Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(Lett) Rich Oliver (97) and Ben Bostrom (1) had a race that rivaled the one for the lead. The pair crossed the finish line just .002 of a second apart, with Oliver getting third and Bostrom fourth. (Right) DuHamel leads Mladin late in the race as they begin to set up what would be the final run to the flag. year, 525 and 535 won it. My team was good, and the tires were superb the whole time out there. The only problem 1 had was, my pinkie and the finger next to it went numb - 1 had to use two fingers on the clutch. 1 had hopes of a solid top 10 coming in here. My only problem seems to be that 1 can't do a fast lap right out of the pits." Yates and Chandler faced similar problems: Their Kawasakis were simply too slow to keep up at Daytona. "We had a good start and had fun for a few laps racing with some folks, but then we just kinda lost the draft on the banking," Yates said. '1 couldn't stay in the draft. It was the same thing with the 600. 1 was just out there, waiting to finish the race. Anytime 1 got behind someone, they'd just start motoring me. 1 can't even go along with 'em in the draft. When they come by me, they're going about 10 mph faster than what I'm going." Chandler con.curred with his new teammate. "We're still waiting on stuff we haven't got yet," Chandler said. "It's .Qne of those deals where we had to get by-with what we had. Hopefully, it wouldn't have been so bad, but everyone seems to be stepping it up quite a . bit more than what we expected them . to. It made it hard to compete. U was good for a while, but Pridmore stepped it up, and once he started going better in the infield, 1 lost the draft. Then 1 was kinda done. Earlier on, 1 was happier with the bike. If we were going to race again tomorrow, 1 wouldn't change much. The bike seemed to work fine, it just didn't have the legs it needed to do anything. Until we got up on the banking, our things were fine,·1 thought. Then we'd just get murdered. We've got a lot of work to do. 1 don't think Phoenix will be so bad. We're going from one extreme to the next. The bike' 5 as good, if not better, than what we had here last year. Everyone else just took a lot bigger step." Watching Wait circulate on the banking was scary: Being on the bike was nearly suicidal, as it wobbled beyond belief. "The suspension would bottom and rebound so fast and the front was bottoming," Wait said. 'Td have to shut off, roll it on - it would get in violent tankslappers. 1 was just in it to finish. It wanted to buck me off everywhere, in every single comer -I was angry with it." _ Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida Results; March 7,1999 (Round 1 of 14) S/BK QUALIFYING: I. Antllony Gobert (l :48.516); . th'e pit board when.1 sallY that time." ,Although .he was walking. with the aid of a cane. DuHamel didn't think that his still-healing I",g would hurt his racihg all that much. "I'm feeling pretty good. actually," DuHamel said. "The leg. obviously, has been taking a whole lot more time to heal than I thought it would. It's gpod enough for riding. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel~ it's just a really lOng t.unnel right now. If we can get through this weekend safe and sound. -I'm thinking maybe May.