Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

"I was just starting to break clear when r was blown a little wide so I was off-line on the entrance to the' downhill right-hander and the front end just tucked under," the Suzuki rider said. After Goddard exited, Haga and Slight started one of the most exciting battles of the race - and it would nearly go the distance. Meanwhile, Corser had joined the duo and - with three laps to go - he moved around his' colleagues. But that wasn't the end of it. Just when CorSer took over second from Slight, the Honda rider went down after a clash with backmarker Jean-Marc Deletang losing a very probable rostrum position. In the end it was Fogarty winning fastest local boy (behind Corser, of course) in sixth - after Ducati rider Chris Connell had crashed earlier in the race while lying seventh. Willis, who was born in 1976 and made his superbike debut just last year on the same Suzuki team as Goddard, had one win and three podium finishes in 24 starts last year. Edwards, who ended up seventh in his Honda debut, also blamed the wind for making the race a bit hairy. . "That was a scary race," the Texan said. "The wind was throwing me all over the place. At turn three I thought r was down three laps in a row, the front let go and r had to save' it each time. r (Above) Pier-Francesco Chili (7), Noriyuki Haga (partially hidden) and Peter Goddard (6) battle for second in the first race, with Troy Corser (11) moving up from behind. (Left) Colin Edwards II (45) is oblivious to the fact that Australian Craig Connell is crashing just to his outside. Edwards ended up with two seventh-place finishes in his debut on the Castrol Honda. (Below) Haga (41), Chili (7), Slight (111) and Fogarty (2) fight for the lead in the second race. ahead of Corser, Haga, Chili and Akira Yanagawa, who had been chasing the group for the majority of the race but who had never been able to close on them. "I cannot believe that I am up here already," Fogarty said after having sprayed the champagne. "I knew Phillip Island was going to be a tough race and, to be quite honest, I didn't'feel quite up to racing speed already. And apart from the wet races I have rill) in, these were probably the worst conditions I have been confronted with. I had to concentrate extrahard; the wind was changing constantly and made racing even dangerous. With four laps to go, I started to have some 'problems at the rear end - probably due to the rear suspension. I thought that that was it. But the pit boards allowed me to keep a clear sight on my lead so, going into the last lap, I knew that I had the victory in my pocket." Corser also adrni tted tha t the wind had not made things any easier. "Like I said, it all came down to the tires," Corser said. "With the wind, it was extra-hard to find a place for yourself out there - with everybody being blown from one side of the track to the other. That's why I backed off a bit by the midrace stage. I stayed behind the group, watched them and waited. I knew I had to be in front of the group at Honda Corner. After that, I had no more opportunities to pass them. It all worked out perfectly well. Noriyuki (Haga) went wide a little bit with some three laps to go, I dived inside and that was it. I didn't even realize that Aaron (Sligh.t) had gone down behind me. I expected him to be back on the next corner braking points, so I got my head down and got away as fast as I could. When I saw the distance between 'Carl (Fogarty) and me getting smaller, I started to hope for victory - but that hope was soon shattered." Haga finished third in front of Chili and Yanagawa. Mark Willis was the struggled with the rear tire throughout the race - r just couldn't get any traction." Edwards' teammate Slight was ninth after remounting from his crash. He ended up right behind Hodgson. "There was plenty of room for the backmarker, but I was unlucky that he decided to use all of the track," Slight explained. "That was a poor finish after a hard race. I was caught out by the starting lights. After that, my biggest problem was Haga, who I couldn't shake off." Deletang, who was "responsible" for Slight's crash, later apologized that he had been touched by Haga going by, which forced him to pick up his bike and to send Slight (whom he had not seen) sailing into the gravel pit. Russell took six points back to his pit from the first race after finishing 10th. "I was fifth by the second corner, but was balked by the field and forced back," he explained. "I knew it was going to be hard out there because I don't like the track, but the wind made it terrible. It was pretty dangerous and after a while I was just concentrating on finishing without falling off." RACE TWO The second race started roughly 30 minutes late while corner workers worked to clean up oil left on the track by some of the Australian National Supersport riders. But it was worth the wait. This time, spectators were in for a magnificent show as a leading group of four men led the way - with Haga battling it out with Chili, Slight and Fogarty. Goddard and Yanagawa followed at a safe distance, and then came another group battling over seventh - made up of Corser, Edwilrds and Russell. After 10 laps Chili was forced out of the race with it chunked rear tire, but things only got hotter at the front. Haga's lead was coming under increas- ing pressure, and Fogarty managed to work around the Japanese star - albeit only for a short time. When Haga took over again at the front, he seemed to have things rolling and opened up a small lead - but that too was short-lived. Slight was thrust into a serious battle with Fogarty. Then he went after Haga, leaving Fogarty lagging somewhat behind. With five laps to go, everything was still in doubt. Haga barely led Slight, and Fogarty was sliding all over the place in third. Behind them, God· aard had finally worked his way past Yanagawa while Corser had got in front of Edwards and Russell in their battle for sixth. The struggle for the lead lasted until the final few comers, but Haga stayed in front, with Slight finishing second. "After the first race, I had a bit of. a back problem; but after I checked with the team's masseur, I was in great shape again for the second race," Haga said, admitting that leading the race in front of these world-class riders was the hardest part. '1 like to lead races and I tried to do this, but I thought that if someone got past I would have to stay as close as I could. Luckily, I could pass them' back and keep my lead. I like to race close with the other riders - it is exciting like this. The All-Japan Championship is like this, but the average lap times here are faster so you have to work harder." Slight admitted that he had been surprised at Haga's pace, especially after he had spent some time with him in the first race. The Kiwi also said that he once again had problems with backmarkers, despite the blue flags being shown. "I though t I could ha ve won, but Haga's bike was hooking up nicely and he just got the speed on me coming off the final corner," Slight said. "I was hoping to do what I did last year and draft past for the win - but it was not to be." Fogarty was the most disappointed man on the rostrum. "After seven 'laps, the track cooled off very fast, and pretty soon I started having tire problems," the Brit said. "To be quite honest, I was happy to finish this race. And, once again, I'd never expected to be in the championship lead at this stage of the season. But lowe it most to my team and my team manager. Davide (Tardozzi) had kicked my ass a little bit, and got me to get the best out of the bike - which I may not always have done last year." ..... l-< P-. < 5

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