Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Saturday 125cc GP Qualifying Results:
1. Manuel Poggiali, Gilera, 1:59.369
2. Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, 1:59.409
3. Alex De Angelis, Aprilia, 1:59.536
4. Gino Borsoi, Aprilia, 1:59.738
5. Steve Jenkner, Aprilia, 1:59.781
6. Jakub Smrz, Honda, 2:00.014
7. Lucio Cecchinello, Aprilia, 2:00.020
8. Simone Sanna, Aprilia, 2:00.190
9. Andrea Dovizioso, Honda, 2:00.384
10. Youchi Ui, Derbi, 2:00.602
From a press release:
ITALIAN GRAND PRIX, MUGELLO
Final Qualifying, Saturday June 1 2002
MARLBORO YAMAHA MEN IN THE HEAT OF THE BATTLE
Marlboro Yamaha Team riders Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa qualified second and third fastest in this afternoon’s stiflingly hot final qualifying session at Mugello, the second successive race for which the pair have both qualified in the top three. And Checa, who took provisional pole position in yesterday ‘s opening session, would almost certainly have done better if his number-one bike hadn’t suffered a problem during this afternoon’s final outing.
Following improvements to the YZR-M1’s engine-braking system for last month’s French GP, the bike’s performance has been further improved here with a new chassis that allows Biaggi and Checa to attack corners at a higher speed.
“The most important things are that Max and Carlos stayed on the front row and that we are making the bike better, race by race,” said Marlboro Yamaha Team director Davide Brivio. “Max’s last run was very impressive, he kept going rather than stop for new tyres and he was on pole for a few minutes before Rossi went quickest. Carlos’ bike had an electrical problem, but we couldn’t solve it during session, even though we changed some of the software and some parts. I’d like to apologise to Carlos. The technicians are now looking into the problem so that we can fix it for tomorrow and then I think both riders will be able to ride an interesting race.”
BIAGGI FASTEST FOR A MOMENT
This afternoon’s final session was run in strength- and performance-sapping 32-degree (C) heat, so it wasn’t until the closing stages that riders began to beat yesterday’s times. Marlboro Yamaha Team man Max Biaggi was the first to dislodge team-mate Carlos Checa from pole when he went quickest with three minutes to go. He stayed there until Valentino Rossi (Honda) bettered his time.
“We’ve been working towards the race, rather than just going for one-off times, so I know I can ride a good race tomorrow,” said Biaggi, who was also second yesterday, behind Checa. “It’ll be a hard race but I’m much happier with the bike now and I’m enjoying myself much more. The set-up we’ve got with the new chassis is okay, though we’re not seeing the full benefits of it just yet. We need to work on the settings some more, so next week’s test at Valencia will be very important.”
CHECA’S CHARGE BLUNTED BY PROBLEM
Fastest yesterday, Carlos Checa had every hope of securing his first-ever MotoGP pole position today, until his number-one bike struck a problem at the very beginning of this afternoon’s crucial final qualifier. In normal circumstances this wouldn’t have been a problem, the Marlboro Yamaha Team rider would simply have switched to his second bike, which would’ve featured a near identical set-up. But Checa and Biaggi were equipped with one new chassis apiece yesterday, which they tried for the first time in morning practice and immediately liked. Since then both men have used the new chassis exclusively because it offers better steering and handling, so when Checa switched to his number-two machine, he wasn’t able to match yesterday’s stunning performance.
“It was annoying to run into this trouble in final qualifying but at least we’re still on the front row,” said Checa. “The bike was good yesterday, so we left the set-up basically the same, but it wasn’t running right from the beginning of the session. I came back to the pits and took my other bike which didn’t give me such a good feeling. We made some changes but I only had a few laps left and couldn’t improve my time. I hope the guys can fix things for the race, and if they can, I think we can look towards a podium finish.”
ROSSI GRABS POLE AT LAST GASP
Valentino Rossi tried hard all session to better the Marlboro Yamaha men, snatching pole from Max Biaggi on his very last lap. “Basically, the Yamahas seem to be at the same level as us now, so it was a difficult session,” said Rossi, third yesterday. “We’ve had some problems here, we’ve fixed some of them but still have more work to do. Tomorrow won’t be easy.”
Rossi’s team-mate Tohru Ukawa became the fastest bike racer in history when he clocked 322.3kmh on Mugello’s 1.14km uphill main straight during final qualifying. In imperial figures that’s 200.27 mph, surpassing the magic ‘double ton’.
Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
AMA Pro Racing issued this medical status update at about 11:15 a.m. on Sunday:
“Ty Howard is currently undergoing surgery for a fractured hip. Update later today.
“James Davis is still under observation. Update later today.”
From a press release issued by Castrol Honda:
TT LAP FOR SUPERBIKE STAR EDWARDS
Castrol Honda World Superbike rider Colin Edwards completed a closed roads lap of the Isle of Man TT course on Saturday after an invite from organisers to ride in the course car, between the Formula One and Sidecar TT races.
Edwards completed the lap, with driver David Mylchreest, in 26 minutes, at an average speed of 86 mph.
“It was fantastic,” beamed Edwards. “We managed 145 mph out of the car down Sulby Straight then we got held up by the other course car.”
Edwards continued: “David said he can get around in about 23 minutes on a good run but what we did was fast enough for me.”
World Superbike champion in 2000, Edwards is on the island as a guest of Honda, taking a break from the world championship which resumes at
Lausitzring, Germany next Sunday, June 9.
