Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

World Superbike Championship Round 4: Monza, Italy BRIEFLY••• When asked about his comments on SBK's place in global racing, now it has been brought back into full Flammini Group control, FGSport CEO Paolo Flammini stated that. "For sure this year we are experiencing a transition year. and MotoGP is experi- encing maybe its best year - because they have fully developed the new regulations, there is the enthusiasm of the new form of racing, so of course there is a high level of involvement from every part, But I must say that the signals we are receiving from the industry in general are very positive towards Superbike. It appeared that the technical regulations we have formulated. alongside the MSMA and the FIM, are of course very welcome by the manufacturers, because they have of course played a major role in creating these rules. In my opinion 2004 will be a very impertant year for us, with a big relaunch of the series and the involvement of many brands. Very importantly Superbike now reflects the market reality. because 1000cc motorcycles are the ones you buy, no longer 750s. So we will again become the tool that was so powerful dUring the '90s when the market was on the 750s. This is very important, and strategically the manufacturers will consider this aspect of our series, When asked if this proposed involvement has run to the level of actual contracts or not. Flammini replied, "The entry procedure expires in December, but we are having a lot of contact with the manufacturers, and I believe that much earlier than that we will be able to announce several involvements in the championship again. " The Fogarty Petronas team unveiled its new hospitality unit at Monza, and Foggy Petronas Racing makes the switch to Petronas fuel this weekend at Monza. In preparation the team have completed a number of sessions on the Dyno, runs at Bruntingthorpe airstrip (a pepular test venue for initial experiments) and a half-day at Snetterton race circuit. Also new for Monza is another different Micron exhaust system featuring the latest form of "serpent head technology." meaning the exhaust pipe itself is an oval aperture. where the pipe bends. The technology is patented by Micron and has enhanced the already distinctive sound of the three-cylinder machine even more. The silencers of the exhaust were to have an unexpectedly negative effect on race day. The HM Plant Ducati team arrived at Monza with a new strategy of completing as many laps as pessible in practice and qualifying in an effort to get their bikes and riders up to speed as early on in the weekend as pessible. The strategy appeared to have worked, with James Toseland's securing provisional pole at the end of the Friday qualifying action after completing 48 laps of the 3.59 mile circuit. a massive 172 miles in the two one-hour sessions - timed and untimed. HM Plant also instigated a new method of working during practice to help save time and maximize man·hours. as the numbers of personnel are not approaching those of the factory efforts. After each session the riders now write down their comments on a map of the circuit. before heading off to rest and chill down. While this is happen· ing, the chief mechanics look at data traces, while the junior mechanics work on the machines and perform routine tasks. After those chores are completed. the team reconvenes for the debrief, with only final tire selection and setup changes under discussion, based on the printed data sheets and previous riders' ·comments. It obviously worked well for Toseland, who was fastest after the first day. The dramas for the HM Plant team were not confined to the track, with their transporters crashing into each other on the way down and the side door of one of them being ripped off after hitting a half·open gate exiting the paddock. James Haydon's reliability woes (Foggy Petronasl continued after warmup, when his triple stopped once more on the main straight. A big highside at the exit of Ascari during moming practice on Fri· day launched James Haydon over the bars of his FP-1 , landing on his chest very heavily, causing him 9reat discomfort from then on. In addition to suspected muscle damage in his chest and right shoulder, he suffered a concussion for the first time in his career, a surprising fact given some of the spectacular crashes he's had over the years. A little woozy at his team's presentation later in the day, Haydon was more like himself on day two, even if he experienced terminal bike woes on Saturday moming. Dunlop's approach to the Monza circuit's particular demands was to make lighter, thinner gauge. harder compound tires than normal. The thin tread does not build up so much heat. The harder compounds and constructions deal with the high-speed centrifugal forces better than any normal tire designed for a slower, more modem circuit. Otherwise, no dual compound tires were deemed to be required at the right-hand-heavy Monza track. Monza did not pmve too kind to the Pirelli runners, who once more found themselves somewhat further down the field than most of the Dunlop-shod Ducati privateers. Marco Borciani was impressive enough in the top ten in qualifying and Superpole. but Steve Martin was disappointed to not be higher in the standings, 11th in regulation and 12th after Superpole, Juan Borja was the most unfortunate of all, falling and suffering a sacral contusion on his head, missing the second day of action. He did not race. 32 MAY 28, 2003' lI: U lI: • .. n R vv Neil Hodgson took part in a Michelin tire test at the French manufacturer's home circuit of Ladoux after Sugo, on May 2nd and 3rd, testing the latest batch of rubber from his 2003 supplier. Having sifted through several fronts as well as rears. Hodgson found the test most useful in terms of planting the front end during comering. Former factory SBK star Aaron Slight was in attendance at Monza and may well land himself a car drive in the UK once more this season. If he fails to get a BTCC drive in Touring Car, he may keep his hand in driving in another class. He is also looking at racing Supermoto in the USA. The UnionBike Yamaha team, which has been struggling to find competitive power from its R1 machine, does not expect Yamaha to come on board in 2004 with factory support. for them or anyone else. It is thought that Yamaha will not re-join the SBK party until it has seen a higher degree of success in MotoGP, prompting cynics to suggest that it may not be back in SBK for some time, given the performance of Honda and Ducati on the other side of the four-stroke street, Alessandro Gramigni, winner of the opening round of the Italian Superbike Championship at Misano, may be stripped of his achievement after the noise checks were scrutinized after the event. The local Yamaha rider was in ebullient on-track form, clearly enjoying every part of Monza, except that which saw him crash in qualifying and visually berate the