Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

GROADRACE was: "I don't really want to talk about it;" but nothing seems to affect the way he rides. Cardus reinforced his second place by speeding up in the final session in spite of his injuries, with Cadalora having made sure of third in the morning. The Italian is marvellous at Donington's fast flowing sections, and he pointed out: 'Top speed is not so important here." But he also crashed, slidi ng off tidily at ~e low-speed final hairpin in the last e session, Helmut Bradl was back, his left ankle (broken at Assen) in a special articulated contraption inside a custom-made boot, and riding as close to the edge as ever. He collided with Corrado Catelano's Aprilia on Saturday, wrenching his left shoulder, but putting the Italian out of the race with a broken collarbone. Masah iro Shimizu completed a close front row, just over half-a-second down on Kocinski, and once again showing a late-season renaissance just at the time when contracts come up for review. Frenchman Adrien Morillas was the surprise of the meeting. His Aprilia now . equipped with the factory kit, he leapt from the low midfield to the forefront of attention, placing his Gauloisessponsored bike third in the first session. He didn 't improve that time, and dropped to sixth by the finish, but he had backed it up with other fast laps - a major improvement for the man who last year rode part-time on the EIfsponsored NSR Honda 500. He had Cornu's Honda, Reggiani's Aprilia andZeelenberg's Honda with him on the second row; the last-named another to slither off in practice, without major injury. Carlos Lavado was next, but he also tumbled, and broke his arm, putting him out for probably two races. This left Domirtique Sarron to lead row three, the works Honda rider battling with bad handling, and narrowly ahead of Martin Wimmer's Aprilia, Alex Criville's works Yamaha (the young Spanish World Champion another practice crasher). When they lined up for the race; everyone on the front row of the grid had fallen except the men on each end. Shimizu would stay on, but Kocinski was saving his tumble for a more crucial moment than just practice. . 250cc Race 18 With Kocinski's Yamaha an orange blur that streaked straight to the front and gradually drew away, the issue seemed settled after the first comer, and by half distance he had some three seconds in hand and seemed able . to sustain that against all comers. Until he came to Coppice Comer a pair of rights taken as one in third and fourth gear, over the crest "of the hill and onto the back straight. Kocinski pitched it in to the first part, then lo st the front over the crest, slithering into the sand-trap ' at barely diminished speed, unhurt physically, but with who knows what damage to his psyche, which takes a bad dent when he merely fails to finish first. The last 'fo ur races of the season will be a testing time for the young superstar. The battle for second place had seen many changes in fortune. Reggiani held the position until lap four, when Cadalora arrived (from ninth on lap one) to claim the place, slipping past his Aprilia-mounted countryman at the penultimate hairpin. Reggiani ran wide into the next end last hairpin of the lap, and dropped another three places. He continued to lose ground before sliding off unhurt on the 10th lap. Morillas, Bradl and Wimmer had been behind Reggiani, but only Bradl survived as other fast men arrived, although Morillas continued to put up a good fight for the rest of the race. Now the pursuit pack included Shimizu, Cardus and a fading Criville. Cadalora really had his head down, and the gap behind Kocinski wavered as he pushed, then the American responded. By the time Kocinski crashed, however, it was obviously a hopeless quest; while the Shimizu rennaissance saw the Japa nese rider drawing ever-closer to Cadalora. Even as the Italian inherited the lead he came under severe threat from the HRCsupported Honda. This was another relentless