Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

, ;.'N' ·:AMAICCSD·R E:. .Race5eries ' Round 7: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course R AChanipiolishipRoad -: O AC ' Steppln' out: Thomas Stevens gets the Suzuki sideways on his way to a s ixth place finish In the National. Sohwa said that he'd had some trouble wi th gearing during the race: "The race was very good," he said in everimproving English. "My gear ratio not SO good. In Keyhole, very slow . I'm very tired; it was very hard to try." Fourth place ended up going to the wire, and it was really much closer than the .648-0f-a-second gap at the finish as Quarterley had actually passed Crevier on the final lap, only to lose it all when he hit a false neutral. "I got Crevier - he was going n ice and slow, blocking me ," Quarterley said. "It was perfect - for mE;. I coasted in right under him, but it went into neutral on the wheelie hill. Everything we did to the bike was right, we're just not qu ite there yet. We got pretty close in the two da ys." Doohan comes to America N 8 o .not Mick. Australian Superbike racer ,. Scott Doohan (right), the 31-year-old broth" , er of 500ccWorld Championship points leader Mick, finished eighth in his AMA U.S. Superbike National Championship debut at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on the Team Weathertight Ducati. Doohan's reasons for being at Mid-Ohio were really twofold. One was to get a taste for American superbike racing, th e other was to get an AMA Pro license so that if the opportunity presents itself he could ride in the United States Grand Prix as a Wild Card rider. Doohan competed in the Australian Grand Prix at Eastern Cree k earlier in the season and finished 12th on a Shell-backed Harris Yamaha. "We're trying to get a Wild Card for the U.S. GP," the friendly Queenslander said. "We finished 12th on the Harris bike at Eastern <:reek and the boys were pretty impressed. You can't just enter, but if there's a spare entry I may be able to get it by cancellirig my Australian license and getting an AMA Pro license. I'm hoping to get the Shell bike again and 1 think the boys are pretty keen. I've still got to make sure I can get the bike again, so nothing's definite yet." Doohan currently sits third in the Australian Superbike National Championship, after finishing behind Troy Corser in last year's title chase. "I'm 15 points back right • now, but there's a 160 points still up for grabs." Doohan ended up qualifying 14th for the Super Cycle National at Mid-Ohio, lapping at one-minute, 31.221 seconds after chasing a front-end chatter on the team's Ducati. "We're still sorting it out," Doohan said after qualifying. "I spent yesterday figuring out where I was going. Today, we've found a chatter in the front. If we can get that sorted ou t, I think we'll get into the 305. It's just taken a while, I should have been doing these times yesterday." < Though he wassorne30 seconds behind race winner Colin Edwards II at the completion of the National, Doohan did dip into the 1:30 range, clicking off a 1:30.993 on the 22nd lap. The start of the race gave Doohan a scare as the Ducati's forks kept bottoming. This was the first time they'd encountered such a p roblem - as it was the first time they'd run the bike with a full tank of fuel. Still, Doohan persevered and ended up eighth. He and the team are also planning on con testing the final round of the series at Road Atlanta - just one week after the United States Grand Prix in September. Crev ier was re latively pleased, though he new his fourth-place finish was the result more of the high attrition rate than to his riding: "I go t my typical bad start," the Canadian said. "I've got to work on that. I get pushed around a lot