Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

california Speedway: It was always "win or bust" for talented Texan Kevin Schwantz, and he did a little of both in California. The 1993 SOOcc World Champion topped the Open class but fell in both his Premier-class heat race and final. STllRS Cycle World Super'IT American Racing Series Round Z: California Speedway Bagnis Beats Schwantz! Bv BRIAN CATTERSON FONTANA, CA, APR. 6-7 hen Nicky Hayden, Anthony Gobert and Larry Pegram came out to play in the preseason SuperTT races at Anaheim Stadium tnis past January, it wasn't surprising that Kevin Schwantz got beat. The retired 1993 500cc World Champion readily admits he's past his prime, whereas those younger guys are at the top of their game. But when Schwantz returned to compete in round two of the STTARS Cycle World SuperTT American Racing Series, held in conjunction with the AMA Superbike National at California Speedway, his alone was the big name atop the entry sheets. Clearly, he was the favorite. And while Schwantz did win the catch-all Open-class race on Sunday morning, when the checkered flag fell on the afternoon's headline Premierclass affair, it was Leonardo "Pucho" Bagnis who scored his second straight series win. Riding the Michelin-shod Roseville Cycle Honda CRF450R, the former World Superbike racer from Argentina took the win by a convincing 10-second margin on the nearly l-mile temporary road course laid out in the speedway's parking lot. With the SuperTT program stretched out over two days, series promoter (and Cycle World magazine road-test editor) Don Canet ran a complete program of heat races on W Saturday, and then a round of semifinals on Sunday for those who didn't qualify or weren't able to attend the first day. Though Mother Nature didn't cooperate on Saturday, the sun shone brightly on Sunday, and with the exception of the sparsely contested Mini-Motard and Lightweight classes, full fields were the order of the day. The Premier class was split into two heats, with the wins going to Bagnis and Volcom/Von Zipper/UpTime-sponsored Mark Cernicky, on his Dunlop-shod Honda CRF450R. Schwantz looked strong in his heat on the Michelin-shod Yoshimura DRZ450 but fell, remounted to finish third, and had to start Sunday's final from the second row. The first row, meanwhile, was determined by a World Superbikestyle Superpole session run less than an hour before the final. The top two qualifiers from each heat race each did one timed lap from a standing start, and it was new Cycle World magazine assistant editor Cernicky who edged out Casey Yarrow (on the McAllister Motorsports Honda CRF450R), Bagnis, and Steve Drew (on the Vertemati 570). After a brief break, during which the ever-exuberant Yamaha YZ250riding Jim Kesler beat KTM 380mounted Ed Coffey for the Sportsman-class win, the Premier main took the green flag. Many elbows were thrown in the first turn, from which Bagnis emerged with a slight lead over Cernicky. Schwantz gave chase, followed by Yarrow and Canet on his trick, new Fast By Ferracci-sponsored Husqvarna Knox, which sported more carbon fiber than most of the Superbikes inside the speedway. Schwantz hounded Cernicky for two laps, and then squared off the corner leading onto the start/finish straight and barged his way past, literally driving Cernicky into the hay bales. Schwantz laughed about the move afterward, telling Cern icky, "I was thinking to myself, 'Ha, ha, there you go, Cernicky.' But then I realized, 'Oh no, now he'll be coming after mel" Unfortunately for Schwantz, he didn't have long to worry about Cernicky, because half a lap later he tucked the front end under braking and fell for the second time during the weekend. This left Cernicky second, pursued by Yarrow and Canet, neither of which could find a way past the rider in front. By now, Bagnis was long gone, riding his Honda in a spectacular manner that impressed the few hundred spectators who'd strolled over after the Superbike races had ended. It was a good time to shine, because among those watching were Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey and most of the Yoshimura Suzuki Superbike team. Schwantz, meanwhile, remounted in 10th place, behind the American Honda-backed CR500 of three-time series champ Rick Pearce, and promptly got down to business. On the next lap, he dispensed with Pearce, KTM 380-mounted Al Salaverria and Honda CRF450Rmounted Josh Chisum. His next prey took a little longer, the CRF450R of SuperTT first-timer Shawn Higbee requiring three laps to reel in. However, on the very next go-around, Schwantz got by Drew for fifth place, leaving nothing but daylight between himself and the trio battling for second. And while Schwantz managed to catch Canet, he did so too late. The checkered flag fell with Bagnis the winner over Cernicky, Yarrow, Canet and Schwantz. Bagnis doesn't speak English too well, but he managed to thank his sponsors in the winner's circle and said that he plans to contest the entire SuperTT Series in the hope of winning the Premier-class championship. After successive wins in the first two rounds, he leads Cern icky by 10 points, with Yarrow third, a further six points in arrears. CN CIolifomia Sp.edwey Fantene, CIolifomle Results: april 1-7, 2002 [Round 2) MINI: 1 Garrett Willis (Hon); 2. Brok McAllister (Hon); 3. Bob Cobb (Vom); 4. M

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