Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

·ROAD RACE." ..World Charilpionship Road. Rli~e 'Series Round 12: Argentine Grand Prix (Lett) Max Blaggi (center) celebrates with Tetsuya Harada (left) and thlrdplace finisher Dorlano Rombonl (right). (Below) 12scC GP winner Emilio Alzamora (26) leads runner-up Masaki Tokudome In the 125cc Grand Prix. It was a good one: Harada working his way through Jacque, Ruggia and Romboni, with Roberts Jr. outdistancing Waldmann as he joined on from behind, only to fall unhurt at turn one as he tried to move inside Jacque. Harada was clearly a cut above the others, but now things started to get strange. As he drew away ahead, Biaggi started to slow. The gap was shrinking radically, by a second or more each lap, and then suddenly, on the 16th time round, Harada was on him. He'd caught up so fast that surely he would simply jet past into the lead. Unless, of course, Biaggi had another age"da. So it seemed, certainly, as he held the Japanese rider at bay for two laps, then let him go past only to stay on his back wheel. He was, it seemed certain, teasing him, or (to take a less-kindly view) rubbing his nose not only in the fact that he'd won the title from him, but also in revenge for Harada's lack of support last week over track protests in Brazil. Or you could believe his story. "1 chose very soft tires and I started to slide badly, so I decided to wait, then try and win the race in the last two laps," he said. "1 pushed.. really hard then to show everyone why I am champion." Cadalora's pole T he last races of the year are far closer than the first, and once again the closing stages of the final practice session were riveting. On day one Daryl Beattie had narrowly led from Michael Doohan, but now the Honda rider had moved substantially ahead, with Beattie apparently unable to improve on his Friday time. Then as the minutes ticked away Beattie went out on the charge again, fighting his way throuldt traffic and finally finding a clear lap to close up to within just over a tenth of his title rival. Then, as at Brno, came Luca Cadalora (above), flying as he too found a clear track at last to claim pole position with just minutes to spare, more than a quarter of a second faster than Dooban. It was, he said again, the latest Dunlops that helped him, though he allowed it wasn't as simple as that. "1bey've allowed us to find a really good setting so the bike is riding the bum well," he said. "I followed Mid: a lot. The only place is faster than me is in fifth and sixth gear on the straight, otherwise there is not much difference. I'll be going for my third win in succession tomorrow." Doohan drew CODlfort from the fact that Cadalora had been fast only briefly. '1t seems Dunlop have made a tire that works well for a lap or two," he said. "We'll see how it goes tomorrow." Nor would he comment on his chaznpionship chances now, or whether he'd be taking it a bit easier in the race. "I'll be riding in the Argentinian GP for Honda and my sponsors Repsol, and going for the best result I can get." That was all he would say, in the face of repeated questioning. l: Harada led from lap 18 to 21, then Biaggi used his speed advantage to get ahead again. If he'd expected to drop the Yamaha this was not to be, but he had enough to stay clear at the end of the back straight and foil Harada's own plan to overtake him under brakes at the next-but-one corner. Third saw the next trio swap back and forth, with Romboni making most of the running, and in due course leading the group across the line by fourtenths of a second. Then came Jacque's RS Honda, with teammate Ruggia's works NSR two-tenths behind him. "My engine was a bit flat today," Ruggia said later. Waldmann was a distant sixth, alone for most of the race. He had handling problems and neck pain, both the resul t of his practice crash, and elected to play it safe to get the finish. "1 can still get second overall in Barcelona," he said. This put Beattie third. and he too played down the better in these last races. But 1 don't think it will be so . championship battle. "1 won't be taking any extra risks easy to win tomorrow." Second was Jean-Philippe Ruggia, the man whQse tomorrow. I always try and do the best 1 can, and I'll try just the same as usual," he said. After the bike-setting place he took on the works Aprilia, and the Frenchman problems of Brazil, he was on the pace if not with any was less than a 10th down and saying he would have particular advantage, and as steady and consistent as been faster but for traffic. He too has corne to terms with ever. his new bike, the NSR Honda, only late in the year. At last, a new face on the front row of the grid, with Tetsuya Harada was third, moving up only in the last Neil Hodgson a sensational fourth. The Briton was mak- session, and saying: "The new Yamaha engine has more ing the most of his works Yamaha and the latest Dunlop top speed, and that has given us more work to do with front tires, though he did say that he didn't have the the chassis, and also to find acceleration." Then came same choice as Cadalora for the rear. More impressively Olivier Jacque, on the front row for a second consecutive he'd set his fast time alone rather than when following race, his kitted RS Honda at no disadvantage here where faster riders, as before, and he was relaxed enough to top speed is not a factor. This order was settled only in the closing stages, as share a joke in the post-practice press conference. "To teU the truth I'm only here because I discovered a short cut with the 5005, after an exciting couple of days. Max Biagmissing out the chicane:' he said. "Even then, Luca was gi, somewhat relaxed after tying up the title, ended up still faster." fifth and had never been higher than seventh. Tadayuki Hodgson was half-a-second slower than Beattie, and Okada was next, but he had been fastest the day before, almost a second down on Cadalora, and had taken a and the 1994 winner had been favorite to win. Alas, he fun three-tenths off the next man, Alex Criville, leading high-sided shortly after setting Friday's best time, hurtthe usual gang of second-stringers on his works Honda. ing his foot. "I was trying too hard on a bike that wasn't Shinichi Itoh was alongside, then Loris Capirossi, and ready," he said ruefully. Kenny Roberts Jr. was seventh, but he too had earlier Loris Reggiani's Aprilia eighth and on row two after he'd opted for a slightly detuned engine. "Even then led the table, and was only knocked off the front row at I'm having to control wheelies with the throttle,· he the last gasp. "No problem," he said, after his best-ever practice. "I know I can go as fast as anyone. The new said. Alex Barros led row three from a disappointed Nori- motor's great." fumj Abe, well off his pole-sitting teammate's pace, Car- . Ralf Waldmann completed the second row, his own les Checa, and Scott Russell, who spoiled his chances bid to move up in the last stages foiled by a heavy crash with a spectacular cras1t early in the final session, lucky at the fastest comer, which left him winded but luckily to escape unhurt. He'd been sixth after day one, and not hurt. "1 was trying too hard as the time ran out and 1 fourth in morning "untirned" practice, but said: "I don't . lost the front w:hee1 at 1BOkph (111 mph)," he explained, once he had his breath back. like this sort of track. You're always on the brakes." Juan Borja led row four, again top privateer, There Haruchika Aoki led row three from Doriano Romwere 30 qualifiers, with Belgian rider Laurent Naveau's boni, Eski! Suter, and Patrick van den Goorbergh. Suter ROC 25th, and Arnerii:an Scott Gray last, missing the was a doubtful starter, after dislocating his ankle in a Frifinal session. day high-sider. Just how bumpy is the track? Very, according to some Patrick achieved his position after making changes to riders. Not so bad. according to the 250cc fast qualifier. both engine and chassis after his poor showing in Brazil. Then again, he is used to much worse, for this was ex- '1fs been longer than that in fact," he said. "We've had motocrosser }ean-Michel Bayle, claiming his first-ever trouble for a few races. We made some quite big changes pole position in his third full year of GP racing. He was, to the front suspension and the geometry to make it steer naturally enough, thrilled. "1 never dared believe I'd take more positively, and to the carburetion to improve the pole so soon," be said. "It's not because the track suits engine characteristics. I'm hoping I can get a top-ten finme. It's because we have been getting the bike better and ish. I need it."

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