battle, with pressure applied and manfully resisted, the pair drawing steadily away from Bradl, with Cadalora claiming the lap record with three laps left. It was " enough to break Shimizu, baulked also by some rare backrnarkers, and Cadalora continued to win by three seconds. Cardus had moved up to a close fourth, but he was having trouble braking, and Sarron was on the charge beh ind him, after a bad star t barely in the top "20. In his first good race since the start of the year, the returned injury victim vaulted through the battling groups to arrive in fifth and chasing Cardus by lap 14, closing rap idly as the Spaniard slowed, and turning a 1.2second deficit on lap 22 into a successful overtaking maneuver in the space of just one lap. Cardus was just four seconds ahead of the next battle at the flag, in which . Cornu finally prevailed after a back-andfourth battle with Morillas that had lasted much of the race. The pair had dropped Criville by the finish , with Wimmer fading still furth er, only to come under attack from Jochen Schmid's factory-backed private Honda and Didier de Radiques's Aprilia. They finished in that order, covered by less than a second. There were 23 firtishers out of 33 starters, with new works Honda rider Bernd Kassner, on Roth 's machine, among the retirements he crashed. More notable among the many sand-trap sorties were the exploits of Wilco Zeelenberg. He had started in the top 15, but dropped to near the back after taking to the grass on lap one. The Dutchman was busy with a furious recovery ride which had him as high as ninth before he finally fell off good and proper. Cardus was happy just to finish an effort that was rewarded by a slender world title lead of just four points. It is the first time since the end of May that Kocinski 's name has not been at the top fo the World Championship list. Third-placed Cada lora is also closing up again, 19 points behind Kocinski with the luckless Zeelenberg dropping away , and now just two points ahead of Wimmer, with Bradl another point back. 125cc Ra ce All year 17-year-old Lori s Capirossi has been threatening for a win . At th is sinuous circuit he delivered the goods, with an immaculate runaway that : he had built steadi ly throughout the.race to some four seconds by the end. The brawling was all behind him marvelous close racing enlivened now and then by inevitable mishaps. Like Alessandro Gramigni's, who worked his way up to second on lap three, only to slip off at the penultimate hairpin under extreme pressure on lap five. Nothing daunted, he rejoined some 25 places down, only to crash again in exactly the same place and manner six laps later. Fausto Gresini, Bruno Casanova, Doriano Romboni (Hondas) and Jorge Martinez (JJ Cobas ) remained, with Hans Spaan (H onda) soon joining in , Maurizio Vit ali (Gazzaniga-Rotax) snapping at their heels, and pole starter Stefan Prein (Honda) coming up fast. Casanova was in front when he fell on the exit from the slow chicane, remounting only to cruise back to the pits; Martinez battled to stay in touch as Romboni and Spaan inched away at one another, with the Italian finally prevailing in the closing laps. Prein worked through to fifth, unable to catch Martinez; Vitali held sixth. A littl e way back Bri ton Steve Patrickson (Honda) gave the local fans a rare high point as he prevailed at the finish over Gresini. Spaan claimed the lap record; Capirossi the title lead, by four points from Prein , with Spaan now 20 points adrift, and Romboni fourth. Fifth-place Martinez now needs a miracle. Sidecars Ti tle points" leader Steve Webster star ted from po le position, but bogged down on the line, getting away fourth fro m las t Alain Michel and British passenger Simon Birchall led lap one from Egbert Streuer, the Egloff brothers, and Rolf Biland. Battling in the thick of it to regain lost ground, Webster clouted countryman Barry Brindley 's outfit, crunching his fairing and smashing the front of his (Iorward-facing) exha