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
AMA Pro Thunder Qualifying Results:
1. Kirk McCarthy, Ducati 748RS, 0:57.386
2. Shawn Higbee, Buell XB9R, 0:57.843
3. Dave Estok, Buell XB9R, 0:57.869
4. Mike Ciccotto, Buell XB9R, 0:58.088
5. Tripp Nobles, Buell XB9R, 0:58.292
6. Thomas Montano, Ducati 748R, 0:59.127
7. Leo Venega, Ducati 748, 0:59.917
8. Heath Small, Ducati 748RS, 1:00.093
9. Carlos Macias, Ducati 748RS, 1:00.332
10. Shane Turpin, Ducati 748, 1:00.419
11. Kurt Marmor, Ducati 748, 1:01.446
12. Josh Bryan, Buell XB9R, 1:01.690
13. Clark Freatman, Duc 748, 1:01.794
14. Tom Hull, Ducati 944SS, 1:01.990
15. Charlie Hewett, Ducati 748, 1:02.068
16. Tom Chauncey, Ducati 748, 1:02.688
17. Michael Kludt, Buell 1200, 1:03.121
18. Dale Pestes, Ducati 748, 1:03.251
19. Jessica Zalusky, Ducati 748, 1:03.418
20. Brian Destarac, Suz SV650. 1:03.508
21. Charles Sipp, Buell 1200, 1:05.237
22. Deborah Venega, Ducati 748, 1:05.722
23. Peter Bohlig, Suz SV650, 1:06.520
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Saturday MotoGP Qualifying Results:
1. Valentino Rossi, Honda RC211V, 1:51.258
2. Max Biaggi, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:51.837
3. Carlos Checa, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:52.977
4. Loris Capirossi, Honda NSR500, 1:52.107
5. Regis Laconi, Aprilia RS3, 1:52.237
6. Olivier Jacque, Yamaha YZR500, 1:52.237
7. Tohru Ukawa, Honda RC211V, 1:52.434
8. Tetsuya Harada, Honda NSR500, 1:52.532
9. Alex Barros, Honda NSR500, 1:52.630
10. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:52.656
11. Nobuatsu Aoki, Proton KR3, 1:52.740
12. Jeremy McWilliams, Proton KR3, 1:52.751
13. John Hopkins, Yamaha YZR500, 1:52.923
14. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha YZR500, 1:52.990
15. Jurgen vd Goorbergh, Honda NSR500, 1:53.40
16. Daijiro Kato, Honda NSR500, 1:53.120
17. Jean Michel Bayle, Yamaha YZR500, 1:53.440
18. Sete Gibernau, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:53.566
19. Norick Abe, Yamaha YZR500, 1:53.828
20. Pere Riba, Yamaha YZR500, 1:54.882
MotoGP Combined Qualifying Results:
1. Valentino Rossi, Honda RC211V, 1:51.258
2. Max Biaggi, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:51.837
3. Carlos Checa, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:52.086
4. Loris Capirossi, Honda NSR500, 1:52.107
5. Regis Laconi, Aprilia RS3, 1:52.237
6. Olivier Jacque, Yamaha YZR500, 1:52.237
7. Tohru Ukawa, Honda RC211V, 1:52.434
8. Tetsuya Harada, Honda NSR500, 1:52.532
9. Alex Barros, Honda NSR500, 1:52.630
10. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:52.656
11. Nobuatsu Aoki, Proton KR3, 1:52.740
12. Jeremy McWilliams, Proton KR3, 1:52.751
13. John Hopkins, Yamaha YZR500, 1:52.923
14. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha YZR500, 1:52.990
15. Jurgen vd Goorbergh, Honda NSR500, 1:53.40
16. Daijiro Kato, Honda NSR500, 1:53.120
17. Jean Michel Bayle, Yamaha YZR500, 1:53.440
18. Sete Gibernau, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:53.493
19. Norick Abe, Yamaha YZR500, 1:53.765
20. Pere Riba, Yamaha YZR500, 1:54.882
More, from a Red Bull Yamaha press release:
HOPKINS ACHIEVES HIS BEST GRID POSITION AT MUGELLO
Red Bull Yamaha riders John Hopkins and Jean-Michel Bayle both improved their times in this afternoon’s qualifying session. Hopkins improved by 0.427 seconds and has placed himself on the inside of the 4th row, his highest grid position in his short but outstanding Moto GP racing career. Hopkins has scored points in every single GP so far this season and aims to finish the Italian GP in the Top 10. Jean-Michel Bayle, the team’s Test Rider for 2002 who is the replacement rider for the injured Garry McCoy, clocked a time 0.699 seconds faster than his Friday session.
JOHN HOPKINS – 13th at 1:52.923
“I feel okay after the crash but I am really pissed off over the entire crash situation. The bike just slid, and I stayed with it, holding the same body position all the way. I jumped onto my second bike soon as I got back into the garage and ended up doing a better time on it. I tried really hard not to think about what happened in the lap when I crashed, I just focused on going faster. I have set my sights on a Top 10 finish in the race and I will be trying my best to race with the pack on the second row.”
Colin Davies – Race Engineer for John Hopkins
“John is more comfortable on his number one bike that he crashed early in the qualifying session even though he did set his best time on the second bike this afternoon. We tried a couple of different tyres thoroughout that session and we have made our decision on what tyres to race with. Tonight we will repair the bike from John’s crash today. We don’t have to change the frame because we have already checked it and it is straight.”
