Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Pro Racing Director of Professional Competition Merrill Vanderslice docked Ben Spies 20 points but let his finishing positions stand after Spies’ Attack Suzuki GSX-R600 was found in post-race tech to have illegal intake modifications.

Vanderslice said of the modifications, “It wasn’t murder, but it was sure armed robbery,” but declined to say exactly what tech inspectors found or explain why Spies was being docked points without losing his finishing positions.

Spies rode the same bike to second in the Superstock race and fifth in the Supersport race at Fontana, according to Attack Suzuki owner Richard Stanboli.

Race observers could not remember another situation in which illegal modifications found in an AMA teardown resulted in a loss of points without any loss of finishing position.

Asked by a reporter what was found in the teardown, Stanboli said, “Ask the AMA guys” and declined further comment.

Spies’ bike was at or near the top of radar top-speed charts all weekend at Fontana.

From a Honda press release:

HONDA RACING NEWS

MotoGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2002, JAPANESE GRAND PRIX, SUZUKA, Race Day,
Sunday April 7 2002

ROSSI AND RCV TRIUMPHANT AT SUZUKA

The stunning combination of Valentino Rossi (Repsol Honda Team RC211V) and his all-new Honda V5 four-stroke proved unbeatable in today’s historic Japanese GP, the first event of MotoGP racing’s new four-stroke era.

Despite atrocious weather conditions at the high-speed venue and the efforts of unflinching rival Akira Ryo (Suzuki), Rossi and the RCV were victorious, giving Honda its first four-stroke GP win in 35 years.

Last man to ride a Honda four-stroke to GP success was the late, great Mike Hailwood, who won the factory’s final outing in its original four-stroke era at Mosport, Canada, in September 1967. A dozen years later Honda returned to the GP fray with the fabulous oval-pistoned NR500, but though this machine earned Honda a huge amount of four-stroke technical expertise it never beat the then-dominant two-strokes. The man in charge of NR development was Suguru Kanazawa, fresh out of university. Today Kanazawa, now HRC president, was at Suzuka to see his earliest and most recent work bear fruit.

“Our goal has always been to win GPs with four-stroke machinery, so today’s victory is very meaningful to me and everyone else at Honda,” said Kanazawa. “We are still benefiting from what we learned from the NR500.”

The race, held at the circuit which Honda founder Soichiro Honda had built in 1962, was a real thriller. Rossi made a steady start from pole position, which he achieved in dry conditions at the very end of yesterday’s final qualifier, completing the first lap in fifth place. Considering this was his first real ride in wet conditions with the RCV, apart from this morning’s warm-up and a handful of laps during Sepang tests back in February, he knew he had to learn as he went along. The Italian thus rode a typically intelligent race, moving into third on lap four, behind Shinichi Itoh (Team HRC RC211V) and leader Ryo. From there he bided his time, watching and learning from the locals, before sneaking past Itoh into second at half distance. Then six laps from the flag he moved into the lead, resisting constant counter-attack pressure from Ryo to win by 1.5 seconds after setting the fastest lap of the race on the final lap.

“When I woke up this morning I wasn’t so happy to see that it was raining, like most riders, I’m sure,” said Rossi, who has now won 14 GPs for Honda. “We were only 14th in warm-up but I stayed calm and made sure I got a good start. It’s very important to stay with the leading group in these conditions, because only then can you understand where the limit really is. So I used this tactic and when I could overtake some riders I did it at the chicane. Then I was with the wild cards, Ryo and Itoh, who both know this track very well in the wet. When it was just me and Ryo I could see he was faster in some parts and I learned from that. Also, I have ridden the Superbike in the wet here, so that helped. This weekend has given me very much emotion, both good and bad, because I had two crashes in practice. It was a good race for sure, now I’m very happy!”

This crucial success was Rossi’s third consecutive Suzuka win, following last July’s Eight Hour victory (achieved aboard an SP-1 Superbike in partnership with American rider Colin Edwards) and last April’s Japanese GP victory aboard his NSR500 two-stroke, which gave Honda its 500th GP success.

