Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128173
o o o o o Continued from page 3 r J '1 u According to Darrick Lucchesi. former AMA and World Superbike Champion Scott Russell will race a factory Vertemati SR570 Super Motard at the SuperTI event scheduled for California Speedway in Fontana. California. September 21 -22 - round six of the Cycle World Magazine Championship. The Open Pro class will run on Saturday afternoon. followed by a full program of classes on Sunday. Admission is $10 per day. For more information, visit www.supertt.com. Following his best result of the season on the all-new V-four Suzuki GSV-R MotoGP entry. Kenny Roberts Jr. stayed on in Estoril. Portugal. for further testing after the Grand Prix. Roberts' teammate. Sete Gibernau. was not in attendance as he flew home to Spain for treatment for a dislocated shoulder. suffered when he crashed while leading the Grand Prix of Portugal. Roberts and the team concentrated on further developing the new slipper clutch - a device that reduces the engine braking of the highcompression four-stroke. "We knew right away it was a step forward,· said team manager Garry Taylor. ·Sete proved that with a truly superb ride. He had lapped everybody up to ninth place, and had title leader Valentino Rossi beaten when unfortunately he suffered a little glitch with big consequences. After the race. we had the time to work on integrating the clutch. and the other improvements that keep coming from the factory. with the whole package. Kenny was delighted, He said it made the bike feel more like a 500. In other words. he was able to ride it much more aggressively into the corners and everywhere on the track, in spite of the extra bulk and weight of the more powerful four-stroke prototype.· Roberts concurred: "The tests at Estoril went really well.· he said. "We did a lot of stuff with the new clutch, and got it so it takes a lot of pressure off the bike. It's the closest since the first tests in January it's been to feeling normal for me - like a 500. It's better into the corners. but also just generally riding, It doesn't do what it wants to do any more. It does what I want. I hope it carries over to Rio. We went pretty well there in qualifying last year. though the rain didn't help us on race day, I believe our bike should work pretty good there .• o o o o o o o c B o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Castrol Honda's Colin Edwards smashed the lap record at the Imola circuit in Italy on September 16 during a one-day test session ahead of the final round of the World Superbike Championship. according to his team. Edwards was 1.2 seconds inside the existing record as the 28-year-old American rider goes in search of victory in the decisive 13th round of the championship at the Imola track on September 29. He powered the SP-2 Honda machine around the 3.04-mile circuit in 1:48. 10 and 108 SEPTEMBER 25, 2002' C U [fJ@@@[J0@[JiJ ©®[JiJCfJ{jj]@[J0 [fJ®D00OD @m@@@'l§!7ffJri~_@_[fJ _ Nicky Pedersen became the first Danish rider to win a Speedway Grand Prix since Hans Nielsen in 1999 when he stormed to victory in Slaski Stadium in Katowice, Poland, on September 14. Pedersen had been struggling in the Grand Prix this season, but following Denmark's second place in last month's Speedway World Cup, he has shown resurgence in his form. And in the superb Slaski Stadium, the 25-year-old Pedersen produced a magnificent performance to see off Jason Crump, Mikael Karlsson and Tony Rickardsson in the Final. "I have been working so hard for this," Pedersen said. "Just lately things have been slipping into place." It has not been easy for Pedersen as the only Danish rider in the SGP series, and he admits that sometimes the pressure on him to follow the likes of Nielsen, Erik Gundersen and, of course, Ole Olsen. Pedersen has been well outside the top 1.0 this year, but his 25 points on Saturday elevates him to 12th in the overall standings with two rounds to go. And, of course, round nine, the last to be held in Europe before the SGP Series concludes in Australia, is the Danish Grand Prix in Vojens in two weeks' time, "That couldn't be better," Pedersen said_ "I am really looking forward to that now_ It will be the last GP to be held in Vojens, so it will be a special occasion - even more so now" remains confident of taking a second title. adding to his 2000 success, "We've had a good test. I've done a lot of miles and now I'm ready to race," said Edwards. "The guys from Michelin and Showa have gone home happy and I think we're just about set for the final round here next week." Edwards' lap time was also faster than the fastest lap recorded in last year's inaugural World Superbike round at the famous Italian venue. That lap was set by Ruben Xaus. at 1:48.462 dUring the Saturday morning qualifying session. "It's okay going fast. but the main reason for the test was to find a good race setup. and we've pretty much done that so you have to say today's been a success." Edwards said. The Texan, winner of the last seven races. leads the championship by one point from defending champion Troy Bayliss as the pair heads for a finalround showdown. Clear