Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

c o G o o NCR. "I will race for nothing," said Chili at the team's introduction in Italy. Chili will have a very low salary, but a very aggressive racing structure as he goes it alone in the NCR team. according to Cycle News contributor Paolo Gozzi. The Bologna-based team will also have a Supersport team for Piergiorgio Bontempi and Broc Parkes. but Chili will be the lone Superbike rider. He will ride the brand-new 998R. a replica of Troy Bayliss' 2001 machine. "For first time a private rider will ride with a Worldcrowned machine" said Chili "I know to have a very good opportunity. Ves. I know that ITroy] Bayliss, [Ruben] Xaus and [Ben] Bostrom will have a newengine version, but I think that 7-8 horsepower will be nothing, because I think that a machine with 179 hp, like my 998R, can be a winning machine. I'm very happy about my technical situation. Vou can't forget that I will have a full support from Dunlop and I think that Dunlop rubbers will work very well on Vtwin Ducati." Franco Farm\ will be the team coordinator. and a new entry, Domenico Brigaglia. will be Chili's chief mechanic. Chili will also have a race engineer supplied by Ducati Corse and a total of three mechanics. Damon Bradshaw (Vam) closed to within seven points of Josh Demuth (Vam) in the National Arenacross Series points standings after posting a pair of wins in Baltimore. Maryland. January 1819. Bradshaw won both 250cc main events. while Demuth and Darcy Lange (Kaw) split wins in the 125cc class. After 14 rounds. Demuth leads the series with 538 points. and Bradshaw is second with 531 . 8 o o o o o o ~ Road racer Stephane Chambon won the 19th running of the Guidon d'Or Supermotard race. held at the Bercy stadium in Paris. France. on January 20. Chambon was just too good for the rest of the field, reports Cycle News contributor Geoff Meyer, finishing ahead of his brother Boris Chambon (Hus). with defending champion Frederic Bolley (Vam) claiming third place. JeanMichel Bayle (Suz) ended up fifth after a poor gate pick. while Yves Demaria ended up a disappointing 11 tho Nick Pearson (Vam) won the Tecate Hare Scrambles in Rancho Veronica, Mexico. on January 20, topping Kurt Caselli (KTM) and Destry Abbott (Kaw) in the Pro class. Q [ r ) The first day of the HRC winter test session in Sepang. Malaysia, on January 21 became a half-day test as rain limited the time spent on the racetrack. according to a release issued by Honda. HRC is testing new Michelins and several modifications to the new four-stroke Vfive MotoGP racer. Despite the rain, and the time reqUired to find a reasonable set-up for the RC211V, Tohru Ukawa set fastest time of the day on the new bike at 2:06.60. His time, almost on the lap record for the 3.439-mile circuit, was 0.4 of a second faster than his best ever lap time at the circuit while riding the Jimmie McGuire won on both nights during IFMA action at the Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas, January 18-19. McGuire walked off with his first IFMA victory on Friday night, then did it again on Saturday. On the opening night, McGuire topped Derek Burlew and Jeff Tilton before topping Adam Jones and Beau Bamburg on the second night of action. After three years with Alstare Suzuki, Pier-Francesco Chili will start anew in 2002 with the 37-year-old Italian set to race a Ducati on the satellite team >=< L1 o C J r U o Suzuki is quietly confident follOWing its first full test session on the new factory four-stroke XREO machine today, according to a release issued by the team. Telefonica MovlStar Suzuki riders Kenny Roberts Jr. and Sete Gibemau joined Japanese factory test riders Akira Ryo and Yukio Kagayama at the Suzuki factory test track at Ryuyo in Japan for a full day of testing on January 17, aimed at introducing the riders to the new machine and establishing basic settings before moving on to a series of private tests in Asia and Australia. Roberts and Gibemau were given a pre-test briefmg with the factory race department management before getting to grips with the new 990cc, V-four four-stroke racer which insiders say is developing well over 200 hp, the release states. Gibernau was first out on the new machine that is currently running in unpainted black bodywork, and he was quickly on the pace around the 4.03-mile test circuit. A clearly determined Gibemau said: "ObViously you can't forget that this is a brand-new bike, but my first impressions are very positive. We obviously started later on our four-stroke project compared to the other factories and we are going to have to work hard to get on the pace. But I've never been scared of hard work, and Kenny and I have to work harder and closer than ever if we are to improve. "The chassis is good, the engine is good, the tires, suspension and brakes are all good. We just have to concentrate on matching everything up and making the whole thing work. The team has the potential to do the job and we are all looking in the same direction." Roberts was also happy with the early shakedown. "Certainly, at this early stage of the development, Suzuki has done an incredible job with the design and concept of the whole motorcycle," he said in the release. "The