(that the, leg will be completely healed). All the left-handers are kind of hard to get set up for - to have my foot in the right place on the foot.peg.lt's kind of hard because I don't have a lot of strength in it it takes me longer to set it up. - DuHamel suff.ered a compound break in his femur in June of 1998. and his injury did a lot to lower his pre-race expectations of what he could accomplish in the 200. -Usually. I would think we would' have a shot of winning. and anything below winning is a bit of a disappointment. You always want to win Daytona. and we've had a lot of success here. For sure. I'm just here to, first of all. ride - and. if I'm competitive, then maybe ",ce for something. Right now I'm just playing it by ear. - 10 2. Mal Mladin (H9.155); 3. Ben Bostrom (1:49.546); 4. Migue' DuHamel (1:49.844); 5. Larry Pegram (1:49.813); 6. Aaron Yates (1,49,948); 7. Rich Oliver (1:49.968); S. Steve Rapp (1:50.114); 9. Jamie Hacking' (1:50.142); 10. Pascal Picotte (1:50.560); 11. Doug Chandler (1:50.620); 12. Jason Pridmore (1:50.877); 13. Matt Wait (1:51,190); 14. Steve Crevier (1:51.441); 15. Scott Russell (1:51.454); 16, Eric Bostrom 0:51.526); 17. Michael Barnes (1:52.692); 18. Rad Gr~aves (1:55.199); 19. Jesus Rodriguez (I :55.530); 20. Tom Kipp (I :56.292); 21. Jimmy Moore (1:56.907>; 22. Mike Ciccotto 0:57.279); 23. Jake Zemke (1:57.267); 24. Mario DuHamel (1:57.434); 25. Gabriel H.enning (1;57.524); 26. Jamie Bowman (1:57.802); 27. Cory Call (1:57.971); 28. Eric Moe (1:58.017); 29. Richard Alexander Jr. (1:58.037); 30. Dean Mizdal (1:58.178); 31. James Randolph (1:58.316); 32. Edward Bartoli 0:58.364); 33. Andrew Deatherage (1:58.804); 34. Jason Parker (1:1:59.201); 35. Brian Gibbs (1:59.319); 36. David Duprey (1:59.490); 37. Daniel Fischer (1:59.559); 38. Mike Walsh (1:59.834); 39. Mike Krynock (1:59.861); 40. Joseph Fletcher (1:59.879); 41. Luis de a Cerciari (2:00.022); 42. Emanuel Manusuthakis (2:00.104); 43. Ricky Orlando (2:00.161); 44. John Jacobi (2:00.242); 45. Chad Simons (2:00.254); 46. Douglas Gross (2:00.267); 47. Rick Narup (2:00.299); 48. Shane Oarke (2:00.379); 49. Tim Bemisderfer (2:00.454); SO. Richard Shaw (2:00.700); 51. Brian Boyd (2:00.755); 52. Mark Underberg (2:01.247); 53. John Ashmead (2:01.365); 54. Akiharu Shigeno (2:01.422); 55. James Dickenson (2:01.589); 56. Erik Schnackenberg (2:01.651); 57. Brett Ray (2:02.368); 58. Per Hogdahl (2:02.679); 59. Brett Boyd (2:02.729); 60. Frank Aragaki (2:02.974); 61. James Romero (2:02.989); 62. Sam Fleming (2:03.085); 63. Scott Harwell (2:03.418); 64. Devin Ba:t1ey (2:03.537>; 65. Lawrence Wollel (2:03.740); 66. Chris Rankin (2:03.818); 67. John 5pitulski (2:04.232); 68. Louis Cobello (2:04559); 69. Todd Snyder (2:05.244); 70. David McGrath (2:05.411); 71. Thomas Fournier (2,05.610); 72. Todd Keesee (2:06.669); 73. Kevin McCrea (2:07.1B5); 74. James While (2:09.055); 75. Cody Bedford (2:09.643); 76. Dwight Mitchell (3:54.064). DAYTONA 200: I. Miguel DuHamel (Hon); 2. Mat Mladin (Suz); 3. Rich Oliver (Yam); 4, Ben Bostrom (Dud; 5. Steve Rapp (Suz); 6. Jason Pridmore (Suz); 7. Aaron Yates (Kaw); 8. Doug Chandler (Kaw)i 9. Larry Pegram (Due); 10. Matt WaH (Dud; 11. Anthony Gobert (Due); 12. Michael Barnes (Yam); 13. Mike Ciccotto (SUZ)i 14. Dean M..izdal (Suz); 15. Eric Moe (Kaw)i 16. Mario DuHamel (Suz); 17. Jamie Bowman (Suz); 18. Gabriel He.nning (Suz); 19. David Duprey (SUZ)i 20. Mike Walsh (Yam); 21. Chad Simons (SUZ)i 22, James Randolph (Suz); 23, James Dickenson (Suz); 24, Brett Ray (Suz); 25. Richard Shaw (Yam)i 26. Brian Boyd (SUZ)i 27. Brett Boyd (Suz); 28. Edward S,artoli (Suz); 29. Frank Aragaki (Suz); 30. Todd Snyder (Suz); 31. Per Hogdahl (Suz); 32. James White (Suz); 33. Todd Keesee (SUZ)i 34. Kevin McCrea (SUZ)i 35. Joseph Fletcher (Suz); 36. Emanuel Manusuthakis (Suz); 37, Rad Greaves (Suz); 38. John Spituiski (Suzl; 39. Devin Battley (Yam); 40. Cody Bedford (Kaw); 41. Luiz Carlos de a Cerro (Suz); 42. Rick Narup (Kaw); 43. Louis Cobello (Suz); 44. Akiharu Shigeno (Suz); 45. Steve Crevier (Suz); 46. Jamie Hacking (Yam); 47, Scott Harwell (SUZ)i 48, Lawrence Wolfel (Suz); 49. Doug Gross (Dud; so. John Jacobi (Suz); 51. Brian Gibbs (Suz); 52. Ricky Orlando (Suz); 53. Thomas Fournier (Due); 54. John Ashmead (Kaw); 55. Jason Parker (Suz); 56. Jesus Rodriguez (Due); 57. Pascal !'icott. (H-D); 58. Sa", Fleming (5uz); 59. Andy Deatherage (Kaw); 60. Erik Schnackenberg (Suz); 61. David McGrath (Suz); 62. Jimmy Moore (Suz); . 