JEAN-MICHEL BAYLE – 17th at 1:53.440
“I am happy with today, the bike felt really good both this morning and this afternoon, I improved on my time from yesterday so this is good. I have found a race tyre for tomorrow and the set-up is fine.
“This is now my second race on the Red Bull Yamaha, I try to improve the bike and myself at each race.”
Christophe Bourguignon – Race Engineer for Jean-Michel Bayle
“I am really pleased with the tyre selection that Dunlop have given us this weekend and Jean-Michel did a good job to improve on his time from yesterday by 0.699 seconds. We now have a good set-up for the race tomorrow”
Peter Clifford – Team Manager
“Great to see that John could bounce back from this off halfway through the session to go quicker than yesterday. It’s the first time he has fallen during practice and it’s important that he can shake if off and go quickly again. Jean-Michel Bayle continues his valuable role helping sort out the huge number of tyres that Dunlop are suppling us with.”
More, from an Aprilia press release:
President Beggio electrified by the RS Cube at Mugello today
Laconi 5th in the qualifying sessions, a hairsbreadth from first row.
The Aprilia pits were no place for the fainthearted in the closing minute of the qualifying sessions. On the last lap before the chequered flag, Régis Laconi went past the intermediate timing points with a “red helmet”, the visual signal used by the official timing system to indicate on the television screens that the rider is achieving times lower that the absolute best. Another two red helmets and it would be Pole. Moments of tension. That would have been just too much. Régis, going absolutely flat out, made a slight slip on the last corner and made fifth-quickest time and thus second row. The finest result achieved by the Cube since its creation.
“It’s been a really exciting afternoon”, said a visibly satisfied President Beggio. “A great result which gives a good idea of the enormous efforts we are making to do well in this class. And yet another reason for the entire group and the entire company to open up the throttle even wider.”
# 55 Regis Laconi – (MS APRILIA RACING) – 5th – 1:52.237
“That last lap couldn’t have been faster. You really give all you’ve got. It’s thanks to all the work we’ve done over the past few days, to all the determination of the team who’ve given me the competitiveness I need to make a lap like that. It’s also thanks to the excellent grip of the new qualifying tyre: I really risked coming off round the last corner – I came in far too fast. That’s where I lost the chance to make front row tomorrow. Even so, I’m happy about today’s result – the Cube’s best so far. A real boost for tomorrow. Let me thank all those who’re working with me. They’re great!”
More, from Proton:
PROTONS BLAST THE BENDS FOR THIRD-ROW THRILLER
Round 5: Italian GP, Mugello
Final Qualifying: Saturday June 1, 2002
Nobuatsu Aoki: 11th, 1:53.539
Jeremy McWilliams: 12th, 1:53.510
Proton Team KR riders Nobuatso Aoki and Jeremy McWilliams rode a blinding final qualifying session at Mugello today to put the pair of
Proton KR3 three-cylinder lightweights side by side on the third row of the starting grid for tomorrow’s Italian GP.
Lap times that would have challenged for pole position last year, before the arrival of the 990cc four-strokes, prove the strength of the latest version of the Proton triple, at a track where one of the longest straights of the year saw the fastest four-strokes top 200mph in this
afternoon’s warm and sunny session.
The KR3’s strong performance on the fast corners made up for a speed deficit of (in Jeremy’s case) more than 28km/h, underlining not only the bike’s cornering abilities, but also the ever-improving performance of the new-this-year Bridgestone tyres, and the sterling efforts of both riders.
NOBUATSU AOKI
“It seems that the chassis and suspension are working very correctly. Also the soft-compound Bridgestone tyres worked very well. Obviously
they like the heat! It leaves a difficult question for the race. It’s very hard to decide which front tyre to choose, just as it was at Le
Mans two weeks ago. For grip, the medium-soft compound is better but I am worried about endurance. The medium will make the distance, but I am doubtful about the grip. We will have to see what the temperature and conditions are like tomorrow. I will put the decision off until just
before the race.”
JEREMY McWILLIAMS
“That’s the fastest I’ve ever been round this track – last year I’d have been thinking about pole position. The qualifying tyres are really
super. Unfortunately I messed up my last lap – outbraking myself into the corner after Arrabiata, with the back wheel five feet in the air. My next-best lap was done alone, without any slipstream. We have a pretty good race set-up, but tyre endurance is always the question. We did some endurance testing this morning, but the temperature wasn’t high enough to be conclusive. It looks like I’ll stay with the medium rear. That gives the lap times, but tails off a bit after five or six laps. The harder tyre is more than a second slower, so it makes no sense to go
with that.”
KENNY ROBERTS – Team Owner
“Considering how much slower we are down the straight, both riders did an excellent job. They’re obviously making up a lot of time somewhere else. I’m looking forward to our four-stroke … having an extra 30km/h wouldn’t hurt us. We have the bike pretty good now. It has to be good. Considering what we’re up against, we’re doing extremely well.”
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Saturday Morning Superbike PRactice Times:
1. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 0:55.203
2. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 0:55.237
3. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:55.258
4. Pascal Picotte, Ducati 748RS, 0:55.283
5. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:55.408
6. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:55.438
7. Doug Chandler, Ducati 998RS, 0:55.474
8. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 0:56.983
9. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:56.983
10. Jason DiSalvo, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.138
11. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.519
12. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.660
13. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.887
14. Marco Melandri, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.932
15. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.955
16. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.009
17. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.103
18. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.155
19. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.194
From a press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MOJOTOWN SIGNS ON AS HMC DUCATI’S INTERACTIVE MARKETING SPONSOR
Mojotown, a full-service multimedia agency, announced today that the company has joined the HMC Ducati Race Team as its interactive marketing sponsor. The HMC Ducati, piloted by three-time AMA National Champion Doug Chandler, will sport the bright orange Mojotown decal starting June 1st at the Superbike Challenge in Pike’s Peak, Colorado.
