Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Round 2: Pomona Fairplex getting k illed o n acce le ration, but we're wor king on i t. This start and stop stuff kills u s, so 1 th ink Laguna will be a lot better for the Suzuki." Kipp never really recovered from a b ad start and could nev er fi n d a w ay around Merkel: "It went really, rea lly good excep t for the start," he said. "I go t boxed i n and it made fo r a lo n g race. There were only two spots on the track t hat were hurting m e and t h at was becau se of gearing. 1 never passed Fred; 1 was making time on him and he was making time on th e Ducatis. The bike worked well and I'm really happy with my performance." l~ Pomona Fairplex Pomona, California Results: April 2, 1995 SUPERB(KE QUALIFYING: 1. Pa scal Picott e (1:23.989 ); 2. Jami e Jam es (1:24.49 2); 3. Mike Hale (1:24.493); 4. Fred Merkel (1:24.609); 5. Stev e C revier (1:24.661); 6. Thomas Stevens (1:24.735); 7. Tom Kipp (1:24.746); 8. Miguel DuHamel (1:25.161); 9. Takahiro Sohwa (1:25.921); 10. Mike Sm ith (1:26.480); 11. Freddie (Right) Muzzy Kawasaki teammates Pascal Picotte (21) and Steve Crevier (14) battled for second place behind Mike Hale. Crevier eventually got the nod over his teammate when Picotte slowed after being hlt by a lapped rider. (Below) Jamie James (2) leads Mike Smith (68) In their battle for fourth; James got the spot. (Bottom) The top three celebrate - Pascal Picotte, Mike Hale and Steve Crevier. the turning comes easier on ihe Kawasaki. All' the factory bikes are really good, but you've got to' make it like, you want to ride it I founil the Kawasaki a linle easier form e t~ ride."' . According to' promoters..a crowd .ot 32;647 spectato rs showed up for the Los Angeles Superbike Championship' a t the Pomo na Fairplex. . Fred Merkel' is genuinely pleased with ' his position onthe YOShimura Suzuki team after havi ng signed a two- year co ntra ct .at the beginning of tlie season: 'They're coming up with the goods," Merkel said. "This is Ihe besl career move I've ever made: Yoshimura,and Suzuki are married again and I'm In on 'Ihe ground floor; I guarantee rni 'going to win ·a · National this year - .1 guarantee it." Superbike winner Mike' Hale didn't get his 1995 Honda RC45 unlil'right before the Pomona event, after riding the '94 model In the Daytona 200. "After the race at Daytona, we sat down with HRC and they told me I'd be getting rt (the '95) for the next race," Hale explained: ~For Me'rkel's teammate Thomas Stevens had a tough weekend. ,After qualifYing sixth on the them to show that kind ' of confide nce in me...well, that boosted.my confidence. I antici- , grid: Stevens was tossed off the Suzuki during Sunday morning's practice session. Then patad getting out here 'on the new . bike in the race he could do nothing ol her Iha n because I'd seEm how fast (Doug) Polen and ride around after, breaking a sprocket .'W e · (Miguel) Dul-larnel's blkes ",e re down there had an electrical problem thismorninq and,it (Daytona I was really anxious 10get out here ). started running on three cylinders," Stevens ' and ride it. It's a lot faster. It feels,quicker, it said. "Then it went back to four cylinders and stops better and it turns corners faster. It's 'a . it lit the rear and went to high-side me and , better bike. Just judging by the seat of the thenit low-sided. itwas my fault because I ,pants, it's a lot faster than last year's bike. The should have pulled in. In the race a sprocket overall feeling of the slide is very predictable , broke and It started jumping and making a. it's got alot more forward grip." loud noise. I just wanted to try to finish sol figured I'd just ride it until it broke." It didn't . . With only four AMASuperbike Nationals and Stevens'ended ~p 18th: . under his belt , number five was the magic , one for Mike' Hale, who will never be accused Harley-Davidson's Doug 'Ch and le r di dn't of being a slow learner. "1grew a 1001Iasl year . start the Superbike National after his injured · and matured as a rider, and I smoothed out a left shoulder became 100 painful followin g· lot," he said. "1mean, I'm still probably Wild to Saturday 's qualifying session . "1 could ride a lot of people b ut you never stop learning. around, but If, I lost .the front there 'd be no I've .put in a lot of effort to get to where I'm at . way," Chandler said. "Laguna will be good. I now and I'm not going' to lighten ,up. 