Itoh also rode a brilliant GP, considering he hadn’t even raced in almost a year. The Japanese veteran, who was heavily involved in development of the RCV, slipped to fourth at the flag but was happy enough with his day’s work.

“I kept cool and I think I helped the team in gathering more data for the RCV,” he said. “I didn’t realise that Rossi was following me early in the race, he passed me just after I had big slide riding through a puddle exiting 130R.”

Alex Barros (West Honda Pons NSR500) finished sixth, the second two-stroke home, six seconds shy of Norick Abe (Yamaha) and seven second ahead of Nobuatsu Aoki (Proton KR). The Brazilian admitted he rode a wary race after sliding off in warm-up. “It took me a while to get into my rhythm because I didn’t want to take too many risks after my earlier fall,” said Barros who won last year’s sodden Italian GP. “It’s a shame because I was in with a chance in these conditions.”

Team-mate Loris Capirossi (West Honda Pons NSR500) was ninth in the crash-strewn race, just behind Regis Laconi (Aprilia). Second quickest in qualifying, Capirossi had a disastrous getaway from the grid, his NSR spinning its rear tyre and losing drive. “From that moment I was struggling with grip, just like at Valencia last year,” said the Italian, who had also fallen in warm-up. “The important thing was to finish and that was the total focus of my race.”

Daijiro Katoh (Fortuna Honda Gresini NSR500) suffered similar problems in his MotoGP debut. “I got a lot of wheelspin at the start, a lot of guys came past on the grid, so it was quite dangerous,” said the 250 champ. “I don’t like racing in the wet but today was worse than normal. I wasn’t getting any feeling from the bike, so my only hope was a finish.”

Tetsuya Harada (Pramac Honda NSR500) finished his first race for Honda a steady 11th. Rossi’s team-mate Tohru Ukawa (Repsol Honda Team RC211V) was going well in fifth place and chasing Itoh when he joined the many fallers just three laps from the end. “I’m really disappointed,” said the Japanese star. “I usually do well in the rain and I wanted to do well at home but I had a big highside and that was it. But I now know the RCV is a winner, now I want a podium finish!”

Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Kanemoto Racing Honda NSR500) also fell while making good progress in his first race on his NSR500.

Wild card riders Osamu Miyazaki (Yamaha) and Daisaku Sakai (Endurance/Toshio Asahi Honda RS250R/W) used their intimate wet-track knowledge of the Suzuka circuit to dominate the soaking 250 GP, 36-year-old Miyazaki coming out the winner after a spirited challenge by 20-year-old Sakai. Third went to Frenchman Randy de Puniet (Aprilia) whose two rivals for the final podium place Hiroshi Aoyama (Team Harc-Pro Honda RS250R/W) and Haruchika Aoki (Arie Molenaar Racing Honda RS250R/W) both crashed on the final lap.

Miyazaki, who started racing way back in 1984, beat Sakai by almost seven seconds. “I’m so happy,” grinned the Japanese rider who’d qualified eighth in the dry. “My bike and tyres were great for the conditions.”

Fellow All-Japan 250 battler Sakai, who’d started 12th on the grid, was delighted with his first GP podium finish, even though he’d had no sixth gear from half distance. “For sure it would’ve been very difficult for us to compete so well in the dry,” he said after scoring his first world points. “But with my rain tyres and my knowledge of the track we had an advantage over the visiting riders.”

Honda’s two factory NSR250 riders had a tougher start to their 2002 season. Emilio Alzamora (Fortuna Honda Gresini NSR250) completed the race a steadfast fourth, taking advantage of a number of tumbles ahead of him. The Spaniard beat Sebastian Porto (Yamaha) by a fraction after his other rival Fonsi Nieto (Aprilia) had fallen, remounting to take 13th. “I suffered from the cold but my determination got me close to a podium finish,” said Alzamora. “My bike was overgeared for the conditions but I stayed calm and got some points, so I’m proud of what I did today.”

