Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMAIChevy Trucks U. S. Superb ike Championship Final Round: Virginia International Raceway He'd hoped to do the whole race, but the tires didn't cooperate. After his pit stop, he ran into lapped traffic. Meklau said he was oh his own after pitting first, on the 15th lap, which made the race hard. "Finally, in the last two laps, Steve [Rapp). passed me coming off the straight and I had someone to battle with," the Austrian said. Rapp finished ninth, behind Tommy Hayden, and said that he ran out of time. He was also unsure of his position. "It was confusing out there for a while, not knowing what position I was in, but I guess everyone was in the same boat." Then came Bostrom, Pegram,- and Mladin. Pegram said that his front tire' wore out and the team wasn't prepared to change it during the pit stop. After running fifth in the early going, Pegram was having trouble going BRIEFLY••• The final appearance of the Harley-Davidson road race drew a celebrated crowd. Willie G. Davidson joined racing boss John Baker at VIR. with Steve Scheibe, the originator of the program who was neplaced by Baker this year, also making an appearance. Not making the final show was H-D's Mike Smith, who felt too sick to race on Sunday. That left Pascal Picotte to fly the flag. When Picotte was interviewed by track announcer Richard Chambers on the start line, he found it very emotional. "I had a little water in my eyes on the grid," Picotte said. Then the race began and the Harley did what it's done too many times during its life, it suffered niggling problems. The clutch slipped on the line, bogging the engine and causing Picotte to get away badly. Then the electric shifter stopped working 10 laps in. Gear-change problems forced him to ride out third gear in a section of track where a few shifts would have been prudent. "I was kind of by myself. I didn't want to be in anyone's way. The last six or seven laps I thought they'd [the leadersl be right there and that's pretty much what happened,' he said. With all the troubles, Picotte said it was , kind of important to bring it back home. I never gave up. I gave it 100 percent when the green flag flashed. I can't say I'm happy about it [his 13th-place finishl, but I can say I did my job all the way to the end.' As for 2002, Picotte said he had 'absolutely nothing. I'm in a tough position. I could barely finish in the top 10 the past two years. People hire riders who run up front consistently. There are a lot of new faces in the industry. All these guys don't know who I am and what I can do and what I'm capable of doing." Picotte was once a front-running 600cc Supersport rider and said he'd be willing to do that again, "if that's what they want me to do. If they want me to ride a Superbike and win a championship, I can do that too. ' Yamaha's Keith McCarty wouldn't confirm the make·up of the 2002 American road race team, saying that a press release would be issued soon after the race. It's generally known that Anthony Gobert will be back to ride both the Superbike and 600, joined on the 600 by his brother Aaron. Aaron is also pegged to race the Formula Xtreme class again and will likely be joined by fellow Australian Damon Buckmaster. Kawasaki team boss Mike Preston said that he hadn't finalized the make-up of his' team either. Eric Bostn>m will be bact<, but the second rider is yet to be determined. Kawasaki fixture Doug Chandler isn't high on Preston's list. but Ducati is interested. Chandler had dinner with members of the' Ducati team the night before the race.' "We're just talking: he said abou1 the dinner. The AMA has expressed interest in hiring Chandler as a rider's liaison should he not continue racing. But he made it clear that he'd like to race again next year. Attack Suzuki's Jason Pridmore ended the season the way he spent most of it, on the disabled list. The Star Motorcycle School owner broke his right collarbone in a Formula Xtreme practice crash on Saturday. It was a lethal day. Yoshimura Suzuki's Jamie Hacking crashed his Suzuki GSX-R600 in Saturday practice. Hacking didn't break anything, but his tailbone and back took a sharp blow and he sat out the rest of the weekend. Same for Advanced Motorsports Ducati's Jeff Nash. The reigning Buell Pro Thunder Champion crashed on Saturday and sat out Sunday's race. Nash should be back for the Buell Pro Thunder finale dUring the WERA Grand National Final at the end of October. • deep in the corners and dropped back. eN VI'llln" InWutlDaallI8cew8J 0., VillI'." 1InuIts:~. 