and I leave myself open to being pushed around. I took on the second group, but I can't catch that first group. I really got to where I was from the attriti on. " With Stevens finishing sixth, it was class rookie Mike Hale enjoying h is be st-ever result in seventh place after getting the best of Australian Scott Doohan. "I had a tough time passing Doohan," Ha le said. "He cou ld make up two seconds on the back straight. Once I got by him, I dropped my times by a second. The last two laps I ran faster than what I qualified. I could have used some more ponies, but I'm happy. I love these superbikes. When I get on a late model bike, I'll be up there. I had one bad moment - I about did a nac-nac coming down the hill on one lap. I think I caught the rear tire in a seam or something." Doohan's early race problems stemmed from forks that were set up too soft to handle a full tank of fuel. "The first half of the race it was really hard to ride," th e yo unger brother of 500cc World Championship points leader Mick Doohan said . "Man, it was hard to ride. The forks were bottoming. I thought it was going to bust the seals o u t. The bike was much better this morning - until we put gas in it. I think if we had a bit more time on the bike, we would ha ve done better. The bike was good. I'm reall y happy. It was my own fault - we fixed the patter from the Oi front , but. .." ". . ' Mld-Ohlo Sports Car Course Lexington , Ohio Results: July 17, 1994 SUPERBIKE QUALIFYlNC, I. Colin Edwards II (1 ,29.176/96.887 mph); 2. Pascal Picotte (1:29 .310); 3. jamie James (1:29521); 4.. Migu el DuHamel (1:29.863); 5. Troy Corser (1:29.906); 6. Fred Me rkel (1 ,30 .179); 7. Thomas Stevens (1:30.219); 8. Steve Crevier (1:30.220); 9. Mike Smith (1:30.221); 10. Takahiro Sohwa (1:30 .267) ; II . Tom Kipp (1:30576); 12. Dale Quartcrley (1:30 .604); 13. Mike Hale (1,)().912); 14. Scott Doohan (1:31.22 1); 15. Kevin Magee (1,31.366); 16. Scott Cray (1:32.044); 17. Brad Hazen (1,32 .103); 18. Frilz Kling (1:32 .204); 19. Tripp Nobl es (1:32.648); 20. Michael Taylor (1:32.684); 21. Donald Jacks (1:32.744); 22. Eric Moe (1:32.782 ); 23. Chuck Craves (1:33.185); 24. Dan Turner (1:34.179); 25. Jeff Sneyd (D4 .335) ; 26. Clenn Barrell (1:34.420); 27. Jacques Cuenette Jr. (1:34578); 28. Rick Shaw (1:35 .663); 29. David Kieffer (1:37.839); 30. Greg Kapp (1:38 .821 ); 3 \. John Jacob (1:38.837) ; 32. Mike Walsh (1:39.626 ); 33. Kurt Dillman (1:40.7 76); 34 . Gary Lenzmeime r (1;41.316); 35. John McMahon (1:42.909 ). SUPERBIKE FINAL: I. Colin Edwards II (yam); 2. Jamie James (Ya m); 3. Takahiro Sohwa (Ka w); 4. Steve Crevier (Kaw ); 5. Dale Qu arterl ey (Kaw); 6. Thomas Steve ns (Suz ); 7. Mike Hal e (Hon); 8. Scott Da oh an (Du e); 9. Tom Kipp (Suz ); 10. Brad Hazen (Du e); 11. Fritz Kling (H·D), 12. Michael Taylo r (Kaw ); 13. Chuck Graves (Suz) ; 14. Miguel DuHamel (H-D); 15. Jeff Sneyd (Kaw); 16. Eric Moe (Kaw ); 17. Dan Turner (yam); 18. Rick Shaw (Yam) ; 19. David Kieffer (Due); 20. John Jacob (Yam ); 21. Greg Kopp (Due); 22. Kurt Dillman (Kaw): 23. Kevin Magee (Hon) : 24. Pascal Picotte (Due ); 25. Mike Smith (Hon); 26. Troy Corser (Due); 27. Glenn Barrett (Kaw); 28. Mike WalSh (Yam); 29. Fred Merkel (Kaw); 30. Tripp Nook'S (Kaw ); 31. Scott Cray (Due). Time 40 min, 55.873 sec. Disbn«: 27 laps. 64.8 miles. A verege Speed. 