Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

eROAD RACE e AMA Superbike National Cham~ionshi~_:R_oun_d_4 _ Jimmy Filice again dominated the 250cc GP class, winning his fourth straight race. Who else but Filice at Charlotte? Dale Quarterley (32) and Jamie James finished third and fourth,. respectively. 8 outside of the exit and bouncing back across the race track. For the most part there was a clear path for the others to ride through by the time they arrived, and it was DuHamel taking over at the front. "1 hit a bump coming out of the first chicane and lost the front end," a bitterly disappointed Smith said later. The six at the front were still locked together, with Kipp's move from sixth to first on the 10th lap a striking example of just how close things were at the front. His lead was short-lived, though, as DuHamel blasted the Kawasaki back to the lead a lap later. DuHamel held that position, while the others constantly shuffled around behind him, until the 18th lap. It was on the 18th lap that the race was stopped again. DuHamel crashed coming on to the banking at a high rate of speed. Kipp had nowhere to go, he and the Honda clipping DuHamel's Kawasaki after it bounced off the wall. Kipp seemed to collect it back for a second, but there was no saving it and he slid to a stop some distance down the apron to the banking. Polen and the rest made it through the mess, with Polen collecting a hay bale on the way past. An ugly scene that easily could have. been much worse. "1 impacted the hay bale when it came rolling down the hill," Polen said. HI though I was going to get knocked off. I guess the man upstairs was watching out for me:' Edwards was also close to the accident: "} was right there," he said. "1 was probably 50 yards behind and I saw a clear spot and went for it. I didn't realize the bales were coming down and Polen exploded through one right in front of me. It was like "Days of Thunder:' I just gassed it up and went through it:' The accident occurred in the same spot that had earlier in the day claimed Tommy Lynch in the Monsterbike Shootout (and later Moe). Lynch was fortunate to escape serious injury as he hit the wall before it was protected by hay bales. Only after Lynch's crash did more hay bales become available to extend the protected area of the wall on the outside of NASCAR turn one. After a second break to clean up the debris, the race was again restarted this time only for an eight-lap sprint to the flag. Again, Edwards got the lead into turn one and he held that lead for the entire first lap. Polen, though, snatched it away going into the horseshoe to start the second lap. That was all she wrote. The Texan wasn't waiting around for anybody this time and the only race left was the one for second. That went to the wire with Edwards moving past Quarterley two laps from the end. James, meanwhile, seemed content to finish fourth after witnessing the Kipp/DuHamel accident from close range. Sohwa was a lonely fifth, with Ashmead likewise in sixth. "It worked out really good," Polen said. "I'm glad they restarted the race. I guess I didn't make it look too interesting - I kinda ran away with it:' Edwards saw the writing on the wall and knew Polen would be coming: "You know Polen," he said. HI knew he'd do the same old crap. It's just a matter of time before he comes around. That bike was set-up perfect for that track - things might be different when we get to Road America (the next round of the series on June 13). C:N Results SUPERIIKE QUALIFYING: 1. Tom Kipp (1:21.301/99.630 mph); 2. Doug Polen (1:21.813); 3. Pasal ~ (1:22.081); 4. Colin Edwords D (1:22.639); 5. Miguel DuIiarnd (1:22.666); 6. Jamie J• .".. (1:22.963); 7. Thoma. Steve.n. (l:23.J.tO); 8. Takahiro Sohwa (1:23.457); 9. Mike Smith (1:23.47S); 10. Eric Moo (1:26.171); II. D.le Qu.rterley (1:26.199); 12. John Ashme.d (1:26.S07); 13. P.blo Real (1:27.863); 14. Christian Gardner (1:27.908); IS. Jim Sabin (1:28.033); 16. J..... Pridmore (1:28381); 17. Cr.aig Gleason (1:29.211); IS. Shawn HiSbee (1:29.311); 19. Brad Haun (1:29.327); 20. Larry Locld... (1:29.753); 21. Michael Folzpatriek (1:30.2IS); 22. DavKI JGdfer (1:31.195); 23. Antony F.ria Jr. (1:31.296); 24. William au...ch (1:32.332); 25. Rick Shaw (1 :32.626); 26. 'Bmt Ray (1:32.943); 27. Scott Landis (1:38.188). SIJPEll.BIICE FINAL: I. Doug Polen (Due); 2. Colin Edwards n (Yam); 3. Dale Quarte"ley (K.w); 4. J.mie James (Yam); 5. Takahiro Sohwa (Kaw); 6. John Ashmead (Kaw); 7. Pablo Real (Due); S. Larry Lockle.r (Yam); 9. Brad H..... (Kaw); 10. Craig Gleason (Suz); 11. Anthony Faria (Kaw); 12. William au...ch (Kaw); 13. Rick Shaw (Yam); 14. David Kidfer (Due); IS. Bm Ray (5uz): 16. Jim Sabin (Kaw); 17. Michael Fitzpatrick (Han); IS. Miguel DuH.mel (K.w); 19. Tom Kipp' (Hon); 20. Mike Smith (Hon); 2l. Pucal Picot.. (Due); 22. ThOllUl1l s..v.ns (Kaw); 23. Shawn Higbee (Kaw); 24. Erie Moe (Hon); 25. Christian Gardner (Yam). Time: 1 hour, 37 min., 9.892 sec. A......e SPHd: 38.903 mph. Diaw.