Jeremy Toye, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:39.102
19. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:39.539
20. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:39.609

From an Aprilia Racing press release:

Saturday 4 May, 2002
Ivano Beggio, President of Aprilia, at Jerez for the weekend races.
The president, Ivano Beggio, arrived today at the Jerez circuit to get a first-hand view of the two most important days of the third round of the World Championship. He spent some time with the technicians, the riders and the Aprilia team, who today will be battling out the final qualifying sessions for the starting grid tomorrow. But he also had a brief, informal meeting with the media in the Aprilia hospitality area. This provided a perfect opportunity to take stock of the current situation of the new Aprilia RS3 project, a bare three months since it made its debut here at Jerez on 24 January this year.
“We set ourselves three important objectives for this season” declared the president, Ivano Beggio, “We intend to become competitive and race for the world title in the 125 and 250 classes. It is still early days yet to know if we have achieved this objective, but the data and results attained so far give us every reason to hope we shall be able to reach our goal. Our second objective was to be ready to take on the track right from the start of the championship with a highly innovative bike, the RS3, and this is one we managed to achieve. The third objective still remains: to gather all the experience we need in the races to develop the bike and become competitive as soon as possible. Today, this is the hardest challenge: there are ‘physiological’ times to be respected, but we are not the slightest bit daunted, even though we fully realise how much there is to do. At the moment, the RS3 is more a two-wheeled laboratory than a fully-fledged motorbike and the challenge we are facing is to develop it in real time, in each single race. It might have been more logical to wait until the bike was absolutely competitive before deciding to take part in the championship, but I wanted to be out there straight away as the only non-Japanese manufacturer. If we had not done this, there might not have been such an important challenge in the new four-stroke category, and the project might have had that much less credibility. I wanted to be right there at the start, asserting my company’s strong vocation for sport. I motivated my staff by imposing extremely limited implementation times. We’ve got there: now it is time to make our presence felt.
“We are still a year behind other manufacturers” , added the president, Ivano Beggio, “But we are the only Europeans – and indeed the only non-Japanese company – involved in the challenge. Investments are almost three times what we earmarked for two-stroke racing, but the company’s commitment is firm, even though this is truly an epoch-making effort for Aprilia.”