As the wind gusted unpredictably under alternately cloudy and sunny skies, Troy Corser maintained his domination of qualifying, placing his Aprilia on pole by .35 of a second over teammate Regis Laconi during Superpole. Giovanni Bussei suffered the only crash of Superpole, losing the front in the downhill decreasing-radius left turn that leads onto the front straightaway at Valencia. Corser, Laconi, Colin Edwards and Neil Hodgson complete the first row in the provisional starting grid for tomorrow’s races.

Superpole Results, Valencia, Spain

1. Troy Corser, Aprilia 1:36.193
2. Regis Laconi, Aprilia 1:36.543
3. Colin Edwards, Honda 1:36.630
4. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 1:36.659
5. Ben Bostrom, Ducati 1:36.813
6. Troy Bayliss, Ducati 1:36.843
7. Tadayuki Okada, Honda 1:37.096
8. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 1:37.104
9. Hitoyasu Izutsu, Kawasaki 1:37.157
10. Gregorio Lavilla, Kawasaki 1:37.263
11. Pierfrancesco Chili, Suzuki 1:37.288
12. James Toseland, Ducati 1:37.773
13. Robert Ulm, Ducati 1:38.128
14. Steve Martin, Ducati 1:38.259
15. Marco Borciani, Ducati 1:38.307
16. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati, crashed

Troy Corser on his pole-winning Superpole lap. Photo by Scott Fisher.

Aprilia’s Troy Corser’s time of 1:35.504 from qualifying yesterday was enough to keep him on provisional pole through today’s qualifying session. Ducati Infostrada teammates Ruben Xaus and Troy Bayliss were the only other riders to lap in the 1:35-range, in conditions similar to yesterday’s cloudy, windy, cool weather. Below are the top 16 times from qualifying. These riders will face off later today in Superpole, to determine who will earn final pole position.

1. Troy Corser, Aprilia 1:35.504
2. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 1:35.830
3. Troy Bayliss, Ducati 1:35.957
4. Tadayuki Okada, Honda 1:36.086
5. Hitoyasu Izutsu, Kawasaki 1:36.098
6. Colin Edwards, Honda 1:36.147
7. Regis Laconi, Aprilia 1:36.421
8. Gregorio Lavilla, Kawasaki 1:36.553
9. Ben Bostrom, Ducati 1:36.646
10. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati 1:36.796
11. Robert Ulm, Ducati 1:36.875
12. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 1:36.885
13. Pierfrancesco Chili, Suzuki 1:37.007
14. James Toseland, Ducati 1:37.108
15. Marco Borciani, Ducati 1:37.461
16. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 1:37.467

Metzeler/ Pirelli Race Tire Manager Rich Munson said March 9 that both Metzeler and Pirelli will be releasing new, DOT-labeled racing tires as soon as May. The new tires will be a front in the size 110/70-17 and rears in 150/60-17 and 160/70-17. All of the new sizes will be available from Metzeler in the RS1 (Super Soft) and RS2 (Soft) compounds with the Pirellis carrying the same compounds but labeled SC1 and SC2. Speaking in the paddock at Daytona International Speedway, Munson confirmed that the new sizes are designed for use on Aprilia RS250, Suzuki SV650, and other lightweight racebikes.

The new tires will be first produced in March for testing, then will become available to licensed racers through normal Metzeler/Pirelli race tire distributers in May. Prices had not been determined at post time.

Earlier this year, Munson announced that a new, softer compound front DOT-labeled race tire will appear some time in the 2001 season. The new tire will be softer than the company’s “Blue” or “Super Soft” compound tire.

Although the front row of Sunday’s 60th Daytona 200 By Arai was locked in during Thursday’s qualifying, Friday afternoon’s final qualifying sessions gave the rest of the riders in the Superbike field an opportunity to improve their times and grid positions. The front-row qualifiers used the final qualifying sessions as another practice session to work on race set-up.

During the two 40-minute timed qualifying sessions—one each for odd-numbered and even-numbered riders–three riders improved their times and starting spots from Thursday. Competition Accessories Ducati’s Larry Pegram bettered his time from Thursday’s 1:50.006 to 1:49.224. Pegram moved from the ninth spot–on the third row of the grid–to the number six position, on the second row of the grid.