Teammate Robby Rolfo (Fortuna Honda Gresini NSR250) ended the race eighth, climbing through the pack after a sluggish start. “I lost a lot of time when another rider fell in front of me on the first lap,” he said. “I came from last place to eighth, so I’m very happy with my race. I hope I’ll have better luck at the next race.”

Wild card rider Chojun Kameya (Burning Blood R.T Honda RS250R/W) also rode an excellent race in the treacherous conditions, finishing seventh.

The rain-lashed 125 GP featured the day’s largest number of tumbles, Arnaud Vincent (Aprilia) emerging from the chaos the winner. The Frenchman had been battling for third with Stefano Bianco (Aprilia) until the teenager tumbled out, then race-leader Jaroslav Hules (Aprilia) also fell and second-placed Steve Jenkner (Aprilia) pitted for a new rear tyre giving Vincent an apparently unassailable lead.

But over the next nine laps the group battling for second zeroed in on Vincent, Mirko Giansanti (Scot Racing Team Honda RS125R) closing to within 1.164 seconds at the chequered flag to take the runner-up spot by a fraction from Manuel Poggiali (Gilera) and veteran Nobby Ueda (Semprucci-Angaia Racing Honda RS125R), who ran off the track with three corners to go.

Giansanti may well have won if he’d been able to see his pit board. “I had no idea of my position, or who was in front of me,” said the Italian. “I just kept pushing as hard as I could, passing riders wherever I could.”

Vincent had been playing it safe until his pit board told him the others were closing. “I had a big gap at one point but I wanted to stay on the track, so I slowed down to be safe,” he said. “Then I noticed the others catching me, so I made sure I did just enough to stay ahead.”

First-time pole-sitter Daniel Pedrosa (Telefonica Movistar Jr Team Honda RS125R) led from the start but slumped to eighth in the race but was content with the points. “I’ve never been good in the wet, but my lap times were close to those of the rain specialists, so I’m satisfied with my result,” said the 16-year old.

Shuhei Aoyama (Showa Denk Honda RS125R) was the best-placed wild card in sixth spot. Masao Azuma (Liégeois Competition Honda RS125R), Jarno Muller (Pev-Spalt-Moto ADAC Sachsen Honda RS125R) and Andrea Ballerini (FCC-TSR Honda RS125R) were amongst the fallers, all uninjured.

The Grand Prix circus now heads to South Africa for the Welkom GP on April 19/20/21.


HONDA TEAM QUOTES:

500cc:

Valentino Rossi, Repsol Honda Team, 1st:
“That was a great result. I am so happy. I have had a difficult weekend with a crash on Friday and yesterday morning. We have hardly done any testing in the wet; I only did a few laps this morning. I got a good start in the race. I stayed with the leading group and tried to stay calm. I was happy to follow riders, watch the line and make a pass. Ryo was going well and I pass him near the end of the race. I am glad we do good racing. It is a good spectacle. This season will be close.”

Shinichi Itoh, Team HRC, 4th:
“I’m satisfied with today’s result. I want to thank Honda and the team for this result. I didn’t realise Rossi was following me and when he passed me I had a big slide, riding on a big water patch. Anyway I kept cool today and I think I helped the team in gathering data for the RCV. I also enjoyed the race very much.”

Alex Barros, West Honda Pons, 6th:
“Of course the race was completely different to the practice sessions and all the preparations we had done were of little use. It did not help either that I fell during warm-up. At the start of the race it took me some time to get into my rhythm without taking too many risks as I was wary of making any errors, but many other riders pulled away from me. It is a shame because I was in with a chance in these conditions, but at least a couple of the riders who finished in front of me are not competing in the World Championship and a lot of other riders crashed.”