Michael Aron, Mojotown’s founder and creative director, is the former art director of Fast By Ferracci and Cagiva USA. He also served as the data acquisition engineer on Team Fast By Ferracci Ducati in the late 1990’s. After leaving Fast By Ferracci for a stint in the corporate world of e-commerce, he returned home to Northern California to launch Mojotown. A diehard motorcyclist and talented racer in his own right, Michael welcomed the chance to work with HMC Ducati.
“I’ve missed my involvement in AMA racing, so this sponsorship means a lot to me. I think HMC Ducati has a lot of potential and I¹m looking forward to developing its online and interactive presence. With my background in the sport and my team of artists, I see this as a great opportunity to carve a creative niche in the motorcycle industry and make an impact on the sport.”
Mojotown is a full-service multimedia agency specializing in advanced website development, computer animation, graphic design and e-commerce solutions. As a virtual agency, the company has created a leaner, more flexible working environment that offers clients greater creativity, innovation and business value. The company has produced creative work for such clients as Charles Schwab, Donna Karan, Texas Instruments and e-greetings. Mojotown is currently working on website facelifts for several of Northern California’s elite motorcycle dealerships and performance shops.
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Saturday AMA Superbike Qualifying Times:
1. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 0:54.391
2. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 0:54.596
3. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:54.927
4. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:54.9549
5. Pascal Picotte, Ducati 998RS, 0:54.9555
6. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:55.031
7. Doug Chandler, Ducati 998RS, 0:55.034
8. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 0:55.152
9. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.435
10. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.445
11. Jake Holden, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.671
12. John Haner, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.843
13. Mike Sullivan, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.049
14. Justin Blake, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.074
15. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.270
16. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.318
17. Rich Conicelli, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.324
18. Colin Gilbert, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.515
19. John Dugan, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.714
Corrected Combined Final Superbike Qualifying Results:
1. Bostrom, 0:54.391
2. Hayden, 0:54.596
3. Hacking, 0:54.927
4. Mladin, 0:54.955
5. Picotte, 0:54.955
6. Yates, 0:55.031
7. Chandler, 0:55.034
8. Duhamel, 0:55.152
9. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:56.808
10. Jason DiSalvo, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.169
11. Haner, 0:57.261
12. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.381
13. Ulrich, 0:57.435
14. Martinez, 0:57.445
15. Holden, 0:57.671
16. Ricky Orlando, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.820
17. Ty Howard, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.985
18. Mike Sullivan, Honda RC51, 0:58.049
19. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.057
20. Justin Blake, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.074
21. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.092
22. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.238
23. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.252
24. Livengood, 0:58.270
25. Conicelli, 0:58.277
26. Mizdal, 0:58.318
27. Giovanni Rojas, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.391
28. Dugan, 0:58.447
29. Gilbert, 0:58.515
30. Dennis Burke, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.718
31. Rob Christman, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.719
32. Jeff Purk DDS, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.745
33. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.755
34. Shane Clarke, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.763
35. Tom Wertman, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.889
From a press release:
SIDECAR TT JOY FOR FISHER
Rob Fisher made it into the record books with a ninth Isle of Man TT victory in Saturday evening’s opening, three-lap sidecar race.
The Cumbrian drive joins three other drivers on nine wins Mick Boddice, Dave Saville and Siegfried Schauzu as the most successful sidecar men around the 37.73-mile mountain circuit.
Fisher and passenger Rick Long took victory by 21 seconds from Ian Bell and Neil Carpenter with Bell slowing his pace after hitting a kerb at the Laurel Bank section of the circuit on the opening lap.
Pre-race favourite Dave Molyneux took fourth but the seven times winner was in trouble before the race after his passenger Colin Hardman was involved in a road accident just hours before the race.
“Colin¹s right hand is a mess,” said Molyneux. “I knew he was in pain during the race but there was nothing I could do. At least we got to the finish and that’s credit to Colin’s courage.”
Sidecar TT result (three laps 113.19 miles):
1. Rob Fisher/Rick Long, GB, (Yamaha) 1hr 01m 25.9s, 110.55 mph
2. Ian Bell/Neil Carpenter, GB, (Yamaha), 1hr 01m 46.0s, 109.95 mph
3. Gary Horspole/Kevin Leigh, GB, (Honda) 1hr 02m 06.6s, 109.34 mph
4. Dave Molyneux/Colin Hardman, GB, (Honda) 1hr 02m 17.1s, 109.03 mph
5. Roy Hanks/Dave Wells, GB (Yamaha), 1hr 02m 57.5s , 107.87 mph
6. Ben Dixon/Mark Lambert, GB (Honda), 1hr 03m 05.3s, 107.64 mph
7. Phillip Dongworth/Stuart Castles, GB (Kawasaki), 1hr 03m 13.6s ,107.41 mph
8. Steve Norbury/Andrew Smith, GB (Yamaha), 1hr 03m 44.5s, 106.54 mph
9. Mick Harvey/Stephen Thomas, GB (Yamaha), 1hr 03m 55.4s, 106.24 mph
10. Kenny Howles/Doug Jewell, GB (Yamaha), 1hr 04m 04.8s, 105.98 mph
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Saturday 125cc GP Qualifying Results:
1. Manuel Poggiali, Gilera, 1:59.369
2. Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, 1:59.409
3. Alex De Angelis, Aprilia, 1:59.536
4. Gino Borsoi, Aprilia, 1:59.738
5. Steve Jenkner, Aprilia, 1:59.781
6. Jakub Smrz, Honda, 2:00.014
7. Lucio Cecchinello, Aprilia, 2:00.020
8. Simone Sanna, Aprilia, 2:00.190
9. Andrea Dovizioso, Honda, 2:00.384
10. Youchi Ui, Derbi, 2:00.602
From a press release:
ITALIAN GRAND PRIX, MUGELLO
Final Qualifying, Saturday June 1 2002
MARLBORO YAMAHA MEN IN THE HEAT OF THE BATTLE
Marlboro Yamaha Team riders Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa qualified second and third fastest in this afternoon’s stiflingly hot final qualifying session at Mugello, the second successive race for which the pair have both qualified in the top three. And Checa, who took provisional pole position in yesterday ‘s opening session, would almost certainly have done better if his number-one bike hadn’t suffered a problem during this afternoon’s final outing.