31, 2.1 (F1.......J 1. Nicky Hayden (Han): 2..Anthony Gobert (Vam): 3. Kurtis Roberts (Han): 4. Doug Chandler (Kaw); 5. Miguel Duhemel (Hon); 6. Aeron Yetes (Su,); 7. Andreas Meklau (Due); 8. Tommy Hayden vam): 19. Steve Rapp (Due): 10. Eric Bostrom Kaw): 11. Larry Pegram (Due); 12. Mat Mladin (5Ul); 13. Pascal Picotte (H-D): 14. Jordan Szoke (HD): 15. Andrew Deatherage (SUl); 16. Mauro Cereda (Su,): 17. Jimmy Moore (SUl); 18. Tony Meiring (5u.); 19. Scott Jensen (Su,): 20. Anthony Lupo (Su,); 21. Dean MI,dal (Su,); 22. Chris Normand (S.u.): 23. Scott Carpenter (Su.); 24. Anthony l Championship title defense in 1984. Spencer will be jetting to the October 7 round of the World Championships at Motegi, Japan, to take part in yet more ceremonies surrounding Honda's 500th GP win, celebrated alneady at the Catalunyan GP in Spain and the Laguna Seca round of the World Superbike Championship. Spencer and Mick Doohan will take to the track, Spencer on the old V-four, Doohan on the new five-eylinder GP machine. The pair will do two laps, then both will be joined on the new five-cylinders by three other riders for more parade laps. Squashing any notion the teams had of going the full 150-km distance without a pit stop, the AMA said that if the race was nedflagged past 80 percent completion, and the rider hadn't completed his pit stop, he'd be docked a lap. The chances of that happening were slim, but it changed the strategy of a number of teams, effectively guaranteeing that all the teams would come in for tires and gas sometime after the halfway point in the race. Up to- then, there were some interesting scenarios. For instance, a rider could run the whole distance, pull into the pits on the final lap, stop at his pit. then roll across the finish line from the pit lane. He would have fulfilled the pit-stop requirement. which doesn't mandate what services have to be completed, and would have s""ed the amount of time it takes to slow down and speed up, plus the added time of adding fuel or tires. Most of the teams couldn't have gone the distance on a single tankfull of gas, but some could. Valvoline EMGO Suzuki's John Hopkin. detailed his tortuous trip back to the U.S. after testing the Red Bull Yamaha WCM VZR500 in Portugal, the day before the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. "We were about an hour away from Newark lNew Jersey] when we heard about the terrorist attack. Arst they said they wene going to divert us to Canada, so we started flying north about 15 minutes. And then we figured out that we wene in like four other airlines' air space from northern Europe, so we had to drop elevation and go all the way back down to Bermuda [where he stayed for three daysl. Bermuda's great. but we were on call by the hotel and Continental Airlines, because they didn't know when we were going to be able to fly out, so we had to keep checking in the with the hotel. From there, I went to Newark and got stuck in Newark for the night, and from there train to Washington, D.C. where I stayed with the Army of Darkness WERA team, and stayed there for a week, and then headed down here. " Hopkins said that he believed he'd be riding at Yamaha VZR500 for the Red Bull Yamaha WCM team in next year's World Championships. "Right now, just waiting on the contract getting here," he said, ' because we wene waiting for lNoriyukil Haga to be placed somewhere, and he declared that he's not riding a Yamaha next year, so I think it's almost set up right away." Haga was heavily pursued by Aprilia for their World Superbike effort, though there was no immediate confirmation that he'd signed. Restrictions on the air .pace above VIR meant that there were no on-board cameras for the Speedvision broadcast. Normally, the motorcycles carry transmitters that emit a signal that's picked up by either a small plane or helicopter circling above the track. A Spanish-speaking pilot who seemed to have had a small problem communicating his intent filed the original flight plan. That issue was nesolved, and FAA officials in Richmond, Virginia. wene willing to allow the plane to fly, but the issue was transferred to FAA authorities in Greensboro. North Carolina, who denied the nequest. despite affidavits from other racetracks testifying to the safety of the matter. The makeup of the Bruce Tran.portation Group team couldn't be announced at Honda's necent Las Vegas dealer show because there were still details to be worked out. The contracts have now all been signed with Jake Zemke moving from the Erion Honda team to the Bruce group, joined this year by Ale.. Gobert, the youngest of the Gobert brothers. American Honda team boss Chuck Miller said the pair would contest the 600cc Supersport and Formuia Xtreme classes, the same duties as Erion's Roger Lee Hayden and Mike Hale. That leaves the Miguel DuHamel, Nicky Hayden, and Kurtis Roberts to concentrate on the Superbike class. Miller said that those three would contest the Daytona 600 race, and possibly the Laguna Seca round as well. Corona Extra EBSCO Media Suzuki's Jimmy Moore showed his patriotism at VIR, racing his Suzuki GSX·R750 in the colors of the American flag. with nearly matching leathers. Moore, who'd earlier clinched the 750cc Supersport class championship, wanted to make sure the right person was credited with the idea. Dana DeMambro, Vincent Haskovec's mechanic. "It was truly his idea. " To tum the idea into reality meant pushing up against deadlines. "I know the body work showed up Thursday. The [leatherl suit showed up yesterday. It's not even my size. I'm sliding all over inside it. It sticks to the seat and I'm moving around inside it, but it worked out all right. We did what we had to do this weekend. I can't believe the reception of the spectators out hene." Freddie Spencer is about to saddle up on one of the most interesting failures in Honda's Grand Prix history, the over-under NSR500 four-cylinder he rode to an unsuccessful 500cc World Valvoline EMGO Suzuki's Grant Lopez returned to the Formula Xtreme podium for the first time since the opening round at Sears