Loris Capirossi, West Honda Pons, 9th:
“It was a very difficult race. The tyres lost grip on the starting grid and from that moment on it was practically impossible to stop the bike sliding off. It was really tough because I found it impossible to ride in these conditions as I had no grip in the front or rear. It was just like in Valencia last year where I had no feeling in the wet. In these conditions the most important thing was to finish and that is precisely what I concentrated on.”

Sito Pons, Team Manager, West Honda Pons:
“It has been a strange day where the climatic conditions have completely affected the result of the Grand Prix. I think that the true potential of the team has not been seen here and we have not been able to see the fruits of the excellent work that we have put in during the winter, and that was so evident in practice sessions. However, there are two positive things to come out of the race: on the one hand, we are second in the Team Championship and on the other, some riders who finished ahead of or riders will not be competing in the World Championship.”

DAIJIRO KATOH, Fortuna Honda Gresini, 10th:
“When I opened the throttle on the start line the rear tyre just spun up, I lost many places in a dangerous situation. I don’t like racing in the wet but today was worse than normal. I had no feeling from the bike and could only hope to finish the race.”

FAUSTO GRESINI, team manager
“For us it was a difficult day, two of our three riders were debuting their bikes in the rain. For Katoh it was more difficult because it was his first time on the 500 with wet tyres at the very technical Suzuka circuit, in front of his home fans. At the start I was anxious for him when the bike started sliding and the other riders scraped past, it was a good result for him to finish. In any case, we earned a few points.”

Tetsuya Harada, Pramac Honda Racing Team, 11th:
“It was a very difficult race, completely different from what we had prepared in the last days of practice. It was the first time that I found myself riding my Honda NSR500 on a wet track and this made the race even more difficult. Until the track was completely covered by rain water, I was able to ride pretty well but when it began to dry up, even though it was still wet, I encountered several difficulties. Anyway, I gained a few points and for this I am satisfied. Another important thing I would like to say is that the tyres worked well on the wet track. “

TOHRU UKAWA, Repsol Honda Team: DNF
“I am really disappointed. I have had good times in testing and I usually do well in the wet. The bike felt good this morning in wet practice and I wanted to do well in front of my home supporters. I had a big high-side and that was it. I have a little strain but nothing more. I must be positive and look forward to 15 more races in the championship. The bike is now a winner and I want to see the podium!”

MotoGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS:
1. Rossi 25
2. Ryo 20
3. Checa 16
4. Itoh 13
5. Abe 11
6. Barros 10
7. Aoki 9
8. Laconi 8
9. Capirossi 7
10. Katoh 6
11. Harada 5
12. Hopkins 4.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Josh Hayes underwent four hours of surgery on his left hand last night and will be out for at least six weeks, according to his Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki mechanic, Barry McMahan.

Hayes crashed in Supersport practice Saturday morning after hitting a painted curb in the California Speedway infield. It was misting at the time.

The injury means that Hayes will miss a scheduled three-day test at Road Atlanta in mid-April as well as the Sears Point AMA National at the beginning of May.

The team is considering replacing Hayes in AMA Formula Xtreme for the Sears Point event.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Troy Bayliss made WSBK history at Kyalami by winning his sixth race in succession. He overcame a very strong challenge from Haga early in the race, one that appeared to involve the use of the elbows from the fiery Japanese rider, to win the race by over two seconds from his teammate Ruben Xaus.

Bayliss is the first rider in the 15 year history of the series to win six races on the trot. The frustration of the other riders is beginning to show as Bayliss appears invincible. But he didn’t have it all his own way in the race, he had to deal with Haga first and the two were locked in a crazy battle for the first few laps that saw them both pull some awesome passes. But Bayliss prevailed and once ahead he never looked back.

Xaus was impressive as he carved through the field from his 11th on the grid. He picked off the other riders one by one, no mean feat as those ‘other riders’ included Edwards, Haga, Hodgson and Bostrom.

Bostrom looked strong in the early laps but his challenge faded and he finished fifth. Haga faded even more, going back to sixth. Late in the race it looked like Hodsgon might catch third place man Edwards, but Edwards had just enough left in the bag to hold him off to claim third place.

