Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

could onJy be resol ved when they collided and fell down on the final lap. The inddent galvanized Ooohan. Already he'd been complaining that while Criville could go fast, as long as Ooohan was there already, he couldn't run away up front and win the race on his own account. ow he'd proved it. "It's what I've been saying all year. He follows me, then goes out of control on the last lap," was Ooohan's pithy comment on the spot. The pair shook hands and agreed to play it cool during preseason testing. That seems likely to be one of those resolutions that don't actually last too long into the new year. Nobody wants riders to knock each other off, but .unless there is some dramatic change in the fortunes or machinery of the other teams, the only real hope the rivals have is that Mick and Alex will be so occupied with each other that they'll leave opportunities open for the rest. The works Honda pairing wasn't after all completely invincible last year. Luca Cadalora won two races - though he too was on a V-four Honda SRSOO. orifumi Abe took the Japanese GP after an impressive ride that was echoed by some strong race later in the year for the Yamaha man. Though Loris Capirossi's onJy win came after the infamous Eastern Creek incident took both the Hondas out. . The best hope potential rivals have and these include both Abe and Cadalora (now on 1\ Yamaha again) as well as a hopefully recovered Daryl Beattie - is that the Honda riders will put so much pressure on one another that they11 create cracks in their otherwise awe-inspiring strength. Both Ooohan and Criville have shown themselves vulnerable to pressure, the latter rather more so than the former, but a few non-finishes by each of them could leave a championship chink open for the rival who clocks up steady rostrum finishes race after race. Always assuming, that is, that Alex Criville has been able to continue building on his strength over this winter as he did last - for although he may have outqualified Ooohan five times ast year and beaten him twice in a stroright fight, you'd have to be a real gambler (or Spanish) to put money on him against Ooohan over the course of a full season. Ooohan's greatest strength, meanwhile, is his independence of mind. Which has led him to choose (almost certorinJy, though without official confirmation as yet) to witch from the userfriendly Big Bang to the previous 180degree "Screamer" engine. It's harder to ride and harder on tires, but ultimately faster if you are one of the five or so men who ever managed to master the increased facili ty for throttle control. Ooohan is emphatically one of those men, and reasons that improvements in chassis and suspension technology, tires, and electronic engine management will give the Screamer another chance to express its mean streak, to his advantage. It is a gamble, of course, though preseason testing suggested that the odds are not altogether unfavorable. What could be more appropriate to a rider looking for the strength of motivation required for a fourth straight win than a high-risk strategy? TEAM REPSOL HONDA Again the biggest and strongest team in oh so many ways, Honda's factory squad numbers three V-four riders and one more on a V-twin. They already (Right) Norlfuml Abe (5) and teammate Sete Gibemau (20) make up Wayne Rainey's unsponsored Yamaha team In 1997. (Below) The other Yamaha team will feature World Superblke Champion Troy Corser (11) and former Marlboro Yamaha rider Luca Cadalora. (Below) Ralf Waldmann has been fast all winter. The German and his Marlboro Honda are expected to challenge for the 250cc crown in 1997. (Bottom) The MovlStar Honda Pons team will consist of Spaniards Carlos Checa and Alberto PUlg. have the dominant machine and the top rider in place. Michael Doohan: Formidable talent and dedication. Seems set to switch from user-friendly Big Bang motor to the more demanding but potentially faster old-style Screamer. A radical step for a radical rider. Alex Criville: Slow learner who has gradually improved to challenge Ooohan hard by the end of last year. Can he maintain his steady rate of improvement? Is he strong-minded enough? If he does outscore Ooohan over the year, it will be a major achievement. Tadayuki Okada: Now on a V-four after making impressive if patchy class debut on new V-twin last year. Might find life in the very fast lane rather hard. Takumi Aoki: Completing the full Aoki Trio, the middle brother debuts mark two of the factory development Vtwin, fresh from the superbike series at home. Oearly talented, the wieldy lightweight will give him a soft entry into the class. MOVISTAR HONDA PONS The only satellite Honda team this year features new sponsors but the same two riders, as well as the development skills of Antonio Cobas. Equipment is nominally identical but inevitably one rung down from the HRC Repsol bikes. Alberto Puig: Redoubtable rider, returned last year from near-crippling acddent in 1995. Puig is tough and accustomed to overcoming setbacks, bu t has few chances left. Carlos Checa: "Chubby" was erratic in his first full SOOcc season, but won in Catalunya. Expect some good rides, and some near misses too. Not yet a championship contender.

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