Pegram’s teammate Aaron Slight also improved his time, from 1:51.382 to 1:50.610. The 0.77-second improvement moved three-time Suzuka 8-hour race winner Slight from the 13th grid spot–on the fourth row–to the 11th starting slot, on the third row.

Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom went 0.6-second quicker on Friday, dropping his best lap time from 1:51.425 to 1:50.859, but given the improvements made by Pegram and Slight, Bostrom’s effort only moved him up one position on the grid–from 14th to 13th, fastest, still on the fourth row.

The improved positions earned by Pegram, Slight and Bostrom did bump other riders back on the grid. Tommy Hayden got bumped from 6th to 7th. Miguel Duhamel dropped from 7th to 8th. Steve Rapp got bumped off the second row, going from 8th to 9th. Scott Russell moved from 11th to 12th. Finally, Doug Chandler was bumped from his 12th fastest spot on row three to start from the fourth row, 14th.

Rules required that all riders in the field turn a lap time no slower than 112% of the fastest qualifying time, which meant that the cut-off time for making the field was 2:01.435, making this the toughest-ever Daytona 200 grid to qualify for. There were 65 riders who qualified, although many of the qualifiers were 750cc Supersport racers using the long qualifying sessions for extra practice with no intentions of running the 57-lap race. Such was the case with fastest privateer qualifier Lee Acree, who recorded a 1:53.095 for 16th fastest, on the fourth row. Acree’s time bumped factory Harley-Davidson VR1000 pilot Mike Smith to the fifth row of the grid.

The final top-20 qualifying results for the Daytona 200 follow:

1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSXR750, 1:48.424
2. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R7, 1:48.663
3. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 1:48.765
4. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSXR750, 1:49.139

5. Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, 1:49.196
6. Larry Pegram, Ducati 996, 1:49.223
7. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha YZF-R7, 1:49.384
8. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 1:49.485

9. Steve Rapp. Ducati 996, 1:49.708
10. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSXR750, 1:50.148
11. Aaron Slight, Ducati 996, 1:50.610
12. Scott Russell, Ducati 996, 1:50.843

13. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7, 1:50.859
14. Doug Chandler, Kawasaki ZX-7, 1:51.357
15. Pascal Picotte, Harley-Davidson VR1000, 1:51.821
16. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSXR750, 1:53.095

17. Mike Smith, Harley-Davidson VR1000, 1:53.145
18. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki GSXR750, 1:54.759
19. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSXR750, 1:54.843
20. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSXR750, 1:54.920

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin led the Friday morning Superbike practice time sheets, the only rider in the 1:50 bracket, with a 1:50.118.

No rider bettered their times from qualifying, but it appears that Eric Bostrom has made some progress, running within 0.3-second of his qualifying time without the use of a qualifying tire.

1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSXR750, 1:50.118
2. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 1:51.053
3. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 1:51.302
4. Scott Russell, Ducati 996, 1:51.374
5. Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, 1:51.453
6. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSXR750, 1:51.535
7. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7, 1:51.741
8. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R7, 1:51.847
9. Aaron Slight, Ducati 996, 1:52.300
10. Larry Pegram, Ducati 996, 1:52.670
11. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSXR750, 1:52.852
12. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha YZF-R7, 1:53.004
13. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSXR750, 1:53.144
14. Steve Rapp, Ducati 996, 1:53.160
15. Pascal Picotte, Harley-Davidson VR1000, 1:53.467
16. Michael Smith, Harley-Davidson VR1000, 1:53.884
17. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSXR750, 1:53.894
18. Richard Alexander, Suzuki GSXR750, 1:54.903
19. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki GSXR750, 1:55.101
20. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSXR750, 1:55.125

Jason Pridmore, Lee Acree, Jimmy Moore, Richie Alexander, Mike Ciccotto, and Brian Parriott once again used the Superbike practice session to tune their 750cc Supersport machines with no intention of running the 200-mile race on Sunday.