“I thought it was Colin Edwards behind me but then I looked round and saw that it was Ruben Xaus,” said Bayliss. “He’s a real bulldog and doesn’t give up easily so I had to push hard.

“Six race wins is unbelievable, continued Bayliss. “After testing at the three circuits we expected to do well but this is unbelievable. I’d like to take the weekend off instead of going to Sugo and just go to Monza. If I was allowed I would just stay at home and train instead. Sugo hasn’t been kind to me in the past but if it’s another two wins from two races I’ll take it, but if it’s two 15th places I’ll take that instead.”

Asked about Haga’s elbow incident at the start of the race, Bayliss said, “Haga seems to have a problem with me winning all these races, he doesn’t want anyone to pass him.”

“I am very happy with the result after starting from the third row,” said Xaus. “I had a really shit Superpole again, I need to work out how to do that properly. We changed the rear sprocket in the last race to try and make it smoother through the corners, it worked. I caught Troy but I just couldn’t pass him. He seemed to wait for me and then he was just gone. The Michelin tyres were working well as you can see, all three riders on the podium are Michelin yet again. It was difficult to pass Haga, but even harder to pass Bayliss. He needs to give up racing, please! I hope I am riding as well as he is when I am 33!”

“I got detached from the leaders and that made it hard,” said Edwards. “I made some changes from the first race and that made us faster but unfortunately Bayliss and Xaus got faster still. I can’t wait for Sugo, at least there will be some wild card riders to try and keep this bastard off the podium (points to Bayliss and laughs). It will be tough but maybe the wild cards can slow Troy’s momentum!”

Race 2 results/ 25 laps

1. Troy Bayliss (Infostrada Ducati), 42:57.014

2. Ruben Xaus (Infostrada Ducati), 42:59.687

3. Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda), 43:03.404

4. Neil Hodgson (HM Plant Ducati), 43:03.788

5. Ben Bostrom (L&M Ducati), 43:06.368

6. Noriyuki Haga (Playstation 2 Aprilia), 43:08.997

7. Hitoyasu Izutsu (FUCHS Kawasaki), 43:24.674

8. James Toseland (HM Plant Ducati), 43:25.890

9. Chris Walker (FUCHS Kawasaki), 43:37.795

10. Juan Borja (Ducati), 43:40.269

Fastest Lap: Noriyuki Haga (Aprilia) 1:42.178 on lap 3 (New Lap Record)

2002 World Superbike championship points (after 3 of 13 rounds)
1. T Bayliss 150
2. C Edwards 105
3. R Xaus 79
4. B Bostrom 77
5. N Hodgson 96
6. N Haga 60
7. H Izutsu 47
9. J Toseland 45
10. C Walker 44


More, from Bayliss publicist Steve Reeves:

TROY BAYLISS Racing – Media Information
For immediate release
Sunday, 7 April 2002

Round 3, 2002 Superbike World Championship
Kyalami Circuit, South Africa
Race report

BAYLISS CREATES NEW RECORD WITH DOUBLE VICTORY IN SOUTH AFRICA

Kyalami, South Africa: – Defending World Superbike Champion, Australian Troy Bayliss, has continued his blistering start to the 2002 Superbike World Championship by winning both of today’s 25-lap races at the Kyalami circuit in South Africa and in the process wrote his name into the SWC record books by winning six consecutive SWC races.

No other rider in the fifteen-year history of the SWC has won more than five consecutive races, with the previous mark held by multiple World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty and American Ben Bostrom. His sixth win today has also extended the record for the number of consecutive race wins that any rider has scored to start a SWC season.

Bayliss had to overcome a number of fierce challenges in the opening laps of both races and even a clash of fairings and elbows with Aprilia’s Noriyuki Haga in the opening stages of race two. In the end it was a combination of his own physical fitness and the performance of his Michelin shod Infostrada Ducati 998R that took him to victory over American Castrol Honda rider Colin Edwards by 4.119-seconds in race one and then a strong challenge from his teammate Ruben Xaus in race two, before taking his sixth win of the season by 2.673-seconds.