first time I saw the machine 8 (J o o 2 JANUARY 30, 2002' cue I e n • _ s NSR500 V-four two-stroke, according to Honda. HRC test rider Shinichi Itoh, making his first ever visit to Sepang, also tested the RC211 V. Itoh completed 36 laps, 29 in the dry. seven on a wet track, with a best time of 2:08.86. Reigning 250cc World Champion Daijiro Katoh was also on hand at Sepang, with the Honda Gresini rider testing the team's NSR500 at the circuit for the first time. Before the rain fell. Katoh set a best time of 2:07.84. Jurgen van den Goorbergh did not fare well on his Kanemoto NSR500. The Dutchman crashed the NSR, escaping without injury. However. the machine was extensively damaged and Van den Goorbergh sat out the rest of the day. Team Honda Pons made their first appearance of the season with the 2002 NSR500s they will race in the Grands Prix this season. In their first shakedown test on the West Hondas. Loris Capirossi and Alex Barros completed 80 laps between them. with Capirossi the faster of the two men. Valentino Rossi was not at the Malaysian HRC test as he has yet to sign a new contract with Honda. "Both parties are confident these minor differences can be resolved in time for the following test planned for February." according to HRC. SuperTrapp Industries' Inc. will be the major sponsor for Mike Hacker as the 10-year racing veteran tackles the challenging 2002 Grand National Dirt Track circuit, according to SuperTrapp. The 26year-old Hacker ended up fifth in the 2001 Grand National Championship during the 2000 season with wins at the Charlotte, North Carolina, AMA National plus a second-place ranking in the SuperTracker series. He finished in the top 10 over a 13-race series. Hacker will be re- yesterday I was very impressed how tidy and complete it is at such an early stage in its development. After this initial ride, I am really encouraged with how smooth and Iinier the power delivery is at this early stage. It was difficult to tell any real physical difference between the XREO and the RGv in riding position at this test. "It's clear that, at this very early stage, Suzuki is determined to improve the whole motorcycle as rapidJy as they possible can, and with a tire company like Dunlop giving Suzuki their full commitment, is seems we are on the right track. We all seem to understand the big strides we have to make to be competitive, but the team and Suzuki are highly positive, and that makes a lot of difference." joined by tuner Clayton Oliver and team manager Pat Moroney of Moroney Harle Davidson. The threesome won the 883 Championship their first time out. HMC Ducati team owner Mitch Hansen said that it is unlikely that his team will have a second rider for 2002, given the fact that the season is getting close to starting. "At this time, the possibilities are getting slimmer," Hansen said during a test session at the California Speedway in Fontana, California, last week. "It's getting close to the season and the longer it goes the slimmer the chances are." There have been reports in England that British Superbike rider Sean Emmett was looking to join the HMC squad for a season of AMA racing, but Hansen said that too is unlikely... It comes down to sponsorship." Hansen said. "If we had sponsorship, we'd run two riders." When asked about haVing a teammate, Pascal Picotte said he's hopeful that the team stays a one-man team, and thus gives him all the resources for what he hopes will be a run at the Superbike title. Hansen concurred with Picotte and also likes his chances of taking a title. "It only takes one guy. right?" Hansen said. "Pascal is really catching on to the Ducati. I think we have the right rider. the right bike and the. right crew, so I think we have as good a chance as anybody. " Harley-Davidson has announced a new edition to its touring family of motorcycles. the new for 2002 HarleyDavidson Firefighter Special Edition, which salutes the heroes who risk their lives everyday. Sporting a solid Scarlet Red paint scheme with double gold pinstripes and characteristic Harley chrome treatment, the Firefighter Special Edition FLHTC Classic Electra Glide, FLHRI Road King and FLHTCUI Ultra Classic Electra Glide are - claims the Motor Company, "signature red fire trucks on two wheels." Powered by Harley-Davidson's Twin Cam 88 engine. the Firefighter Special features rubber isolation mounts to keep vibrations to the rider at a minimum, while a plush suspension setup is designed to make the ride comfortable. Kin to the Peace Officer Special Edition models, the Firefighter Special Editions also come with a decal to fit on the bike's console, describing the model as the "H-D Firefighter Special Edition", while cast wheels finish up an aesthetic treatment that complements the touring model's classic lines. According to Harley-Davidson. the honor of being a firefighter has its rewards. and the only way to order a Firefighter Special Edition is by submitting a copy of an official firefighter identification card when ordering the model through your local dealer. For more information. contact your local HarleyDavidson dealer or visit Harley-Davidson's Web site at www.harley-davidson.com.

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