Track conditions at Valencia are less than ideal, 69 degrees with a strong breeze and partly cloudy skies. Troy Corser was the only rider to register in the 35s, .277 slower than the lap that put Ben Bostrom on top here during testing in February. Below are the top ten results from today’s qualifying session. Final qualifying and Superpole are tomorrow.

1. Troy Corser, Aprilia 1:35.504
2. Hitoyasu Izutsu, Kawasaki 1:36.098
3. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 1:36.225
4. Troy Bayliss, Ducati 1:36.277
5. Gregorio Levilla, Kawasaki 1:36.628
6. Ben Bostrom, Ducati 1:36.646
7. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati 1:36.796
8. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 1:36.892
9. Colin Edwards, Honda 1:36.923
10. Regis Laconi, Aprilia 1:36.936

1997 AMA 750cc Supersport Champion Jason Pridmore took a close victory in the Suzuki Genuine Accessories 750cc Supersport race at Daytona on his Dunlop-equipped Attack Suzuki GSX-R750. Second place by less than a wheel was Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Ben Spies, 16, riding the 15-lap event with a painful broken hand controlling his Michelin-shod GSX-R750. Third place went to Pridmore’s teammate, Richie Alexander, another former AMA 750cc Supersport Champion.

The race started with a pack of seven racers contesting the lead but the battle at the front was whittled down to just Pridmore and Spies for a nail-biting last lap.

Pridmore said he will not contest the entire 750cc Supersport Series, turning Spies’ second place into more of a win in the points.

Roadracing World’s Chris Ulrich crashed, and was uninjured.

Suzuki Genuine Accessories AMA 750cc Supersport Final Results:

1. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSXR750
2. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSXR750
3. Richie Alexander, Jr., Suzuki GSXR750
4. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSXR750
5. Brian Gibbs, Suzuki GSXR750
6. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki GSXR750
7. John Ashmead, Suzuki GSXR750
8. John Jacobi, Suzuki GSXR750
9. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSXR750
10. Charles Chouinard, Suzuki GSXR750

Team Oliver took the win in Friday’s five-lap MBNA 250cc heat race on his Sticker Solutions-sponsored Yamaha TZ250 with Dunlop tires. Oliver had a close race with Performance Machine’s similarly equipped Roland Sands, but Sands sat up after lap four thinking that it was the last. Oliver passed Sands and went on to take the heat race win and the pole position by virtue of having won the quicker of the two heat races.

In the other 250cc heat race, Cruise America Grand Prix Racing’s Jason DiSalvo, 17, made his AMA Pro debut by winning the five lapper over former AMA 250cc Champion Jimmy Filice of Corbin Racing and reigning 250cc Champion Chuck Sorenson of GP Tech.

Oliver will sit on pole position for Sunday’s 100-kilometer race with DiSalvo, Sands, and Filice next to him. There are nine AMA 250 championships between Oliver, Sands, Sorenson, and Filice and countless race wins.

Virginia International Raceway General Managers Jack and Vicky Abbott, along with Connie Nyholm (one of the track’s owner/developers), were at Daytona researching motorcycle events in preparation for the track’s WERA, Formula USA, and AMA National road race events in 2001.

On Thursday, the VIR management team reported changes and plans made to improve the track for motorcycle racing, including several based on requests made by AMA riders who tested at the track last summer. The changes made include:

-Trees located between turns one and five have been thinned so that fans located in the turn four/five area can see bikes all the way from the end of the front straightaway through turn five.

-Although the earthen embankment outside of turn four could not be moved, there will be Air Fence installed in front of the embankment for the national road races.

-The barrier that was close to the track outside of turn five has been moved back and will also be covered by Air Fence and haybales.

-The uphill right-hand turn seven had featured a steep down slope, Armco barrier, and trees in its impact area. The run off area’s level has been brought up to meet the track level, the barrier has been removed, and the tree line has been pushed back.

-The esses that preceeded the braking area for the “Roller Coaster” have been opened up to create a new overtaking zone just as racers recommended.

-The barrier that could have possibly come into play at the bottom of the “Roller Coaster” has been moved back and re-angled. Racers had asked for either/or and got both.

