Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Third went to Fogarty, somewhat disgrunUed but a more emphatic champion hip leader. "1 ran a 17-inch in the first race and I did some very good lap times, but when it went off, it was very bad," Fogarty said. "So I went to 16.5 and it was more consistent through the whole race and " let me keep the same lap times. It was a hell of a hard race out there today. I cou ld ee where I was 10 ing out, but there wasn't much I could do about it. I think we're a lot closer to the Hondas in terms of pace, so we won't go to Monza as favorites, but who knows?" Behind them, Lavilla and Chili had taken command of the Corser /Slight situation and battled away until the final flag, when Lavilla, 100 ened up from his first-race tension, beat the Italian for fourth by just two-tenths of a econd. Corser, having got the better of Slight on lap 20 of 26, headed him home by almost two seconds, with Fujiwara snapping at Slight's exhausted heels. "Here, it's constant flipping from side to ide, lot of braking," Corser said. "I felt really lazy and slow in the chicanes - because I couldn't pull the bike over with my arm. I've not broken· any bone, but I've torn all the ligaments from my chest back to the shoulder away. The first race was a fuel line and I had my work cut out today. I've got a couple of weeks now to heal for Monza. I'm upposed to be going testing, but I'm trying to cancel that if I can. The Hondas are going to be hard to beat there. I was riding with Aaron (Slight) a lot of the second race. [ couldn't get past him. He was parking it in the comer and just blocking and leaving nowhere to go except around the outside. I followed (Above) Jorg Teuchert (21) won the World Supersport race, topping Piergiorgio Bontempi (7) and Pere Riba (17). (Right) Colin Edwards II sprays the bubbly after winning race two. He's joined by World Champion Carl Fogarty. him for loads of laps and could only get him at one corner. He's not dirty. He just uses defensive lines and, around here, if you block the line, you don't get' past. When 1 got in front of him, I could see he was definitely holding me up, even though my shoulder was holding me up. He's injured as well, so I guess Colin knocked me off. I shattered it to pulp. Ifs a real problem around here. because of the hard braking everywhere. " Honda's legendary reputation for exactness in all things has prompted the use this season of a special fake wheel hub, complete with fake disc brakes. Used when the wheels are away to the Michelin fitters for fresh rubber, the spacers align all the brake pad surfaces and pistons exactly where th~y were designed to be during brake bleeding. Aprilia and Kawasaki attended Dunlop tests at Cartagena on the Monday and Tuesday preceding Albacete, trying new tires as well as gaining more valuable track time. Peter Goddard was looking for a tire that would work in greater harmony. "One construction of rear tire keeps trying to chuck me off in practice. but the race version' is okay." he said. Harald Eckl. boss of Team Kawasaki, felt that the tests were of benefit to his riders. "We used this opportunity to help with the setup at Albacete, because the nature of the track is quite similar," Eckl said. "Also, we sorted out some tires. I was qUite happy to go to the test. even if Akira (Yanagawa) ended up banging his head a little. We had to end the test a little early because of that. but whatever happens in the race, it was worth it to everyone. as it helped the riders put in really strong perfomnances in practice." The high temperatures experienced over two days of practice at Albacete took a toll on both bikes and riders. With track-surface temperatures aroune 120 degrees and air temperature hitting a maximum of 95 degrees, tires were the big deal. but stamina-sapping temperatures had their effect on the riders, too. Carl fogarty was one who found the heat a major inconvenience. "It's so hot. and your concentration is not as good when it's hot. Especially when you come back in from the track, don't get the chance to cool down. but still hav'lto communicate with the team in a hurry before you go back out. " In a strange twist of irony, the TV service and cameramen at Aibacete were provided by... Doma - GP rights holders. As one Spanish journalist said, "If you want to make a sports event from Spain Involving motorcycles, Doma is the logical choice. " A lack of communication between the Albacete circuit and the WSB organizers meant no programs for the.spectators at Aibacete. Some circuits are allowed to produce there own. but it appears that Albacete was due to make their own and somehow forgot. With Colin Edwards II heading up the first untimed practice session and after such strong rides at Donington in the previous round" Davide Tardozzi was heard to greet a visitor to the Ducati pit - Steve Whitelock, FIM technical referee - with the jocular statement: "You know, I really think those H~nd.as have got an unfair advantage over us; maybe we should limit them somehow... " The voices which have been raised in anger at the Ducatis' .early-season performances have grown strangely quiet oflate. Ducati's team technical director, Corrado Cecchinelll, confirmed that tire choice at Albacete was a two.stage affair because of the cooler momings and the blaZing afternoons. "You have to ignore what you do in the moming because the temperature changes so much. ThaI's why we spend so much time in the aftemoon searching for and testing race tires." He also confirmed that his bikes are versatile beasts. "Because of the many comers at this tracl<. you do not need too much horsepower or stability, but