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
going sideways, you start going backwards," Edwards said. "And he (Haga) is used to spinning the thing up and getting crazy with it, and you can't do it with the Michelins on a superbike." SUZUKI The Castro I Honda boys have slightly divergent views on the all-new Suzuki team. Gone to Aprilia is Peter Goddard, and Jamie Whitham has also left. They'll start the year with two new riders. Joining the team is Pier-Francesco Chili, who's raced just about every bike made, and Grand Prix stand-in Katsuaki Fujiwara. _ "All things considered, 1 gues it's going to be a frustrating year, 1 think, for Chili," Edwards said. "He's going to go out there, and he's used to running up front with the rest of the guys, and he's not going to be doing it this year and he's going to get frustrated. He's getting up there in age as well. It'll be interesting to see. Fujiwara - the only thing 1 do know is, isn't he the guy tha t took everybody out in the first comer at Bar~lona? Same Fujiwara?" Slight thinks it could be Suzuki's strongest year. "1 think the bike's fairly good," he said. "It's just behind the Kawasaki, 1 think. Chili is going to really try hard because it's a new team and he's really enthusiastic, but 1 think Chili, after finishing on the podium about 12 times last year, he's going to be lucky to make the podium." TELEVISION ON THE MOVE APRILIA ew to the series is the Aprilia RSV1000, with Australian veteran Peter Goddard at the controls. 'Tm not gou,g to say anything at all," Edwards said. Slight was more expansive. "Goddard, just what we've seen so far, the bike seems to be slow," Slight aid. "It handles really well, but it's slow. So it just depends on where you need speed. He can go good on some tracks. Definitely, Dunlop, a V-twin, handling, he can go good. They've got to get some more speed to be realistic about doing anything." THE REST There are a host of privateers, some of whom will make the occasional mark. Of them, the rider with the best chance for success is Italian Doriano Romboni. When he wasn't hurt, Romboni rode the Aprilia V-twin in the 500cc World Champion hips last year, scoring a somewhat shocking podium finish in the Dutch TT at A sen, one of the fastest tracks on the calendar. He'd previously ridden 250s, with some success, but injuries seem to be his downfall. A more determining factor this year, according to Edwards and Slight, will be equipment. With only two factory riders to look after, Ducati may be able to give more help to the privateers, though it remains to be seen how soon they'll get the new-generation engine. "1 guess you never really know with Romboni, because he's new to it, and 1 know he's been testing," Slight said. '1 don't know exactly what times he's been doing. 1 imagine he'll have some good . races and some bad races. And if he doesn't have the best equipment, as long as it doesn't blow up every race, he's going to have some good races." "Once again, it just depends on what they get for equipment," Edwards said. '1t depends on what sort of equipment he's given. If he's given something like Chili used to be given .as a privateer, then he might be there for a couple." _ M s:::: ~ '" ~ 27