-Armco barriers along the full, 3.27-mile course’s long straight protecting the North paddock have also been moved back from the edge of the track just in case one of the organizations runs the longer, full course.

The Abbotts said that all three racing organizations have said that they will run the shorter 2.26-mile, 15-turn North course.

VIR has also acquired a special liquor license to sell alcoholic beverages at the concession stands despite being located in a “dry” county. Camping will also be allowed at National events despite rowdy campers burning down track buildings in the racetrack’s previous life, over 25 years ago.

VIR is located just East of Danville, Virginia on the border with North Carolina. For additional information about Virginia International Raceway, call (804) 822-7700, FAX (804) 822-8033, e-mail [email protected], website www.virclub.com.

American Honda’s Miguel Duhamel won the Honda Pro Oils 600cc Supersport race for a record sixth time Friday over his teammate Nicky Hayden and Yamaha’s Anthony Gobert in a race that saw incredible action and bitter disappointment.

The 600cc Superstock race at Daytona was red-flagged after eight laps for oil on the track in turn one. Before the red flag, there had been up to seven riders swapping the lead back and forth with Miguel Duhamel, John Hopkins, Jamie Hacking, Aaron Yates, Nicky Hayden, and Kurtis Roberts each taking a turn in the front. Eric Bostrom was the seventh rider running at the tail end of the lead pack. At the start of lap seven, Roger Lee Hayden pulled off the track in turn one with a smokey blown motor. On the following lap, Nicky Hayden lost the rear end of his Honda CBR600F4i going into the same corner while Bostrom nearly crashed as well.

As the front of the field passed through turn one to start lap nine, Grant Lopez was forced slightly wide and crashed in turn one, prompting AMA officials to stop the race. Nicky Hayden and Lopez both said afterwards that there was no oil flag displayed in turn one. Roger Hayden later said that he had told cornerworkers that there was oil on track before Nicky Hayden and Lopez crashed.

On the cool-down lap for the red flag, Hopkins crashed headed toward the chicane. Hopkins looked over his shoulder and when he returned his eyes to the track ahead, Duhamel was in Hopkins’ path. Hopkins hit the back of Duhamel’s Honda and fell hard on his right shoulder, suffering a broken collarbone.

Grant Lopez was able to make the re-start but was gridded by officials at the back of the grid.

The race re-started for the remaining 10 laps of the 18-lap final. The red flag gave new hope to Nicky Hayden who had remounted after his turn one crash and was circulating in 13th place before the race was stopped. The re-start was gridded based on the lap-eight running order, which was:

1. Miguel Duhamel
2. Jamie Hacking
3. Aaron Yates
4. Kurtis Roberts
5. John Hopkins
6. Eric Bostrom
7. Jake Zemke
8. Tommy Hayden
9. Jason Pridmore
10. Anthony Gobert
11. Grant Lopez
12. Owen Weichel
13. Nicky Hayden
14. Lee Acree
15. Ryan Landers
16. Richie Alexander

On the re-start, the outright war at the front continued with as many as nine riders slugging it out. The racing action was fast and furious and was typified no better than when Eric Bostrom went from fifth to first in one braking manuever into turn one. The battle came down to the last lap with Miguel Duhamel taking the win over Nicky Hayden and Anthony Gobert.

Results for the Honda Pro Oils 600cc Supersport race follow:

1. Miguel Duhamel, Honda CBR600F4i
2. Nicky Hayden, Honda CBR600F4i
3. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R6
4. Kurtis Roberts, Honda CBR600F4i
5. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-6R
6. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSXR600
7. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha YZF-R6
8. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSXR600
9. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600F4i
10. Josh Hayes, Honda CBR600F4i
11. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSXR600
12. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSXR600
13. Joseph Gill, Yamaha YZF-R6
14. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSXR600
15. Ryan Landers, Yamaha YZF-R6
16. Rich Alexander, Suzuki GSXR600
17. Grant Lopez, Suzuki GSXR600
18. Ted Cobb, Suzuki GSXR600
19. Daigoro Suzuki, Suzuki GSXR600
20. Kevin Lacombe, Yamaha YZF-R6