“The first race was crazy in the opening laps,” said Bayliss, who now has a total of fourteen SWC race wins to his credit. “I just sat back a little and watched Nori (Haga) and Ben (Bostrom) go at it. I gave them a few laps to settle down and then decided it was time to get going. From that point I just put my head down and did my long run of laps as I do in practice. I made a mistake at the chicane on about lap fifteen and that cost me over a second. I went in a bit deeper than I normally do and rather than try and turn it in, I ran it wide. The next time around my pit board showed that Colin (Edwards) had closed the gap, so I just put my head down again and built up the gap.

“As for the second race, it was just unbelievable to get the win and get a new record at the same time,” Bayliss added. “I’m not one for records really, I just like to win races. I did enjoy the second race. The pace was a lot faster and Ruben gave me hurry up in the middle stages, but I was then able to settle and do a lot of laps in the closing stages that I was happy with. The Michelin tyres, the Infostrada Ducati and the whole team did a great job here this weekend.”

The Superbike World Championship heads to the Sugo circuit in Japan in two weeks time (20 – 21 April) for round four of the championship, presenting Bayliss with what could be his toughest competition of the year so far. The Japanese ‘wild card’ entries do extremely well at their home round, having won the last twelve SWC races. The last non-Japanese rider to win in Japan was Australian Troy Corser in 1996. For Bayliss, the two visits he has had their have brought little joy for him.

“All I can say about the next round in Japan is that if someone puts some money on me winning the double there, then they’ve got rocks in their head. I haven’t had the best of results there in the past two years, but for sure I’ll be there trying my best as always.”

Today’s double race victory gives Bayliss a total of 150 championship points, 45 clear of Edwards who finished the day with a second and third behind the Australian. After starting from eleventh on the grid, Xaus was the big mover recording a third and second, taking him to third overall in the championship with 79 points, two clear of American L&M Ducati rider Ben Bostrom who completed the day with a fourth and fifth.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Supersport Qualifying Times:

1. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:28.221
2. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha, 1:28.727
3. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 1:28.787
4. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:28.891
5. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 1:28.997
6. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, 1:28.997
7. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda, 1:29.514
8. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 1:29.638
9. Tom Kipp, Suzuki, 1:29.974
10. Mike Hale, Honda, 1:29.988
11. Jake Zemke, Honda, 1:30.289
12. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, 1:30.725
13. Ty Howard, Suzuki, 1:30.910
14. Steve Rapp, Suzuki, 1:31.052
15. Alex Gobert, Honda, 1:31.230
16. Michael Hannas, Kawasaki, 1:31.622
17. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:31.786
18. Clint McBain, Suzuki, 1:31.989
19. Brian Parriott, Honda, 1:32.211
20. Tiger Sohwa, Honda, 1:32.390

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Beth Wyse

Mark Junge starred in the first event of the 2002 WERA National Challenge Series, held Sunday at No Problem Raceway Park in Belle Rose, Louisiana.

In the first 10-lap sprint race of the day, Junge took the win in Open Superstock on his Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R1000 after getting past Scott Harwell on an Arclight Suzuki GSX-R1000. Chris Rankin on a Suzuki GSX-R750 got past Harwell to finish second, with Harwell taking third. The race was red-flagged on the final lap when a rider crashed in turn 14 going onto the front straight.

Junge took his second win of the day in the Dunlop 600cc Superstock race, taking the lead from Harwell on lap two and maintaining a comfortable gap. Just after the halfway point of the race, John Jacobi on another Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R600 also passed Harwell, taking second place. Harwell finished third.

David Yaakov took a convincing win in the Lightweight Twins Expert race, winning by a big margin on his CAD Racing Suzuki SV650. Bradley Champion was second on his Suzuki SV650, while first-year expert Robby Card took third on his Suzuki SV650.

