Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

and they were only just within sight. But his bike was fast, and he was riding superbly, and he started to chip away at it. Two laps later Nieto took the lead, with Pedrosa soon afterward consigned to fourth by Cecchniello and de Angelis and then passed also by Japan GP winner Perugini on lap 10. By then, all had been promoted a place when leader Nieto slowed abruptly and pulled into the pits, his engine overheating. The positions were of course in doubt, with inches separating them and serial swapping back and forth taking place. Meanwhile Jenkner was gaining ground steadily, finishing lap 17 just a second adrift. One lap later he was on Perugini's tail and starting to move through the group. Now the pace got hotter, with de Angelis taking the lead for two laps on the 21 st, with only Cecchinello and Jenkner able to go with him. The last lap was tooth and nail; Jenkner got to the front for part of it, but the experienced Cecchinello regained it with a couple of comers to go. The first three crossed the line within less than four tenths, with Jenkner second and de Angelis third; Pedrosa held Perugini at bay a little way back. Stoner spent the race engaged in battle with Hector Barbera and Youichi Ui (all Aprilia). They finished in that order, with Stoner taking sixth. Jenkner took the points lead, 52 to Pedrosa and Cecchinello on equal 46. Dovizioso - ninth today - has 38, Perugini 36. CN & J 1. De . . . . s,.;. ......Its: MBY 11, 2Dl13 III.... 3J 125cc QOAUFYING: 1. Pablo Nieto (L47.7J1): 2. Lucio Cecchinello (1:48.059); 3. Alex De Angelis (1:48.269); 4. Daniel Pedrosa (1:48.319); 5. Steve Jenkner (1A8.482); 6. Youichi Oi (1:48.655); 7. Hector Barbera (1:48.904); 8. Andrea Devizioso (1:48.904); 9. Mirko Giansanti (1:48.942); 10. Marco Simoncelli (1:49.075); 11. Casey Stoner (1 :49.079); 12. Stefano Perugini (1:49.082); 13. Gabor Talmacsi (1:49.175); 14. Mika Kallio (1:49.267); 15. Gino Borsoi (1:49.279); 16. Alvaro Bautista (1:49.535); 17. Mllsao Azuma (1:49.563); 18. Mllx Sabbaulnl (1:49.600); 19. Arnaud Vincent (1:49.743); 20. Thomas Luthi (1:49.756); 21. Simone Corsi (1:49.832); 22. Jorge Lorenzo (1:50.017); 23. Emilio Alullnora (1:50.071); 24. Stefano Bianco (1:50.201); 25. Gioele Pellino (1 :50.662); 26. Febrizio Lei (1:50.688); 27. Christopher Martin (1:51.01 I); 28. Imre Toth (1:51.147); 29. Julian Simon (1:51.198); 30. Roberto Locatelli (I :51.296); 31. Ismae! Ortega (1:51.372); 32. Mike Di Meglio (1:51.379); 33. Sergio Gedes (1 :51.854); 34. Ruben Catalan (1:53.234); 35. David Bonache (1:53.346); 36. Leon Camier (1:53.710); 37. Peter Lenart (1:54.196). 125cc GRAND PRIX: I. lIJdo CecchinelJo (Apr); 2. Steve Jenkner (Apr); 3. Alex De Angelis (Apr); 4. Donie! Pedrosa (Han); 5. Stefeno Perugini (Apr); 6. Casey Stoner (Apr); 7. Hector Barbero (Apr); 8. Youichi Of (Apr); 9. Andrea Dovizioso (Hen); 10. Mirko Glansanti (Apr); 11. MlISoo Azumo (Hon); 12. Thomos Luthi (Hon); 13. Gino Borsoi (Apr); 14. Moreo Simoncelli (Apr); 15. Jorge Lorenzo (Der); 16. Mika Kallio (Hen); 17. Alvaro Bautista (Apr); 18. Emilio A1u>more (Der); Ig. Gabor TalmacsJ (Apr); 20. Gloele Pellino (Apr); 21. Simone Corsi (Hon); 22. Arnoud Vincent (KTM); 23. Fabrizio Lal (Mal); 24. Max Sabbatani (Apr); 25. Sergio Godea (Apr); 26. Imre Teth (Hen); 27. lsmael Ortego (Apr); 28, Mike Di Meglio (Apr); 29. Ruben Catalan (Apr); 30. Leon Camier (Hen). Time: 41 min. 52.177 se<:. Distance: 23 laps, 63.07 miles Average speed: 90.38 mph Margin of victory: .088 sec. Fastest lap: Stefano Perugini. lop 6,1:47.766 WORLD C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS (Arter 3 of 16 rounds): 1. Steve Jenkner (52); 2. (TlE) Daniel PedroSll (46/1 win)/Lucio Cecchinello (46/1 win); 4. Andrea Devlzioso (38); 5. Stefeno Perugini (36/1 win); 6. Youichi OJ (31); 7. Mirko Gionsanti (27); 8. Alex De Angelis (26); 9. Pablo Nieto (20); 10. Casey Stoner (16); 11. (TIE) Mika Kallio (14)/Gloo Borsai (14); 13. (TIE) Hector Barbera (I 2)/Masao Azuma (12); 15. Thomas Luthi (11). 