Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127987
World Superbike Preview he and Slight believe, putting themselves and Corser and Fogarty into the mix. "It's going to be on the day, who's got the setup, who's at the right place at the right time, coming down to the last couple of laps. This year, I don't think anybody's really going to be able to get away because the Honda is set u? so good now to where I haven't even touched the thing and we've gone testing at three tracks, and that's unheard of for a superbike, normally. We've got it set up so good, where I don't think a runaway victory is going to happen. I know Carl won't let it happen and I won't let it happen, and the other guys, Troy and Aaron, they think the same way. It's going to be a fun year - it's going to be an exciting year, I think." Slight concurred: "The contenders for the title, there's only - when you're saying 'only: anybody can win, a good 10 bikes can win a race - but I think your title contenders are me, Carl, Troy, and Colin. Maybe (Kawasaki's Akira) Yana- . gawa. Anybody of those four, five, plus (Kawasaki's Gregorio) Lavilla, plus (Yamaha's Noriyuki) Haga, could win races." Edwards has boldly predicted that he'll win 10 races and the championship. "If he can win 10, I'll win the other By Henny Ray Abrams MONTEREY, CA, MAR 17 ith the start of the World Superbike season less than a week away, we turned to the Castrol Honda team of Colin Edwards II and Aaron Slight to give us their·outlook for the coming year. Slight finished second last year, his second runn.er-up finish in the title chase to go with four thirds. He led the championship for half the season, until coming to America. The turning point was at Laguna Seca. He was involved in a start-line W incident in the second leg and couldn't make the restart. The New Zealander was still hurt at the next race, though he finished strong in the second half of the season. Edwards was a disappointed eighth last year. He'd expected better when the season started, but he soon found out that he couldn't sort out a front-end problem that plagued him all season. This year they both expect better. And they both expect the competition to come from the same place: Ducati's Carl Fogarty and Troy Corser. "Say what you want, it's going to be four guys:' said Edwards, voicing what (Top) You .can never count out Carl Fogarty. The defending World Superbike Champion returns to the fray on a factory Ducati, and he's certain to be as tough as ever. (Above) Will this be the year that Aaron Slight finally wins the World title? Slight will be riding a Honda he says is the best it's ever been. (Left) Troy Corser talks, Fogarty listens. The two make a formidable team with the factory V-twin Ducatis. e M .t:: ... :E 24 16," Slight said. "The bike is good en.ough to win everywhere. I've said lha t if you get it right, you'll win everywhere. 1 wouldn't put a number on most wins. I'd like to win 10 races, but I'd rather win the championship than win some races. I won more races this year and didn't win the championship. I'd rather win the championship. But I'm not going to settle for points. You've got to win races to win championships." Slight wouldn't say it was his best chance, because every year he's had a chance. "This year is as good as every other year," Slight said. "1 want to win the