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/128363
Three-time 500cc World Champion and winner of the 1989, '90 and '91 USGPs, Rainey had teething problems on his kart at Laguna Seca, but he will be ready to race come July. HapefuIIy !he Superbrt main _ _ wI8 affw racing as cIase as this, RaiMy lfront), Schwantz (mIcIcIe) and EdcIe ~ (1Nick) hoIcI a grand tala! 01 eight 500u Wortd a-npionshIps betwMll them. take this thing into where you want to stop and then stop it, whereas the Busch car, the restriction is, 'I've got stop so much weight, so I've got to stop way back here.' It's a lot more relaxed environment." The day ended for Schwantz when the transmission started making ominous noises just after lunch. By then, he was already down in the I:30 range. "I'm not going to beat Eddie's [Lawson] qualifier of I:23, but I'm not going to look stupid, which would be easy," he said after completing about 35 laps total in a kart owned by Randy Taylor. Chandler may have to juggle two disci- was in the season-ending South African GP at Kyalami, in September 1992. The race was won by John Kocinski, Rainey's Marlboro Yamaha teammate, with Rainey third, Chandler fourth and Schwantz fifth. The rest of the Superstars of Superkarts field will be filled by champions from around the world, along with others. Rainey expects 30 to 35 total entrants from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and England. "There's a couple of guys that can run with Eddie that are going to be shooting to try to beat him, because I think Eddie's beat them the last couple of times," Rainey said. a motorcycle it seemed like the two-stroke faster than World Superbike at this track." always was, at least for me, around here. I Rainey expects the four-stroke MotoGP never remember seeing Ed's do that or bikes to thrive at Laguna Seca in a way the Wayne's do that. Mine was always at least two-strokes never could. a handful - normally both." "Just the way that they run off the corAs to whom they expect to win the ner, I think they'll really enjoy this track," MotoGP race, Lawson sticks close to his Rainey said. "You can work hard, but yet Yamaha roots. the bike lets you be able to do that, the "I'd like to see [Valentino] Rossi do it feedback the bikes give you. I think where myself, personally," Lawson said of the the four-strokes will be very impressive is race, which is part of Yamaha's 50th at start-finish going over that anniversary celebration. "There'll be quite rise. If they gear it right, they a few guys that can win here. I think Colin should be able to pin it over _ _- . [Edwards] and Nicky [Hayden] Schwantz (left) and Doug Chandler (right) are new to karts, but they were quickly turning fast laps in preparation for the event in which 35 entrants are expected to attend in conjunction with the 2005 USGP. plines on the GP weekend. The Salinas, California, resident is hopeful of coming to an agreement with various parties to race the AHA Superbike Championship on a kitted Honda. If that happens, the kart racing would have to share time with the bikes. "I don't know about a career, but hopefully come July, if it comes down to it, I don't have a problem doing both of them," Chandler said. "This is going to be a lot of fun getting back on the track with the three of these guys. It's just more enjoyable and just a good opportunity for us to all get back on the track together." The last time the quartet raced together "The last race here, Ididn't actually race in the race," Rainey added. "So, Iwatched from the trackside. I went out between turns four and five. Iwas amazed at how fast they are to watch; driving, they don't feel like they look. When you're driving, them, you fell like you're not at the limit ali the time. When I was watching it, I was just amazed how fast they go around turns." Lawson predicted that his absolute track record wouldn't survive the USGP weekend. "We won't be as quick as MotoGP," Lawson said. "Wayne [Rainey] and I are kind of guessing they'll be 22s and maybe even 21 s. They'll be a couple of seconds there fairly easy. I think it's going to be a great sight to see those guys around here." Rainey said his YZRSOO was geared to redline just before the rise, so he crested it full out. Schwantz said his was just a little bit over the top. "When the grip was good, I could get over it pinned," Schwantz said. "I think the four strokes here are going to be a great show. A track of this nature, it was so hard with the two-stroke because you had such a small power band. You've got a four-stroke that's got a power band two or three times that wide. You'll be able to drive them off the comers. It's not going to be that unsettled of have the advantage because they know this circuit. The other guys will be playing catch-up. Hopefully that works in their favor. " But, he added, "The fast guys always go fast everywhere. It's like with Wayne and Kevin, and we'd go to a circuit we never saw. Eventually, by qualifying time, it was us three battling it out or whatever. We were always right there. By the end of the last session, everybody's caught up now. Will those guys be able to catch up on a circuit like this where it's real technical? They definitely have home court advantage. That's eN good. It's always good to have." CYCLE NEWS • FEBRUARY 2,2005 23