Following improvements to the YZR-M1’s engine-braking system for last month’s French GP, the bike’s performance has been further improved here with a new chassis that allows Biaggi and Checa to attack corners at a higher speed.
“The most important things are that Max and Carlos stayed on the front row and that we are making the bike better, race by race,” said Marlboro Yamaha Team director Davide Brivio. “Max’s last run was very impressive, he kept going rather than stop for new tyres and he was on pole for a few minutes before Rossi went quickest. Carlos’ bike had an electrical problem, but we couldn’t solve it during session, even though we changed some of the software and some parts. I’d like to apologise to Carlos. The technicians are now looking into the problem so that we can fix it for tomorrow and then I think both riders will be able to ride an interesting race.”
BIAGGI FASTEST FOR A MOMENT
This afternoon’s final session was run in strength- and performance-sapping 32-degree (C) heat, so it wasn’t until the closing stages that riders began to beat yesterday’s times. Marlboro Yamaha Team man Max Biaggi was the first to dislodge team-mate Carlos Checa from pole when he went quickest with three minutes to go. He stayed there until Valentino Rossi (Honda) bettered his time.
“We’ve been working towards the race, rather than just going for one-off times, so I know I can ride a good race tomorrow,” said Biaggi, who was also second yesterday, behind Checa. “It’ll be a hard race but I’m much happier with the bike now and I’m enjoying myself much more. The set-up we’ve got with the new chassis is okay, though we’re not seeing the full benefits of it just yet. We need to work on the settings some more, so next week’s test at Valencia will be very important.”
CHECA’S CHARGE BLUNTED BY PROBLEM
Fastest yesterday, Carlos Checa had every hope of securing his first-ever MotoGP pole position today, until his number-one bike struck a problem at the very beginning of this afternoon’s crucial final qualifier. In normal circumstances this wouldn’t have been a problem, the Marlboro Yamaha Team rider would simply have switched to his second bike, which would’ve featured a near identical set-up. But Checa and Biaggi were equipped with one new chassis apiece yesterday, which they tried for the first time in morning practice and immediately liked. Since then both men have used the new chassis exclusively because it offers better steering and handling, so when Checa switched to his number-two machine, he wasn’t able to match yesterday’s stunning performance.
“It was annoying to run into this trouble in final qualifying but at least we’re still on the front row,” said Checa. “The bike was good yesterday, so we left the set-up basically the same, but it wasn’t running right from the beginning of the session. I came back to the pits and took my other bike which didn’t give me such a good feeling. We made some changes but I only had a few laps left and couldn’t improve my time. I hope the guys can fix things for the race, and if they can, I think we can look towards a podium finish.”
ROSSI GRABS POLE AT LAST GASP
Valentino Rossi tried hard all session to better the Marlboro Yamaha men, snatching pole from Max Biaggi on his very last lap. “Basically, the Yamahas seem to be at the same level as us now, so it was a difficult session,” said Rossi, third yesterday. “We’ve had some problems here, we’ve fixed some of them but still have more work to do. Tomorrow won’t be easy.”
Rossi’s team-mate Tohru Ukawa became the fastest bike racer in history when he clocked 322.3kmh on Mugello’s 1.14km uphill main straight during final qualifying. In imperial figures that’s 200.27 mph, surpassing the magic ‘double ton’.
Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
AMA Pro Racing issued this medical status update at about 11:15 a.m. on Sunday:
“Ty Howard is currently undergoing surgery for a fractured hip. Update later today.
“James Davis is still under observation. Update later today.”
From a press release issued by Castrol Honda:
TT LAP FOR SUPERBIKE STAR EDWARDS
Castrol Honda World Superbike rider Colin Edwards completed a closed roads lap of the Isle of Man TT course on Saturday after an invite from organisers to ride in the course car, between the Formula One and Sidecar TT races.
Edwards completed the lap, with driver David Mylchreest, in 26 minutes, at an average speed of 86 mph.
“It was fantastic,” beamed Edwards. “We managed 145 mph out of the car down Sulby Straight then we got held up by the other course car.”
Edwards continued: “David said he can get around in about 23 minutes on a good run but what we did was fast enough for me.”
World Superbike champion in 2000, Edwards is on the island as a guest of Honda, taking a break from the world championship which resumes at
Lausitzring, Germany next Sunday, June 9.