ust system. He pulled straight into the pits , devastated by his ill fortune. The usual gang were soon making the running, with Michel, Streuer and Biland in close formation. But the sustained tension of the race was rather better than usual , as the pre-eminent trio jockeyed for position through the sweeps and narrows of this varied circuit. Michel surrendered the lead to an insistent Streuer on lap five, and was promptly forced back to third by Biland. Then it was the old fox's tum up front , for another three laps; before Michel forced through again on lap II. The Frenchman held the lead until lap 22, but it was still anybody's race. Un til Streuer upped the stakes with two laps left, outbraking Michel aggressively, then opening up a two-second lead at the finish. The other two were still at each other's throats, and the issue was in doubt until the final hairpin, where Michel just held off Biland's last outbraking attempt. The Guedel brothers held a distant fourth for much of race distance, but ran into a misfire with five laps left, dropping back to finish ninth. This handed fourth to the Zurbruegg brothers (also from Switzerland), who had passed their countrymen the Egloffs on lap 18. eN Resu lts 12Scc QUA UFYING: 1. Stefan Prein (1:44.100): 2. j orege Martinez (1:44.192); 3. Loris Capirossi (1:44.30 1): 4. Hans Spaan (1:44.473): 5. Bruno Casanova (I:44.519); 6. Hans t.uethi (I:44.609): 7. Fausto Gresini (1:44.695); 8. Doriano Romboni (1:44.778); 9. Maurizio Vitali (1:44.944): 10. Alessandro Gramign i (1:45.081); 11. Steven Patrickson (1:45. 164); 12. Johnny Wicksuoem (1;45.364): 13. Dirk Raudi es (1:45.632): 14. Alan Scou (1:45.680): 15. Juliam Miralles (1:45.714): 16. Hi sashi Un emoto (1:45.760): 17. Dom inique Briga glia ( 1:45.859): 18. Manuel Herreros (1;45.912); 19. K.. Wada (1:45.970): 20. G. Dehbia (1:45.998): 21. Robin Appleyard (1:46.023); 22. J. Mariano (1;46.040): 23. Ren e Waldmann ( 1:46.070): 24. Mike Leitn er (1:46.075); 25. Alex Waibel (1:46. 124): 26. H an s Koopm an ( 1;46. 151): 27. Ari Stadler (1:46. 163): 28. F. T orron tegui (1;46.174):29. L. Reyes ( 1:46.297); 30. S. Kurliss ( 1:46.39 1); 31. A. Sanchez (1:46.451): 32. E. Cuppini ( I:46.490); 33. Hans Dullard (1:46.547): 34. F. KlSllUP (1:46.583); 35. Manuel H ernandez (1:46.763): 36. Rob in Milton (1:46.840): 37. J. Selini (1:46.887): 38. J.M. Fische r (1:47.007): 39. HaIlS Abold (1:47.073): 40. Stefa n Derflinger (1:47.113); 41. J. Van Don gen (1:47.123); 42. B. H assaine (1:47.366); 43. S. Edwards (1:47.4831:44. Peter Oett! (1:47.083): 45. Peter Ga lvin (1:47.898); 46. S. Bragger (1:48.358); 47. Thierry Rinne (1:48.733): 48. 1.. Alvaro (1:49.698): 49. P. Prior i (1:50.157): 50. G. Gnani (1:50.600): 51. X. Arumi (1;51.153): 52. B. Smit (1:51.234). 250ccQUAUFYING: I. John Kocin ski (1:37.009): 2. Car los Ca rdus ( 1:37.392): 3. Luca Cadalora (1:37.408): 4. H elmut Bradl ( 1:37.474); 5. Masah iro Shimizu (1;37.765): 6. Adrian Morillas (1;37.774); 7. J acques Cornu ( 1:37.792) : 8. Lo ri s Reggi an i (1:37.886): 9. Wilco Zeelenberg (1:38.178): 10. Cart ee La vado ( 1:38.204): I I. Dom inque Sarron (1:38.207): 12. Marlin Wimmer (1:58.512); 13. Alex Crivill e (1:38.557): 14. Marcellino Lu cchi (1:38.575); 15. ' Pao lo Caso li (1:38.691); 16. Didier de Radigues (1:38.857): 17. Jochen Schm id (1:88.868): 18. Harald Edl (1:38.884): 19. Alex Borgon ovo ( 1:38.919): 20. Alex P ricn in g (1:.59.150); 21. Bru no Kassner (I:39.136): 22. Renzo Collcani (I :39. 172); 23. Kevin Mitchell (1:39.437); 24. Jorge Mar tinez (1:39.477): 25. Alber to Puig (1:39.557): 26. B. Haenggeli (1:40.047); 27. Hans Becker (I :40.167): 28. Jose Barresi (1:40.240): 29. Alan Carter (1:40.414); 30. Uri Jucker (1:40.660): 3 1. Eri c Neumair ( 1:40.757): 32. C. Catalano (1:40.805): 33. Alberto Rota (1:40.887); 34. R. Nicone (1:41.156): 35. Jean Foray (1:41.960). 