Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127780
ROAD RACE . . W orldC hampio shipSuperbike Road Race Series n MISA!\lO,ITALY, AP 14 R. obod y wa s reall y surpri sed when John Kocinski captured pole position and the first race victory in the World Superbike opener in Misano . But the fact that Anthony Gobert retaliated in the second leg was somew h a t as to u nd ing. After a d isappointing qualifying performance and a frus trati ng first race, th e yo ung Australi an re minded th e su perbi ke racing con tingen t that Kocins ki and his Ducati will not h ave it all their way in 1996 . Gobert's second-leg victory at Misano was even more surprising considering th at th e Ita lian tr ack ha s always been considered a Du cati stronghol d, wit h its many slow co rners maximiz in g the superiority of the V-twin's acceleration . But then, some two hours after the fin- l\1 \0 ~ ,.....; Round 1:San Marino ish of th e second hea t, came th e col d shower. the FIM international jury disqualified Gobert for using an illega l carbu retion system on his Muzzy Kawasaki. The end res ult Kocinski leaves Italy with 50 poin ts, while Gobert d eparts n early em p ty- ha n ded after h is classic race-tw o wi n. RACE ONE There was no doubt tha t the Du cati riders would lead th e w ay at Misano. After their impressive showing in qu alifying (see sideb ar), th e red V-tw in s we re n' t abo ut to let anyone near in the first race but it was still a surprise to see Pier-France sco Chil i storming to the lead in th e op ening la p s. Th e fo rmer Grand Prix star would lead the field for two laps be fo re giving way to Tro y Corser. By this ti me, Kocinsk i had fough t ba ck to third af ter a m iserable start. After eigh t laps, the fo rmer 250cc World Cham pio n passed Chili, an d one lap later Corser had to give way. From tha t mom ent on, nothing wo u ld chan ge in the top three. Kocinski extended his lead to so m e 10 seconds, a margin he wou ld kee p to the finish . Co rser was second, also worry-free as he had p ulled ' clear o f Chili in th e latter half of the race. Behind the three Ducatis, however, all h ell was break ing loose among the four -cylin der ga ng. Gobert appear ed to be in control of fourth, but as the race drew to a close he was com ing under more and more pressu re from his new te amm ate, Si m o n Cr a far, w ho h a d al rea dy d e a lt w ith Yam aha ' s Colin Edwa rds II an d Castrol Honda's Aaro n Slight on his way up the leaderboard. Four laps before the end, Crafar took over command in the battle to finish the race as the top four-cylinder, taking the sp ot at the ex pen se of Gob ert. Sli ght took sixth, followed at a safe distance by his teammate, defending World Champion Carl Fogarty, and the Swedis h surprise Christer Lindho lm . Edwards finished 11th after a fine s tart an d a n excellent first half of the race. Promotor Ducati's Mike Hale crossed the line in 13th po sition. Kirk McC arthy was the only Commonwealth rider not to reach the finish . He had crashed at the end of the back straigh t on the third lap aft er colliding with Paolo Casoli's Ducati.