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
AMA Pro Thunder Qualifying Results:
1. Kirk McCarthy, Ducati 748RS, 0:57.386
2. Shawn Higbee, Buell XB9R, 0:57.843
3. Dave Estok, Buell XB9R, 0:57.869
4. Mike Ciccotto, Buell XB9R, 0:58.088
5. Tripp Nobles, Buell XB9R, 0:58.292
6. Thomas Montano, Ducati 748R, 0:59.127
7. Leo Venega, Ducati 748, 0:59.917
8. Heath Small, Ducati 748RS, 1:00.093
9. Carlos Macias, Ducati 748RS, 1:00.332
10. Shane Turpin, Ducati 748, 1:00.419
11. Kurt Marmor, Ducati 748, 1:01.446
12. Josh Bryan, Buell XB9R, 1:01.690
13. Clark Freatman, Duc 748, 1:01.794
14. Tom Hull, Ducati 944SS, 1:01.990
15. Charlie Hewett, Ducati 748, 1:02.068
16. Tom Chauncey, Ducati 748, 1:02.688
17. Michael Kludt, Buell 1200, 1:03.121
18. Dale Pestes, Ducati 748, 1:03.251
19. Jessica Zalusky, Ducati 748, 1:03.418
20. Brian Destarac, Suz SV650. 1:03.508
21. Charles Sipp, Buell 1200, 1:05.237
22. Deborah Venega, Ducati 748, 1:05.722
23. Peter Bohlig, Suz SV650, 1:06.520
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Saturday MotoGP Qualifying Results:
1. Valentino Rossi, Honda RC211V, 1:51.258
2. Max Biaggi, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:51.837
3. Carlos Checa, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:52.977
4. Loris Capirossi, Honda NSR500, 1:52.107
5. Regis Laconi, Aprilia RS3, 1:52.237
6. Olivier Jacque, Yamaha YZR500, 1:52.237
7. Tohru Ukawa, Honda RC211V, 1:52.434
8. Tetsuya Harada, Honda NSR500, 1:52.532
9. Alex Barros, Honda NSR500, 1:52.630
10. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:52.656
11. Nobuatsu Aoki, Proton KR3, 1:52.740
12. Jeremy McWilliams, Proton KR3, 1:52.751
13. John Hopkins, Yamaha YZR500, 1:52.923
14. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha YZR500, 1:52.990
15. Jurgen vd Goorbergh, Honda NSR500, 1:53.40
16. Daijiro Kato, Honda NSR500, 1:53.120
17. Jean Michel Bayle, Yamaha YZR500, 1:53.440
18. Sete Gibernau, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:53.566
19. Norick Abe, Yamaha YZR500, 1:53.828
20. Pere Riba, Yamaha YZR500, 1:54.882
MotoGP Combined Qualifying Results:
1. Valentino Rossi, Honda RC211V, 1:51.258
2. Max Biaggi, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:51.837
3. Carlos Checa, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:52.086
4. Loris Capirossi, Honda NSR500, 1:52.107
5. Regis Laconi, Aprilia RS3, 1:52.237
6. Olivier Jacque, Yamaha YZR500, 1:52.237
7. Tohru Ukawa, Honda RC211V, 1:52.434
8. Tetsuya Harada, Honda NSR500, 1:52.532
9. Alex Barros, Honda NSR500, 1:52.630
10. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:52.656
11. Nobuatsu Aoki, Proton KR3, 1:52.740
12. Jeremy McWilliams, Proton KR3, 1:52.751
13. John Hopkins, Yamaha YZR500, 1:52.923
14. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha YZR500, 1:52.990
15. Jurgen vd Goorbergh, Honda NSR500, 1:53.40
16. Daijiro Kato, Honda NSR500, 1:53.120
17. Jean Michel Bayle, Yamaha YZR500, 1:53.440
18. Sete Gibernau, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:53.493
19. Norick Abe, Yamaha YZR500, 1:53.765
20. Pere Riba, Yamaha YZR500, 1:54.882
More, from a Red Bull Yamaha press release:
HOPKINS ACHIEVES HIS BEST GRID POSITION AT MUGELLO
Red Bull Yamaha riders John Hopkins and Jean-Michel Bayle both improved their times in this afternoon’s qualifying session. Hopkins improved by 0.427 seconds and has placed himself on the inside of the 4th row, his highest grid position in his short but outstanding Moto GP racing career. Hopkins has scored points in every single GP so far this season and aims to finish the Italian GP in the Top 10. Jean-Michel Bayle, the team’s Test Rider for 2002 who is the replacement rider for the injured Garry McCoy, clocked a time 0.699 seconds faster than his Friday session.
JOHN HOPKINS – 13th at 1:52.923
“I feel okay after the crash but I am really pissed off over the entire crash situation. The bike just slid, and I stayed with it, holding the same body position all the way. I jumped onto my second bike soon as I got back into the garage and ended up doing a better time on it. I tried really hard not to think about what happened in the lap when I crashed, I just focused on going faster. I have set my sights on a Top 10 finish in the race and I will be trying my best to race with the pack on the second row.”
Colin Davies – Race Engineer for John Hopkins
“John is more comfortable on his number one bike that he crashed early in the qualifying session even though he did set his best time on the second bike this afternoon. We tried a couple of different tyres thoroughout that session and we have made our decision on what tyres to race with. Tonight we will repair the bike from John’s crash today. We don’t have to change the frame because we have already checked it and it is straight.”
