Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Cycle News 1997 02 12

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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ROAD RACE IRTA Grand Prix test (left) World Champion Michael Doohan picked up where he left off and was the quickest of the 500cc men at Phillip Island. (Above) Rainey Yamaha's Norlfuml Abe was the quickest nonHonda rider, despite a crash. (Above left) New teammates luca Cadalora (left) and Troy Corser (right) discuss the Promotor Yamahas. (Above) Ale~ Criville finished Just off teammate Doohan's pace. (left) Aprilia's loris Caplrossi was the quickest of the 250cc riders in his return to the class after a year of 500cc GP racing with Wayne Relney's Yamaha team. 16 By Ken Wootton Photos by Lou Martin PHILLIP ISLAND, AUSTRAliA, JAN. 28 -FEB. 1 hree-time World Champion Michael Doohan returned to work .:vith a vengeance last week when he recorded the fastest time during the season-opening IRTA "winter" tests at PlillIip Island in Australia. Doohan completed 193 laps of the 2.759-mile circuit throughout the test period, logging a best time of 1:33.6 to finish 0.96 second inside the lap record of 1:34.56, set back in 1990 by then-teammate Wayne Gardner. . ''We're taking it pretty steady, so I'm happy with those times," Doohan said. "We've been able to lap consistently in the 33s, and I believe that will be the race pace in 1997. Going out near the end of the session and ripping off one fast lap doesn't mean anything..." But while Doohan was all smiles, three-time 250cc World

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