94 .989"mph. Margin of Vidory: 1.508 sec. SUPERBIKE NAT'L CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 7 of 10 rounds); 1. Tro y Corser (2I}l/3 wins); 2. Iamie James (188~ 3. Takahlro Sohwa (179); 4. Steve Crevier (178); 5. Dale Quarlertey (157); 6. Pascal Picotte (156/2 wins); 7. Mike Smith (147); 8. Fred Merkel (146); 9 . Thomas Stevens (143); 10. Colin Edwards II (137 /1 win) ; 11. Tom IGpp (120) ; 12. Brad H azen (93) ; 13. Er ic Moe (83); 14. (TIE) David Sadowski/Dan Turner (82); 16. Kevin Magee (81); 17. Fritz Kling (77); 18. Chuck C raves (66); 19. (TIE) Donald Jacks/David Kieffer (55). Upcoming Rounds Round B July 31 - Brainerd, Minnesota : Round 9: August 19 - Sonoma, Califomia deciding not to,continue leasing the Ducati from Team Weathertight, which competed in the race with Australian Scott Doohan. Sadowski wasn't pleased with the way -the Colin Edward s II earned '$70'00 of the ' changeover was handled, and he will be rid· $40,000 Superbikepurse for winning his nrst-. ing his own Fast By Ferracci Ducati when the ever AMA Superbike National: Jamie James . series continues in Brainerd in two weeks. ' pocketed $4500 with Takahlro Sohwa taking . ' t's' better to just buy one. and irll be ready home $3100. for Brainerd; Sadowski said. "The reliability on Ihe other one 'just wasn'l upv ,He (team Those who were ne'ar Miguel DuHamel were .. o~n.er Kurt Schultz),wenl fro!"" nick arid .el 'very impressed with both his riding and the domong me to dealh to ' glvong'tho guy s Harley-Dav idson VR1000's performance. ~He . (Doohan) a fully sponsored deal," ' .' • was riding the piss out ot it ," 'race winner. Colin Edwards II said. ·His cornering speed The Ame rican ' Motorcycle Racing Teams Association (AMRT) met at Mid-Ohio to disis unbelievable;' .cuss , among other things, ways to cut 'costs Jamie Ja mes concurred; ·11hooks up really for the 1eam owners. ·We're Irying 10 congood: James sai d. :Whe n haqets some .' vince the AMA to come up with something to horsepower, 'we're going to be having 'some do away with Thursday's practice..•· president longdays: Malco'lm Hill said. "It's a cost issue . We're ' also looking at 'other ways for the teams to DuHame l's qua lifying and race 'efforts . work togelher to control costs. That's a big. brought smi tes to Ihe faces 'of leam mem- concern right now. We .als ota tked about bers, inCluding manager Steve Schlebe and scheduling and other matters: . . p.r. man Art Gomper, and rightfully so. The . bike has come from being a laughing-stock In . According to Smokin' Joe 's Racing tsan pre-Daytona tests to a legitimate' contender owner Martin Adam s the team's recert on tight and twisty race t racks. The bike is .. three-day tests at Road Atlanta and Iittl~ still well above 'the' minimum weight limit of' Talledega Raceway were a .suceess. Usin;j 355 pounds; bulit is down to 362 pounds, the frame geometry principles of Australia, acco rding to scntebe, The team 'mana ge r chassis-alignment .man Greg McDonald, a lso sa id Ihat there have been no major : . Adams says the team is now going in the lke'Smith's Honda changes other than a new radiator ~ with the' right direction. Though M .originalone being damaged by a rock at New 1'lC45 seemed much improved, Kevin Magee Hampshire Intemational Speedway. "We got · , was still having problems - mainly because the weight down'by just payin9 more atten- tneteam .tested 'with.Smlth's bike a ~ d the ' ,tion to details' Schiebe said. As far as the . Iransfer .of'parts and Ideas to Magee s bike Milwaukee co~pariy producing enough of the.. ' didn't pan out in the. limited amount of time.' VRs by the end of Ihe season to meetme .. the team had to mak~ the cha:,nges. ·McD~n homologation requirements , Schiebe said: aid has been. a major help, . Adams said . . "I'm not aware of, the' production process. ,', ·He's taught, us about ge.o!"etry.and the .ta.ct ' . that hydraulics [suspension) IS Ju.st to. r.nalnNone it is conducted inmy area.· tam that geometry. We .were tryIng to cure .'. DavidSadowski didn't 'race at Mid-Ohio after our problemswilh hydrau liCs.~ .· 'Briefl ••• •• 0'

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