250cc QUALIFYING: 1. Randy De Puni~t (1:44.723); 2. Manuel Poggiali (1:44.897); 3. Franco Battaini (1:44.899); 4. Roberto Rolf<> (1:45.688): 5. Fonsi Nieto (I :45.836); 6. Toni Elias (I :45.968); 7_ Anthony West (1 :46. t 19); 8. Sebastien Porto (1:46.122); 9. Sylvain Guintoli (1:46.246); 10. Naok! Ma13udo (1:46.307); 11. Eric BataiJIe (1:46.364); 12. Johen Stigefelt (1 :46.404); 13. Hugo Marchand (1:46.586); 14. Erwan Nigon (1:46.622); 15. Christian Gemmel (1:46.758); 16. Alex Debon (1:47.021); 17. Hector F8ubel (1:47.096); 18. Chaz Devies (1:47.358); 19. Joan Olive (1:47.571); 20. Dirk HeicioW (1:47.669); 21. Jaroslav Hules (1:48.102); 22. Jakub Sm", (1:48.117); 23. AJex Balclolini (1:48.19l); 24. Alvaro Molina (1 :48.667); 25. Henk ...d Lagemaat (1:49.063); 26. Luis Castro (1:51.459). 250cc GRAND PRIX: 1. Toni Elias (Apr); 2. Roberto Rolfo (Hon); 3. Randy De Punlet (Apr); 4. Menullil Poggioli (Apr); 5. Anthony West (Apr); 6. Sebastaitln Porto (Hon); 7. Fonsi Nieto (Apr); 8. Naakl Matsudo (Yam); 9. AJex Debon (Hon); 10. Joan Olive (Apr); 11. Franco Batteini (Apr); 12. Alex Baldolini (Apr); 13. Eric Batllille (Hon); 14. Christian Gemmel (Han); 15. Dirk Heidolf (Apr); 16. Jeroslev Hules (Yam); 17. Jokub Smrz (Hon); 18. Chez Davies (Apr): 19. Alvaro Moline (Apr); 20. Henk vd Lagmaat (Hon); 21. Luis Castro (Yam). Time: 46 min. 10.793 sec. Distance: 26 laps. 71.29 miles Average speed: 92.63 mph Margin of victory: .521 sec. Fastest lap: Manuel Poggiali, lep 2. 1:45.350 WORLD C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS (Arler 3 of 16 rounds): 1. Manuel Pogglali (63/2 wins); 2. Roberto Rolfo (40); 3. (TIE) Randy De Puniet (36)/ Sebastian Porto (36); 5. Toni Elios (33/1 win); 6. Franco Battaini (32); 7. Fans! Nieto (28): 8. Naoki Matsudo (22); 9. Anthony West (21); 10. Hiroshi Aoyama (20); 11. Yuki Takahashi (16); 12. Sylvain Guintoli (13); 13. Alex Debon (12); 14. Joan Olive (g); 15. Alex Beldollni (8). MOTOGP QUALIFYING: 1. Loris Capirossi (1:41.983); 2. Troy Bayliss (1:41.993); 3. Max Biaggi (1:42.124); 4. TohN Okawa (1:42.258); 5. Valentino Rossi (1:42.276); 6. Sete Gibemau (1:42.285); 7. John Hopkins (I :42.579); 8. Nobuatsu Aokl (1:42.609); g. Olivier Jacque (1:42.643); 10. Carlos Checca (1:42.71 I); 11. Colin Edwards (1:42.761); 12. Makota Tamada (1:42.827); 13. Shlnya Nakl!mo (1:42.906); 14. Jeremy McWilliams (1:42.985); 15. Alex Barros (1:42.988); 16. Marco Melandrl (1:43.020); 17. Kenny Roberts Jr. (1:43.026); 18. Noriyuki Haga (1 :43.269); 19. Nicky Hayden (1:43.474); 20. Andrew Pitt (1:43.889); 21. Alex Hofmann (1:44.702); 22. Gany McCoy (1:44.945). MOTOGP: 1. Valentino Rossi (Han); 2. Max Biaggi (Hon); 3. Troy Bayliss (Due); 4. Tohru Ukawa (Hon); 5. Alex Barros (Yam); 6. Makoto Tomade (Hon); 7. John Hopkins (Suz); 8. Shlnyo Nlikano (Yom); 9. Nobuatsu Aokl (Pro); 10. Olivier Jacque (Yom); 11. Noriyukl Haga (Apr); 12. Jeremy McWilliams (Pro); 13. Kenny Roberts Jr. (Suz); 14. Colin Edwards (Apr); 15. Andrew Pitt (Kaw); 16. Alex Hofmonn (Kaw); 17. Merco Melandri (Vem); 18. Gany McCoy (Kaw). Tame; 46 min. 50.345 sec. Distance: 27 laps, 74.04 miles Average speed: 94.84 mph I'Iorgin of victory: 6.33 sec. . Fastest lap: Valentino Rossi, lep 5. 