Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Round 6: New Hampshire International Speedway Corser sprays the champagne In the winner's circle. ...IIii.. ~~C • a little bit better. I thought, 'Okay, they're back.' Then it came back to the bar' again in the carousel. Three guys passed me and I was a hair from pulling into the pits. There was still a little left so I kept going. Then it got a little better. Twelve laps later - same thing . You can see it in my times, going from 16s to 18s." It was also on the 17th lap that Merkel took over from James. On the 19th lap, it suddenly became apparent that Merkel was catching Corser as the Australian became a little tentative in traffic. The gap was 3.5 seconds on the 17th lap, but it suddenly jumped up to 5.45 seconds only a lap later, leading many to believe that Corser was simply playing around - though Merkel being somewhat balked in traffic was also a factor. With Lanningham's crash in tum four bringing out an ambulance on the 22nd lap - which was parked almost directly on the racing line, causing the riders to actually have to change lines through the exit of the left hander - Merkel drastically closed the gap again . On the 26th o( 40 laps, the two were together at the front. They stayed that way for eight laps with Merkel taking the lead for the first time for a brief period on the 33rd lap. After 34 laps were complete; however, Corser suddenly had opened a gap to Merkel, w ho had struggled in traffic. . That was, for all practical purposes, the race as Corser cruised in to the finish. "1 was going about three-tenths-of-asecond a lap faster than him," Merkel said. "Then I got those lappers in the chi- . cane. That took all the wind out of my sails. It was so casual riding behind Jamie and Colin early on. I think some guys got tired. That's the story of my season, watching these guys get tired. I'm happy with second. I had a real stomach problem earlier in the week - I thought I was going to die." The laid-back Corser was typically humble in victory. "1 had to work pretty hard all the way through," the 22-yearold said. "There was a lot of traffic; when I got a clear lap I tried to do a fast one to get a gap to allow for the lapped riders. I had a plan and I charged hard at the halfway mark. I wanted to save the tire. I chose a softer front (tire) than we were going to run and I was push. ing it in tum one. I slowed down and then they started coming at me. Fortunately, the tires were still there at the end." After losing the lead duo, James spent the rest of the race alone as he was well clear of the battle for fourth place. "Don't get me wrong, I'd like to win this thing again, but these guys rode really well," James said. "It just wasn't .my day. Fred got by me and I made a try at him and he didn't know I was there (in turn six). I balked a little. He was steady and easing away from me. It was a tough, long race. I can't believe there wasn't a red flag. I was concerned at one point with the ambulance on the track and I thought they should have had a red flag . That's not my job, that's the AMA's job and I'm sure they did a good job with it. He's (Corser) riding really well. He's got a good bike and - like me - Professional rider depicted during closed-course event. Do not attempf thesemaneuvers. Dr ss pro pe~y foryourride withahelmet. eyeprotection. long-sleeved shirt.long trousers. gloves and boots.Yamaha and the Motorcycle Safety Iilundation encourage e you toride safelyand respect the environment Do not drink and ride. Itis illegal and dangerous. For further information regardingthe MSF rider course, please call 1-800-447-4700. ©1994 Yamaha Motor Corporation. U.s.A. (Cypress.CA 90630)

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