Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127537
eTEST SESSION AMA teams tadde Laguna 5001 (Left) AMA Superbike National Champion Thomas Stevens had his first outing on the Muzzy Kawasaki recently at , Laguna Seca International Raceway. The Floridian left the two-day test session happy with both the bike and his new team. Stevens won his championship aboard a Vance &: Hines Yamaha. By Paul Carruthers recent day. of testing at Laguna Seca International Raceway saw some new faces, new motorcycles, and new teams tackle what for many was an unfamiliar race track . With the United States Grand Prix at Laguna Seca set to be replaced by an AMA National Championship event, the familiar preseason testing howl of 500cc two-strokes was now a thundering roar of four-strokes as two of the major players in AMA Superbike racing were joined by a host of others in a test session at Laguna. Most were using the two-day session to get familiar with new motorcycles and new teams, and you wouldn't be faulted if you were forced to rub your eyes in order to recognize at least a few of the new combinations. Defending AMA National Champion Thomas Stevens had his first outing aboard the Muzzy Kawasaki ZXR750 as he joined the already established Scott Russell on the green superbikes. Although Russell ended up clocking the fastest laps, Stevens was relaxed and happy with his new surroundings. "I'm real happy," Stevens said . " I feel like I'm already used to the bike and we're (he and the Muzzy crew) just getting to know each other a little better." While Stevens got used to things, Russell parlayed his immense experience on the Kawasaki to turn the fastest laps recorded at the facility during the two-day outing. At the end of the final 'session, the Georgian was lapping the 2.196-mile track at oneminute, 30.I-seconds in the cold and blustery conditions. Joining the Muzzy crew was the allnew Commonwealth Racing combina- A r 32 tion of Tom Kipp and Mike Smith. The new duo spent the majority of their testing time with the team 's Honda CBR600s before switching over late in the session to ride the team's Honda RC30s. "It's everything I ever hoped it would be," Smith said of the RC30 which now features Honda' R VF bodywork. The former Formula USA Champion spent last year racing a Yoshimura Suzuki in the AMA Superbike Series. The Honda experience was also new for Kipp. Although the Ohioan spent last year racing the 600cc Supersport Series on a CBR600, his superbike outings were on a Yamaha FZR750RR. Two other four-strokes circulated the track - new Muzzy recruit Tripp Nobles and the returning Scott Gray. (Above) Scott Russell was the quickest during the test. (Left) Stevens and his new team owner Rob Muzzy.