JEAN-MICHEL BAYLE – 17th at 1:53.440
“I am happy with today, the bike felt really good both this morning and this afternoon, I improved on my time from yesterday so this is good. I have found a race tyre for tomorrow and the set-up is fine.
“This is now my second race on the Red Bull Yamaha, I try to improve the bike and myself at each race.”
Christophe Bourguignon – Race Engineer for Jean-Michel Bayle
“I am really pleased with the tyre selection that Dunlop have given us this weekend and Jean-Michel did a good job to improve on his time from yesterday by 0.699 seconds. We now have a good set-up for the race tomorrow”
Peter Clifford – Team Manager
“Great to see that John could bounce back from this off halfway through the session to go quicker than yesterday. It’s the first time he has fallen during practice and it’s important that he can shake if off and go quickly again. Jean-Michel Bayle continues his valuable role helping sort out the huge number of tyres that Dunlop are suppling us with.”
More, from an Aprilia press release:
President Beggio electrified by the RS Cube at Mugello today
Laconi 5th in the qualifying sessions, a hairsbreadth from first row.
The Aprilia pits were no place for the fainthearted in the closing minute of the qualifying sessions. On the last lap before the chequered flag, Régis Laconi went past the intermediate timing points with a “red helmet”, the visual signal used by the official timing system to indicate on the television screens that the rider is achieving times lower that the absolute best. Another two red helmets and it would be Pole. Moments of tension. That would have been just too much. Régis, going absolutely flat out, made a slight slip on the last corner and made fifth-quickest time and thus second row. The finest result achieved by the Cube since its creation.
“It’s been a really exciting afternoon”, said a visibly satisfied President Beggio. “A great result which gives a good idea of the enormous efforts we are making to do well in this class. And yet another reason for the entire group and the entire company to open up the throttle even wider.”
# 55 Regis Laconi – (MS APRILIA RACING) – 5th – 1:52.237
“That last lap couldn’t have been faster. You really give all you’ve got. It’s thanks to all the work we’ve done over the past few days, to all the determination of the team who’ve given me the competitiveness I need to make a lap like that. It’s also thanks to the excellent grip of the new qualifying tyre: I really risked coming off round the last corner – I came in far too fast. That’s where I lost the chance to make front row tomorrow. Even so, I’m happy about today’s result – the Cube’s best so far. A real boost for tomorrow. Let me thank all those who’re working with me. They’re great!”
More, from Proton:
PROTONS BLAST THE BENDS FOR THIRD-ROW THRILLER
Round 5: Italian GP, Mugello
Final Qualifying: Saturday June 1, 2002
Nobuatsu Aoki: 11th, 1:53.539
Jeremy McWilliams: 12th, 1:53.510
Proton Team KR riders Nobuatso Aoki and Jeremy McWilliams rode a blinding final qualifying session at Mugello today to put the pair of
Proton KR3 three-cylinder lightweights side by side on the third row of the starting grid for tomorrow’s Italian GP.
Lap times that would have challenged for pole position last year, before the arrival of the 990cc four-strokes, prove the strength of the latest version of the Proton triple, at a track where one of the longest straights of the year saw the fastest four-strokes top 200mph in this
afternoon’s warm and sunny session.
The KR3’s strong performance on the fast corners made up for a speed deficit of (in Jeremy’s case) more than 28km/h, underlining not only the bike’s cornering abilities, but also the ever-improving performance of the new-this-year Bridgestone tyres, and the sterling efforts of both riders.
NOBUATSU AOKI
“It seems that the chassis and suspension are working very correctly. Also the soft-compound Bridgestone tyres worked very well. Obviously
they like the heat! It leaves a difficult question for the race. It’s very hard to decide which front tyre to choose, just as it was at Le
Mans two weeks ago. For grip, the medium-soft compound is better but I am worried about endurance. The medium will make the distance, but I am doubtful about the grip. We will have to see what the temperature and conditions are like tomorrow. I will put the decision off until just
before the race.”
JEREMY McWILLIAMS
“That’s the fastest I’ve ever been round this track – last year I’d have been thinking about pole position. The qualifying tyres are really
super. Unfortunately I messed up my last lap – outbraking myself into the corner after Arrabiata, with the back wheel five feet in the air. My next-best lap was done alone, without any slipstream. We have a pretty good race set-up, but tyre endurance is always the question. We did some endurance testing this morning, but the temperature wasn’t high enough to be conclusive. It looks like I’ll stay with the medium rear. That gives the lap times, but tails off a bit after five or six laps. The harder tyre is more than a second slower, so it makes no sense to go
with that.”
KENNY ROBERTS – Team Owner
“Considering how much slower we are down the straight, both riders did an excellent job. They’re obviously making up a lot of time somewhere else. I’m looking forward to our four-stroke … having an extra 30km/h wouldn’t hurt us. We have the bike pretty good now. It has to be good. Considering what we’re up against, we’re doing extremely well.”
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Saturday Morning Superbike PRactice Times:
1. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 0:55.203
2. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 0:55.237
3. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:55.258
4. Pascal Picotte, Ducati 748RS, 0:55.283
5. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:55.408
6. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:55.438
7. Doug Chandler, Ducati 998RS, 0:55.474
8. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 0:56.983
9. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:56.983
10. Jason DiSalvo, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.138
11. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.519
12. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.660
13. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.887
14. Marco Melandri, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.932
15. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.955
16. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.009
17. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.103
18. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.155
19. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.194
From a press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MOJOTOWN SIGNS ON AS HMC DUCATI’S INTERACTIVE MARKETING SPONSOR
Mojotown, a full-service multimedia agency, announced today that the company has joined the HMC Ducati Race Team as its interactive marketing sponsor. The HMC Ducati, piloted by three-time AMA National Champion Doug Chandler, will sport the bright orange Mojotown decal starting June 1st at the Superbike Challenge in Pike’s Peak, Colorado.