marshals for not spotting what appeared to be a fluid spill. Ducati and Oakley joined forces at Monza, launching a combined line of clothing and eyewear, reinforcing the brand image of both companies. Nello Russo was unable to ride for his Pedercini team at Monza. as he is still undergoing checks on his head injury. suffered during a Superpole crash at Sugo three weeks previously. Scans have shown a hematoma at the base of his head, but having already suffered a similar injury in the past, doctors are unsure if it is residue from an old injury or the new one. Discretion was preferred to valor in this instance, and Russo did not ride. Paolo Blora had an excellent start to his Monza weekend, but a painful middle. Tenth on the time sheets after one day, Blora fell on Saturday and missed Superpole and the race. The factory Ducati Superbike team will carry out a test at Oschersleben after the race in late May, probably on the Monday and Tuesday, in readiness for the Silverstone event. believed to have happened while he was still on the bike, trying to regain control before crashing in the gravel trap. Despite the injuries and obvious pain, especially under braking, he was back on track in qualifying where he secured an impressive second pesition behind his teammate Karl Muggeridge. The factory Kawasaki Supersport team of Foret and Riba have a Misano test scheduled for after the Monza race, with the Bertocchi rider Stefano Cruciani also down to join them on May 20and21. Chris Vermeulen and Karl Muggeridge may be teaming up again even before the next SBK race at Oschersleben, running in the Assen 200 miles endurance race, Partly a test for the Assen WSS event at the end of the year. partly a shop window for Ten Kate to try and show that its bikes can be reliable as well as fast. the winners of the Supersport race have probably been set already. Only problem is the dislocated thumb suffered by Vermeulen at Monza, which will not be helped by doing his share of 200 miles around Assen. Muggeridge, understandably buoyed by his early success, said, "It's difficult to get a clear lap with people waiting for tows, but I managed it. and it worked okay. I cao't wait for the race to start." Muggeridge has been starved of the success his younger teammate has enjoyed. sometimes through pure bad luck. Vermeulen, in severe pain from his snapped thumb ligament. stated afterward that "I'm happy to get through qualifying in one piece. I have 16 laps in the race to worry about. then I can relax and let the injury heal. I will need surgery to repair the ligament but probably not until after the Misano round in a month's time. Braking is very painful. My time on qualifying tires was the same as on race tires because I couldn't make use of the extra grip due to my thumb. In the race passing on the brakes will be difficult, but if I can't pass on the brakes, I'll have to use the pewer of the Ten Kate Honda instead. " Michel Fabrizio's (84) won the Superstock race on his Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 at the cathedral of speed that is Monza. There was a three man fight among Fabrizio, lIario Dionisi and Enrique Rocamora, and it would eventually be pretty much decided when Brit James Ellison ran off at the entrance to the first chicane on lap nine of 11, breaking the concentration of Dionisi, who had to give up the lead to Fabrizio. A last-lap sprint over the line delivered the win to Fabrizio from Dionisi and - amazingly - Lanzi who had been down in ninth on the first two laps. Neil Hodgson had an embarrassing end to his Superpole win· ning lap. Backing it into the first chicane with the rear brake locked. Hodgson made a small but elementary error and had to park the bike and get a car to collect him and retum him to the pits. Said an amused but shamefaced Hodgson, "I was just show· ing off at the end of my lap and locked up the rear at the end of the straight. I had the clutch in but didn't give it enough throttle, and it stalled. " Winning Superpole was obViously more than an ambition for the tirelessly competitive Neil Hodgson. Only racing himself on occasions this season, he was really racing the track in the final sector of Superpole. "I'm pleased to be pole," he said. "After Japan I wanted it badly, and only first would do, The bike is working well. and I'm happy with my race setup and feeling good for tomorrow." Should Hodgson or another Ducati rider win at Monza - odds on a double Lavilla win being somewhat scarce then Ducati would notch up its 200th win in SBK. Chris Walker was in trouble at Monza. despite feeling much better after his dnve down to Monza in his motorhome. "It was like a miracle recovery because I was not walking much for a couple of days. just sitting driving the motorhome." It was not to last as his later comments affirmed. "I'm struggling through the chicanes. I've not really got any strength in my feet since Sugo and can't push on the pegs like I need to. As a result I'm having to do it all with the bars, and the trouble is that it just upsets the bike and I end up coming out the tums and halfway down the straight with the bike shaking its head, which in tum is making it really hard work out on track. I'm just over half a second off the pace. within half a second is okay because you can stay in the tow, but anything over is a bit of a problem. so we need to find something for tomorrow." James T oseland was in good shape to follow up his fastest lap on the opening day with Superpole until he was swamped by Hodgson and Chili, but he still eamed more accolades for continuing an upward leaming path in the single lap specialty - even if it was held in a supposedly wet session. "It was a good lap, but I actually made a small mistake at Ascari. As I came through the right, I got really good grip. but it picked the front wheel up and sent me slightly off line. I've been on it all weekend, so I think I deserve a front row. Last year I'd have been happy to be on row two, butI've got higher aims this season, and it's going well." Worid Supersport Championship leader Chris Vermeulen suffered a high-speed crash in the opening Free Practice on Friday. Approaching the Ascari curves, he was forced to take evasive action to miss Broc Parkes under braking, losing control of his Honda and badly damaging his right thumb. The damage is S Team Readymix Yamaha's Klaus Klaffenbock and Christian Parzer took a comprehensive race win in the second round of the Superside Sidecar World Championship, after rival Castrol Racing Suzuki's Steve Webster and Paul Woodhead were forced to retire. while leading. on lap seven of 14. At the time. Webster and Klaffenbock were locked in a thrilling battle, which looked to be shaping into another epic. But a suspected fuel pump problem forced the British pairing out of the action, allowing Klaffenbock to cruise home to take his third consecutive victory at the historic Monza circuit.

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