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/128208
for the win, it is a hundred times better, so I was very pleased with that. I watched all the Aussie Supersport races, and in every single one the guy who led the race on the exit of the last corner won. So I was keen to stay in the lead, and it helped me with streamlining a bit down the straight that Ruben is built like Robocop, whereas I'm almost anorexic!" Among many significant happenings on race day, the character, speed and restraint shown by Xaus should not be underestimated. After a simply dreadful first couple of days and a crash in Superpole, misguided if heartfelt spats with the press and media and the knowledge that every time he tried to go fast for a single lap, he looked to be on the edge of another crash, Xaus rode with a mixture of maturity and aggression in both races that rea'ily could let him get on terms with the supercool and supremely confident Hodgson every weekend from now on. In race one he was suffering rather more from his starting disadvantage than the second. "I did a really bad start but took things calm during the race," Xaus said. "I was having a good battle with Gregorio [Lavilla], and this was good for me and for the championship. Yesterday I was off; my head was really off, and sometimes this happens when you want to be so good, so fast. Today I did a really bad start, and I came through slowly. I knew it was impossible to catch Neil. Some of the guys were riding really strange; maybe [Davide] Garcia is not used to being in the lead. In every corner it was a different way, and then I got to the front group, and it was an easy way. More normal lines so it was easy to follow. I destroyed the rear tire a bit in the first few laps, so I had a battle with Gregorio and Chris [Walker]. I think Gregorio was perfect today. He did a really good race, and his bike is improving. I am happy for him." Another rider who recovered well at a circuit that equally suits his style when compared to Xaus? PierFrancesco Chili was a revelation in normal-timed qualifying, ripping up the tarmac with a cascade of fast laps; the only man into the 1:32s at one time. The 38-year-young Chili scored a magnificent third place on his privateer PSG-1 Ducati in race two, after suffering an engine failure in the first race, when a rod came out for air, blowing oil mist out into the track until Frankie realized the full gravity of the situation. After two no-scores in Spain, Chili is back on the podium and loving it. "It was incredible because the previous problem was with a new engine, just a stupid thing that happened," said Chili. "I am here because my mechanics were working hard to prepare a second engine, and we took a risk because it was an all-new engine in race two. We had some problems with the gearbox, but after I concentrated on staying smooth and fast, Ruben [Xaus] passed me very well, and he has a lap time, so I cannot follow him, so I tried to win my race, in third place." History of a new kind was made in race one, when Lavilla and his Alstare Suzuki took the first podium for the new breed of 1000cc four-cylinder machines, making a challenge for second place until the last few laps. The man himself reckoned that true competitiveness would be a few races away, but even on his imperfect Dunlops, Lavilla was right there with everyone, even Xaus for a fair part of race one. Said the Suzuki man, "We thought it would be easier this year having more power, but I think it is more complicated on the bike. We didn't do much testing in the wintertime, but we have done a great job since Valencia and have been improving every time we got to the racetrack. Today we show a little bit the potential of the bike. My engine is really aggressive on low- and midrange throttle settings, and that just keels the tires, especia lIy in the lower gears. After five to six laps the tire was losing grip, but I could keep a good rhythm, but when Ruben cam past, I tried to keep him behind me, but it was difficult." Tire problems in race two (chunks out of the left side of the rear) robbed Lavilla of another chance to shine, but the relatively undeveloped Alstare It Fila so good!: Hodgson (10) and Xaus (11) had a fantastic battle in race two. Like Hodgson, Xaus is four for four, having owned the runner-up position on the rostrum thus far in the series. GSX-RI000 on Michelins? Now that would be an interesting prospect to grapple with. Were Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki watching? We can only wonder. "I had tire problems from about lap 14, which seemed to be a common thread among a lot of the riders," said Lavilla of his second race change of fortune. "The bike is undoubtedly getting there - it's not quite as fast as the F03 Ducatis, but I can stick with [James) Toseland and Walker [both F02 incumbents] in a straight line. I want to dedicate my podium place to Solo Moto journalist Ernest Ribe, who has had to miss this season due to medical problems." Back in modern-day Ducati land, DFXjPirelli rider Steve Martin gave the local crowd reasons to be cheerful with his strong fourth place ride in race one, heading up a pack which featured another local hero, Troy Corser - with Corser's fifth being a best ever for the Foggy Petronas Racing FP1. "That was an interesting race, but really hard," said Martin. "When I saw the last-lap board I said 'thank God. Have I got to go and do that all over again?'" Once more the FPl took strides forward in the hands of Corser, at least, rushing towards competitiveness, it seems, and running the top spec of Michelin tires - when available. Regis Laconi, in the shadow of his upstart teammate David Garcia after qualifying, redressed the balance in his favor in both contests, as he scored a sixth and a fourth place on his Ducati NCR twin. Riding audaciously on occasion, he had a dust up with Xaus, among others, enjoying himself with some lurid tail-end slides. If Valencia was kind to the HM Plant Ducati pairing of James Toseland and Chris Walker, Phillip Island was generally cruel, as each shared good and bad fortune. Toseland was eliminated from race one by the powers that be after his left-hand fairing panel fell off, causing the 998F02's belly pan to rub on the ground dangerously. Returning to the pits after a plucky ride in the top group (despite losing an instant 18 mph of top speed), he did not even consider restarting, and the HM Plant Ducati garage door was closed quickly on the whole episode. Fifth place in race two was small compensation for his day's efforts, pushing him to sixth overall. Walker limped to seventh in the opener after running with the top podium men in the early stages before his rear tire went off big style, and he improved one place in race two. Now third overall in the championship, Walker could have had a worse Phillip Island, but his aggression seemed to deserve more than a couple of supporting roles. Front row qualifier David Garcia and his NCR Ducati scored an eighth place, but he fell in the second race of the day, his single exhaust 998RS ingloriously covered in red Australian dust. Marco Borciani (DFX Ducati) and Lucio Pedercini (Pedercini Ducati) completed the top 10 in race one. Steve Martin (99), Troy Corser (4) and Regis Laconi (55) battle over fourth place in race one. They ended up finishing in this order. n eVIls