Defending Champion Jason Peters won the 125cc Grand Prix race on his Honda RS125 after a fierce race-long battle with Brian Kcraget on another Honda RS125. Peters and Kcraget swapped the lead a couple times, but Kcraget crashed on the last lap. John Hjelm wound up in second, with young Nicky Wimbauer in third.

Vesrah Suzuki’s Jacobi took the win in the 750cc Superstock Expert race; Harwell ran in second for the first half of the race, but was passed by Tray Batey on another Vesrah Suzuki, which relegated Harwell to third place for the third time in one day.

The 600cc Superbike Expert race saw a good battle between winner Adam Coco and second-place finisher Ken Snyder, both on GSX-R600 Suzukis. After a battle for position early in the race, Ricky Ford took third on another GSX-R600.

Keith Holleman won the Formula One race on his Suzuki GSX-R1000 after recovering from running off the track and into pit lane during the early part of the race. Billy Etheridge on a Team Xtreme Suzuki GSX-R1000 held off young gun Logan Young on a Honda RS250R to take second.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Attack Suzuki’s Jason Pridmore qualified fastest in AMA Formula Xtreme at California Speedway today, ahead of Graves Yamaha’s Damon Buckmaster and Erion Honda’s Roger Lee Hayden. Times follow:

1. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:26.027
2. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R7/R1, 1:26.200
3. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR954RR, 1:26.826
4. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:26.899
5. Tom Kipp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:27.470
6. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR954RR, 1:27.873
7. Mike Hale, Honda CBR9545RR, 1:28.032
8. Jordan Szoke, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:28.187
9. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:28.425
10. Alex Gobert, Honda CBRF954RR, 1:28.652
11. Clint McBain, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:29.905
12. James Compton, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.161
13. Vince Haskovec, 1:31.626
14. Robert Mesa, Suzuki, 1:31.823
15. Mike Sullivan, Suzuki, 1:32.171
16. Jason Curtis, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:32.340
17. Lance Isaacs, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:32.654
18. Jeff Bostrom, Suzuki, 1:32.981
19. Jim Nakashima, Suzuki, 1:33.489
20. Eric Haugo, Suzuki, 1:33.580

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Roland Sands put his Performance Machine Yamaha TZ250 on the pole for the AMA 250cc Grand Prix race at Fontana. A single time qualifying session Sunday morning replaced the heat races rained out on Saturday.

Time follow:

1. Roland Sands, Yamaha TZ250, 1:29.686
2. Jason Disalvo, Honda RS250R, 1:29.908
3. Rich Oliver, Yamaha TZ250, 1:30.212
4. Simon Turner, Yamaha TZ250, 1:30.941
5. Perry Melneciuc, Yamaha TZ250, 1:32.207
6. Jim Filice, Yamaha TZ250, 1:32.725
7. Chuck Sorensen, Aprilia RSV250, 1:32.913
8. Thad Halsmer, Yamaha TZ250, 1:33.128
9. Ed Sorbo, Yamaha TZ250, 1:33.153
10. Al Salaverria, Aprilia RSV250, 1:33.235
11. Chris Pyles, Yamaha TZ250, 1:33.662
12. Colin Jensen, Aprilia RSV250, 1:34.370
13. Jason Candelaria, Yamaha TZ250, 1:34.444
14. Darren Fulce, Yamaha TZ250, 1:34.633
15. Frank Aragaki, Yamaha TZ250, 1:35.027
16. Cory West, Yamaha TZ250, 1:36.486
17. John Williams, Yamaha TZ250, 1:38.599
18. Ty Piz, Yamaha TZ250, 1:38.746
19. Richard Denman, Yamaha TZ250, 1:39.500
20. John France, Honda RS250R, 1:40.805

From a Suzuki press release:

Team Suzuki News Service

GSV-R ON PODIUM AT FIRST RACE

MotoGP, Race Result, Round 1, Suzuka, April 7th.

