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/128195
Having joined the series at Sears Point, Craggill missed the first few races, including Daytona, so this would be his first taste of the high banks. Not only that, but he'd be back on Dunlop tires after a year on Michelins and on all·new machinery. Craggill started out on the 600, but it was running far too hot. The big bike was better, but daunting. "The hardest part is getting used to holding it wide open on the banking and getting the line right," he said at the end of the first day. "I kept on finding that I'm staying down too low. Everyone else is staying between the top of the banking and the white line, and I'm about that distance down from the white line. With the little bike I can stay up there, but with the big bike it's a bit unsettled, and I don't have that much confidence to stay up by the wall." Craggill said he couldn't keep the throttle pinned on the banking in turns three and four. He also said he was having trouble braking for tum one, a turn where you have to brake at an angle into a blind, flat corner. As for the dual-compound tires, Craggill noticed that there's "Not much grip. not on the infield. You don't really notice it that much on the banking. Going up to it you do, but not when you're actually on it. The front doesn't feel that well. though, being hard as a rock." What isn't noticeable from the outside is that the team is doing its own machinery. Up to now, it had subcontracted Erion Honda to build its bikes. The BTG team owner couldn't come to an agreement with Kevin Erion for 2003, so the team decided to take it inhouse. Team manager Joey Osowski is in charge of the equipment, with the advantage of a new race shop in Whittier, California, for his use. Osowski said the team was hoping to do the Daytona Superbike race and possibly one other where there wasn't a Superbike doubleheader, most likely Brainerd. "Our commitment is to Formula Xtreme," he said. "It's too much for Trevor [Weiler) to build motors." Formula Xtreme and Superbike have different technical regulations. The team wants to back off and concentrate on one rider in two thoroughly competitive classes. Chasing the Superbike field would defeat the purpose. The team only got their machines the day before the truck left California. They arrived at Daytona as street bikes, though Honda shipped in a number of parts. The fairing and exhaust pipe were race spec. along with the steering damper and Showa suspension pieces. 2003 Pro CirculI O"-Roall ChamsloRs AMA National Hare Scrambles FNED ANDNEWS AMA National Hare Scrambles Women's Class HEATHEN WILSON AMA National Hare & Hound 250 Class NUSS PEANSON GNCC 200CC Class BNETT ZOFFCHECK AMA National Hare & Hound Open Class DAVID PEANSON GNCC Women's Class HEATHEN WILSON AMA National Hare & Hound Women's KEllY YANCEY 2002 Score Overall Motorcycle Champion STEVE HENGEVELD/JOHNNY CAMPBELL AMA National Hare Scrambles 125CC Class BNETT ZOFFCHECK SHANE ESPOSITO AMA National Hare Scrambles 200CC Class CHNIS GAULT BNYAN FOLKS AMA National Hare Scrambles 250CC Class CHNIS GAULT DANYl FOLKS Best In The Desert Silver State Series Open Class Best In The Desert Series 250 Best In The Desert Series Four Stroke PIPES ¥ SILENCERS ¥ SUSPENSION ¥ MOTORS ¥ APPAREL, ACCESSORIES & MORE • WHY WAIT? CALL! DON PEDEN & DONNIE LITTLE cue' e n e vv s 'JANUARY 8, 2003 39