'I've got did 18 laps yesterday and it was really bad. goals and this is part of 'em." ' . . · The muscles in my shoulder are all bruised.".' As ithe needed any further inspiration' to win his first-ever AMA Nationa l Champio nship Road Race;. Hale got it on Saturday night when former Bartels' Harley-Davidson teammale Jay Springsteen WOn his flrst National In 10 years. "How about my .old teammate (Sprlnqsteen}? " Hal e asked . ~ I pulled for Springer all the way and it was great to see him do it. He's always been a mentor of mine." Spencer (1:26.711); 12. Dal e Q ua rtc rlcy (1:26.935); 13. Ch ris Carr (1:26.983); 14. Dou g Chandl er (1:27.134); 15. Don ald Jacks (1:27,458); 16. AI Salaverria (1:27.871); 17. Todd H arrington (1:28 .432); 18. Britt Turkington (1:28,626); 19, Scott Zampach (1:28.787); 20. Eric Moe (1:29.363); 21. Andy Fenw ick (1:30.220); 22. Damian Webe r (1:30.435); 23, Greg Gibson (1:31.289); 24, Jeff Reeves (1:31.665); 25. Shane Turpin (1:31.966); 26. John Hilton (1:31.982); 27. Jim Dickenson (1:33.450); 28. Mike Krynock (1:34.654); 29, SIeve Dahlslrom (1:34.913); 30. Dennis Ran som (1:35 .107); 31. Matt Cu sumano (1:38.072 ); 32. Kel Davidson (1:38.075); 33 , Stephen Vlasblom (1:39.551), SUPER BIKE FINAL: 1. Mike Hale (Hon f; 2 Stev e Crevi er (Kaw ), 3. Pascal Picotte (Kaw ): 4. Jami e Jam es (Ya m ); 5. Mike Smith (Due ); 6. Fred Merk el (Suz) ; 7. Tom Kipp (Yam ); 8. Takahiro Sohwa (Du e); 9. Dal e Quartcrlcy (Du e); 10. Fre d ie Spencer (Due); 11. Miguel d DuHamel (H on); 12. Todd Ha rrington (Kaw ); 13. Don ald Jacks (Suz ); 14. AI Salaverria (Due ); 15. Britt Turkington (Yam) ; 16. Scott Zampach (H-D); 17. Eric Moe (Kaw) : 18. Thomas Ste vens (Suz); 19. Jeff Reeves (Due); 20. Damian Weber (Duc); 21. John Hilton (Hon); 22. Greg Gibson (Yam); 23. Jim Dickenson (Suz); 24. Denn is Ransom (Hon ); 25. Steve Dahlstrom (Yam ); 26. Andy Fenwick (H·D ); 27. Chris Carr (H -D). Ti me : 42 min ., 35.450 sec . Distance: 30 laps . Average Spee d: 88.751 mph. Mar gin of Victory: 12.005 sec. Fastes t Lap: Steve Cre vier, 1:24.859, Lap 14. AMA SUPE RBIKE NAT'L CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STAND INGS (After 2 of 10 ro un ds): 1. Mike Hal e (54 /1 win ); 2. Tom Kipp (49); 3. Fred Merk el (48); 4, (TIE) Dale Quartcrlcy I Thomas Stev ens (43); 6. Donald Ja cks (40) ; 7. (TI E) Scott Ru s se ll /Todd Harrington (36 /1 win ); 9. Eric Moe (34); 10. Steve Crev ier (32); I I. Pascal Picotte (31); 12. (TIE) Colin Edw a rds II /Jamie Jam es (28 ); 14. Dam ian Webe r (27 ); 15. (TIE) Dou g Polen /Mike Sm ith (26); 17. Takahir o Soh wa (23); 18. (TIE ) Jeff Reev es /Fredd ie Spencer (21); 20. Mi guel DuHamel (20). Upcoming Rounds: Round 2: Monterey, Calitornla, April 30 Round 3: Lexington, Ohio, June 4 .Chandler, who had surger y on "Tuesda y, · March 14, to have a plate put in his shoulder..' qualified 14th despite doing a :minimum num'. ber of laps. ' · Chandler and Pascal 'Picotte kept noted sur- ' geon Dr. Arthur Tlng busy in the days follow- . ing the D aytona 200 ,.with Chandler having his shoulder surgery on Tuesday; March 14, . and picone going in a day later on Wednesday, 'March ,15: for similaroperation. While Hale earned $4500 of the $28,000 Supsrbike Chandler's injury was the more severe of th e purse for his win while Steve Crevier pOcket- . two and required ttie ·use of a plate, Picone's . ed $3000 for finishin g second and Pascal surgery produced a smaller scaron his shoutPiconet ook home $2000 for third place. The der and Ting was able to mend the bone with total purse for the four money-paying races at screws. The two ' posed for photographs on Pomona was $52,000. . , Sunday, both bearing .Iheir nearly malching . scars to the photographer. ' . . , ltthere has been a surprise thus far in the · 1995 Superbike Nanonat.Charnplonship, it is wiih the faciory Harley-Davldsori VR1000s the ease with which PascalP icotte has using two exhaust pipes on the right side of: adapted to the Muzzy Kawasaki., Many pun- the bike.rather thanthe two-into-one exhaust , dit s we re quick 1 say tha t Pico tte 's past ' system used by Miguel DuHamel last year,: .0 results were due to him riding the au-con- Chris Carr was havlnqproblerns dragging , querinq Fast By Ferracci Ducafl 955" a myth the canisters as he flicked the bike on its sida he is quickly dispemng. Picone also claims in right-hand comers. Despite having his bike that the Kawasaki is a' better motorcycle ,than · set up much lower, Doug Chanoter wasn't the Ducati: "I prefer the Kawasaki," he said. having ground 'clearance problems. "Those "The him dlin g is much better. The power guys hang their Whole 'bulls off the 'seat and comes on anme easier with 'the KawaSaki. I 'I'm only hanging one cheek off," Carr said. . think ~ has equat"traction with,the Ducati, but · "It's something that I'm working on.: '. '. a . . .. .. . .

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