TEAM TELEFONICA MOVISTAR SUZUKI wild-card rider Akira Ryo put the all-new 990cc V-4 GSV-R four-stroke on the podium at its first race at Suzuka today.

The reigning Japanese Superbike Champion led from the start for most of the rain-hit race. It was only in the dying laps that reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi on a Honda was able to pass and hold him off for the victory.

Ryo and Rossi traded fastest laps as they battled for the top spot on the rostrom. But Rossi just edged it on the last lap, leaving Ryo delighted to finish runner-up on the GSV-R.

Ryo’s team-mates, regular riders Kenny Roberts Jr and Sete Gibernau were unlucky to fall off in the slippery conditions. Roberts fell early while battling for a top-10 place, while Gibernau was battling for the lead with Rossi and Ryo when he fell midway through the race.

Ryo said: “I am happy, although I think I could have won that race. But Rossi is the World Champion and if I bear that in mind I have to be happy with second place.”

Roberts said: “I was finding my pace in the race and was being held up by slower riders in front. Then the wet conditions played a part and I ended up in the gravel trap.”

Gibernau said: “I was riding well, the bike was going well and I was fighting for the lead when I lost the front while cornering. I did everything as normal through the corner, but the track was very slippery and it caught me out. For sure I think I could have won, I was faster than Rossi and was getting ready to pass him when I lost the front. It is disappointing not to finish, but encouraging that the bike handled so well.”

Team manager Garry Taylor said: “It is a great result to finish second at our first outing, but a bit disappointing not to win when we really deserved it. Well done to Akira Ryo and the entire team for being so competitive.

“I feel sorry for Kenny and Sete. Both riders were outstanding on new bikes in the rain despite no testing time. Sete would have been in with a shout for the win, and I’m sure Kenny would have been there as well, they are two of the best wet-weather riders on the grid.

“But now we must learn from this and continue to develop the bike into a race winner in all conditions. We’ll have more parts, settings and tyres to try at Welkom in two-weeks time.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Nicky Hayden was 6.028 seconds ahead of battling Eric Bostrom and Mat Mladin, and Doug Chandler was catching Bostrom and Mladin, when the second AMA Superbike race at Fontana was red-flagged due to a crashed bike laying in the racing line.

Bostrom said on the podium that his arms had pumped up and he couldn’t feel his hands.

Aaron Yates DNF with mechanical problems, saying afterwards, “it just quit”, and Anthony Gobert cruised to eighth, one lap down, with a front tire that “never came in” according to a crew member.

Hayden is leading the points.

Revised results follow:
1. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 24 laps
2. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, -6.028 seconds
3. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, -6.107
4. Doug Chandler, Ducati, -6.754
5. Pascal Picotte, Ducati, -24.586
6. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, -27.586
7. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, -49.178
8. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha, -1 lap
9. Brian Parriott, Suzuki, -1 lap
10. Andy Deatherage, Suzuki, -1 lap
11. Rich Conicelli, Suzuki, -1 lap
12. Owen Richey, Suzuki, -1 lap
13. Brian Livengood, Suzuki, -1 lap
14. Mike Sullivan, Honda, -1 lap
15. Aaron Clark, Suzuki, -1 lap
16. Robert Mesa, Suzuki, -1 lap
17. John Dugan, -1 lap
18. Scott Jensen, Suzuki, -1 lap
19. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki, -1 lap
20. Rob Christman, Suzuki, -1 lap
21. Pedro Valiente, Suzuki, -1 lap
22. Randall Mennenga, Suzuki, -2 laps
23. Shawn Conrad, Suzuki, -4 laps
24. Kim Nakashima, Suzuki, -5 laps
25. Giovanni Rojas, Suzuki, -5 laps
26. Dr. Jeff Purk DDS, Suzuki, -5 laps, DNF, crash
27. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, -14 laps, DNF, mechanical
28. Marco Martinez, Suzuki, -19 laps, DNF
29. Robert Underwood, Suzuki, -21 laps, DNF, crashed
30. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki, -21 laps, DNF, mechanical