<.: 28 laps, 62.02 mila MOJ1lin of Victory: 2.462 5OC. SUPERBIKE CHIP POINT STANDINGS (Aft.. 4 of 11 rounda~ 1. Doug Polen (133/3 wins); 2. (TIE) Miguel DuHarnel/Da.. Quarterley (98); 4. Scott RueoeII (95); 5. Colin Edwards II (88); 6. Tom JCipp (8S); 7. Pascal Pico... (66); S. Pablo Real (62); 9. Mit<. Smith (60); 10. (TIE) Tho..... S_/J.mie J.m.. (54); 12. Takahiro Sohw. (53); 13. Eric Moo (49); 14. Jacq.... G""""... Jr. (48); IS. CIuistian Gardner (46); 16. Lany Lockle" (42); 17. John Ashmead (41); IS. David IGdfer (37); 19. Eddie La....", (35/1 win); 20. (TIE) Jim Sabin/Br.d H..... (33). By Paul Carruthers Photos by George Roberts CONCORD, NC, MAY 2 ayne Rainey Racing/Otsuka Electronic's Jimmy Filice again gave the rest of the AMA 250cc Grand Prix field a severe beating, leading from the get-go at Charlotte Motor Speedway to keep his season of perfection intact. Four for four has a nice ring to it if your name is Jimmy Filice. If you are one of the many frustrated followers, the words probably keep you awake at night. Four races, four victories for Filice and he doesn't appear ready to suffer a letdown. His latest win was another calculated runaway, the Californian leading from the start and immediately opening up a lead on the ensuing pack. All rather simple really. Filice opens a lead instantly, watches his pit board closely and holds that lead to the finish. If he loses a second here or a second there, he simply gains in back on the next lap. Following Filice across the finish line was fast qualifier Rich Oliver (see sidebar) on the Performance South Racing Yamaha TZ250. The expected battle between Filice and Oliver never materialized as Oliver was bauIked somewhat at the start, giving Filice the break he needed. Third place went to Southwest Motorsports Chris D' Aluisio after a race-long struggle with Extreme Lean's Nick Ienatsch. D'Aluisio's teammate Danny Walker battled with an overheating Yamaha TZ250 to finish fifth. Filice now holds a commanding 23point lead over D'Aluisio, 140-117, after four of 11 rounds. With his third fourthplace finish of the season, Ienatsch moves into a tie for third in the championship with Walker - both have earned 84 points. Canadian Jon Cornwell is fifth with 83 points after a bravado performance to finish sixth a t Charlotte after crashing heavily on Friday and injuring an elbow. In addition to the 35 championship points, Filice also took home the $4000 winner's share of the $20,000 250cc W purse. The intense race for the lead lasted approximately 100 yards. Filice nailed the start, led into the first comer and was never headed. Oliver, meanwhile, was mid-pack and fighting to catch a glimpse of Filice before it was too late. He was fifth by the time the pack entered the Kitchen Sink area of the race track for the first time and he crossed the finish line to end lap one in third place. D' Aluisio was second with • Walker and lena tsch filling the top five places. The third Southwest Motorsports entry of young Chris Taylor was already history by this point, the Virginan coasting to a stop at the end of the front straight with a seized motorcycle. Oliver moved past D'Aluisio on the second go-around, but it was already too lateo Filice was gone. Already out to a three-to-four second lead - one he would maintain to the finish to win by 4.512 seconds. The only real moment for Filice came on the fourth lap. On the exit of tum one, the diminutive Filice nearly highsided the little Yamaha, both feet coming off the pegs, bu t he regained his composure in time to make tum two. The only action now would be behind him. Once into second, Oliver still had his hands full with D'Aluisio and Ienatsch, who was quite impressive, saying later: "I can't do any better than that." At the start of the seventh of the 21 laps, D'Aluisio had a moment in turn one; putting his foot down in order to make the comer. Ienatsch took advantage with a nice wheelie pass on the inside to take over third. The Sport Rider magazine editor didn't seem content with that as he continued to pressure Oliver from behind. On the 12th lap, though, Oliver started to pull clear from lena tsch and D'Aluisio as he set about making a serious charge to catch Filice. The Fresno, California, rider would make a dent in Filice's lead, but Filice would then dial up the Ed Toomey-tuned TZ250 just a little bit more to get the advantage back. Late in the race, Filice got through traffic .much better than Oliver and that extinguished any hopes Oliver had for catchinghim. "He got a good start and I got a horrible start," Oliver said later. "1 had to get by (Chris) D'Aluisio and (Danny) Walker and I just couldn't close on him (Filice). He seemed to get better breaks in traffic, but I'd like to congratulate Jimmy - he did a good job:' Ienatsch thought he had D'Aluisio covered in the fight for third, but the New Englander had something up his

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