you need easy handling and good power delivery - or at least that's the theory - because actually we didn't chan!;)e too much between here and Donington." Troy Corser survived a very high-speed get-off with a bruised shoulder after trying a 17 -inch tire near the end of the final untimed session. He was on lap four of·a 15-lap endurance test when he crashed on the fast last corner before the finish straight. Despite his sore shoulder, Corser hung on to a second·row grid position. As Corser was consigned to his motorhome. Davide Tardozzi spoke on his behalf. "He is a bit worried for tomorrow because he starts from the second row. It was not so easy for h1m to jump on the bike after such a big crash only half an h"'!r before. He did a very good job to keep himself on the second row." Later, Corser spoke for himself. "' wanted to take part in Superpole anyway. even though I was in pain, and I'm happy that I can start in the first couple of rows. It's been difficult working here; Often the Information we got from the morning session was no good for the afternoon due to the change in temperature. " In a commendable Spirit of paddock solidarity. the entire contingent of sidecar-racing humanity was invited over to the Castrol Honda hospitality unit to meet all the top Supertlike team managers. Instigated by Castrol Honda team manager Neil Tuxworth and press officer Chris Herring, it was an attempt to make their new bedfellows welcome, as this year is only the start of a four-year World Supertlike/Sidecar relationship. Steve Webster was especially pleased, haVing been treated as an outcast throughout his 15-year GP career. "It was quite touching. really, because what it meant to me was that the people involved in managing the top supertlike teams are not unapproachable like the top GP team guys were." Webster said. "Everybody seems to have their feet on the ground here, even though it is a big-money business. II's just nice to be not just In the paddock, but accepted in the paddock. For them to do that for us was fantastic. All the lads were really pleased." Steve Webster heid off countryman Steve Abbott and Austrian Klaus Klaffenbock to record his second sidecar win of the season. after an unfortunate incident halfed the rac.e and sent Dutchman Benny Janssen to the hospital with a suspected broken ankle. The accident, after Jorg Steinhausen had spun while being overtaken, brought out the red flag, giving Webster the win. Webster's turn of luck came after one of the most entertaining races of the year, with Webster, Abbott and Klaffenbock separated I;>y no more than .813 of a second at the flag. The race was shortened by seven laps from its planned 26, with no restart required. Webster's win takes him to second in the championship point standings, with Abbott first - six pointS clear of Webster and 20 points ahead of K1affenbock. . he's just trying to get as many points as possible. It was one of those weekends." Guareschi again held off Goddard, who was under severe pressure in the final laps from Andy Meklau and Igor Jerman. VIm, Gramigni and Pedercini stole the last points, with 19 finishers and only Haga off the time sheet _ Albacete Circuit Albacete, Spain Results: May 16, 1999 (Round 4 of 13) S/BK QUALrFYING: 1. Cad Fog..ty (1:31.457); 2. Colin Edwards II (1:31.739); 3. Norikyuki Haga (1 :31.930); 4. Akira Yanagawa (l :31.978); 5. PierFrilncesco Chili (l :32.213); 6. Gregorio Lavilla (I :32.275); 7, Aaron Slight (l :32.338); 8. Troy Corser (I :32.876); 9. Kntsuaki Fujiwara 0:32.883); 10. Igor Jerman 0:33.144); 11. Vittoriano Guareschi (1 :33.210); 12. Robert Ulm 0:33.543); 13. Peter Goddard 0:33.652); 14. Alessandro Cramigni 0:34.301); 15. Lucio Pederdni 0:34.969); 16. Andreas Meklau 0:34.997); 17. Jean-Pierre Jeandat 0:35.510); 18. Lance Issacs 0:35.899); 19. J. Mrkyvka 0:37.714); 20. W. Karban 0:37.714); 21. Carlos Macias 0:40.147). RACE ONE: 1. oTiyuki Haga (Yam); 2. Ak.ira Vanagawa (Kaw); 3. Carl Fogarty (Duel; 4. Aaron Sligh' (Han); 5. Picr·Francesco Chili (Suz); 6. Gregorio Lavilla (Kaw); 7. Troy Corser (Due); 8. Katsuaki Fujiwara (Suz); 9. Vittoriano Guarcschi (Yam); 10. Peter Goddard (Apr); 11. Igor Jerman (Kaw); 12. Andreas Meklau (Due); 13•• Robert Ulm (Kaw); 14. Alessandro Grnmigni (Yam); 15. lucia Pedercini (Due); 16. Je.... n-Pierre Jeandat (Han); 17. Carlos Macias (Duc); 18. W. Karban (SUlo). Ti.me: 40 min., 9.482 sec. Distmce: 26 laps, 57.04 miles Margin of victory: 0.498 sec. Fastest lap: Akira Yanagawa, 1:31.592,. L..1p 2 RACE TWO: 1. Colin Edwards II (Hon); 2. Akira Yanagawa (Kaw); 3. Carl Fogilrty (Due); 4. Gregorio Lavilla (Kaw); 5. Pier-Francesco hili ( uz); 6. Troy Corser (Duc); 7. Aaron Slight (Han); 8. Katsuaki Fujiwara (Suz); 9. Vittoriano Guareschi (Yam); 10. Peter Goddard (Apr); n. Andreas Meklau (Dud; 12. Igor Jerman (Kaw); 13. Robert Vim (Kaw); 14. Alessandro Gramigni (Yam); 15. luda Pedercini (Duel; 16. JeanPierre Jeandat (Han); 17. J. Mrkyvka (Duel; 18. W. Karban (Suz); 19. Carlos Macias (Due). Time: 40 min., 15.529 sec. DistOlnce: 26 laps, 57.04 miles Margin of victory: 0.115 sec. Fastest lap: Colin Edwards, 1:31.813, L..1p 4. WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANOlNGS (After 4 of 13 rounds): ,. Carl Fogarty 067/3 wins); 2. Troy Corser 031/2); 3. Colin Edwards II 022/2); 4. Akira Yanagawa (06); 5. Aaron Slight (104); 6. Noriyuki Haga (75/1); 7. Pier·Francesco Chi.1i (53); 8. Katsuaki Fujiwara (48); 9. Doriana Romboni (44); 10. Gregorio Lavilla (41); 11. Vittoriano GUilTeschi (25); 12. (nE) Andreas Meklau/Robert Ulm (23); 14. Peter Goddard (21); 15. John Reynolds (8).

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