500cc QUALIFYING: I. Wayne G a rd ner (1:33.415): 2. Kevin Schwanu (1:33.543): 3. Wayne Ra ine y (1:33.733): 4. Eddi e Law son (1:34.242): 5. Niall Mackenzi e ( 1:34.4 76) : 6. Juan Garriga « 1:35.4 77) ; 7. Mi chael Doohan ( 1:35.52 7): 8. Christian Sarron ( I :35.644): 9. Randy Mamola (1:35.682): 10. J.P. R uggia (1:36.435): I I. Carl Fogarty (1:36.480): 12. Ron Haslam (1:36.527): 13. Alex Barros (1:37.155); 14. Sito Pon s (1:38.254): 15. Marco Papa ( 1:39.028): 16. Eddie Laycock (1:39.712); 17. Kees Doorakkers (I:41.103); 18. Andy l.eu th (1:41.663). I SIDECA1l QUAUFYING: I. Webster / Simmon (1:38.9 18): 2. MichellBirchall (1:39.238): 3. Egloll Eglofl (1:39.5 19); 4. Streuer/De Haas (1:39.644): 5. Guedd /G uedel ( 1:39.692): 6. Biland/wahlsper (1:39.946): 7. Zurbruegg/Zurbruegg (1:40.135): Abb ot tvS mi th ( 1:40.218): 9. Stoe lz le /Stoe! r l (1:40.724); 10. Kum am o/Roesinger (1:40.809): II Ku ma gayalHougwn (1:41.040); 12. Van Kempen Kuyt ( 1:41.335); 13. Brindley/Rose (1:41.437): 14 J on es Brown (1:41.565): 15. Progi n/lrlam (1:41.620) 16. Wyssen /W yssen ( 1:41.642): 17. Bohnh orst Boet tcher (1:41.65 1); 18. Klallenb .lParzer (I:41.767) 19. Nigr owskilEssaff (1:42.625): 20. H owlea/Poime (1:43.239): 21. G all ros / Berg lu nd ( 1:43.552); 22 Ba ker / Morgan ( 1:4j .575 ); 23. Sm i lh /S mit ( 1:43.79 1); 24. Hu egli /Ha enni ( 1:44 .5 46 ): 25 Thom aa/ Streven s (1:45.535); 26. Stirra tlAich lsed. e (1:45.481); 27. Ditchburn/Cable ( 1:48.556). 12Scc GP: I. Lo ris Ca pirossi (AGV ); 2. Doria n Romboni (Hen): 3. H an s Spa an (Hon): 4. Jarg Martin ez (Cob); 5. Stefa n Prien (Han); 6. Ma uriz Vita li (Gaz); 7. Sleven Pat rickson (Han); 8. Faust G resiot (Hon) : 9. Julian Mirall es (Coh): 10. F Torrc ntegui (Han); II . Rob in Millon (Ha n); 12. Stadler (Cob): 13. Dirk Raudi es (Ho n): 14. H isash Unemo to (H on): 15. Rene Waldmann (Cob ): , 16 J ohnny Wtckstrom (Cob): 17. K.. Wada (H on) ; 18 Robin Appleyard (Han ); 19. Flemming Kistru (H on ); 20. Manuel H errero s (Cob): 21. S. Kurfis (Ho n ): 22. J. Mariano (H on): 23. A. Sanchez (Cob) 24. Manuef Herna ndez (Ha n ); 25. Han s Koop ma (Ha n ); 26. 1.. Reyes (Ga r): 27. Han s Leuthi (H on) 28. Brun o Casa nova (Ho n ); 29. H erve Du£fard (Ho n) 30. E. Cuppi ni (H on ]: 3 1. A. Gramigni (Ap r):' 3 Alex Waibel (H on ): 33. D. Brigaglia (Hen) ; 34.-G Debbia (Apr): 35. Mike Leime r (Ho n); 36. Alan Scot (Hon). . Distance: 24 lap s, 59.862 mil es. Time: 42 min ., 1.'.640 sec. Avera,se Speed: 85.057 mph. J Margm of Victory: 4.280 sec. J (I F..test Lap: H an s Spaa n, 1:44.379, 86.026 mph.•• 250cc GP: I. Lu ca Cada lora (Yam ); 2. Masahir Shimizu (Ho n): 3. H elmut Bradl (H on) : 4. Dom' n iqu e Sarron (Han); 5. Carl os Cardus (Han); Jacques Cornu (H on ): 7. Adrian Morrilas (Ap r): Alex Crivill e (Yam); 9. Martin Wimmer (Ap r): 1 Jochen Schmid (Hon ); 11. Didier de Radigues (Apr 12. Harald Edl (Ap r): 13. Alan Car ter (Ho n) : I Paol o Casoli (Ya m); 15. Albert o Puig (Yam) ; I Marcellino Lucchi (apr); 17. Alex Prein in g (Ro t 18. Bernard Haenggeli (Apr): 19. J ean Barresi (Y:un 20. Alberto Rota (Apr): 21. Uri jucker (Yam): Wi lco Zeelenberg (Hon): 23. A. Borgonovo (Ap r 24. Bruno Kassner (H on): 25. J ohn Kocinski (Yam 26. Jean Fora y (Ya m): 27. HaIlS Becker (Yam ): 2 Lori s Reggiani (Apr): 29. R. Nicoue (Yam ); 3 Renzo Coll eoni (Apr ): 31. Kevin Mitchell (Yam ): 3 Eric Neumair (Yam); 33. J org e Martina (Cob). Distance: 26 1aps, 64.850 mile s. Time: 42 min., 39.173 sec. Avera,se Speed: 91.225 mph. Margtn o(Victory: .!U16 sec. . Fas.es. Lap: t.uca Cedalora . 1:37.326.92.260 mph. 500cc G P: I. Kevin Schwanu (Suz): 2. Way Rainey (Ya m): 3. Eddi e Lawson (Yam); 4. Micha Doohan (H on ); 5. Niall Mackenzie (Suz): 6. Rand M:unola (Cag): 7. Juan Garriga (Yam): 8. Christia Sarron (Ya m): 9. J.P . Ru ggia (Yam ); 10. Ron Hasla (Cag); I I. Alex Barros (Cag): 12. Eddi e La y (H on ): 13. Marco Papa (Hon); 14. Andy Leurh (Ho n): 15. Kees Doorakkers (Hon): 16. Carl Fogart (Hon): 17. Wayne Gardner (Hon ). • Distance: 30 .laps, 74.827 mi les. Time: 47 min. , 15.770 sec. Av

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