63. Cory Call (Suz). Time: 1 hour, 47 min., 18.eX)} sec. Distance: 57 laps; 200 miles Average speed: 113.469 mph Margin of victory: 0.014 sec. Fastest lap: Mat Mladln, 1:50.458. AMA SUPERBlKE ATiONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 1 of 14 rounds): 1. Miguel DuHamel (3711 win); 2. Mat Mladin (32); 3. Rich Oliver (29); 4. Ben Bostrom (27); 5. Steve Rapp (26); 6. Jason Pridmore (25); 7. Aaron Yates (24); 8. Doug Chandler (23); 9. Larry Pegram (22); 10. Matt Wait (21); 11. Anthony Gobert (21); 12. Michael Barnes (19); 13. Mike Occotto (18); 14.. Dean MizdaJ (17); 15. Eric Moe (16); 16. Mario DuHamel (5); 17. Jamie Bowma.n (14); 18. Gabriel Henning (13); 19. David Duprey (12); 20. Mike Walsh (11); 21. Chad Simons (10); 22. James Randolph (9); 23. James Dickenson (8); 24, Brett Ray (7); 25. Richard Shaw (6); 26, Brian Boyd (5); 27. Brett Boyd (4); 28. Edward Bartoli (3); 29. Frank Aragaki (2); 30. Todd Snyder (I). Upcoming Rounds: Round 2 - Phoenix, Arizona, March 21 Round 3 - Rosamond, California, April 18 The fa,ctory Honda. RC~Ss came to Daytona fitied with new double-sided swingarms instead of the single-sided unit used in years past, DuHamel credited tHe new 'swingarm. for the bike's increased stability on the banking. SurPrisingly. the new unit didn't slow the' team's pit stops. "It makes the bike extremely stable 'on the banking," DuHamel said of the swingarm. "Before. I was gritting my teeth and it took. a lot of courage to be wide open ail the way through there. Now the bike is really stable. With the condition I'm in. if I didn't have that (the extra stability). I'd be way· back. " man were aliowed to ride' the bike during the CCS weekend prior to Bike. Week. '"They said. 'Hey,'you"re riding that bike,' so I wj!nt and got signed up for the (ace. 'It'", good to come in as really the second entry on the team. They didn't even tell me until Wednesday morning. so we ~igned up at the last minute. The bike was good right out of the box. We have. a go.od. strong. bike and shpwed good, strong laps." Hayes still isn't sure if he'll be signedfor the rest of the season. -I don't even know that I'm riding the class for the rest of the year. I don't know what's going to happen. " Those who predicted that having Scott Russell on a HarleyDavidson for the Daytona 200 wouldn't make a difference in regard to pre·race poblicity were wrong. Russell was featured in the sports pages of Thursday's USA Today. Although- he was downplaying his role in trying to get more people to the Speedway. Russell did admit that it could make a difference. "If we could get more people out here for the races. that's what we need." Russj!1I said. -That's where we're kinda hurtin·. This is the biggest race in America and it's not really that big, you know. as far as people coming out and watching. I think they' II get a few more off Main Street and get 'em out here on Sunday. If.we can do that. that's positive." Unfortunately. the press Russell generated on Friday wasn't very positiv.e. AMA road racing fixture Martin Adams wasn't on hand for the Daytona 200 for the first time many could remember. Adams. who used to own the Commonwealth Honda team that became the Smokin' Joe's Honda team and is now just American Honda. currently has