Michael Aron, Mojotown’s founder and creative director, is the former art director of Fast By Ferracci and Cagiva USA. He also served as the data acquisition engineer on Team Fast By Ferracci Ducati in the late 1990’s. After leaving Fast By Ferracci for a stint in the corporate world of e-commerce, he returned home to Northern California to launch Mojotown. A diehard motorcyclist and talented racer in his own right, Michael welcomed the chance to work with HMC Ducati.
“I’ve missed my involvement in AMA racing, so this sponsorship means a lot to me. I think HMC Ducati has a lot of potential and I¹m looking forward to developing its online and interactive presence. With my background in the sport and my team of artists, I see this as a great opportunity to carve a creative niche in the motorcycle industry and make an impact on the sport.”
Mojotown is a full-service multimedia agency specializing in advanced website development, computer animation, graphic design and e-commerce solutions. As a virtual agency, the company has created a leaner, more flexible working environment that offers clients greater creativity, innovation and business value. The company has produced creative work for such clients as Charles Schwab, Donna Karan, Texas Instruments and e-greetings. Mojotown is currently working on website facelifts for several of Northern California’s elite motorcycle dealerships and performance shops.
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Saturday AMA Superbike Qualifying Times:
1. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 0:54.391
2. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 0:54.596
3. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:54.927
4. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:54.9549
5. Pascal Picotte, Ducati 998RS, 0:54.9555
6. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:55.031
7. Doug Chandler, Ducati 998RS, 0:55.034
8. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 0:55.152
9. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.435
10. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.445
11. Jake Holden, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.671
12. John Haner, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.843
13. Mike Sullivan, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.049
14. Justin Blake, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.074
15. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.270
16. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.318
17. Rich Conicelli, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.324
18. Colin Gilbert, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.515
19. John Dugan, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.714
Corrected Combined Final Superbike Qualifying Results:
1. Bostrom, 0:54.391
2. Hayden, 0:54.596
3. Hacking, 0:54.927
4. Mladin, 0:54.955
5. Picotte, 0:54.955
6. Yates, 0:55.031
7. Chandler, 0:55.034
8. Duhamel, 0:55.152
9. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:56.808
10. Jason DiSalvo, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.169
11. Haner, 0:57.261
12. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.381
13. Ulrich, 0:57.435
14. Martinez, 0:57.445
15. Holden, 0:57.671
16. Ricky Orlando, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.820
17. Ty Howard, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:57.985
18. Mike Sullivan, Honda RC51, 0:58.049
19. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.057
20. Justin Blake, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.074
21. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.092
22. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.238
23. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.252
24. Livengood, 0:58.270
25. Conicelli, 0:58.277
26. Mizdal, 0:58.318
27. Giovanni Rojas, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.391
28. Dugan, 0:58.447
29. Gilbert, 0:58.515
30. Dennis Burke, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.718
31. Rob Christman, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.719
32. Jeff Purk DDS, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.745
33. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.755
34. Shane Clarke, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.763
35. Tom Wertman, Suzuki GSX-R750, 0:58.889
From a press release:
SIDECAR TT JOY FOR FISHER
Rob Fisher made it into the record books with a ninth Isle of Man TT victory in Saturday evening’s opening, three-lap sidecar race.
The Cumbrian drive joins three other drivers on nine wins Mick Boddice, Dave Saville and Siegfried Schauzu as the most successful sidecar men around the 37.73-mile mountain circuit.
Fisher and passenger Rick Long took victory by 21 seconds from Ian Bell and Neil Carpenter with Bell slowing his pace after hitting a kerb at the Laurel Bank section of the circuit on the opening lap.
Pre-race favourite Dave Molyneux took fourth but the seven times winner was in trouble before the race after his passenger Colin Hardman was involved in a road accident just hours before the race.
“Colin¹s right hand is a mess,” said Molyneux. “I knew he was in pain during the race but there was nothing I could do. At least we got to the finish and that’s credit to Colin’s courage.”
Sidecar TT result (three laps 113.19 miles):
1. Rob Fisher/Rick Long, GB, (Yamaha) 1hr 01m 25.9s, 110.55 mph
2. Ian Bell/Neil Carpenter, GB, (Yamaha), 1hr 01m 46.0s, 109.95 mph
3. Gary Horspole/Kevin Leigh, GB, (Honda) 1hr 02m 06.6s, 109.34 mph
4. Dave Molyneux/Colin Hardman, GB, (Honda) 1hr 02m 17.1s, 109.03 mph
5. Roy Hanks/Dave Wells, GB (Yamaha), 1hr 02m 57.5s , 107.87 mph
6. Ben Dixon/Mark Lambert, GB (Honda), 1hr 03m 05.3s, 107.64 mph
7. Phillip Dongworth/Stuart Castles, GB (Kawasaki), 1hr 03m 13.6s ,107.41 mph
8. Steve Norbury/Andrew Smith, GB (Yamaha), 1hr 03m 44.5s, 106.54 mph
9. Mick Harvey/Stephen Thomas, GB (Yamaha), 1hr 03m 55.4s, 106.24 mph
10. Kenny Howles/Doug Jewell, GB (Yamaha), 1hr 04m 04.8s, 105.98 mph
