Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

ROAD RACE World Championship Superbike Road Race Series some problems with the front tire. But he made it until the end." After Haga's exclusion, Slight took over third place, but thought he might have done so also on the track. '1 thought there was one more lap to go," Slight said. "When Takeda went down, 1 was a bit confused by the pit board my team showed, when in the first comer the marshals started waving the yellow flags. 1 had not seen the checkered flag and was still charging. 1 was going to take my chances and try to pass him before the comer and before the yellow flag. Only then 1 noticed that the race was really Round 9: Sugo, Japan (Below) Pier"Francesco Chili crashed during qualifying on Saturday with his Ducati bursting into flames. (Right" from left to right) Kocinski, Aoki and Norijuki Haga on the rostrum after the second race; Haga was later disqualified, pushing Aaron Slight up to third. Race Distance: 25 laps, SS.05-miles Aver.lge Speed: 9O.n4 mph. Margin of Victory: 0.554 sec. Fastest Lap: Takum. Aolci. 1:31.044 sec./91.627 mph. WORLD SUPERBIKE COSHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 9 0112 rounds): 1. Aaron Slight (283/1 win); 2. Troy Corser (270/5); 3. John Kocinslci (254/5); 4. CaTl Fogarty (238/2); 5. Colin Edwards II (176); 6. over." Slight was not surprised about this excellent performance after having conquered a disappointing starting position during qualifying days. "1 expected a good result here," Slight said. "Because all the qualifying times were so close. But 1 did not expect to be so well-placed in the point standings." Part of the reason for that was, of course, Corser's bad luck. "From the second lap, the bike did not accelerate anymore," the luckless Corser said. "The engine also vibrated terribly. 1 held my hand off the clutch as 1 expected the thing to lock up again. 1 guess that one person passed me in a comer this afternoon. All the other ones got past on the straigh 15." Corser finished 10th in the race, ninth after Haga's disqualification. Simon Crafar finished in nth. '1 rode as fast as I could," Clafar said. "But we have not found the right setup for the bike all weekend, and that is very important on a tricky track like this. But the changes made to the engine now allow me to stay in the draft of most of the leading guys, so I hope to get some more good results in the final races of the sea- son." Hale had another disappointing outing, ending his race in-22nd. "A tough weekend," Hale said. '1 didn't even have a good start. Casoli came off just in front of me, which made me lose more time. On top of that, the rear tire proved to be better for the first laps, but then it went off. It's just one of those weekends:' fN SUgo Sugo, Japan R.sults: August 26, 1996 (Round 9 of 12) QUALIFYING: 1. Troy Co,..,. (1:30.567); 2. Wataru Yoshil (1:31.482); 10. _·Fr"""""" Olili (1:31.484~ 11. Talcuma AolQ (1:31.543); 12. Colin Edwards U (1:31.502~ 13. AaTOn Slight (l:3J.543~ 14. Carl Fogarty (J:31.S9S~ 15. Aldra Ryo (1:31.641); 16. Yukio Nukumi (1:31.687); 17. Shinya TaI:eishi (1:31.773~ 18. John Reynolds (1:31.~ 19. Neil Hodgson (1:31.020): 20. Hitoyasu lzutsu (1:32.022); 21. Maxoto Suzuki (1:32.184); 22. Syouic.hi Tsukamoto (1:32.433); 23. Tamaki Serlzawa (1:32533); 24, Katsuaki FujiwaTa (1:32.57J); 25. Piergiorg;o Bontempi (1:32.7S9~ 26. Kasunori Hasegawa (1:32.892); 27. Kirk McCarthy (1:33.008); 28. Takaliiro SOhwa (l:33.025~ 29. Mike Hale (1:33.147); 30. Paolo Casali (1:33.525); 31. Rob Phillis (1 :33.885); 32. Michael Paquay (1:33.890); 33. H;deo Senmyo (1:34.628); 34. Igor Jerman (1:35.148); 35. John Boustas (1 :36.770~ RACE ONE: 1. Yuuichi Takeda (Hon); 2. Noriyuki Haga (Yam); 3. Wataru Yoshikawa (Yam); 4. Troy Corser (Due); 5. John Kocinslci (Due); 6. Aaron Slight (Hon~ 7. Norihiko Fujiwara (Yam); 8. Carl Fogarty (Hon); 9. Akira Ryo (lf Colin Edwards II and Wataru Yoshikawa at Suzuka) ·"Vere using the same equipment as the. Yamaha World Superbike team.. .

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