Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Cycle News 2001 02 14

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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1000 cash back on all 2 0 0 0 7.90/0 or up to of the test) and went for a quick one. His time of 1:41.477 was an incrediole achievement for a private Ducati team in their first test at Kyalami, in their first foreign Superbike adventure ever. Hodgson, by some strange twist of fate the most experienced man in his entire team, gave the reason for finally succumbing to the war of the stopwatch that had broken out before lunch. "It was obvious that there was a 'who's got the biggest dick?' competition going on," Hodgson said. "The other guys were just throwing on qualifiers and going for one quick lap. I wasn't that bothered really, but being down in sixth place I decided I'd get my dick out as well. I guess mine was bigger than any of theirs. But right after we did the time we were fitting tires to do a 25-lap race simulation - once I had half an hour to calm down. I want to be World Champion and I'm not going to do that by sitting on my arse in the garage just because I've done one fast lap. The lap itself wasn't even perfect, because I made a couple of small mistakes." Hodgson's obvious joy at setting a lap of that magnitude was displayed for all of pitlane to see. Crossing the line, his on-board lap-time readout confirmed his astonishing perfor. mance and he punched an index finger salute from the finish line to the first turn - leaving no doubt to those watching that he had set the numberone time. His 1:41.477 was way inside Corser's 1:42.471 Superpole time from last year, as were the top six men at the test. Given the obvious pace of improvement in the bikes, tires and men which has occurred over the winter, the immediate future of Superbike racing is tightly secure, and the most remarkable part of the whole Kyalami experience was the fact that three names - Haga, Fogarty and Yamaha were so infrequently spoken. Taking into account the desperate woe that rippled through the paddock like a plague at the end of last year, that may just be the most significant happening of the first official World Superbike test session of 2001. CIII model Aprilia motorcycles. Now you can get a great deal on class-leading Aprilia motorcycles, including the RS 50, RS 250 Challenge, Pegaso 650, RSV Mille and the Superbike replica RSV Mille R. Contact you local dealer for details. Log in to 1N'W1N.apriliausa.com or call toll free (877) 277-4542 for a complete dealer list. All promotional offers are subject to change by Aprilfa USA Inc. Aprilia USA Inc. has the right of final determination of promotional program rules and int8tpretation. PromotIon subject to aWl/lability. What makes a perfect gift for the person w-ho has everything? • ey.l• • • • • •Ift . . . . . .rlptl• •1 Can (100) 131·1110 to order today. INDOOR EIlMX SCHEDUlE 1. Neil Hodgson (Ducati) 1:41.477 2. Troy Bayliss (Ducati) J :41.904 3. Troy Corser (Aprilia) 1:42.067 4. Ben Bostrom (Ducati) 1:42.290 5. Pier-Francesco Chili (Suzuki) 1:42.347 6. Colin Edwards (Honda) 1:42.391 7. Ruben Xaus (Ducati) 1:43.227 8. Tadayukl Okada (Honda) 1:43.244 9. Gregorio Lavilla (Kawasaki) 1:43.404 10. Stephane Chambon (Suzuki) J :43.689 11. Akira Yanagawa (Kawasaki) 1:43.769 12. Regis Laconl (Aprilia) 1:43.909 13. James Toseland (Ducati) 1:44.383 14. Juan Borja (Yamaha) 1:47.007 15. Jean·Marc DeIetang (Yamaha) 1:47.262 FEBRUARY 23·24 BROOKINGS AREA MULTIPLEX BROOKINGS, SD MORE DATES TO BE SCHEDULED AMA cue. e Each Race Day Includes Amatm and Pro's n e _ • • FEBRUARY 14, 2001 17

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