1:42.788 MOTOGP WORLD C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After 3 of 16 rounds): 1. Valentino Rossi (70/2 wins); 2. Max Biaggl (56); 3. Troy Bl!yliss (40); 4. Sete Gibemou (38/1 Win); 5. Alex Borros (30); 6. Tohru Ukawa (23); 7. Shinya Nakano (20); 8. Nicky Hayden (18); 9. Loris Capirossl (16); 10. John Hopkins (15); 1 I. (TIE) Norlck Abe (13)/Carlos Checl! (13)/Olivier Jllcque (13); 14. (TIE) Colin Edwards (12)/Makoto Tamada (12). Upcoming rounds: Round 4: Le Mans, France, May 25 Round 5: Mugello, Italy, June 8 The term "fly by wire" originated, obviously, in aviation. It refers to systems whereby the pilot's input doesn't operate the flight controls directly. The stick, rudder and throttle movements go instead to a computer, which then decides whether they are appropriate and sends out the final commands to flaps, rudder and so on. The term survived in FJ, though they should call it "drive by wire," where it has been in universal use for at least a decade. And it survived into motorcycling. The system has hit two wheels with the advent of the four-strokes. Aprilia used it from the start, Honda has experimented with the system, and now Suzuki has adopted it for its new bike. Yamaha also probably uses it, though it stops short of admitting it. But it has had a tricky start, with not everyone in favor. Because one of the things it is used for is to control wheelspin, and that is one of the things most riders prefer to control themselves - since they use it all the time in comering. All the same, it has an application in launch control. When the rider opens the throttle, the computer reads parameters such as speed, gear position and relative wheel speed and only gives the engine as much gas as the software considers appropriate. The other value is in reducing engine braking. When the rider doses the grip, the throttles themselves can be programmed to close slower or to sit at a faster idle, or both. When it works well, that's fine. But Kenny Roberts Jr. and Colin Edwards are two riders who are having trouble getting used to having decisions made for them by a computer and who are severely unsettled by the way the engine can keep on pushing into comers. This all depends on the quality of the software. Suzuki race engineer Stuart Shenton, who fettled bikes for (among many others) Kevin Schwantz and now John Hopkins, highlights some of the problems with the explanation; "The stuff being used on bikes now is Stone Age compared with that on cars. "The possibilities are infinite. You can have a nonlinear throttle response to compensate for erratic engine responses and adjust power delivery. You can have it blip the thro~. tie for you on down-changes. You can also use it for wheelspin control, although that IS difficult. The riders have their own control, in their throttle hands, and they prefer to use that. And it is probably better to control wheelspin by other means, such as retarding the ignition or eliminating every other spark in one or another cylinder. The cars also sometimes apply brakes, though that probably doesn't apply to motorcycles. "The only limit is the imagination - but rider feel is critical, and some riders don't want that interference. "Fly by wire can be as simple or as complex as you make it," concluded Shenton. "At the moment in motorcycling, it seems that simpler is better." • • • • , cue I e n • _ s MAY 21,2003 25

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