Point Raceway In June. Since then. he's struggled with injuries Fanla_Jr. (SUl); 25. Scotty Vanscoik (SUl); 26. Wade Buffington (Su.); 27. Mike Fitzpatrick (Su,); 28. Chris Rankin (SUl); 29. Brandon Bashore (Apr); 30. Rich Conlceill (Su,); 31. Greg Fryer (Vam). nme: 1 hour, 1 min., 37.874 sees. Distance: 42 laps, 94.5 miles. Average speed; 92.408 mph. Margin of victory: 2.090 sees. FINAL .vIA/CHEVY TRUCKS U.S. SUPERBIKE C'SHIP POINT STANDINGS: 1. Mat M1adin (380/4 wins); 2. Eric Bostrom (365/2); 3. Nicky Hayden (340/4); 4. Doug Chandler (319); 5. Miguel DuHamel (300); 6. Tommy Hayden (293); 7. Steve Rapp (268); 8. Jamie Hacking (267/1): 9. Kurtis Roberts (253); 10. Andreas Meklau (235); 11. Larry Pegram (219); 12. Michael Smith (205); 13. Aaron Yates (202); 14. Jordan S,oke (187); 15. Pascal Picotte (171); 16. Andrew Deatherage (161); 17. Mauro Cereda (160): 18. Anthony Gobert (158/1); 19. Dean Mizdal (1 18); 20. Tony Meiring (113). and hasn't finished better than sixth. "I'm glad I won't have to sit through the off season with seventh- and eighth-place finishes, as most of my races have been this year. Two seconds, not too bad. I think I wound up third in points, not too far out of the lead." Teammate John Hopkins won the title with 256 points, Lopez linished with 232. "I really think if we had Willow I could have made it in closer. But I guess I just have to learn not to fall down and get hurt mid-season. " Mark Miller announced his retirement from road racing following the Formula Xtneme race. 'I want to not race next year. It's still possible. I'm not pursuing anything," -Miller said. Miller said he was hoping to pursue a film and video career. "I'd like to get involved in producing pro road racing video stuff that's pro for the sport," Miller said while filming in the VIR paddock. Miller said that he'd taken film and video classes in college and put together small films while he was club racing. Once he turned pro, it became a distraction, and he stopped. The ultimate goal is to produce a road racing.themed movie. Miller said he might race one final time at this year's Macau Grand Prix, and held open the possibility of the odd ride next year. The AMA fined 750cc Supersport winner Lee Acree and thirdplace finisher Robert Jensen $500 each for having inoperable charging systems following the race. It was the first offense for both \iders. . Since they hadn't tested at VIR, the Graves Motorsports Yamaha team came a week early to take part in a WERA race. With the limited amount of time, thene wasn't much to be gained. Damon Buckmaster had two five-lap practices and a six-lap race. "All we basically figured out was what gearing to use and whene the track went." Buckmaster. his pregnant wife Leanne, and a friend frorp Australia drove cross country in his Dodge Dakota Quad Cab. They were planning to drive back the day after the race, taking their time and visiting Leanne's brother in Dallas. Buckmaster wasn't sure what his plans for 2002 were, though he expected to be back with the Graves' team on a Formula Xtreme machine. Yamaha was to make an announcement the week after the VIR race. Buckmaster was going to stay in the U.S. for a few weeks to sort out his helmet and leather deals before heading home to Australia. Their first baby Is due December 20, so his wife was going to return home earlier. HMC Racing and Ducati North America collected $2770 for the Red Cross for a pillion ride with HMC's Steve Rapp. Jeremy Demar, of Virginia Beach, Virginia., was the lucky winner who got to take a ride on the back of the Rapp's race bike, fitted with a special tail section, following the Buell Pro Thunder race. Luckily. Demar was able to fit into Rapp's leathers. He was also given a Suomy helmet. Rapp did a 1:47 lap. only about 21 seconds off Mat Mladin's pole 'time. Randy Renfrow had another in his string of annual retirement parties. The 45-year-old Virginian has announced his retirement before, but didn't this weekend. "I'll just keep coming out for a few events a year and having fun." The party would be casual he said. "We've got beer and soda and chips and stuff like that, so we'll have another retinement party," he said. American Honda's Nicky Hayden earned $8000 from the $70,000 Chevy Trucks Superbike purse for his fourth win in a row. Yamaha's Anthony Gobert took home $6000, with thirdplace finish~r Kurtis Roberts earning $4500. After winning his third title in a row, Mat Mladln said that he knew next year would be a challenge. "Everyone's talking about Nicky [Haydenl, he got four in a row, and all that sort of stuff. That's gneat, but four in a row this time of the year and in his position doesn't neally mean anything. They're going to be strong and I am under no illusions that they're not going to be. They're going to be strong, with the whole team they're going to concentrate on Superbike and I'm looking forward to the challenge. I mean neally this year; by the time i got to Road America I had 30-something points. I'm thinking, 'Jeez, what's going on7' Nick had already made a little mistake in Atlanta and he was miles back and I had a lot of points early this year. That and a couple of other little distractions is one of the neason why I made a few mistakes, it sort of crept up on me. "

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