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/127994
Briefl ••• Jean-Michel Bayle was replaced on the' Proton KR Modenas by Englishman Jamie Whitham at Jerez, officially because of an insect bite. Unofficially, Bayle was known to have b'een unhappy with the performance of the Modenas and had told French . journalists at the Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi two weeks earlier that he wouldn't be at Jerez. Team manager Chuck Aksland said that Bayle had been bitten by a bug at his home in France on the Monday prior to the race but didn't think much of it. Before long 'his temperature was over 100 degrees and he was in the hospital.. Though he was soon released, his doctors advised him not to race because of the antibiotics he was taking. Aksland phoned Whitham on Wednesday to see if he VoIas available. and he was. The previous Sunday, he'd won the 600cc World Supersport race at Danington Park on a Belgarda Yamaha R-6, but he 'didn't have a -permanent ride for the season. In Jerez, Whitham was teamed with his Suzuki World Superbike teammate from two years ago, Mike Hale. As to Whitham's long-term future with the team, Aksland saie! this was a one-race deal "unless he wins," he joked. B'ayle is expected back for an IRTA test at Valencia, in southeastern Spain, a few days after the GP. Whitham's debut wasn't flawless. He crashed the Modenas in the flrst qualifying session on Friday. suffering a contusion to his right foot. He ended up qualifying 22nd and crashed again in the race, this time while running in 12th on lap 12. "I pushed the front end a btt too hard," the Englishman said. Th.e promised updated BSL engine was a no-show at Jerez, though the team showed up with the bike anyway. According to team members, a new engine was held up at Spanish customs in Barcelona. forcing a them to lease Honda NSR50o.V from Padgetts, the British Yamaha dealer. BSL rider Mark Willis rode the Honda at Jerez, a track he'd never before seen. Willis .,roke the crank on the rented Honda in Saturday's morning session and had to settle for his Friday qualifying time, a mark which put him 25th, alid last. some six seconds 'off the pole. The team issued a press release saYing that the BSL would be at Paul Ricard in two weeks. "The problem in Malaysia was a broken crankshaft," team coordinator Dave Sfeward said. "We sent the parts back to New Zealand, where our engineers found there had been an error in the manufacturing process. A radius 'between the flywheel and web had been machined inco.rrectly." Stewart said the new crankshafts weren't ready for this race but would be ready for France, possibly earlier, and the team would have two bikes in Le Castellet. "We always knew our first season would be difficult," Stewart said. "We are developing a brand-new machine that we have built from scratch. Teething problems are inevitable, but the team spirit remains very high. and we're looking for· ward to the rest of the year. ' Kanemoto Honda's John Kocinski learned at Jerez that Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) was going to give him his 1997 World Superbike Championship-winning Honda RC45. Honda Racing Corporation RVF-750 project leader Nakamoto sent Kocinski a fax in Jerez stating, "We believe that without yollr superb riding we cannot get the 1997 championship. ' Red Bull Yamaha WCM's Simon Crafar tested at Jarama the week prior to the Spanish. GP at Jerez in a bid to sort out the handllng problems he's been experiencing since switching to Michelin tires from Dun- lop this year. "We went to Jarama last week to work on the problems I am having with the· front' end and i did get some 'valuable time expe-rimenting with· various setups," Crafar said. "However, I still haven't really found what I am looking for, and that is reflected in my position today. It is still very disappointing not to be threatening the top guys. '