Channel Entertainment's motor sports division announced the return of several key elements that make up the annual K&N Filters Del Mar Mile Weekend. held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on October 4-6. The 2002 edition of the K&N Filters Del Mar Mile Weekend salutes Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Harley-Davidson, the marquee of this year's event. will be featured throughout the weekend in acknowledgement of the company's rich heritage in racing on its 100th anniversary, "This is the number-one destination on the dirt-track circuit." said Chris Agajanian. president of dirt-track. Clear Channel Entertainment, "From the premier racing to the Concours d·Elegance. which displays some 300 custom motorcycles. the Del Mar Mile Weekend offers something to every motorcycle enthusiast." Once again, the weekend will begin on Friday with the Deutsche Financial Motorcycle Celebrity Golf Tournament. which benefits the Clayton cle 0 __ 5 Crump's second place means that he has closed the gap on championship leader Rickardsson, and he knows that victories in Vojens and Sydney could still win him the title. But Rickardsson is still in the driver's seat, especially after his nearest rival, Ryan Sullivan, crashed heavily in his semi-final. Sullivan is still second behind Rickardsson, who has 148 points. Billy Hamill, who is 10th in the series standings, made it through to heat 22 before elimination, which, considering his back injury, was a fine performance, Greg Hancock, who started with grit and determination, faltered at the midway stage and was eliminated against Sullivan and Hamill. John Hipklss Foundation. The tournament in Del Mar is known for taking celebrity motorcycle riders from the past and present. putting golf clubs in their hands, and them behind the wheel of a golf cart. For more information on the golf tournament, please contact Golf management at (7601341-7542. Saturday's Concours d'Elegance will feature an eclectic collection of the most beautiful and extreme motorcycles in the world from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Beginning at Noon and dUring the day, fans will be able to witness the wild shows of trials riding and freestyle motocross jumping. The Eddie Mulder Vintage Race will also take place on Saturday at noon on the mile dirt-track oval, giving fans a taste of the past. Then the Formula USA National Dirt Track Series moves to the Del Mar Arena for the Skip Van Leuween Short Track National on the lightning-quick eighth-mile short track, with gates opening at 6 p.m. Sunday brings the K&N Filters Del Mar Mile, the final round of the Formula USA National Dirt Track Series, which will feature the Pro Singles National Championship, crowning the 2002 National Champion. The 1stlegal.com Super Single and Twin Challenge will feature 10 riders letting it all hang out for 12 laps on Harley-Davidson XR750s. Honda RS750s, Aprilia 1000s and Suzuki TL 1OOOs. Plus. the Formula USA Motor Sports Expo and Swap Meet will take place from 10 a.m.1 p.m. And at Noon. nearly 100 champion motorcycle racers from the past take place in a lap saluting the history of dirt track motorcycle racing in the 2002 "Lap Of The Legends" parade. This year's Grand Marshall duties are shared by three legendary racers, including three-time Grand National Champion Joe Leonard (1954, '56, '571, four-time Grand National Champion Carroll Resweber (1958- '611 and nine-time Grand National Champion Scott Parker (1988-91, '94-'981, Tickets are available at all TicketMaster outlets or charge by phone at 310/547-9898 or 619/220TIXS, participating Harley-Davidson and other motorcycle dealers, and during the week of the show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Road racer Tony Meiring will retum to Kawasaki for the 2003 and 2004 seasons and contest the AMA 600cc Supersport and 750cc Superstock Championships, according to a release issued by his management. The 18-yearold rider impressed many last year in his first year as a factory rider. and even scored a podium when he finished second at Pikes Peak in the 600cc Supersport race, "I'm really happy to be back with Kawasaki," Meiring said in the release. "Their new 636 and 600s are going to be winning bikes, that's for sure. Last year was a good learning year, and I'm going to try to win as many races as I can on the new Kawasakis. I'd like to thank Kawasaki for giving me the opportunity last year to do what I love to do. which is race motorcycles. I'm glad that they liked what they saw in me and are expecting more good things from me in the future. and lim looking forward to winning championships for them soon." Beginning September 24, there will no longer be Tuesday motocross practices at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California. due to the drought conditions in the region. Thursday practices will continue as always from 8 a.m, until dusk, with Saturday practices taking place from 8 a.m, to 2 p.m. For more information, call 909/8803090. The FIM has announced that the 2002 Women's Individual Trial Cup event, scheduled for September 22 in France. has been canceled due to flood· ing in the region. eN