an agreement with Honda to actively seek sponsorship for the team. Despite his layoff. DuHamel definitely didn't lose anything in regard to being critical of slower riders. After his first 600cc Supersport practice. DuHamel was livid at the number of slower riders on the race track. "I was totally demoralized to see the people out there. - DuHamel said. '"Some of the people out there, I For y'oung Josh Hayes. Friday's AMA/Lockhart-Phillips 750cc think. were looking for the Wal-Mart. I.t's kind of a joke that I just Supersport winner. running against the best.in the business made, but I'm serious in saying that I'm positive that they've never was somewhat intimidating - especially going into the 600cc driven a bike and this is their first time. I'm doing two-minute lap Supersport final, in which he eventually finished sixth but in the times. so I'm like four. five seconds off the fastest guy - and I lead group. The 23-year-old was the surprise of 600cc qualifyalmost hit some of these guys. They have no idea where they are ing when he put the Valvoline EMGO Suzuki on the Fronl row going. I think I need to sit down and talk to somebody to fino out if a goo9 four rows better than the next-best SU2Uki. "There are' this is an Amateur/Beginner class. and maybe I need to get out of so many guys out there who can go very fast." Hayes s.aid. .. I put in a r-eally good I.ap and' I was really lucky. I got a good, that. It's· a total joke. If I had a choice right now, r probably wouldn't ride the 600 anymore because it's getting worse every . clean lap and everything worked out just right. I've .seen the year. Every ye'ar you hear the same storY - you know why? 600cc (ace on TV, 'and it's a dogfight. I'm seared to death, put Because we"re not doing anything about it. It's getting worse, I I'm sure' it'll be good and I'll have a lot of Fun." Hayes is really the number-two rider on the Valvollne team. and 'he di'dn't even think. Can't they go CCS club racing or something.else? They're know.he'd be run'ning '750cc Supersport until the W",dnesday on the outside. on the inside - they just don't know where to be, prior to the race. He got the ricJ'e when Ryan Landers was It's like there are brain-damaged people o.ut there riding bikes. It's injured. but not before both Toby Jorgensen and John-O Bowdangerous. " AMA 250cc Grand Prix National Champion Roland Sands couldn't begin the defense of his title after breaking the navicular bone in his left wrist during Frjday's 600cc Supersport final. Sands had already crashed out of his '250cc heat race - with both crashes. coming on the first lap. "This is the worst day of my racing career, - Sands said. "In the 250 crash, I tbought I was on my 600 and I spun the thing up too early when I was leaned over. I was Fine switching between the two in practice. but once my mind clicked into race mode, I got on the gas way too early. The 600 crash happened because I thought I was on the 250. I gave it an extra. downshift in the second horsesnoe a,nd high-sided. I COuld have bee.n top 10 because the bike was good. I just grabbed three downshifts instead. of two and let the clutch out that was all'she wrote. I'll be missing Phoenix. I'm ,going to have to win every' 250Cc race aher that to win the .championship, I guess," . - Ohlins suspension technitii'n JonC,orn~e'll finished 15th. in the 600c.c Supersport class on Friday in his yearly race. Com.well was pulling double duty at Daytona:' iacer and suspension techni: ciano He will return to Europe' for anotbl3r season of World Super. bike work for Ohlins, working primarily with tbe Ducati factory team. '

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